All Money Making Methods RANKED in Red Dead Online

In this guide, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of all available money-making methods, ranked by overall effectiveness.

Whether you’re hunting for treasure, completing high-paying missions, or taking part in activities across the frontier, this guide focuses on the most efficient grinding methods to earn money fast in Red Dead Online.

Free Roam Missions

There are many quest givers for Free Roam missions spread across the map. Most of them are familiar characters from Story Mode. These missions are simple, and other players are often encouraged to attack you.

The amount of gold you earn depends on the time spent in a mission. You can earn around $15 for completing a mission in 10 minutes.

A Land of Opportunities Missions

These are story missions with payouts almost twice as high as Free Roam missions. They include short storylines and cutscenes. It is recommended to complete A Land of Opportunities at least once.

However, these missions are not ideal for grinding money because they take a long time to finish. If a team member fails, the mission must be restarted.

Blood Money Missions

To unlock Blood Money missions, go to Saint Denis and watch the cutscene with Guido Martelli. After that, you can accept missions from low-honor strangers. These three-part missions are a solid money-making option for beginners.

Missions with cutscenes, such as the Bluewater Marsh contract, offer better payouts. You also receive a $60 bonus after completing all three missions for the first time. Capitale can be found during these missions and is used to unlock Opportunity missions.

Opportunities

Opportunity missions are beginner-friendly and reward unique hats on first completion. However, collecting Capitale can feel repetitive. These missions should be completed at least once.

Horse Races and PVP Showdowns

You can access these activities through the Quick Join menu. Horse races provide small payouts, and much of the time is spent loading or waiting between matches.

PVP Showdowns are a decent grinding option for beginners. Matches usually last around seven minutes, and payouts depend on time spent in the match.

Fishing, Hunting, and Gathering

Fishing, hunting, and gathering are tier C money-making methods. You can sell animal meat or carcasses to a butcher, sell fish, or gather herbs to sell to a doctor for steady income.

Daily Challenges

Daily challenges are one of the best ways to earn gold. They are not ideal for beginners, as multiple roles and a strong daily streak are required.

Completing at least one daily challenge is recommended to maintain your streak, even if some challenges are difficult.

Looting

Looting enemies is a good way to obtain collectible items, tonics, pamphlets, and treasure maps. Treasure maps can earn you a large amount of money.

Treasure Maps

Treasure maps are an S-tier grinding method in Red Dead Online. You receive one every five levels.

Finding treasure rewards gold bars and over $100. Eagle Eye can help locate treasure chests.

Telegrams in RDR2 Online

Telegram missions are not ideal for making money, as roles do not produce goods in solo lobbies. These missions can be accessed from your camp mailbox or the left menu.

These missions have three difficulty levels. Completing them can still reward a small amount of gold.

Random Encounters

Some random encounters offer decent payouts, while others are not worth the time. Wounded animal encounters can reward collectibles or treasure maps.

Another event involves protecting a stranger from animals, earning between $1 and $15 for about a minute of work.

Free Roam Events

Free Roam events offer decent payouts, and some also reward gold.

Call to Arms

Call to Arms is a wave-based Telegram mission. Payouts depend on how many waves you survive. Playing with friends is recommended.

Awards

Resetting awards is an S-tier method for earning gold. Many awards can be reset up to 10 times, earning 0.4 gold bars per reset.

The Bounty Hunter role has an award that can be reset infinitely, rewarding $100 and 0.5 gold bars each time.

Roles in Red Dead Online

All roles are effective for making money. Starting with Collector and Bounty Hunter is recommended, followed by Trader and Moonshiner.

Purchasing the Naturalist role later will further increase your ability to earn gold and cash.