I Asked ChatGPT the Side Hustles Not Worth the Effort in 2026: Here’s What It Said
Written by
Cynthia Measom
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Most people pick up a side hustle in hopes of earning some extra cash, but they want it to be worth their time. After all, a side hustle is something you do on the side after your main job.
To help narrow down the options, I asked ChatGPT which side hustles are not worth the effort in 2026. These five came up as the least likely to pay off.
Rideshare Driving
Rideshare driving is easy to start, but the operating costs are a problem, ChatGPT said.Â
Drivers pay for fuel, maintenance, depreciation, insurance and self-employment taxes, according to ATBS Ride. The IRS mileage rate for self-employed and business people is 70 cents per mile, which is intended to reflect the average cost of operating a vehicle.
ChatGPT noted that some drivers earn more than average, particularly those who work long hours, focus on peak demand periods or operate in high-cost metro areas. However, it added that many drivers earn close to or below the mileage rate once incentives fade. At the same time, insurance, fuel and repair costs have continued to rise, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For many drivers, that leaves take-home pay closer to minimum wage, ChatGPT said.Â
Food Delivery
Food delivery is another popular side hustle, but it’s not worth it, according to ChatGPT. It said that drivers often spend time waiting for orders or traveling between pickups without pay.
ChatGPT added algorithm changes can reduce order volume with little notice.
Not only are hourly earnings stagnating or falling for many delivery drivers, but tips are declining, increasing income uncertainty on major platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash, according to Gridwise.
Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand once worked well for early sellers, but the market is now crowded, according to ChatGPT.
It explained that sellers compete with millions of existing designs, aggressive pricing and platforms that take a large share of each sale. Without an existing audience, sellers must spend time on marketing and promotion. ChatGPT said this turns what is often pitched as passive income into ongoing work that rarely produces consistent returns for beginners.
As a result, it can be challenging to make a decent amount of money because profit margins are small, according to Shopify.Â
Low-Tier Freelancing
Freelancing can pay well at higher levels, but entry-level platform work often tells a different story, ChatGPT said. On large marketplaces, clients frequently choose the lowest bidder, pushing rates down for everyone else, the AI explained. On Upwork, the minimum hourly rate is $3 per hour.
Multi-Level Marketing
MLMs promise flexibility and entrepreneurship, but those promises are often empty, ChatGPT noted. ChatGPT added that earnings remain concentrated at the top, while ongoing fees reduce profitability for most people.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), many MLM participants earn little or lose money. Additionally, income depends heavily on recruiting rather than product demand and inventory costs fall on participants, ChatGPT said.Â
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