Revision 11

Freelance-style creative income has been available in inZOI since the Early Access launch on March 28, 2025. Zois can create sellable products using their creative Skills and sell them through the Pocket Market app or their computer. This is not a formal career listed in the Career app; it is an independent income system that Zois can pursue alongside or instead of traditional Careers. A formal Freelance Career system (Writing, Game Development, Photography, Blogging) is planned for Q2 2026.

Unlike traditional careers, freelance creative work has no fixed schedule, no commute, and no employer. A Zoi simply uses the appropriate skill tool (easel, computer, piano, guitar, or camera) whenever they have free time. The finished product is then sold either through the Pocket Market app on the Smartphone or instantly via the computer interface, depending on the product type. This flexibility makes freelance income one of the most popular ways to earn Meow in the game, and at high skill levels it can outpace most salaried careers.

Creative Paths

Five skill-based creative paths allow Zois to produce and sell goods:

Important distinction: Physical products like paintings are sold through the Pocket Market app on the Smartphone. Digital products (books, programs, music, videos) are sold instantly via the computer interface with no marketplace delay.

Quality System

All creative products are assigned a random quality tier when completed: Bad, Medium, Good, Excellent, or Perfect. Quality is influenced by skill level but includes a random element. Even at Level 10, a Zoi can occasionally produce Bad or Medium quality work. Higher quality items sell for dramatically more. The quality of a work in progress is hidden until it is completed.

The probability of rolling higher quality tiers increases as the Zoi's skill level rises. Perfect quality items rarely appear below Level 9, and even at Level 10 they are not guaranteed on every attempt. Some players adopt a quality-control strategy: they check the finished product's quality and scrap anything below Excellent before listing it for sale. This is especially useful for painting, where the time cost per piece is low at high levels.

A Zoi's emotional state can also influence quality outcomes. Inspired, Happy, and Focused moods tend to produce better results, while Sad or Stressed moods may lower the average quality. The Genius trait accelerates skill progression by roughly 50%, which indirectly leads to higher quality output sooner.

Painting (Art Skill)

Painting is widely considered the most lucrative creative path. Zois paint on easels (purchased through Build Mode) and can create paintings in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. New painting styles unlock as the Art skill levels up:

Painting Time by Skill Level

The time required to complete a painting drops significantly as the Art skill levels up. At higher levels, a Zoi can produce paintings in under half an hour, making batch production highly efficient.

Painting Base Prices by Quality and Size

Base prices are what the game assigns to a painting before Pocket Market markup. The Pocket Market adds a variable markup on top of the base price when you list the painting for sale.

Pocket Market Selling Prices

When sold through the Pocket Market, paintings receive a variable markup over their base price. The markup fluctuates independently of character level.

Size makes only a small difference: Large paintings sell for roughly 9 to 10% more than Small. At Level 10, a Perfect quality painting can sell for nearly 7,000 Meow on the Pocket Market. Players report earning 20,000 to 30,000 Meow per day at Level 10 with multiple easels running simultaneously. One player documented earning 80,000 Meow in roughly 5 in-game hours using 8 to 10 easels at 4x game speed.

Painting Strategy Tips

• Use multiple easels: Place 8 to 10 easels in your home. When one painting finishes, move to the next easel immediately. This keeps your Zoi producing constantly.

• Wall storage trick: When a painting is complete, hang it on a wall in Build Mode to free up the easel. The painting remains safe until you are ready to sell it on the Pocket Market.

• Level up via books first: Reading Art books (about 15 minutes each, 16 named books available) can speed up early leveling. Each standard art book takes 30 minutes and grants +1 Inspired mood, which improves quality.

• Quality control: At high levels, some players scrap Bad and Medium quality paintings rather than selling them, since the time cost per painting is so low that it is more efficient to roll for Excellent or Perfect quality.

• Painting style does not affect price: Still Life, Portrait, Landscape, Pop Art, Abstract, and Surrealism paintings all sell for the same price at the same quality tier. Choose whichever style you prefer.

Writing (Critical Thinking Skill)

Zois write books on computers or laptops. New genres unlock as the Critical Thinking skill levels up:

Writing Time by Skill Level

Writing time decreases substantially as the Critical Thinking skill progresses. At low levels, a single book can take most of a Zoi's waking day to finish, but by Level 10 it takes barely over an hour.

Book Prices by Quality

Books sell instantly via the computer interface with no marketplace delay. Writing is convenient because it requires no travel and sells immediately. It is the best creative path for Zois who want hands-off income generation during their spare time.

Leveling the Critical Thinking Skill

Writing books is the primary way to level Critical Thinking after the December 2025 update, which nerfed reading as a leveling method. Watching the news channel or the debate channel on television (found under Educational Programs) provides a passive alternative. The Genius trait boosts leveling speed by approximately 50% across all phases.

At Level 10, the Submit Scenario to Contest option becomes available. This costs nothing to attempt, takes minimal time, and awards 1,000 Meow if successful. The outcome is luck-based, so it is not a reliable primary income source, but it is worth submitting whenever the option is available.

Music Composition (Instrument Skill)

Zois compose music using pianos, guitars, drum sets, or computers. Composition unlocks at Instrument Level 2:

Composition Time by Skill Level

Music Prices by Quality

At Level 10, a Music Competition is available on Sundays. Winning the competition awards 1,000 Meow, but the result is luck-based and winning is not guaranteed. The overall leveling pace is roughly 3 in-game hours per level, reaching Level 10 in about 3 in-game days of dedicated practice.

Busking for Tips

Zois can also earn tips by busking: playing instruments in public with a guitar case nearby earns 100 Meow per NPC tip, though tips depend on the Performance skill rather than Instrument skill. To busk effectively, visit a crowded public area such as a park, beach, or Central Park and ensure foot traffic is high. The Entertainer trait and Singing preference both trigger the "Wants to Go Busking" urge, which sends your Zoi to a public spot automatically.

Busking income is modest compared to selling composed music, but it supplements earnings and is a pleasant way to spend a Zoi's afternoon. It also levels the Performance skill, which is useful for entertainment-focused Desired Lives.

Instrument Leveling Tips

• Playing instruments directly (~15 to 16 minutes per session) is faster for leveling than composing, but composing generates income at the same time.

• Wait until Level 7 or 8 before switching to composition as your primary activity, since lower-level compositions sell for very little.

• Purchase a piano, guitar, and drum set for variety. All three contribute to the Instrument skill equally.

• The Pro Musician Ambition is tied to the Instrument skill and generates urges related to playing instruments, which helps keep the Zoi motivated.

Programming (Programming Skill)

Zois develop software on computers. Program types unlock as the Programming skill levels up:

Completed programs appear as items in the Zoi's inventory and are sold instantly via the computer. High-level programs sell for approximately 2,000 Meow each. The overall leveling pace is consistent with other creative skills at roughly 3 in-game hours per level.

Hacking Abilities (Level 10)

At Level 10, the Programming skill also unlocks Hacking abilities. These are risky, high-reward actions that require Bad Karma:

ATM hacking requires at least Level 1 in Programming, but success rates are low until around Level 6. The Zoi must also have Bad Karma to attempt it. A Zoi in a bad mood (hungry, tired, stressed) has a significantly reduced chance of success. Make sure your Zoi is well-rested and in a positive emotional state before attempting a hack.

Bank hacking via computer is safer than ATM hacking (no risk of electrocution) but has a 3-day cooldown between attempts. If successful, you earn 1,000 Meow. If you fail, you lose 500 Meow as a fine. This makes bank hacking a gamble that averages out poorly unless the Zoi has very high Programming skill and good mood buffs.

Video Creation (Media Production Skill)

Zois create videos using the Media Production skill. A phone handles recording while a computer or laptop is needed for editing. Video types unlock progressively:

Video Creation Time by Skill Level

Video Prices by Quality

Videos are sold via the computer interface. The higher the skill level, the better the price. Waiting until Level 10 before mass-producing videos for sale is recommended, since the quality distribution improves substantially at high levels and Perfect quality videos are worth 25 times more than Bad quality ones.

Level 10 Special Abilities

• Create advertisement content: A special action available at Level 10 that takes 20 minutes and has a 3-day cooldown. It yields 1,000 Meow on success or nothing on failure.

• Brand promotion broadcasts: Available on Sundays between 8 PM and 11 PM. Another luck-based income opportunity at the skill cap.

Leveling the Media Production Skill

Taking photos is the fastest way to level Media Production in the early stages. Photos can be taken repeatedly in quick succession using the phone, tripod camera, or desktop camera. Each selfie, landscape photo, or portrait contributes skill experience. Posting selfies on Bubbly also contributes to leveling.

Once the skill reaches Level 5 or higher, switch to editing videos on the computer. Video editing takes longer per session but generates sellable products. The overall pace is roughly 3 in-game hours per level, reaching Level 10 in about 3 in-game days with focused effort. At Level 7, the Vintage Camera becomes available for purchase (259 Meow), offering another way to earn experience through photography.

The Pocket Market

The Pocket Market is an app on the Zoi's Smartphone that functions as an in-game marketplace. It has two purposes:

• Selling creative products: Paintings and pruned bonsai plants are sold through the Pocket Market

• Selling secondhand items: Small decor items (gifts, postcards, books, dolls) can be resold

Digital products (books, programs, music, videos) are not sold through the Pocket Market. They are sold instantly via the computer interface.

When selling on the Pocket Market, you can set a custom price or accept automatic pricing based on quality. The automatic pricing system applies a variable markup to the item's base value. If an item does not sell at the listed price, you can lower the price manually through the Pocket Market app. Sold items are permanent and cannot be retrieved.

Flea Market Stalls

Alternatively, Zois can sell physical products at Flea Market Stalls. The Secondhand Sales Counter can be purchased in Build Mode for 270 Meow and placed on your home lot. Sales sessions last 3 hours and attract walk-up customers from the neighborhood.

Pre-built flea markets exist at several public locations across the game world. In Dowon, there are stalls at Nuri Plaza and behind the circular fountain in Central Park (under the bridge, with benches in front). In Bliss Bay, flea market stalls are located at Liberty Square.

Market Stalls are also available in Cahaya through the Island Getaway DLC, allowing players to sell items at tropical resort locations. Setting up your own Flea Market stall works within your own home or during social events such as parties. You typically cannot place a stall on public lots like parks.

Additional Sellable Products

Beyond the five main creative paths, Zois can also earn freelance income from several other activities:

Bonsai as a Freelance Income Source

Bonsai pruning is one of the fastest money makers in the game alongside painting. A Bonsai Pod Stand is available at Level 1 for 100 Meow. Pruning costs 15 Meow per attempt and takes about 17 minutes at low levels, dropping to roughly 5 minutes at Level 8 and above. At Level 10, Perfect quality bonsai sell for 1,265 to 1,480 Meow on the Pocket Market after the 15 Meow fee. Even Excellent quality bonsai net 323 to 367 Meow, making this a reliable and fast income stream. For more details, see the Bonsai and Gardening articles.

Combining with Traditional Careers

Creative selling is not a formal career in the Career app. It is an independent activity. A Zoi can hold a full-time traditional career and still paint, write, compose music, program, or create videos in their free time. This makes creative selling an excellent supplemental income source, especially for Zois in careers with short work days like Law Careers (6 hours) or Education and Academic Careers (6 hours).

Most traditional careers operate on a 4-day work week, giving Zois 3 days off. These free days are ideal for batch-producing creative products. A Zoi working in law can spend their weekday evenings writing books on the computer and dedicate full free days to painting on multiple easels, effectively running two income streams simultaneously.

The only real constraint is time management. Creative work competes with sleep, socializing, and need fulfillment. Zois with the Workaholic trait or those using need-management strategies (such as high-efficiency furniture or the FreezeAllNeeds cheat in creative mode) can maximize their productive hours.

Income Comparison Across Creative Paths

The five creative paths differ substantially in earning potential, convenience, and time investment. The table below compares each path at Level 10 under normal conditions (no cheats, no mood buffs).

Painting dominates in raw income because Perfect paintings sell for far more than any other creative product, and production time at Level 10 is the shortest. Writing and music composition offer the best convenience since they require only a computer and sell instantly. Programming provides a unique advantage through hacking abilities that can supplement income (though with risk). Video creation is the slowest to become profitable but offers unique Level 10 bonuses.

Related Traits and Desired Lives

Freelance Delivery (March 2026)

The March 2026 update (released March 26, 2026) added a Freelance Delivery Career as a new freelance income path. Unlike the existing creative freelance paths, delivery work requires no skills. Zois accept delivery orders from clients, pick up packages, travel to the destination, and collect payment. This makes it the most accessible freelance option for Zois who want supplemental income without investing in skill training.

The Freelance Delivery career operates across all three cities: Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya. Zois can take orders and make deliveries around the world using any available transportation method, including walking, bicycles, and vehicles. Because there are no skill requirements, even newly created Zois can start earning immediately through delivery work.

This career was one of several major additions in the one-year anniversary update, which also introduced the expanded Florist career, a Memory System, a minimap, multitasking while walking, and over 1,300 new items. For full details on the update, see the March 2026 Update article.

Planned Formal Freelance Careers (Q2 2026)

The 2026 roadmap (announced December 26, 2025, by Game Director Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim) lists formal Freelance Careers as a Q2 2026 feature. The planned freelance career types are:

1. Writing

2. Game Development

3. Photography

4. Blogging

These will be formal career options in the Career app with their own progression systems, distinct from the current skill-based creative selling system described above. Other Q2 2026 career additions include Taxi Driver and Elderly Zoi careers.

The 2026 roadmap also includes Q1 additions of multiple job support, job interviews, remote work, and performance evaluations, many of which were delivered in the January and February 2026 updates.

Tips for Maximizing Creative Income

1. Painting is the most profitable: At Level 10, Perfect paintings sell for up to 6,794 Meow each through the Pocket Market. Running 8 to 10 easels simultaneously maximizes output. Place finished paintings on walls to free up easels.

2. Writing is the most convenient: Books sell instantly via computer with no travel or marketplace delay. Great for earning income during spare time between career shifts or while waiting for other tasks to complete.

3. Wait until Level 10 for mass production: The quality distribution improves at higher levels, and Perfect quality items sell for dramatically more. Spend early levels learning and leveling, then mass-produce once you hit Level 9 or 10.

4. Use the right mood: Inspired, Happy, and Focused moods increase the chance of producing higher quality products. Avoid creative work when the Zoi is Sad, Stressed, or has unmet needs.

5. Busking for tips: Playing instruments in public with a guitar case nearby earns 100 Meow per NPC tip. This supplements music composition income but depends on the Performance skill, not Instrument.

6. Digital products sell instantly: Books, programs, music, and videos sell immediately through the computer. Only paintings and bonsai go through the Pocket Market with a delay.

7. Stack with a career: Creative selling works alongside a traditional career. Use the 3 free days per week from most careers to produce and sell creative products. Careers with short work days (6 hours) leave even more time for freelance work.

8. Bonsai for fast income: Bonsai pruning takes only 5 minutes at high Gardening levels and Perfect bonsai sell for over 1,200 Meow. This is one of the fastest income methods in the entire game.

9. Try Freelance Delivery for zero-skill income: Added in the March 2026 update, delivery work requires no skills and lets any Zoi earn Meow from day one. It is perfect for Zois who have not yet leveled creative skills.

10. Level multiple skills: A Zoi with high levels in both Art and Critical Thinking can paint during the day and write at night, doubling their creative output without needing any additional equipment beyond an easel and a computer.