Alt Money Making in OSRS: Best Methods to Boost Your Gold in 2025

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), gold is the lifeblood of progression. Whether you’re upgrading gear, training skills, or simply flexing your wealth at the Grand Exchange, having a steady income stream is crucial. One of the most efficient ways to amass gold is by using alternate accounts, or “alts,” to generate passive or semi-passive income while you focus on your main account. In this guide, we’ll explore the best alt money-making methods in OSRS for 2025, offering a mix of AFK (away-from-keyboard) and active strategies to suit different playstyles. Let’s dive into how you can turn your alts into gold-making machines!
Using alts in OSRS isn’t just a trend—it’s a strategy embraced by casual players and high-level veterans alike. Alts allow you to multitask, generating gold while your main account tackles quests, bosses, or skill training. With the right setup, an alt can fund bonds (OSRS membership) or even supply your main with millions of GP per hour.
Benefits of Alt Accounts
- Passive Income: Many alt methods are AFK, meaning minimal effort for steady gold.
- Scalability: Run multiple alts to multiply your profits.
- Support for Main: Fund expensive gear or skills without grinding on your primary account.
- Variety: Experiment with different money-making methods without risking your main’s progress.
Is It Against the Rules?
No, using alt accounts to make money is perfectly legal in OSRS, as long as you’re not botting or automating gameplay. Jagex allows multiple accounts per player, and transferring gold between them via trades is fine—just don’t exploit the system with real-world trading or macros.
Top AFK Alt Money-Making Methods
For players who want to set up an alt and let it run with minimal attention, AFK methods are king. These strategies prioritize ease over high-intensity grinding, making them perfect for multitasking or working-from-home setups.
Cannonball Crafting Alt
One of the simplest and most reliable AFK methods is crafting cannonballs. With a steel bar and an ammo mould, your alt can churn out cannonballs at the Edgeville furnace.
- Requirements: 35 Smithing, completion of Dwarf Cannon quest.
- Profit: ~200k-300k GP/hour.
- Setup: Buy steel bars from the Grand Exchange, bank at Edgeville, and smelt away.
- Why It Works: Steel bars are cheap, and cannonballs are in constant demand for Slayer and PvM.
Anglerfish Fishing Alt
Fishing anglerfish is a low-effort, high-reward method for alts with moderate Fishing levels.
- Requirements: 82 Fishing (boostable from 80), 100% Piscarilius favor.
- Profit: 300k-400k GP/hour.
- Setup: Use a fishing rod and sandworms at Port Piscarilius.
- Why It Works: Anglerfish heal above max HP, making them a PvM staple with steady demand.
Amethyst Mining Alt
Mining amethyst in the Mining Guild offers decent profits and extreme AFK potential.
- Requirements: 92 Mining, Expert Mining Gloves recommended.
- Profit: 350k-450k GP/hour.
- Setup: Mine amethyst crystals in the Mining Guild and bank them.
- Why It Works: Amethyst darts and bolt tips are popular ranged ammo, keeping prices stable.
High-Profit Combat Alt Methods
If you’re willing to invest time into leveling an alt’s combat stats, PvM-focused alts can rake in serious gold. These methods require more setup but offer some of the highest hourly profits in the game.
Rune Dragon Alt
Rune dragons are a top-tier money maker for alts with strong combat stats and quest completion.
- Requirements: 200 Quest Points, Dragon Slayer II completed, 90+ combat stats, decent gear (Dragon Hunter Lance recommended).
- Profit: 1.5m-2m GP/hour.
- Setup: Kill rune dragons on Fossil Island, banking loot periodically.
- Why It Works: High-value alchables and rare drops like the Dragonbone Necklace keep profits soaring.
Gargoyle Smashing Alt
Gargoyles offer a balance of AFK-ability and solid profit for mid-to-high-level alts.
- Requirements: 75 Slayer, decent combat stats, Gargoyle Smasher perk (120 Slayer points).
- Profit: 400k-600k GP/hour.
- Setup: Kill gargoyles in the Slayer Tower with Guthans for extended trips.
- Why It Works: Alchable drops and granite mauls provide consistent income.
Brutal Black Dragon Alt
For players with slightly higher Slayer levels, brutal black dragons are a lucrative option.
- Requirements: 77 Slayer, 70+ combat stats, Dragonfire protection.
- Profit: 600k-800k GP/hour.
- Setup: Kill brutal black dragons in the Catacombs of Kourend.
- Why It Works: Dragon bones, hides, and alchables stack up fast.
Skilling Alt Strategies for Steady Gains
Not every alt needs to fight monsters. Skilling alts can gather resources or craft items for profit, often with lower entry barriers than combat methods.
Farming Herb Runs Alt
Herb runs are a classic OSRS money maker that works perfectly for alts.
- Requirements: 32 Farming (for ranarrs), access to multiple patches.
- Profit: 200k-500k GP/run (multiple runs daily).
- Setup: Plant high-value herbs like ranarr or snapdragon, harvest every 80 minutes.
- Why It Works: Herbs are always in demand for Herblore training.
Fletching Alt
Fletching bows or arrows is a low-requirement, AFK-friendly skilling method.
- Requirements: 70+ Fletching for magic longbows.
- Profit: 200k-300k GP/hour.
- Setup: Buy magic logs and bowstrings, fletch, and sell on the GE.
- Why It Works: High-volume items with stable margins.
Flipping with Alts: Market Mastery
Flipping—buying low and selling high on the Grand Exchange—is a zero-requirement method that scales with your cash stack. Using alts for flipping can diversify your investments and bypass buy limits.
How to Flip with an Alt
- Start Small: Use 1m-10m GP to test items like runes, logs, or potions.
- Track Margins: Check GE prices hourly to spot trends.
- Scale Up: Move to high-value items like dragon gear or rares with more capital.
- Use Multiple Alts: Spread investments across accounts to avoid buy limits.
Profit Potential
Flipping profits vary wildly—beginners might earn 100k-500k GP/hour, while experienced flippers with 100m+ stacks can hit 3m-4m GP/hour. It’s less consistent than PvM or skilling but requires no stats, just market savvy.
Comparison of Alt Money-Making Methods
To help you choose, here’s a quick comparison of the methods covered:
Method | Requirements | Profit (GP/hour) | AFK Level |
---|---|---|---|
Cannonball Crafting | 35 Smithing, Dwarf Cannon | 200k-300k | High |
Anglerfish Fishing | 82 Fishing, Piscarilius favor | 300k-400k | High |
Amethyst Mining | 92 Mining | 350k-450k | High |
Rune Dragons | High combat, Dragon Slayer II | 1.5m-2m | Medium |
Gargoyles | 75 Slayer, combat stats | 400k-600k | Medium-High |
Flipping | None (capital needed) | 100k-4m | Low |
Note: Profits fluctuate with GE prices—always double-check before investing heavily.
Tips for Success with Alts
- Bond Up: Use profits to buy bonds and sustain membership for free.
- Optimize Gear: Invest in efficiency items like graceful or Guthans for longer trips.
- Monitor Prices: Use tools like GE Tracker to stay ahead of market shifts.
- Start Low: Build your alt’s stats with cheap methods before chasing big profits.
Alt money making in OSRS is a game-changer for players looking to boost their wealth without burning out their main account. Whether you prefer the chill vibes of fishing anglerfish or the adrenaline of slaying rune dragons, there’s a method for you. Start small, scale up, and watch your gold pile grow. Which alt method will you try first? Let us know your favorite OSRS money-making tips in the comments!