Picking Up Gigs and the Best Apps for Gig Work

“Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin’”...but in today’s society, it’s no longer the only way to do so.

The gig economy provides unprecedented flexibility for workers to choose when, where, and how they work. It comes as no surprise that in recent years, more workers have availed of these benefits. 

Gig work platforms offers countless opportunities for individuals who want to:

• Earn extra money
• Fill their free time or supplement their current work schedule
•  Immerse themselves in new opportunities and meet new people

In this blog, we’ll delve into what gig work entails, where you can find gigs, and the best apps available for picking up shifts.

What is Gig Work?

In gig work, individuals perform short-term, freelance, or temporary work on a per-task or per-project basis. Online platforms or mobile apps typically facilitate this type of work.

The gig economy spans across various industries such as transportation, hospitality, delivery services, retail, pet care, and more. 

Gig workers, also known as independent contractors or freelancers, can choose when and where they work. This flexibility makes it an attractive opportunity for individuals who want to explore something other than full-time work.

What are the Benefits of Gig Apps?

In the gig economy, individuals find unique benefits that traditional, full-time employment often lacks. Statista estimates that the number of U.S. freelancers will rise to 76.4 million in 2024. 

The main draws of gig work apps include:

Flexibility: One of the most significant advantages of gig work is the flexibility it provides. Gig workers can set their own schedules, choose how much they work, and select the gigs that best suit their preferences and lifestyle. This flexibility is particularly appealing to students, parents, retirees, and individuals with other commitments.

Variety of Opportunities: Gig work spans across various industries and job types. It offers a wide range of opportunities for individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds. 

Extra Income: Many freelancers use gig works as a means to earn supplemental income. Gig workers have the potential to increase their income based on their availability and willingness to work. In doing so, gig workers can save money for big goals, pay off bills, or use their earnings to put themselves through school.

Independence: Gig workers operate as independent contractors rather than traditional employees, giving them greater control over their work. They have the freedom to choose which gigs to accept, how to perform their tasks, and when to take time off. This independence can lead to a sense of empowerment and satisfaction in managing one's own career.

Accessibility: Individuals who face barriers to traditional employment can find accessible opportunities with gig work. Many gig opportunities require minimal education or work experience prerequisites, making it easier for individuals to enter the workforce and start earning income.

Geographical Flexibility: With the proliferation of digital platforms and mobile apps, individuals can access gig opportunities from virtually anywhere with an internet connection. Workers can find gigs as they travel or access gigs in areas with limited traditional job opportunities.

Industries to Pick Up Gig Work In

Individuals interested in freelance work have a wide array of industries they can explore gig work in. From dog sitting to grocery delivery, there’s a gig economy platform available for every skill set and interest. Let’s check some of them out!

Transportation

Many individuals first became familiarized with gig platforms that provide transportation services. 

Gig apps like Uber and Lyft quickly became popularized as an alternative to public transportation or taxi services. 

Uber

Uber is a multinational rideshare and transportation services company. Although Uber offers various other services such as food delivery, freight and logistics, and e-bike and scooter rentals, ridesharing is the apps most commonly used.

Lyft

Lyft’s service offerings are nearly identical to Uber as the platform offers ridesharing, bike and scooter rentals, a public transit integration, and delivery services in addition to rental cars and medical transportation.

Food Delivery Services 

Food delivery services can range from grocery delivery to takeout orders, to that one item you forgot while you were at the supermarket.

Whether you don’t have time to go grocery shopping or don’t feel like cooking, gig apps like Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and GrubHub bring a new level of convenience to everyday life. 

Instacart

Instacart is a grocery delivery and pick-up service that is available in the United States and Canada. 

Through Instacart, gig workers shop for a customer’s groceries and deliver the items to the customer’s doorstep. Unlike some other food delivery apps, Instacart shoppers are required to have regular access to a vehicle as orders are typically larger.

DoorDash

DoorDash is an on-demand prepared food delivery service that connects customers with local restaurants and eateries. DoorDash employs a network of freelancers, known as “Dashers”, to pick up orders from the restaurants and deliver them to the customers’ specific location.

Uber Eats

Uber expanded its service offerings in 2014 to include food delivery from cafes, delis, restaurants, and convenience stores to customers’ doorstep. Unlike Uber’s transportation services, gig workers are not always required to have a car to make Uber Eats deliveries.

Depending on the city a gig worker wants to use Uber Eats in, they may be able to make deliveries by bike, scooter, or on foot.

GrubHub

GrubHub is an online and mobile food ordering and delivery platform that connects diners with local restaurants. GrubHub is available in thousands of cities across the United States and employs a network of independent deliver drivers who pick up orders from restaurants and deliver to customers’ locations. 

Pet Sitting

Rover

Rover is an online marketplace and platform that connects pet owners with pet care services including dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, grooming, training, and drop-in visits. 

Anyone interested in picking up gig work through Rover should be comfortable with dogs and/or cats and should consider which breed types they would feel most comfortable caring for (small, medium, or large dog breeds).

Wag!

Wag! is an online platform and gig app similar to Rover. Wag allows gig workers to join their platform to provide various services such as dog walking, pet sitting, day care, training, and drop-by visits.

Prospective Wag workers should feel comfortable providing care to dogs and/or cats.

Handy Work 

Thumbtack

Founded in 2008, Thumbtack is an online gig platform allows customers to source local service professionals for various tasks and projects.

Gig workers who join Thumbtack can offer their services across different categories including:

• Home improvement: Services include plumbing, electrical work, painting, landscaping, cleaning, and general contracting
• Wellness: Services include personal training, massage therapy, life coaching, and nutrition.
• Pets: Services include grooming, training, pet sitting, and aquarium services.
• Events: Services include photography, DJing, event planning, catering, and make artistry.
• Lessons: Services include music lessons, language tutoring, dance instruction, and academic tutoring.
• Business Services: Services include accounting, marketing, web design, and IT support.

TaskRabbit

Like Thumbtack, TaskRabbit allows skilled freelancers to provide services for a variety of tasks and errands. Through TaskRabbit, a Tasker can take on a task that’s as simple as waiting in line for someone or as hands-on as furniture assembly. 

Taskers can explore tasks across several categories some of which include:

• Handywork: Includes tasks such as TV mounting, installing blinds, furniture assembly, and more.
• Moving Services: Includes tasks such as junk pickup, packing services, heavy lifting, and more.
• Cleaning: Includes tasks such as carpet cleaning, vacation rental cleaning, pressure washing, disinfecting services, and more.
• Shopping & Delivery: Includes tasks such as waiting in line, returning items, grocery shopping, and more. 
• Yard Work Services: Includes tasks such as mulching services, leaf removal, gutter cleaning, vacation plant watering, and more.

Hospitality

shiftNOW

shiftNOW connects individuals with open hospitality shifts in their area. Through the shiftNOW gig work platform, “Shifters” can view front-of-house, back-of-house, event, and general labor shifts with nearby hospitality businesses.

Shifters also have the ability to use the platform to find temporary or full-time opportunities with restaurants and bars, hotels, country clubs, golf courses, catering businesses, live event venues, and more.

Best Gig Apps for Earning Money

There are numerous platforms and mobile apps to find gig work near you but some are higher paying than others. Let’s take a look at the payouts available on some of the most commonly used gig platforms!

TaskRabbit 

The TaskRabbit platform allows Taskers to set their own hourly rates for the services they provide. Earnings will vary depending on the amount of time a task takes; however, the minimum amount of time a task can be invoiced for is one hour.

DoorDash 

A Dasher’s total earnings are comprised of base pay, promotions, and tips. 

Base pay is the base contribution DoorDash makes to Dashers and range from $2 to $10+ depending on the delivery time, distance, and the offer’s desirability. 

Dashers have the opportunity to earn extra money on a delivery through promotions such as peak pay (earn extra money on each delivery offer), challenges (earn extra money for completing a set amount of deliveries within a specified timeframe , and streaks (earn extra money by accepting and completing offers consecutively).

shiftNOW

Through shiftNOW, gig workers can pick up hourly shifts that can pay between $15 to $75 per hour. 

In addition to the hourly rate, Shifters have the opportunity to earn extra money by picking up Boosted Shifts or shifts with tips included.

A Boosted Shift is one in which a business has added a bonus payment to incentivize applicants. The Boost Amount is then added to a Shifter’s total earnings at the end of the shift. 

Businesses can indicate that a shift will include tips when posting on shiftNOW; however, they also have the ability to tip a Shifter through the platform upon completion of the shift.

Instacart

Instacart Shoppers earn through batch pay, promotions, and tips. 

A Shopper’s batch pay takes into account the order size, the weight of items, travel to the store, and the expected shopping time. When necessary, a Shopper’s batch pay might increase if there aren’t enough Shoppers to meet customer demand or if an order is particularly heavy

In addition to a batch pay increase, promotions become available when there is high customer demand. Shoppers can earn extra through promotions on one or more batches.

Rover

Gig workers who want more control over their earnings should consider the gig app Rover as it allows sitters and walkers to set their own rates. Depending on a customer’s needs, Rover sitters and walkers may charge additional rates on a booking, for example, if service is needed on a holiday or for multiple dogs.

Why to Consider Gig Work

Gig work offers a flexible and dynamic alternative to traditional employment. It provides workers with autonomy over their work and allows individuals to pick up shifts based on their preferences. 

Whether you seek additional income, a temporary side hustle or a way to explore different industries, gig work offers plenty of opportunities. 

Through the power of technology, you can find and secure gigs with ease, all while enjoying the freedom to work on your own terms. So why wait? Start exploring the world of gig work today and unlock a new realm of possibilities for your career and lifestyle.

Find Gig Work on shiftNOW

Download the shiftNOW gig work app to start finding opportunities to earn extra money in your area!

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Request a Demo

Are you a business looking for one-time, part-time, or full-time help? Request a demo to see the shiftNOW platform in action!

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