The Gig Economy is a dynamic labor market that offers a wide range of short-term business ventures, freelance work, temporary contracts, and other employment opportunities. Well-known companies such as Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, TaskRabbit, Freelancer, Instacart, and many others rely on the Gig Economy to source their workforce. Today, Gig work is available across numerous industries, providing job seekers with a diverse selection of opportunities to choose from.
If you are interested in leveraging gig apps to find work, here are some helpful tips:
- Identify and pursue gigs that align with your interests and skills.
- Utilize the best apps for gig work to increase your chances of securing job offers and building your reputation.
- Keep in mind that gigs requiring advanced skills typically offer higher pay.
- Consider selecting gigs that allow you to set your own price, as these opportunities often result in higher compensation than those where the company sets your pay rate.
Let’s take a look at the best gig economy apps in the market today:
Best Grocery Delivery Gig Apps
1. Instacart
Instacart lets you shop from local grocery stores online. Once you add your orders, it will be sent to one of the personal shoppers, and they will collect and deliver your order on the same day. Instacart has a partnership with most national and regional retailers, including Kroger, Sprouts, and Costco.
How does Instacart work?
Instacart will help you to buy grocery products from the local store online. Customers can purchase by using the Instacart mobile application or from the official website. A shopper or supplier will be assigned to every customer to collect the products from the store. And they will deliver the products on the same day within a few hours. If any product purchased is out of stock or is not available, Instacart will allow you for a replacement.
How does Instacart make money?
Instacart has different ways to earn money by delivery fees, service fees, and tips, membership fees, surge fees, mark-up prices, advertisements, partnerships, etc. Instacart will charge a standard delivery charge according to the orders amount and their time of delivery. If an order is above $35, they will charge $3.99 for delivery.
For orders below the limit of $35, they will charge a higher amount for delivery. In some stores, the product price of some goods has marked up to 20%. Instacart has membership offers to attract customers. Instacart will charge an additional 10% as a service charge on every order and also have an option to provide any tips to the delivery person. If the delivery time is the peak time, surge pricing will be applied.
Check out: Instacart Clone Script
2. Peapod
Peapod offers to order different types of products from local suppliers, which include organic, kosher, and sushi foods. Peapod’s shopper will collect the things from the list and deliver it to you the next day, but you need to place an order before 8 pm. Peapod has a partnership with significant supermarket brands offering hometown tastes in some big markets.
How does Peapod work?
Peapod is an online application to purchase grocery products online. Customers can order the product and can select their store, and they can buy organic products, kosher, and sushi foods. Moreover, customers can schedule the delivery time for the next day or the same day. Peapod delivery drivers will deliver the freshest groceries to the customer’s home.
3. Shipt
Shipt 403 is an on-demand grocery delivery service throughout the US. Shipt lets you select delivery time and date, and their shoppers will collect and deliver the groceries. Shipt has a feature to communicate with shoppers directly for any changes. Shipt has a partnership with Publix, Costco, Whole Foods, and many more, which gives users more options to choose from.
How does Shipt work?
Shipt is an online service that delivers groceries and a lot of other services. Customers can choose the groceries, products, drug stores and can place the order through the app or from their official website. Select the local store to purchase the products, select the items and add to the cart. Providing payment information will help to complete the checkout process. There is an option to check the time of delivery and confirm the availability of the customer. During the time of delivery, shippers will collect the product and will deliver it to your home.
How does Shipt make money?
Shipt can earn money in different ways as a delivery fee, membership fee. Shipt will charge a delivery fee according to the order quantity. If the order is under $35, it will charge a delivery fee of $7, and for above $35, the delivery cost is free. Shipt will charge a membership fee of $14 per month and also $99 for a year.
4. Fresh Direct
Fresh Direct is fresh food and grocery delivery service in New York City. With fresh direct, you can purchase anything and fix a delivery time to get delivered the next day or a week in advance. Your boxes will be delivered right to your doorstep.
How does Fresh Direct work?
Fresh direct is an online delivery service for grocery products that will help people to save money and time of purchasing. It works the same as other shopping sites by adding items that need to purchase. When you finished shopping, you need to select the delivery time and location of the delivery. Users can also schedule delivery to the next day. The products will arrive in a box through a refrigerated truck, and the shopper will deliver the box to doorsteps. Users can book products through the Fresh Direct app or the website.
How does Fresh Direct make money?
Fresh Direct will produce their income by buying products at the wholesale price, and they are selling it in a retail manner. They are taking a regular delivery charge from the customers on individual orders. They have a membership fee of $119 for unlimited delivery without any delivery charge.
Best Ride Sharing Gig Apps
1. Uber
Uber is a ride-hailing smartphone app that connects riders with drivers and one of the first on-demand service platforms. For users, it’s easy to get reliable rides, and for drivers, it makes extra income. The Uber app figures out the route for the driver and calculates the distance and fare. The payment will transfer using the selected payment method.
How does Uber work?
Uber is a rider app that will help people to travel from one place to another. The user has to sign up and submit the trip request to get the ride. The submitted request will automatically go to the nearby uber driver, and the location will help the driver to reach customers. The Uber driver has an option to either accept or cancel the request. The rate of the trip will be calculated by the distance and time of the trip.
How does Uber make money?
The main revenue source of Uber is by charging its customers for their rides. They will also charge from the drivers as a service charge for each ride. Uber also earn through promotional offerings and third-party partnerships.
Check: Uber clone app
2. Lyft
Lyft is a ride-sharing company that provides a more technically advanced and cheaper alternative to taxi services. It operates a platform that connects both passengers and drivers with friendly, safe and affordable transportation in the US and Canada. It also allows riders to schedule rides a week in advance. The Lyft app notifies the driver’s arrival and shows the passenger an estimated cost.
How does Lyft work?
Lyft is one of the major ride-sharing companies which gives more advanced and cheaper alternatives to taxi services. It works for both passengers and for the drivers as well. The customer needs to provide the starting and ending location before confirming the trip. When the customer confirms the trip, riders will receive the trip details and the driver will confirm the trip. When you reach the destination you can pay the amount through different modes of payment. The customer can rate the ride once they reach the destination and can leave comments, tips. Those who have a personal vehicle can become a Lyft driver.
How does Lyft make money?
Lyft earns money by using its millions of active riders. Ride-sharing services are used by ten million people and create a huge profit of $36 billion in market revenue. The company generates 20% of the net revenue per ride.
Check: Lyft clone app
3. Curb
Curb is the best online taxi app in the US. It connects you to safe and reliable rides from professional and insured drivers rather than just sharing a ride in a private car, which gives riders choice, reliability, and convenience whenever they ride. The Curb app has a feature called “Pick Me Up Later” which allows you to book a taxi before the actual departure time.
How does Curb work?
Curb is a taxi app in the US. This app will help the passengers to connect with nearby taxi drivers by using their mobile phone through curb application.this will help the passengers to reach the destination as soon as possible. The curb app provides two services:
Ride now: It helps the passengers to get their destination on their demand by providing the pickup and drop off destination. While arriving at the destination, payment can be done through the credit card, debit card, or any account that you have saved in the app.
Ride later: Passengers can schedule their trip through ride later. So that customers can reserve their taxi 24 hours before in advance.
How does a Curb make money?
Curb will earn their income by converting their riders through trips. They will charge a service charge from the drivers on all trips. On joining the company every driver needs to provide a small registration fee.
4. Wingz
Wingz is a new ride-share company that lets you schedule rides to airports or any important events. The Wingz app connects the passengers with drivers for easy and premium rides with completely free surge pricing. The unique part of Wingz is you can ride with familiar faces every time. You can add drivers to your ‘My Favorite Drivers’ list in the app.
How does Wingz work?
Wingz is a new riders çompany which helps to travel from one place to another place. We can schedule our ride according to our needs. Passengers can schedule their ride from 2 hours to even 1 year in advance. If the passenger is impressive at any driver, he can add him to his favorite driver’s list. This helps to get the same driver for the next time if the driver is available. After completing the ride, the customer can review the driver and the company’s services. Wingz will earn money by taking a fixed percentage from the riders as a service charge.
Best Restaurant Food Delivery Gig Apps
1. GrubHub
Grubhub is an online food ordering app that partners with restaurants in your area which helps users to purchase food from restaurants. This online service allows you to order food from connected restaurants. You can search online for food and filter by cuisine, rating, price, restaurant, and other features. GrubHub offers its own delivery service where restaurants have no delivery option.
How does Grubhub work?
Grubhub is an on-demand food delivery service. Customers can operate by using the mobile app and through the GrubHub website. Grubhub application is very user friendly and flexible to use. It will connect with a huge collection of restaurants near to the customer. People can order food and can receive it at their doorsteps.
The user can search for restaurants available near to them and can place the order. There is an option to pay online or cash on delivery. Customers can track the order, where it reached and when does it arrive. Once a customer places an order, the restaurant will notify when the order is ready. After the confirmation of the order from the restaurant, the delivery person near to the location gets the order ready notification. The delivery person will pick-up the order and reaches a customer on time.
How does Grubhub make money?
Grubhub takes a commission from the restaurant according to the total percentage of the order. Grubhub also provides delivery service to the restaurant, this will help the company to earn revenue when they place an order. The commission rate can be set by the restaurant according to their range. So that they need to provide high exposure to diners in the platform.
Check: GrubHub Clone Script
2. Doordash
DoorDash 403 is an online food delivery service and on-demand logistics based startup that acts between merchants and buyers to get products delivered from local merchants to the buyer’s doorstep. It allows you to get food from restaurants that don’t have their own delivery service. The DoorDash app lets you track and see the status and location of the driver.
How does Doordash work?
Doordash is an online food delivery service. This will help people to get very fresh food from the favorite restaurants near them. Users can download the Doordash application available on both iOS and Android. The advanced search option allows searching with the name of restaurant and food. The selected food products will be available in the cart. Before payment user can sort products from the cart. After payment user needs to check the delivery address whether it is correct or not. Once the user collected the order, they and can add reviews to the delivery person or rate the restaurant.
How Doordash makes money?
Doordash earns revenue through different ways: Delivery fees: There’s an average charge of $5 to $8 per order. The rate will depend on the distance of traveling and the time of delivery. Commission: Doordash will take a commission fee of 20% from the restaurants on each order. Doordash also earns more income from advertisements. They charge from the restaurants for marketing and advertisements. To appear at the top of the search results, restaurants need to provide an extra commission.
Check: Doordash Clone Script
3. Deliveroo
Deliveroo offers fast, transparent and reliable online delivery service from premium restaurants to your doorstep. A huge variety of restaurants are available on the platform, and you can receive them wherever you want in less than 30 minutes.
How does Deliveroo work?
Deliveroo is an online food delivery platform that helps the customers to buy food from their nearby favorite restaurants. Customers can order through Deliveroo mobile app or website. Deliveroo is acting as a link between the customers and the restaurant. They are creating a connection with the best restaurants and showing it to the users. Deliveroo has several delivery boys to transfer the food from restaurants to customers. Deliveroo mainly concentrates on highly demanded restaurants. If the customer is near to the restaurants they have the option to collect the food by their own.
How does Deliveroo make money?
Deliveroo mainly earns money through their commission and the subscription plans. Deliveroo is taking a moderate commission rate of 25 to 35 percent on every sale and also depends on the quality of the restaurant. Customers have to pay a small fee as a delivery charge, this is useful to pay as driver payment. Deliveroo charges a rate of £11.49 per month for UK customers. There will be no delivery charge for the orders above £10 and can use for 7 days as a free trial.
Check: The best online food delivery apps
Best Gig Apps for Simple Tasks
1. Postmates
Postmates is an on-demand delivery app that allows customers to order anything from anywhere in the city. The platform is unique in terms of on-demand delivery service providers and unique ways of delivering goods when compared to other service providers. Postmates has a similar business model as Uber.
How does Postmates work?
Postmates is an online delivery application to purchase anything from near cities by using the Postmates app. Postmate’s application is available on iOS and Android phones. After signup users can search for the restaurants that they want to order. By using the application all the restaurants can display their entire available menu to the customers, this will help the customers to choose the food very easily.
When selection is over customers need to confirm the order by the payment methods. Customers can track the order by using the GPS system. When the delivery boy picks the order, the customer will get notified and they can see when does it arrive. Users can give feedback and rating to the food and delivery person.
How does Postmates make money?
Postmates earn revenue in different ways. Delivery fee: This will charge a small amount of delivery charge on every order. The charges start from $5 and it depends on the time and distance. Convenience fee: As we all know the delivery fee is only useful to pay the salary of the delivery person. Instead of that, there will be a convenience fee of 9% that is taking from the customers, this is directly going to the Postmates income.
Everyone is ready to give this fee as it is very convenient that they are receiving good food without any work. Postmates also collaborated with the local markets and stores in order to provide goods to the customers and have created an agreement with them. Postmates are getting a small percentage of commission from the total bill of the customers in this way and this will directly go to the company income.
Check: Postmates Clone Script
2. Field Agent
Field Agent is an app that pays per task completed for their clients. These tasks can be taking photos, answer questions, express your opinions or execute other small tasks. By using a crowdsourcing platform like FieldAgent, companies can collect informative data from their consumers easily.
How does Field Agent work?
Field Agent is a demanding application that helps people to earn income online. Field Agent app is available on every smartphone. The customers need to create their own attractive profile by adding their work details, experience, and personal information.
Customer can select their own desired work by customizing their job search by tapping the menu icon in the right top corner. The customers need to complete their task, it may be taking photos, answering the questions, expressing their own opinion or small tasks to be executed. Field Agent works with the workers by offering data collection and digital marketing.
How does a Field Agent make money?
Field agents will earn money through their commission basis by collecting a small percentage of commission from the workers. This can also earn profit by providing advertisements on the website. So that the workers may be excited by advertisement. This income will be a great advantage to their revenue.
3. Task Rabbit
TaskRabbit is a task-based marketplace that connects local professionals with people who need their help which can be plumbing, haircutting, teaching music, etc. TaskRabbit calls these local professionals “Tasker”, Taskers can use the site to find jobs, contact potential clients and collect payment for their work.
How does Task Rabbit work?
Task rabbit is an on-demand application used by taskers. This is beneficial to people who need local professionals such as plumbers, electricians, haircutting, teaching music, etc., they are known as taskers. Create an account in the TaskRabbit app inorder to find the taskers. It will work when the task poster updates a job on the website and the TaskRabbit will suggest three contractors with their rate according to their work experience and range of their price.
The tasker will accept or decline the work according to their availability. Iftasker accepts the work, they will complete the job and the payment will be done through the app. Taskers will have a background check-up inorder to verify that they are fully talented. Once selected they need to choose their skills and interests.
How does Task Rabbit make money?
Task rabbits earn revenue by charging a commission of 15% from every completed job and also a 7.5% as a supporting fee. Task rabbit will cut on every transaction which is done over the application.
4. GigWalk
Gigwalk is a crowd-sourced service with an app that pays users to do tasks like walking around, answering survey questions, etc. Tasks in Gigwalk are called gigs. Gigwalk helps businesses find out how they’re doing from the perspective of their consumers. These businesses are the main revenue channel for Gigwalk.
How does Gigwalk work?
Gigwalk helps to earn income by performing small jobs through the internet. Gigwalk is an application available on android and ios. Once you download the application, you need to sign-up for the Gigwalk account. After that, you can see small jobs displaying through the map represented by the pins.
A certain time is specified to complete the task so that they must be very confident that they can complete the work within that time. Tasks in the Gigwalk are called gigs. So if anyone wants to choose a job they have to click on the “apply for this gig”. After accepting you should choose a time limit to complete the task. When the user had given the time limit, they need to click the “gig details” in that app which provides instructions. You need to provide your PayPal account details in order to get paid.
How does Gigwalk make money?
Gigwalk major revenue will come from the commission of the customer. For completing every gig Gigwalk is paying to the customers, from this a small basic proportion is going to Gigwalk.
5. Easy Shift
EasyShift is a convenient app that allows you to make extra cash on your own schedule by completing quick jobs at local stores and shops.
How does Easyshift work?
Easy shift helps people to make extra income by doing small works on their own time. Everyone can join Easyshift through the website. Easyshift will pay for every task that people do. The only criteria is to do the work within the time limit and everyone should be above 18. After entering the application you need to sign up and after that, you will get some shift work, maybe you need to go to stores near to you and need to take pictures. Easyshift will give you only the nearby shops. After completing this task you will be paid.
Gig Apps for Physical Tasks
Takl
Takl works as a platform to connect people who need work done with qualified professionals who can get that work done.
How does Takl work?
Takl is an on-demand home services platform to get help for small jobs like lawn care, home repairs, and more. Takl is a work platform which will connect the qualified professional who can do the work and the people who need to do the work. Firstly registration should be done through the Takl application, this can be done by both providers and customers for using the Takl.
Once the registration is done they can order very fastly and is very easy to just filling the information that is needed which includes photos of the job to be done. Once the job was accepted by the provider they can contact him and can track the details of the provider for further interactions. When the work completed they need to upload a picture of the work and if the provider is satisfied with the work they can accept and will get paid for the work. payment can be done through the app instead of using a cheque or money.
How does Takl make money?
Takl can earn through commission basis according to the work done by the provider. They will charge a small percentage of 10% to 30% of the customer as a service charge. Every job has a certain commission, it will depend on the job. You can also learn more on How to Build an On-Demand Home Service Platform like Takl?
Dolly
Dolly is a customer service company offering delivery and services through mobile apps at an affordable price. You can book the vehicle type, based on your need, as in the case of on-demand.
How does Dolly work?
Dolly is a customer service company that offers no contact service. Dolly offers delivery and service through the mobile application at a moderate rate. It works according to their own needs. First of all, registration to be done with dolly then search for the helpers to do the work. choose the pick-up location and drop-off location. Users can book according to the use and requirement. After booking, they will pick up and drop off at the desired location and the payment is online.
Bellhops
Bellhops are the fastest-growing moving company in the industry that operates across the United States. Moving companies help people and businesses move their goods from one place to another. It offers all-inclusive services for relocations like packing, loading, moving, unloading, unpacking and arranging of items to be shifted.
Handy
Handy is an online two-sided marketplace to find residential cleaning, installation, and other home services, professionals. The New York City-based company operates services in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Handy App will help you track the location of your pro, manage your booking details, communicate with your pro, rate, and tip after each booking, and more mobile-only features.
How does Handy work?
Handy is an app that connects customers with top-rated cleaning professionals. All you have to do is enter your zip code and how big your house or apartment is, and Handy matches you with a professional. One can work for Handy only through the smartphone app. At the time of sign-up, you have an option to check all types of jobs. When you find an interesting job you can add it to your schedule. Jobs can be scheduled for several days before.
How does Handy make money?
They will charge a small percentage of the booking fee from the payment done to the professionals. Handy will charge for every service that is done through the app. They charge it from both customers and professionals. They are also charging a higher rate for specific jobs that require highly professional people with skills like plumbers, electricians, and other types of skilled jobs.
Best Gig Apps for Car Rental
Getaround
Getaround is an online marketplace that connects owners and renters from their car-sharing community. Individuals can place their own cars for rent on the platform and renters can use the mobile app or website to book a car and unlock it without the need to meet someone and hand off keys.
Turo
Turo is an online on-demand marketplace or a car-sharing marketplace that works under the principle of sharing economy. Turo allows the car owners to make cash by renting their vehicles.
Best Gig Apps for Parking Rental
JustPark
JustPark is a technology platform that matches drivers with parking spaces through its website and mobile application. Users will get information with directions to car parks and on-street spaces, plus info on availability and restrictions.
SpotHero
SpotHero is a digital parking reservation service that connects drivers looking to reserve and pay for parking spaces with parking lots, parking garages and valet services. The company has a mobile app, website, and a parking developer platform.SpotHero is available in 300 cities in the United States and Canada.
Best Gig Apps for Tutoring
Tutor
Tutor is fully online tutoring service. You can get a tutor 24/7 in more than 40 subjects including Math, Science, Social Studies and English.
Preply
Preply is an online educational platform that pairs students with private tutors remotely via online chat. It features a ranking algorithm that uses machine learning for classification and recommendation of tutors.
Best Gig Apps for Dog-Sitting/Pet Watching
Rover
Rover is a dog lover’s best friend and also to your dog. They provide excellent customer support and are considered as the nation’s largest community of pet sitters and dog walkers. Rover is the most comfortable way for pet parents to discover and book kind and honest neighborhood pet care.
Tailster
Tailster helps to get pet care with ease, a quick and secure way. They provide a perfect carer for you whether you’re going away for a weekend, a long holiday or you’re at work and need someone to walk your pooch. Tailster even helps you in emergencies to ensure your pet is safe and never alone.
Best Gig App For Online Surveys
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a GPT (get paid to) website that allows users to earn money by doing online activities like searching, daily polling, etc. Swagbucks rewards and loyalty program gives you free gift cards and cash for doing such tasks.
VIPVoice
VIP Voice is an online research community that conducts more than 12 million surveys a year on topics such as electronics, mobile, sports, toys, apparel, accessories, beauty and more.
Best Gig App For Selling Old Stuff
Craigslist
Craigslist is an online classified ad website divided into different city areas. Users post ads in categories including Services, For Sale, Jobs, Housing, Community and Personal.
LetGo
Letgo is an application with online classifieds which allows the users to connect with each other for buying and selling. In the app, Seller has to take pictures of the item he is going to sell and list the items on the site. Buyers can search for the item they want to buy on Letgo application which lists items that are closer to their location.
Wish
Wish is a free-to-use shopping site and also a mobile app for sweet deals and bargains. It puts shoppers directly in touch with 3rd party sellers in China to buy pretty much anything at a fraction of what you’d find it for elsewhere.
Best Gig App For Baby Sitting
Sittercity
Sitter City is an online marketplace where you can find professionals for local home care. The service varies from babysitters, nannies, pet sitters to housekeepers.
Care
Care is a public corporation headquartered in the United States. The company helps people find professionals for child care, senior care, and house keeping.Care.com is operating across 20 countries.
Best Gig App For Home Rental
Tripping
Tripping is an online aggregator for home rental services which has over 10 million listings and has a partnership with major companies like Booking.com, Interhome, etc.
Flipkey
Flipkey is an online home rental marketplace where rental owners are verified by the company’s staff and the site also has an option for users to review these service providers.
Best Gig Apps for Writing/Reading
Kindle
Kindle is built for book lovers, the Kindle app puts millions of eBooks, including textbooks and comics in English and a number of Indian languages at your fingertips.
Blurb
Blurb platform makes it easy to design, publish, promote, and sell professional-quality printed books and ebooks.
Best Gig Apps For Art, Design, and Crafting
Zibbet
Zibbet is a site where you can sell handmade, vintage, craft or fine art, paying a monthly service fee based on how many items you list.
Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. These items fall under a wide range of categories, including jewelry, bags, clothing, art, etc as well as craft supplies and tools.
Best Gig Apps For Proof Reading
Gramlee
Gramlee offers a variety of editing services, including dissertation editing, copy editing, proofreading, and APA and grammar checks.
Scribendi
Scribendi is an online proofreading and editing service which helps students perfect their essays and papers.
Best Gig Apps for Selling Photos
Foap
Foap is a free app that lets you sell your photos. It brings your photos to the attention of potential buyers from all over the world.
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock offers a collection of over 60 million high-quality images accessible from their stand-alone website but also from the library feature on any of Creative Cloud applications, including popular design tools like Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign.
Best Gig Apps For Videos
YouTube
YouTube is a video sharing service where users can watch, like, share, comment and upload their own videos.
Twitch
Twitch is an online site that allows users to watch or broadcast live streaming or pre-recorded video of broadcaster’s video game gameplay.
Other Popular Gig Apps
Upwork
Upwork is one of the most reliable freelancing websites where one can provide services based on their personal skills and also one can hire a freelancer and get the work done.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a global marketplace for buying and selling services for as little as $5. The site gives people access to a global network of buyers and sellers.
Wrap-Up– Gig Economy Apps
Hence you got which are the successful gig economy sites today. Now you have to find your interesting job, then download the app, set your price and complete the job. You can earn more money using the above gig apps.
Are you planning to build an app similar to the above list?
It can be an on-demand app, delivery app, restaurant app, eCommerce app or any kind of app. If so you can use the clone scripts to build your app.
Before you build an app see the guidelines for developing mobile applications.