This Free AI Tool Made Me $2,145 Last Month (And I’m Not a Techie)

You don’t need to be a coder or influencer to make money with AI. I used one free tool, offered a simple service, and brought in over $2,000 in a month. Here’s my exact process — no fluff, no scams.

I Never Thought I'd Make Money with AI — Until I Did

I’ll be honest: when I first heard people were making money using AI, I rolled my eyes.

It sounded like one of those “Make $5,000 in a weekend!” type of scams. You know the ones. Fancy thumbnails, hyped-up influencers, and advice that boiled down to “start a YouTube channel and wait.”

But in January 2025, something shifted.

I was sitting at my kitchen table, staring at my bank app. Rent was due, my credit card balance was creeping up, and my 9-to-5 customer support job barely covered the basics. I didn’t need millions — I needed breathing room. Something that could bring in an extra $1,000 or so without quitting my job or going back to school.

That night, I searched “realistic side hustle ideas 2025” on YouTube.

And that’s how I found ChatGPT.

I Didn’t Even Know What ChatGPT Was

I clicked on a video titled “How I Made $500 in a Week Using ChatGPT (With No Skills)” and watched it twice.

The creator explained how he used ChatGPT to write social media captions and sell them to small business owners on Fiverr.

At first, I thought — okay, but he probably knows what he’s doing.

But the more he showed his screen, the more it clicked. ChatGPT didn’t require coding. You just typed something, and it replied. It felt like using Google, but smarter.

And best of all? It was free. No subscription. No downloads. No investment.

I signed up that night.

My First Gig Was Worth $15 — But It Changed Everything

I created a very basic Fiverr gig:

“I will write 30 Instagram captions for your brand using AI”

I added a stock photo, a short description, and crossed my fingers.

Nothing happened for three days.

Then… someone ordered.

It was a coach from the UK who needed motivational captions for her wellness brand. She paid $15. I panicked. I had no clue how to deliver.

So I opened ChatGPT and typed:

“Write 30 short motivational captions for women entrepreneurs.”

The AI spat out perfect, clear, catchy lines.

I read through them, cleaned up a few, made sure they sounded authentic, and delivered the file in a Google Doc.

She left me a 5-star review the next morning.

How I Scaled to $2,145 in a Month

That review gave me confidence — and it gave Fiverr’s algorithm something to work with.

I edited my gig title, added “Includes AI-generated + Human-Polished Copy,” and increased the price to $25.

Next, I created three packages:

$25 for 30 captions
$45 for 50 captions
$70 for 100 captions with image suggestions

I used ChatGPT for the writing, Canva to design optional graphics (just as an upsell), and delivered everything in simple Google Docs.

By week two, I was getting 1–2 orders daily. Some clients requested bundles. A few asked for monthly content. One ordered a $150 package and left a massive tip.

Total income for the first full month: $2,145.

And I did it all from my one-bedroom apartment, working 2–3 hours a day after dinner.

Related: Make Money Using ChatGPT and Canva

What My Service Actually Looked Like

I offered content packs — mostly Instagram captions, but also email intros, blog outlines, and product descriptions.

Here’s how a typical project went:

Client sends instructions: niche, tone, number of captions
I prompt ChatGPT: “Write 30 witty captions about real estate for Gen Z buyers”
Edit & polish: I removed robotic phrases, added emojis, and made them sound human
Delivery: Neatly formatted in Google Docs, with bonus caption ideas sometimes

Some clients came back weekly. A few referred friends. Others wanted me to run their content calendar (I declined — I was sticking to writing only).

Related: Make Money with AI Tools

The Real Challenges (And How I Got Through Them)

It wasn’t all smooth sailing.

In the beginning, I had major doubts:

Was I cheating by using AI?
Would clients notice or care?
Was I charging too little… or too much?

I also dealt with flaky clients. One ghosted me mid-project. Another asked for “captions that go viral,” which, let’s be honest, is not something anyone can promise.

The biggest lesson? AI is only the start.

I had to tweak the tone, rewrite awkward phrases, and make sure everything felt real. ChatGPT helped me go faster, but I was still the writer.

By the third week, I had a solid system:

Prompt → Edit → Proofread → Deliver
That rhythm kept me consistent and confident.

The Only Tools I Used — And They Were Free

People think making money online requires expensive software or gear.

Here’s what I used:

ChatGPT Free Plan: My content generator. I used it daily, and still haven’t paid a cent.
Google Docs: For drafting and delivering content. Clean, shareable, and easy.
Canva Free: To create optional social media post visuals for upsells.
Fiverr: My main platform for getting orders. I also tried Reddit and Facebook groups to message small business owners directly.

Related: Earn Money from Home in 2025

I didn’t have a personal brand. I didn’t run ads. I just showed up, delivered well, and let reviews do the rest.

Related: Make $100 a Day Without a Website

Why This Worked (Even Though I Wasn’t a “Techie”)

Looking back, here’s why I think this worked:

Low friction — I didn’t need to build a website, film videos, or invest money
High demand — Everyone needs content: coaches, small businesses, creators
Quick delivery — ChatGPT helped me fulfill orders fast, with quality
Beginner-friendly tools — I didn’t have to learn any fancy software
Consistency — Showing up daily made all the difference

Related: Start Building Wealth with $100

Would I Do It Again? Absolutely.

I never thought I’d be the kind of person writing Instagram captions for a living — let alone making over $2,000/month doing it with a free AI tool.

But here we are.

Now I’m experimenting with digital products, building a template shop, and maybe even launching a course. But I’ll always be grateful that I started messy, with one gig, one tool, and a $15 sale.

If you’re on the fence, just try.

No fluff, no hype. Just show up and offer something useful — even if a robot helps you write it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really make money using free AI tools?

Yes — many people are using tools like ChatGPT to offer writing, caption creation, marketing copy, or brainstorming services with zero upfront cost.

What free AI tool did you use?

I used ChatGPT’s free version from OpenAI. It was enough to help me start offering content services and build a steady monthly income.

How much time did it take to earn $2,145?

It took about 4–5 weeks of consistent outreach, delivery, and repeat clients. I worked roughly 2–3 hours a day.

Do I need technical skills to do this?

Nope. I didn’t know how to code, design, or do any automation. If you can chat and write with a bit of creativity, you can use ChatGPT effectively.

What platforms can I use to sell my AI services?

You can start on Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour, or even niche Facebook groups or Reddit communities looking for affordable content services.