Side hustle tools UK 2026: what you get to start a newsletter, shop or website

A side hustle starts with one tool and one afternoon. Seven are verified here, each with a free plan, a free trial or a discount for new users. Pick the line that matches what you want to start.

Start a newsletter: beehiiv

beehiiv is the newsletter platform that keeps 0% of your paid-subscription revenue. Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 per payment is the only deduction.

• The code: HONESTCODES takes 20% off your first three months of Lite or Pro.
• The link: https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/beehiiv adds a 14-day trial of the paid tools, with no card, and applies the 20% for you.
• The free start: the Free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers with no time limit.
• The price after: for up to 1,000 subscribers, Lite is $49 and Pro $95 a month on yearly billing, or $59 and $109 billed monthly.

Lite is the earning tier: paid subscriptions at a 0% take rate, the beehiiv Ad Network and paid recommendations. beehiiv's own comparison shows Substack taking 10% of paid subscriptions. You can export your subscribers at any time.

Take it if: you want to write for readers and earn from them directly.

Start an online shop: Shopify

Shopify gives you 3 days free, then £1 a month for your first 3 months. That is £3 for the first three months of a store, against £25 a month for Basic paying monthly. After that, Basic is £25 a month, or £19 a month paid yearly. No code is needed: open https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/shopify, enter your email and start.

Take it if: you have something to sell and want a working shop this week.

Start a website: Wix, Bluehost and Elementor

• Wix: build a free site with no card, then take 50% off Premium if you upgrade within 48 hours of signing up. UK Premium starts at £9 a month billed yearly, with a free domain for a year and a 14-day money-back guarantee on new plans.
• Bluehost: WordPress hosting from £1.50 a month on a three-year term, up to 78% off, charged in pounds. A free domain for year one, free SSL, the AI builder and a 30-day money-back guarantee come with every plan.
• Elementor: the drag-and-drop WordPress editor, with plans from £4 a month billed annually (Essential is £48 a year). Elementor One is £12 a month in year one against a £16 list price. New annual plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take them if: you want a site of your own. Wix is the fastest start, while Bluehost and Elementor suit a WordPress site you will grow.

Make it look good and get booked

• CapCut: a free video editor, with 7 days of Pro free when you subscribe through our link. UK Pro is £21.99 a month, Standard £10.99, yearly £99.99.
• Cal.com: a booking page for your calendar, free for individuals, with 20% off Teams or Organizations for 12 months through https://topreferrals.co.uk/go/cal-com.

How to choose your first tool

1. What are you selling? Words (a newsletter), products (a shop), or yourself (a website or booking page).
2. Start free where you can. beehiiv and Wix have free plans, and Shopify has a 3-day trial.
3. Check the price after the offer. Every intro price ends, so note what the plan costs in month four.
4. Check the currency. beehiiv and Cal.com price in US dollars. Shopify, Wix, Bluehost and Elementor price in pounds for UK customers.
5. Use the guarantee. Wix, Bluehost and Elementor all publish money-back windows on new plans.

Our verdict

Newsletter: beehiiv with code HONESTCODES. Shop: Shopify at £1 a month. Website: Wix to build, Bluehost or Elementor for WordPress. Start free, claim the offer, and pay only when it is earning.

More to explore: the best AI tools, the beehiiv verdict, and the best developer referral codes.