If you’re already using VPN or other tools to access the “outside internet”, the next question is obvious: how do you actually make money on overseas platforms in 2025, in a way that’s real, repeatable and not just hype?
Think of it as a written “blueprint” you can refer back to whenever YouTube recommendations get too noisy.
1. What “making money overseas after VPN” really means
When creators talk about in 2025, they’re usually talking about:
- Using international platforms – e.g. Freelance marketplaces like Upwork Gig platforms like Fiverr Marketplaces like Amazon or Shopify stores Content platforms like YouTube or TikTok
- Getting paid in foreign currency – usually via services like PayPal or multi-currency accounts such as Wise.
- Selling to users who don’t live where you live – you’re using geography, information gaps and different purchasing power as your “leverage”.
What it is not (if you want something sustainable):
- Clicking ads on shady websites
- “Guaranteed daily return” schemes
- Blindly copying screenshots of income without understanding the underlying business
Your goal is simple: use outside platforms to sell real value (skills, products, content, information) to people who are happy to pay for it.
2. Your basic 2025 setup: tools, money and skills
Before you chase any “method”, lock in these fundamentals.
2.1 Technical setup
- Stable connection to overseas sites Whether you use VPN, proxy, or smart-DNS, the key is stability and consistency. Constantly switching countries/IPs is a great way to trigger extra checks or bans on major platforms.
- Clean browser environment If you operate multiple accounts (for example, several stores or social profiles), consider using an anti-detect browser like MasLogin to separate fingerprints, cookies and IPs instead of juggling everything in one browser profile.
- Secure passwords & 2FA Use a password manager, turn on 2FA where available, and keep recovery emails/phone numbers under your control.
2.2 Payments and finance
- At least one trusted payout channel PayPal for many platforms Wise / bank accounts for direct payouts Crypto if that’s natively supported (only where legal and appropriate)
- Basic bookkeeping A simple Google Sheet is enough at the start: date, platform, order, revenue, cost, profit. If your goal is “escape 9–5”, you must think in profit, not just screenshots.
2.3 Skills that actually pay in 2025
You don’t need all of these, but you need one that is valuable:
- Content: scripting, editing, thumbnails, short-form video
- Design: branding, web design, simple 3D or motion graphics
- Marketing: ad buying, funnel optimization, email sequences
- Development & automation: scraping, bots, API integration
- Language: translation, localisation, copywriting
Everything else is just packaging.
3. Three real overseas income models you can copy
The original video title mentions “信息差 (information gaps)” and “杠杆 (leverage)”. That’s exactly how most real cross-border income works.
3.1 Model 1: Cross-border freelancing (time → money)
You sell your time/skills directly on foreign platforms.
Typical platforms:
- Upwork – long-term projects with global clients
- Fiverr – fast gigs (logos, editing, AI art prompts)
How to start:
- Pick one monetisable skill. Example: short-form video editing.
- Create 3–5 strong portfolio samples (even if they’re “fake” demo projects).
- Write offers targeted at specific niches: “Shorts editor for crypto channels” “TikTok editor for beauty brands”
- Under-promise and over-deliver on your first 5–10 clients to earn reviews.
- Raise prices once your calendar fills.
Leverage & information gap:
If similar work sells cheaper in your local market, you’re essentially turning local skills into higher-paid foreign invoices.
3.2 Model 2: Content & self-media (audience → assets)
Instead of selling hours, you build content assets that keep paying you.
Good starting channels:
- YouTube (long-form & Shorts)
- TikTok / Reels short-form content
- Niche blogs or newsletters
Monetisation paths:
- Ad revenue on YouTube
- Sponsorship deals
- Affiliate links to tools & products
- Selling your own digital products later (courses, templates, presets)
Example path:
- Choose a clear niche (e.g. “budget travel in Southeast Asia” or “AI tools for students”).
- Make 30–50 pieces of content around searchable topics your audience is already Googling.
- In each piece, add a few contextual links (e.g. to booking tools, VPNs, or SaaS platforms).
- Once you see which videos / posts consistently get views, double down on those topics.
This is slower than freelancing at first, but you’re building something that keeps working even when you’re offline.
3.3 Model 3: Product & information arbitrage (information gap → margin)
Here you’re exploiting price gaps or knowledge gaps between regions:
- Buying physical goods where they’re cheap and selling on higher-priced platforms (e.g. sourcing in Asia, selling on Amazon or local marketplaces).
- Packaging foreign information (e.g. English-only docs, courses, tools) into localised formats for your own audience.
- Turning disorganised information into neat paid products: spreadsheets, Notion templates, research reports, swipe files.
Key principle:
If you understand two worlds (language, culture, platforms) better than most, you can sit in the middle and charge a “bridge” fee.
Start small, validate quickly, then scale what works.
4. How to use leverage instead of becoming “the crop”
Many people become “韭菜” (the crop being harvested) because they mix up leverage with gambling.
Real leverage in 2025 overseas online income looks like:
- Tools: automation, templates, scripts that let you do more with less time
- Systems: SOPs for editing, publishing, client onboarding
- People: hiring affordable help once you have a proven offer
- Platforms: using existing traffic (YouTube, Upwork, marketplaces) instead of trying to build from zero on day one
Fake leverage looks like:
- Paying for “secret strategies” that are just public info repackaged
- Believing you can copy a screenshot without context
- Chasing “latest method of the month” every week
Ask one question before you follow any “method”:
If I remove the guru and the hype, does this still make sense as a business?
If yes, it’s probably worth a test. If not, skip.
5. A practical 90-day action plan you can actually follow
Here’s a simple plan you can “directly copy & paste” into your calendar.
Days 1–7: Foundation
- Pick one main model: freelancing, content, or product.
- Set up your tools: payment, VPN/proxy, browser profiles, MasLogin if you need multiple accounts.
- Do 10–20 hours of research: Top channels / gigs / products in your niche How they present offers, thumbnails, pricing, funnels
Days 8–30: First dollars
- Freelancing path: send 5–10 custom proposals daily on Upwork/Fiverr.
- Content path: publish 3 videos or posts per week on a single platform (e.g. YouTube or TikTok).
- Product path: build a tiny MVP (one spreadsheet, one PDF, one simple service) and list it on a marketplace.
Goal: $1–$200 in revenue, not “financial freedom”. You’re proving that your niche, offer and positioning work.
Days 31–60: Double down
- Analyse what brought in your first revenue.
- Kill what flopped; 2x what worked.
- Improve one key skill: editing, copywriting, or sales calls.
- Start building light systems: templates, checklists, canned responses.
Goal: $200–$800 in total revenue and a clear feeling of “this is my main path”.
Days 61–90: Add leverage
- Begin outsourcing low-value tasks (thumbnails, simple research, manual data entry).
- Use automation where allowed (scheduling tools, scripts, basic bots).
- Consider diversifying into a second channel only if the first is stable.
Goal: consistent weekly income, not perfection.
6. Common mistakes when chasing overseas income
You’ll see many of these in 2025 “make money online” spaces:
- Platform hopping every week Today it’s Amazon, tomorrow it’s crypto, next week it’s dropshipping. → Choose one main battlefield and stay for at least 3–6 months.
- Ignoring account health Sloppy IPs, shared devices, random logins = bans, holds, clawbacks.
- Copying surface, not structure People copy thumbnails, offers, even wording… but miss the deeper logic: niche, audience, positioning.
- Believing income screenshots without context Revenue ≠ profit. And profit ≠ something you can repeat without the same skills, team and tools.
- Treating “外网赚钱” as a lottery ticket In reality, the most profitable people treat it like a boring, repeatable system.
FAQ: what people most want to know
Q1. Can I really start with almost zero money?
Yes, but not with zero skills. With a basic laptop/phone, stable connection and one monetisable skill, freelancing or content are realistic starting points. Physical product arbitrage typically needs more capital.
Q2. Do I need native-level English to work with overseas clients?
No. Clear, simple English is enough for many niches. You can also focus on technical tasks (editing, design, dev) where visuals matter more than language, and use tools like Grammarly to polish your messages.
Q3. What’s the fastest way to get my first foreign client?
Pick one skill, set up solid profiles on Upwork and Fiverr, and send highly customised proposals to 5–10 suitable jobs per day for 2–3 weeks. Most beginners quit just before their first “yes”.
Q4. Should I do content first or freelancing first?
If you need money now, freelancing is usually faster. If you have a bit of runway and want long-term leverage, start content. Many successful people do both: freelancing for cashflow, content for future assets.
Q5. How do I know if a “method” is legit?
Look for real-world examples, clear explanation of the underlying business model, and honest talk about timeframes and risks. Be wary of anything that only shows results but hides process and numbers.
