Making money in Old School RuneScape has a reputation for being difficult — at least until you reach the true endgame. Sure, maxed players farming high-level bosses can stack up massive loot piles, but for the average player, that reality feels far away. The good news is that in 2026, OSRS offers more viable money makers than ever before.

Recent updates, market shifts, and overlooked content have created several consistent, repeatable methods that don’t require max stats or billion-GP banks. These are practical strategies that are working right now.

Before diving in, it’s important to understand something: making money in RuneScape isn’t the hard part anymore. Keeping it is.

Many players grind out 30–40 million OSRS GP, then immediately spend it on minor upgrades or unnecessary gear swaps. The wealthiest players in the game aren’t always doing the single highest GP/hour method — they’re the ones who understand opportunity cost and long-term consistency.

If you spend 10 hours doing a relaxed 500k/hour activity instead of a 2m/hour method, you’ve effectively sacrificed 15 million GP. On the flip side, obsessing over maximum efficiency can burn you out. The key is balance. Choose methods you can stick with.

Let’s break down some of the best money makers in OSRS for 2026.

Zombie Pirates (Low Requirements, High Profit)

Zombie Pirates are one of the best low-requirement money makers currently available. Yes, they’re located in the Wilderness — but in low-level Wilderness, making them surprisingly accessible.

Requirements:

Around 70+ combat stats

37 Prayer (Protect from Magic)

80 Ranged recommended (for Venator Bow, but not required)

Wilderness Medium Diary is strongly recommended

Located near the Chaos Temple, the fastest access is via the Burning Amulet teleport. A ranged setup is ideal. Void is excellent if you have it, but budget ranged gear works fine — just don’t risk more than three valuable items (four if using Protect Item).

Bring:

Looting bag

High alch runes

Optional cannon

Herb sack (nearby NPCs drop herbs passively)

The main danger here is PKers. Teleblocks happen, so be ready to run south, tank damage, or world hop quickly. The risk is real — but so is the reward.

Profit:

Budget setup: ~1.5m GP/hour

Optimized setup: 3.5–4.5m GP/hour

150–200k Ranged XP/hour

For content accessible this early, that’s incredibly strong.

Tanning Dragonhides (Chill Bankstanding Profit)

If you want something relaxed and low effort, tanning dragonhides using the Tan Leather spell is one of the best AFK-friendly methods in the game.

Requirements:

Lunar Diplomacy

78 Magic

Lunar spellbook

This method is simple: stand at the bank, cast Tan Leather, repeat.

Use:

Fire staff

Rune pouch (Astral + Nature runes)

Black dragonhide is usually the most profitable, but margins change daily — always check prices. Slow buy and slow sell for maximum profit. Instant buying kills margins.

Withdraw 25 hides per inventory and only cast when tanning 5+ hides to avoid wasting runes.

Profit:

1m+ GP/hour

120–130k Magic XP/hour

For minimal attention, this is an excellent, steady income.

Wilderness Agility Course (High Risk, High Reward)

The Wilderness Agility Course is one of the most overlooked money makers in OSRS.

Requirements:

52 Agility

150k GP to unlock loot

Located in deep Wilderness, access is fastest via Ice Plateau teleport or Wilderness obelisks.

Wear cheap tank gear (black d’hide works), bring blighted food, and a looting bag. Anti-PK gear helps if you’re confident, but most players will focus on escaping.

The loot system scales with lap streaks:

0–15 laps: Low-tier loot

16–30 laps: Improved loot

31–60 laps: Strong loot

60+ laps: Best loot

World hopping reduces your lap count. Leaving resets it entirely. Staying longer = more profit.

You also earn agility tickets per lap for bonus XP. If attacked, drop them and recover later.

Profit:

Early tiers: ~1m/hour

High tiers: 2m+ GP/hour

55–60k Agility XP/hour

Risky, but very rewarding — especially on mass worlds.

Rune Dragons (Consistent PvM Income)

If you prefer low-variance, reliable money, Rune Dragons are excellent.

Requirements:

Dragon Slayer II

85+ melee stats

37 Prayer minimum (70 recommended)

Insulated boots

Located in Lithkren Vault, teleport via Digsite Pendant.

Best weapons:

Dragon Hunter Lance

Osmumten’s Fang (strong alternative)

Armor:

Justiciar (relaxed trips)

Bandos or Torva (faster kills)

Bring:

Super antifire

Strong spec weapon (Voidwaker, Burning Claws)

Rune dragons provide consistent rune bar drops, minimizing RNG variance.

Profit:

1.5–2.3m GP/hour

Stable, predictable, and relatively low stress.

Blast Furnace (Scaling Skilling Profit)

Blast Furnace remains one of the best skilling money makers because it scales with your Smithing level.

Requirements:

Start The Giant Dwarf

15 Smithing minimum

Ice gloves required

Coal bag recommended

Profit scales by bar type:

Iron bars (15 Smithing): ~200k/hour

Steel bars (30 Smithing): 600–900k/hour

Mithril/Addy/Runite: 1.2–1.7m/hour

High levels also achieve 100k+ Smithing XP/hour.

You’re making money while progressing your account — one of the most efficient combinations in the game.

Brutal Black Dragons (Safe Slayer Profit)

Brutal Black Dragons remain one of the most reliable Slayer-based money makers.

Requirements:

77 Slayer

80 Ranged

37 Prayer

Located in the Catacombs of Kourend. Teleport via Xeric’s Talisman to Xeric’s Inferno.

Best setup:

Bowfa + Crystal armor

Alternative:

Dragon Hunter Crossbow + Void

Even budget gear works — just slightly slower.

Profit:

Budget gear: 1m+ GP/hour

Strong gear: 1.8–2m GP/hour

Very safe, very consistent, very steady.

Final Thoughts

In 2026, making money in OSRS is more accessible than ever. The real secret isn’t chasing the single highest GP/hour method — it’s choosing something you can consistently do without burning out.

Consistency beats gambling on rare drops. Sustainable profit beats short-term hype. And most importantly, remember it’s a game — have fun while you build your bank.

If you stay disciplined and pick methods that fit your playstyle, the OSRS GP will stack up faster than you think.