With the pace of digitization and an ever more connected world, the gig economy has taken the workplace by storm. In recent years, the gig economy has changed the way people work. And it is growing, with more and more people abandoning the traditional employment paradigm and opting instead to work as freelancers or independent contractors.
The types of employment available through the gig economy could include professional services, food delivery, ridesharing, or even running errands. Seeing the pivot towards the gig economy, apps and platforms have mushroomed to help freelancers or independent contractors get more gig economy jobs.
The Gig Economy in 2023
The number of gig workers in the US is around 57.3 million, with people working on average between 11 and 30 hours a week. Gig workers frequently work in temporary or flexible positions. Gig economy workers have many different reasons for starting work in the gig economy and are often attracted to the flexible working hours and extra income that the gig economy offers.
Gig workers can work online from the comfort of their homes or within close range of their current residences. The gig economy is not exclusive to people working part-time gig jobs but also involves full-time positions as well. Looking for a guide on what gig jobs are? Check out our article What is a Side Hustle?
What Is a Gig App?
A gig app is a mobile app that connects freelancers or independent contractors with businesses or consumers who need their services. Gig apps have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they offer a convenient and flexible way to find work.
There are many different types of gig apps such as ride-hailing apps that connect drivers with people who need rides. Some of the most popular ride-hailing apps include Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. There are also, food delivery apps that connect food delivery drivers with restaurants and customers. Some of the most popular food delivery apps include DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates.
Gig apps offer a number of benefits for both freelancers and businesses. For freelancers, gig apps provide a way to find work quickly and easily. They also allow freelancers to set their own rates and hours, which gives them a lot of flexibility. For businesses, gig apps can be a cost-effective way to get work done. They also allow businesses to access a wider pool of talent than they would be able to find on their own.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using gig apps. For freelancers, the pay can be low, and there is no guarantee of steady work. For businesses, the quality of the work can be inconsistent, and there is no way to guarantee that the freelancer will complete the job on time.
Overall, gig apps can be a great way to find work or get things done. However, it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks before using them.
Here are some additional benefits of using gig apps:
- Convenience: Gig apps make it easy to find and book services. You can usually do everything you need to do from your phone.
- Flexibility: Gig apps offer a lot of flexibility, both for freelancers and businesses. Freelancers can set their own hours and rates, and businesses can get work done on demand.
- Access to a wider pool of talent: Gig apps allow businesses to access a wider pool of talent than they would be able to find on their own. This can be especially helpful for businesses that need to find freelancers with specialized skills.
Here are some potential drawbacks of using gig apps:
- Low pay: The pay for gig work can be low, especially for entry-level jobs.
- Inconsistent quality: The quality of gig work can be inconsistent. This is because freelancers are not always vetted or trained by the gig app company.
- Lack of benefits: Gig workers do not typically receive benefits such as health insurance or paid time off.
Gig apps can be a great way to find work or get things done. However, it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks before using them. If you are considering using a gig app, be sure to do your research and choose a company that has a good reputation. If you want to know more about the gig economy, check out our article The History and Future of the Gig Economy
Benefits of Using Gig Economy Apps
Essentially gig apps help to connect gig workers to employers hiring talent for their open positions, additional benefits that gig apps offer include:
Convenience: Gig apps can be accessed from the palm of your hand, making it easy for you to browse through and apply for job opportunities.
Offer a variety of job opportunities: gig apps offer gig workers the opportunity to find a wide variety of jobs. By just signing up on gig apps, you can offer your services to several businesses.
Offer flexibility: by being a gig worker, you can set your own working hours or take up a gig working as your own side gig. This gives you more free reign and not have to follow a strict routine.
Best Gig Apps to Make Money
| App Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Uber | Drive and make money by giving rides in your car with flexible hours and the potential for surge fares. |
| DoorDash | Earn money by making food deliveries with flexible hours and payment based on each delivery. |
| Instacart | Offer shopping services and earn money by shopping for others through the Instacart app. |
| TaskRabbit | Connect with people looking for various tasks and odd jobs, such as cleaning, furniture construction, etc. |
| Qwick | Staff events as a qualified chef, server, bartender, or concession attendant through the Qwick app. |
| Airbnb | Rent out your home, apartment, or a room to earn money from short-term accommodations through Airbnb. |
| Freelancer | Find freelance work in various industries and skill sets through the Freelancer app. |
| Amazon Flex | Deliver packages for Amazon using your car and set your own schedule as a freelancer with Amazon Flex. |
| Rover | Connect with dog owners and get paid for dog walking, boarding, or drop-in visits through the Rover app. |
| Etsy | Sell handmade, vintage, or original goods and manage your e-store business through the Etsy app. |
| Grubhub | Deliver food orders from restaurants to customers through the Grubhub delivery app. |
| Dolly | Help people with moving by driving as a 'Helper' or providing additional assistance as a 'Hand' through Dolly. |
| Fiverr | Offer freelance services in various fields and connect with potential customers through Fiverr. |
| Survey Junkie | Earn money by completing online surveys through the Survey Junkie app. |
| Lyft | Connect drivers with passengers looking for rides and earn money through the Lyft app. |
| Uber Eats | Deliver food orders from restaurants to customers through the Uber Eats app. |
| Upwork | Find freelance work across different industries and skill sets through the Upwork app. |
| Swagbucks | Earn rewards for online activities like shopping, playing games, and taking surveys through Swagbucks. |
| Grabr | Connect travelers with customers looking for items that can't be found locally through Grabr. |
| EasyShift | Find shifts to work in nearby retailers and businesses and get paid for completing quick tasks through EasyShift. |
| iVueit | Earn money by taking pictures of commercial properties nearby through the iVueit app. |
| StreetCrowd | Rent out your car by the minute and leave it in designated spots through the StreetCrowd app. |
| Google Opinion Rewards | Complete quick surveys and earn Google Play credit through the Google Opinion Rewards app. |
| Wonolo | Find consistent, flexible work and temporary job opportunities in your area through the Wonolo app. |
| CoinOut | Earn cashback by uploading receipts and cash out at any time through the CoinOut app. |
There are various gig applications where you may earn real money. Some even provide robust services, while others provide financial services and yet others provide user-friendly services. Here are some of the best gig economy apps:
1. Uber
Why not try Uber if you enjoy driving and want to make some extra money by giving rides? With this ride-sharing gig economy app, you can choose between driving full- or part-time. The standard fare and surge fares are among the prices you can set on Uber. During such times, when there aren’t enough vehicles on the road to accommodate everyone who needs a ride, you can charge more. Peak hours and bad weather conditions also have surge fares.
2. DoorDash
DoorDash is considered the best food delivery service to work for. It allows users to earn money by making food deliveries while keeping flexible hours, allowing you to accept or reject the job. However, if you choose to take on a delivery, you must pick up the food and deliver it to the customer as soon as you accept the job. Payment is based on each delivery; the amount you receive will depend on how far you travel and how long it takes to deliver the food.
3. Instacart
If offering a shopping service is your thing, why not consider using Instacart? All you need is to create an account at shoppers.instacart.com. To finish the sign-up process, simply download the Shopper gig economy app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once you’ve been given the go-ahead to shop, you can register and start earning money whenever it suits you.
4. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a very well-known task-based marketplace where people looking for work can connect. Some popular job categories on TaskRabbit include odd jobs like domestic cleaning, furniture construction, painting projects, garden work, and general household maintenance tasks. If you find consistent TaskRabbit work, you can expect to make more than minimum wage, with some TaskRabbit gigs offering high rates per hour.
5. Qwick
Qwick connects people and businesses planning events with qualified chefs, servers, bartenders, and concession attendants to staff these events. It allows you to pick the shifts you want to work and to receive payment as soon as 30 minutes after your shift ends. To provide gig workers with a consistent flow of available jobs, Qwick collaborates with hotels, catering companies, event venues, convention centers, and restaurants.
This gives gig workers the freedom to choose only the shifts that work with their schedules, receive payment right away, network with companies, and increase their chances of being hired for long-term positions.
6. Airbnb
People looking for short-term rental accommodations frequently use Airbnb. People can earn money from their homes using Airbnb without having to become traditional landlords, allowing them to work for themselves. With this gig app, users can easily manage reservations and rent out their homes, apartment, or even just a single room to make some quick money.
Airbnb makes it incredibly convenient for people to rent and pay because everything is handled through the platform. Guests will pay you through the Airbnb app, and the money will be directly transferred to your bank account. You can set your own rates as well as your own schedule for renting out your home.
7. Freelancer
More than five million people have downloaded the freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace Freelancer. By working as a freelancer, you can connect with employers and find work from anywhere while doing what you love. It provides a flexible work schedule and a large employer pool.
You can simply create a free account to get started, then browse the available jobs and submit a bid on any projects that fit your skill set.
8. Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is an on-demand shopping service targeting gig workers. By signing up to drive for Amazon Flex, you can use your car to deliver packages for Amazon to customers. You’ll perform deliveries as a freelancer on your own business and schedule. If you’re up for the challenge, you can set your schedule, and it appears that you’ll have a lot of packages to deliver.
The app will assist you with handling all the tasks drivers must complete, including scheduling, scanning package barcodes, mapping out the delivery route, scanning the package once more at the delivery location, and providing visual delivery proof through the use of photos.
9. Rover
Rover is an app that connects dog owners who need services for their pets with service providers. With it, you can connect with nearby pet owners using the Rover app and get paid for dog walking, boarding, or drop-in visits. Sign up for a Rover account and complete the profile to get started.
When a dog owner views your Rover profile and decides to request your services, the request will show up in your ‘Pending Requests’ section. You can click the request to view the necessary information and opt to take it on it if it’s a good fit.
10. Etsy
Etsy offers an online marketplace where people can sell their handmade, vintage, or original goods. With it, you can easily run your e-store business while on the go and sell items. Powerful tools and services to manage and expand your business are among the extra benefits. For each item listed, Etsy charges $0.20 and keeps a 6.5% commission as a transaction fee.
Payments will be received by Etsy sellers through Etsy Payment, which is the website’s own payment processing system. It enables merchants to accept a variety of payments, including bank transfers, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and gift cards from Etsy.
11. Grubhub
Customers can use the Grubhub delivery app to order food from their preferred restaurants through the Grubhub food delivery service. It collaborates with a range of eateries, including small neighborhood joints and major national chains.
Your base pay and any potential bonuses are combined to determine how much you make per delivery. Your base pay is adjusted for things like mileage, delivery type, delivery time, and your local market.
12. Dolly
Dolly is an on-demand delivery app that links people who need help moving things and movers. Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, you can either drive as a ‘Helper’ or a ‘Hand’. Helpers must be physically able to lift more than 75 pounds and have their own pickup trucks.
On the other hand, hands are only there to provide additional assistance. Prices on Dolly are set based on dumber and type of items, distance covered, service level (standard or curbside), and other factors.
13. Fiverr
Fiverr is a freelance gig software platform that helps professionals find work. Fiverr allows you to offer freelance services and connect with potential customers all on one platform.
You can have one setup or multiple gigs, depending on how much time you’re willing to put in. It claims to have job openings in over 116 different service sectors. Fiverr will charge a 5.5% service fee for its services.
More Popular Apps for Gig Economy Jobs
Looking for more popular gig economy jobs? These apps allow you to do small tasks and jobs and get paid on the side.
14. Survey Junkie
If you want to make money while sharing your views, why not consider accepting payment? For completing surveys and answering survey questions, brands will pay you to do surveys online utilizing Survey Junkie. After completing surveys, you receive points that may be redeemed for PayPal cash or gift cards.
15. Lyft
Lyft is a gig network that connects drivers with consumers looking for rides. This app also allows riders to arrange rides up to a week in advance. It alerts the driver’s arrival and offers the passenger an anticipated fee, just like other rideshare apps.
In select markets, drivers may also opt-in to deliver items like groceries, medical supplies, and home necessities. With this gig app, drivers get additional insurance policies at no cost and can even earn more money if they work during peak periods.
16. Uber Eats
The ridesharing app Uber offers a food delivery service called Uber Eats. As an Uber Eats driver, your duties will include gathering food orders from nearby restaurants and delivering them to customers. You may sign up as a food delivery driver on the Uber Eats app and work whenever you want; there is no set schedule.
Open the food delivery app, then look to see if there are any orders for meal delivery nearby. You can approve the request and go to the restaurant to pick up and deliver the food.
17. Upwork
Freelancers can find employment across all industries and skill sets with the Upwork app. This app is the go-to app for gig work for people with a variety of occupations, including authors, graphic designers, web developers, data entry clerks, and virtual assistants.
It has a good selection of open positions, the ability to work remotely, screen clients, aid in payment collection, and frequently offers higher-paying projects than other gig economy apps.
18. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a well-known paid survey site where you can get rewards for online shopping, playing video games, doing web searches, and responding to surveys. When you have accumulated enough points, you may exchange them for gift cards to online stores like Amazon and Walmart or for PayPal cashback.
19. Grabr
Grabr assists with connecting customers looking for items they can’t get locally with travelers who are headed in their direction and can deliver these items while traveling. With it, you may also finance your international travel by purchasing treats, gadgets, watches, shoes, and cosmetics for others. Grabr charges customers a service fee to pay development costs, including operating and support costs.
20. EasyShift
With EasyShift, you may find shifts to work in neighboring retailers and businesses. EasyShift’s gig app pays you when you snap product images, verify prices, and review special deals. You usually get paid for finishing quick tasks within 48 hours for jobs that commonly have fifteen-minute shifts. There are no restrictions on experience, and you can choose from a variety of flexible hours.
21. iVueit
iVueit is an app that helps you to make money taking photos with your smartphone. With this app, you can earn money by taking pictures of and learning about commercial properties nearby. It’s that easy. You only need to take pictures of the architecture, scenery, and commercial spaces.
Every time your vues are approved, payment is made through the iVueit wallet, which is credited. Simply choose to withdraw in the wallet, and money will be sent to your PayPal account in 24 hours. In an ever-connected world, there are plenty of ways to make money on your phone.
22. StreetCrowd
You can rent out your car on the StreetCrowd app by the minute and leave it in a designated spot. City dwellers should find it simpler to access dependable, hygienic, and secure shared transportation options thanks to the app. The app also allows you to get a free ride while sending cars to busy locations.
23. Google Opinion Rewards
Through the Google Opinion Rewards app, you can complete quick surveys to earn Google Play credit. After downloading the app and providing some basic personal information, you will receive surveys once a week; however, they may come more frequently or less frequently.
You’ll get a notification on your phone when a quick and relevant survey becomes available, and you could win up to $1.00 in Play credit. Possible questions include which promotion is the most effective, which logo is the best, and when you intend to take your next vacation.
24. Wonolo
Wonolo is an on-demand staffing app that helps you find consistent, flexible work. It can help you find shifts as well as temporary and permanent job opportunities in your area. Wonolo will assist you in finding your next gig job in warehousing, food production, and merchandising, as well as washing and cleaning. You can work when you want, where you want, and get paid when you want with it.
25. CoinOut
CoinOut is a receipt app that lets users earn cashback for uploading their receipts. For snaps of your receipts, CoinOut pays you a few cents for each receipt and allows you to cash out at any time. The advantage of CoinOut is that it rewards you in cash rather than points.
All you have to do to get cashback is submit any receipt into the app. You don’t have to look for specific bargains or spend time checking to see if a certain merchant participates in the program. Simply snap and earn. Receipts must be uploaded within two weeks of the original purchase date and must include the date, retail name, products purchased, and bill amount, and be legible.
What Is the Best Paying Gig App?
DoorDash has enticing rewards. In addition to the base income, you will receive 100% of the tips and will be rewarded more through promotions such as Peak Pay and challenges.
What Is the Best App for Finding Side Gigs?
Qwick is considered the best gig economy app for finding side gigs This hospitality and event industry staffing service matches qualified individuals with flexible shifts. Freelancers seeking work as dishwashers, bartenders, baristas, line cooks, or banquet servers may find it with Qwick and get paid as early as 30 minutes after the job is done.
What Gig Apps Pay the Same Day?
There are many gig economy apps that offer same-day pay such as DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, Qwick, and Survey Junkie.
Are Gig Apps Worth It?
Yes, they are. More and more individuals are seeking flexibility in their employment due to the growth of the gig economy, and gig applications are living up to their promises. Gig applications aid in connecting contractors with customers and in arranging working conditions, payments, reservations, and other aspects of gig labor.
Image: Depositphotos, Envato Elements
Shamus McGrueder
I’ve done Grub Hub and Door Dash and Door Dah customers don’t tend to tip in my area. I make about $50 more in an 8 hour shift on Grub Hub than on Door Dash.