Qwick vs Instawork: A Guide to On-Demand Job Platforms

In today’s gig economy, on-demand job platforms play a crucial role in connecting gig workers with short-term job opportunities. 

As individuals increasingly seek alternatives to traditional employment methods, platforms like Qwick and Instawork are providing a bridge between businesses in need of temporary or on-demand workers and skilled hourly workers seeking flexible job arrangements.

Before you decide to adopt a new platform, it’s important to understand the nuances of each to ensure you make an informed decision that aligns with your specific needs.

Let's explore and compare Qwick and Instawork to see what each has to offer.

Qwick Overview

Qwick is a professional platform focused solely on the hospitality industry that matches experienced industry freelancers with shifts at restaurants, hotels, caterers, stadiums, and more. 

Pros of Using Qwick

• ‍Experienced Workforce: Every worker on the Qwick platform is vetted for relevant experience and is required to have at least one year of hospitality experience. Additionally, Qwick verifies all worker certifications such as TIPS and ServSafe.

• ‍Higher Shift Coverage: Qwick occasionally fills shifts with additional experienced freelancers who meet the needs of your business and the posted shift – especially during periods when cancellations or no-shows are more frequent.

• ‍Large Event Experience: Qwick freelancers have experience working large-scale events of all types, including the State Fair of Texas, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Houston Rodeo, and Super Bowl LVII.

Cons of Using Qwick

• ‍Smaller Geographical Reach: Compared to its competitors, Qwick has a smaller geographical footprint as it currently serves 23 cities throughout the United States.

• ‍Higher Markup: Qwick’s 40% markup on the hourly shift rate makes it a more expensive platform than some others in the on-demand workforce space

• ‍Niche Demographic: Qwick is a hospitality-focused platform that serves hotels, restaurants and bars, stadiums, catering companies, event venues, and senior living facilities. Businesses outside of these verticals may have difficulty sourcing hourly help through the Qwick platform.

Instawork Overview

Instawork is a platform designed to connect businesses with on-demand workers. Their mission is to create economic opportunities for local businesses and hourly workers across the globe.

Pros of Using Instawork

• ‍Vetted Workers: Every worker on the Instawork platform undergoes a thorough background check and activation process. This includes checking references, validating work history, and understanding any relevant skills or certifications that would be useful.

• ‍Ability to Hire Full-Time Employees: Instawork’s Pro Search allows businesses to search, connect with, and hire from their network of over 5 million professionals.

• ‍Broader Geographical Reach: Instawork has a broad geographical reach for businesses and pros on its platform. Currently, it serves 48 cities across the United States and Canada.

Cons of Using Instawork

• ‍Placement Fee for Hires: Unlike some of its competitors, Instawork charges a direct hire fee when businesses decide to hire a pro from its platform.

• ‍Less Specialized Workforce: Instawork serves multiple industries in need of hourly workers, including hospitality, live events, warehousing and manufacturing, and retail. Businesses on the platform may struggle to find highly specialized workers within a specific industry.

• ‍Longer Verification Time: Pros interested in skilled positions must complete a “coach call” to obtain approval from the Instawork team to apply for those types of shifts. It can take up to 48 hours for a pro’s application to be approved and have their status updated.

Associated Costs

Both Qwick and Instawork operate on a model where businesses pay for the services and workers receive their earnings.

The specific cost structure varies between the two so it’s essential to review the terms of service for each platform.

Qwick

• Service Fee: Qwick charges a 40% markup on all shifts which is higher than many of its industry competitors.

• Placement Fee: Businesses interested in hiring a Qwick freelancer off the platform can do so without incurring any additional charge.

• Cancellation Fee: If a business cancels a shift within 24 hours of the start time, the business is required to pay the scheduled freelancer for four hours at the posted hourly rate.

Instawork

• Service Fee: Instawork charges a 35% markup on all shifts which includes applicable taxes and fees, OAI coverage, live platform support every day of the week, and free cancellations with a 24-hour notice.

• Placement Fee: Instawork charges a direct hire fee of $2,500 for businesses that bring on a pro from the platform for full time jobs. If the hired pro has worked at least 320 hours with the same business, the direct hire fee is reduced to $1,000. 

• Cancellation Fee: If a business cancels a posted shift with less than 24 hours' notice, the business may charged for up to four hours of pro pay.

Types of Shifts Offered

Qwick

‍Instawork

Instawork VS Qwick: Comparison Chart

App Store Ratings

It’s important to understand the user experience that each platform offers – not only your business but also the workers using your app –  before you decide whether to utilize one over the other. 

Instawork Worker App

The Instawork mobile app has received more than 1,400 ratings in the Apple App Store. Currently, the app has an average rating of 4.7 stars.

Within the Google Play Store, the app has an average rating of 4.4 stars and has received nearly 30,000 ratings. The Instawork mobile app has been downloaded over one million times.

Positive feedback on the Instawork mobile app includes:

• Ability to access payout immediately following a shift
• Variety of shift types offered through the app
• User-friendly and provides detailed shift information

Negative feedback on the Instawork mobile app includes:

• Long onboarding process
• Lack of shifts available in certain markets
• Difficulty communicating with support team

Instawork for Business App

The Instawork for Business mobile app allows businesses to manage their shifts on-the-go. The app has an average rating of 4.5 stars in the Apple App Store and an average rating of 3.8 stars in the Google Play Store. 

Qwick Worker App

The Qwick mobile app currently has an average rating of 3 stars in the Apple 

In the Google Play Store, the Qwick mobile app has over 4,600 reviews and has been downloaded more than 100,000 times. The app has an average rating of 4.1 stars. 

Positive feedback on the Qwick mobile app includes:

• Responsive support team that is accessible through text
• Ability to get certifications (ie: food handler certification) through the app
• Quick payout after shifts

Negative feedback on the Qwick mobile app includes:

• Lack of shifts available to experienced freelancers
• At least one year of hospitality experience is required to use the platform
• Orientation call feels too similar to a traditional interview/hiring process

Qwick for Business App

The Qwick for Business mobile app currently has an average rating of 4.4 stars and allows businesses to manage their on-demand shift needs from their phone.

Account Support

Qwick

Qwick offers users access to a help center which answers questions commonly asked by businesses and freelancers. Additionally, Qwick provides Labor Force Group Resources so users can access up-to-date workplace notices and Labor Force Group handbook supplements.

Qwick Support is also available via text message.

Instawork

To receive support from the Instawork team, users can visit Instawork’s support page and complete the form with any information relevant to the inquiry or send a message within their mobile app.

The Instawork Support Team is available Monday through Friday from 7AM to 8PM Pacific Standard Time.

Apps Similar to Qwick and Instawork 

• ‍Wonolo: Wonolo is an on-demand staffing platform that allows businesses to find talent for their immediate labor needs.‍

• Upshift: Upshift is an on-demand staffing platform that allows businesses to create a pool of qualified, pre-vetted Upshifters to meet staffing needs. Currently, Upshift assists businesses with work in the hospitality, retail, and light industrial industries.‍

• GigSmart: GigSmart is a technology company that connects businesses with qualified, on-demand workers for short and long-term jobs across all industries, nationwide. ‍

• Adia: Adia is an on-demand staffing platform that helps businesses transition out of inefficient staffing by providing a vetted workforce.‍

• Bacon: Bacon is a gig-work app that connects established businesses to local gig workers. Businesses can post shifts on the Bacon app and workers can apply to shifts that fit their schedule.‍

• shiftNOW: shiftNOW is a on-demand workforce platform that provides a flexible solution to the hospitality industry’s toughest problem – its temporary workforce. From one-time, recurring, or temp-to-hire work, shiftNOW enables hospitality businesses to control how their resource their business and provides top-tier talent with an easy way to make money on their own terms.‍

• Bluecrew: Bluecrew is a W-2 workforce-as-a-service company that provides a flexible team of hourly workers to businesses in need. ‍

• Snagajob: Snagajob is a marketplace for hourly jobs and shifts. It allows workers to select when and where they work while highlighting business’ open jobs to the right candidates. ‍

• Staffy: Staffy is an online, on-demand platform that connects experience workers with businesses who need their skills on a short or long-term basis.‍

• Evolia: Evolia empowers shift workers with the freedom to work where and when they want and self-manage their schedules while enabling management to streamline everything from recruitment to payroll.

Evaluating Qwick VS Instawork for Your On-Demand Needs

In the ever-evolving landscape of on-demand workforce solutions, the gig economy platform you choose boils down to individual priorities and preferences. 

Gig economy platforms offer businesses increased flexibility and access to a diverse pool of on-demand workers. But understanding the impact - whether positive or negative - new solutions can have on your business is a critical step in the evaluation process. 

As you embark on your journey to find the best solution for your business, consider the nuances of each platform, weighing the pros and cons outlined in this comparison. 

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