Here’s my prediction: The 2020s will go down as the golden age of side gigs.
According to a recent study, 39% of Americans have a side hustle, and 1 out of 3 side hustlers depend on that extra money for their day-to-day expenses. This is no accident. People are quickly catching on to the fact that side gigs are a secret to financial success.
And at the same time, it’s getting a lot easier to find gig work. If you’re looking to land a side gig in 2024, you’ve come to the right place.
30+ Best Gig Apps
Here are the top gig apps you can start using today:
- Doordash Driver
- Instacart Shopper
- Grubhub Driver
- Para
- Shipt
- Amazon Flex
- Uber Eats
- Uber Driver
- Lyft Driver
- HopSkipDrive Driver
- Wag!
Best Delivery Gig Apps
Looking for a high-paying gig app to use? Making deliveries is still in high demand, and depending on how much time you can commit to utilizing the app, you can really bring in some extra money fast!
1. DoorDash Driver
DoorDash is the clear market leader for delivery apps, with a 65% market share. DoorDash delivery drivers—known as Dashers—make money by picking up food from restaurants and delivering it to customers.
Drivers can also deliver for DoorDash’s higher-end Caviar service, which is available in select cities. If you drive enough for DoorDash, you can become a Top Dasher and receive access to exclusive rewards and earning opportunities.
The DoorDash Driver app has a 4.7-star rating in the App Store and ranks #5 of all business-related apps. That’s no small feat.
2. Instacart Shopper
Instacart is the world’s largest grocery delivery service, which exploded during the pandemic. As a full-service Instacart shopper, you’ll get paid to shop for orders and then deliver them to the customer’s doorstep.
If you don’t have a car, you can sign up as an in-store shopper and opt out of deliveries.
The Instacart Shopper app is well-liked by shoppers, with top ratings on both Apple and Android devices.
3. Uber Eats
Uber Eats, as you might have guessed, is Uber’s food delivery service. It controls 23 percent of the market, lagging only behind DoorDash.
If you’re already an Uber driver, you can visit the Work Hub section of the Driver app to register.
4. Grubhub for Drivers
Grubhub is another hugely popular food delivery app that connects local drivers, restaurants, and hungry customers. The service is available in over 4,000 U.S. cities and all 50 states.
As a Grubhub delivery driver, your experience will be similar to DoorDash in that you simply drive around and deliver food. You’ll earn a base pay for mileage and time spent on the road, plus tips and special offers.
The Grubhub for Drivers app has a 4.6-star rating in the App Store and a 4.5-star rating in the Google Play Store.
5. Para
Para Inc. offers two products – Para Tools and ParaWorks – for food delivery and rideshare drivers.
- In Para Tools, drivers are able to see and track critical information about their jobs and decline trips from major gig delivery apps such as Uber, Lyft, UberEats, and Grubhub.
- With ParaWorks, drivers can find high-paying scheduled or on-demand jobs to enhance the efficiency and profitability of their workdays!
In addition to product and food deliveries, ParaWorks has fulfilled opportunities that range from merchandising to courier driving, making it one of the best gig apps on the market.
6. Shipt
Shipt offers a similar model to Instacart, but customers can order groceries and household essentials.
As a Shipt Shopper, you can get paid to pick up items from numerous retail and grocery stores. You can cash out up to once per day or get a weekly direct deposit.
7. Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex lets you pick up packages on behalf of Amazon and drop them off to people in your area.
Unlike regular Amazon deliveries, you don’t have to be a professional driver. You use your car and drive on your schedule.
Of course, this means more wear and tear on your vehicle and paying for gas. But the trade-off is that the service is very convenient. When you want to make deliveries, simply hop in your car and open the app. You can work as long or as little as you like, with no commitments.
Sign Up to Deliver for Amazon Flex.
8. Uber Driver
Uber is the world’s leading rideshare service, with an estimated three to four million drivers around the globe. Uber drivers are considered independent contractors, so they don’t get the same benefits as traditional employees (e.g., a 401k program or paid time off).
The company does offer repair discounts, affordable phone plans, free music, and healthcare assistance through Uber’s partnership with Stride Health. Most importantly, you can use your own car and choose your own schedule.
Don’t have your own wheels but still want to pick up fares? You can also rent a car and drive for Uber.
9. Lyft Driver
Lyft is very similar to Uber but has a reputation for being more driver-friendly. The main downside is that it’s less popular than Uber, so you may get fewer ride requests depending on where you live.
Lyft provides drivers with free or discounted 24/7 Allstate roadside assistance and discounts on auto services through Openbay. The company also has a tiered rewards structure that pays bonuses for achieving certain driving goals.
10. HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is a unique ridesharing app that provides kids with safe transportation to and from school. As a CareDriver, you can set your own schedule up to a week in advance and earn competitive pay for providing safe transportation for children.
With the Hello and Welcome Promotion, new drivers who complete at least 10 rides within the first 14 days of getting certified are guaranteed to earn a minimum of $500.
To qualify as a driver, you must be at least 23 years old, have a minimum of five years of experience as a caregiver, and pass a multi-agency background check.
Drivers are also required to have a good driving record and own a 4-door vehicle that’s 10 years old or newer.
Sign Up to Drive for HopSkipDrive.
Easy Gig Apps to Use from Home
Looking for something to do in your spare time while you watch Netflix? Taking online surveys is one of the easiest side gigs to earn redeemable points for cash or free gift cards.
The best survey sites also provide numerous ways to earn extra cash by watching ads, playing games, or shopping online. Here are my top picks.
11. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a popular paid survey site where you can earn rewards for watching videos, browsing the internet, and sharing your opinion. You can complete these tasks directly in the Swagbucks app.
Once your balance reaches 300 Swagbucks (SB), you can cash out with a PayPal account or gift card.
12. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is also a survey site and market research platform that pays members for taking surveys.
The app is free to use, and you get points that can later be redeemed as cash or gift cards just for signing up.
13. Turo
Turo is the world’s largest car-sharing marketplace that lets you rent your wheels out to other people. It’s kind of like Airbnb but for cars.
For example, someone may rent a car to make a quick Costco run or head out to the mountains to go skiing. Through this lens, Turo can be a great source of passive income. It’s flexible and scalable, and you can set your prices. It also comes with built-in insurance, so you don’t have to worry if a renter gets into an accident.
As a Turo host, you’ll also receive discounts for things like auto maintenance, insurance, and more.
14. HyreCar
HyreCar is a car-sharing app that allows owners to rent their rides to Uber and Lyft drivers. As with Turo, the car owner retains full control over pricing and availability. HyreCar also comes with insurance.
A selling point of HyreCar is that you’ll be renting to professional drivers who need to drive your car safely to make money. However, personally speaking, I’d feel a little uneasy about letting unknown rideshare drivers and their passengers cruise around in my ride all day.
But that’s your call, and it also depends on how attached you are to your car.
15. Getaround
Getaround is a popular car-sharing app operating in the U.S. and European countries. Like Turo, you can list your car in an open marketplace according to your schedule. Guests can then rent your car for an agreed-upon time.
By far the coolest feature is Getaround Connect, a device you can install that lets you track your car’s location and allows guests to unlock your car using the Getaround app.
16. Airbnb
Airbnb, based in San Francisco, is an online marketplace for short-term property rentals. As an alternative to hotels and motels, they became popular with customers wanting something different and new.
Airbnb acts as a broker for the renter and property owner, charging the owner a 3% service fee and the guest a 14% fee.
If you have extra space in your house, have a second residence, are out of town a lot, and want your real estate to create extra income, Airbnb might be the gig for you.
Learn How to Make Money with Airbnb Now.
17. Neighbor
Neighbor is an app that makes gig work a piece of cake if you have extra space. Get paid for storing other people’s belongings in your driveway, garage, or shed! Many people in reviews have described it as being the “Airbnb of storage.”
The prices of these various storage areas will change due to your location. So before listing a space, check out some other similar spaces/prices on Neighbor to be competitive.
Being competitive is a great way to find clients quickly and start your gig with Neighbor!
Best Gig Apps for Selling Stuff
18. Decluttr
Decluttr is a service that purchases second-hand electronic devices. If you have a closet full of old video games, phones, computers, and Star Wars toys, it might be time to cash out.
Simply download the app and scan your items using your smartphone camera to sell your stuff. Decluttr will then tell you how much they will pay for each item and send you a box that you can use to send them in for free.
There’s no limit to how much you can earn through Decluttr. That said, don’t expect to get rich using this service.
19. eBay
With over 133 million buyers and millions of sellers, eBay remains a leader when it comes to selling stuff online.
You can use the same eBay app whether you’re buying or selling. To get started, simply download the app, sign in to your eBay account, and create a listing.
Make sure to enable notifications to respond to customer inquiries quickly. The last thing you want is to miss out on a timely query and lose a sale because of it.
Best Gig Apps for Handyman Jobs
20. Tasker by TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a service that connects people who need help with local workers called Taskers. Here’s how it works.
People hire Taskers for things like changing light bulbs, painting the deck, assembling furniture, and doing yard work. TaskRabbit is an awesome resource if you want to get paid for a wide variety of manual labor gigs.
To get started, build a Tasker profile, upload a photo, and select the type or types of jobs that you want to perform. You can also set your own pricing.
How much you earn depends on your location and the type of work that you’re doing.
21. Bellhop
Bellhop is an app for booking movers and finding moving-related gigs. As a Bellhop Mover, you can get paid for a simple service: helping move other people’s stuff.
In typical gig economy fashion, you can set your own schedule using the Bellhop Pros app. However, you will need to pass a background check and be able to lift 100 pounds to qualify.
22. Dolly Helpers
Dolly is a same-day moving and delivery service, and you can use the Dolly Helpers app to land gigs.
If you can lift over 75 pounds and own a truck, trailer, or van, you can earn an average of $42.50 per hour. If you don’t own a vehicle, don’t worry. You can still earn an average of $25 per hour as a Dolly Helper.
23. Wonolo
Wonolo, meaning Work Now Locally, is an app where people can find temporary jobs and employers can connect with workers.
Founded in 2013 in San Francisco, Wonolo services are available nationally but still limited, focused mainly in large cities. There are a few routine requirements. Workers must have a smartphone, live/be authorized to work in the U.S., pass a background check, and be 18 or older.
Wonolo has many good reviews for a reason! They find work when and where you need it. Giggers should definitely check out Wonolo for local jobs.
Start Working Now Locally with Wonolo.
Best Gig Apps for Freelancers
24. Fiverr
Fiverr is a leading marketplace for finding freelance jobs. Millions of gig workers—including graphic designers, website developers, and personal assistants—use the Fiverr app every day to make money.
As a Fiverr Freelancer, you can list your specific services for sale at your desired price. Most of the gigs on Fiverr are short-term assignments, but you can also find steady work.
Considering the Fiverr app’s near-perfect rating of 4.9 stars in the App Store, it’s clear that the company is doing more than a few things right.
25. Upwork for Freelancers
Upwork is a similar freelance marketplace to Fiverr, but it’s been around for a bit longer. Overall, Upwork tends to gear more toward higher-quality, established freelancers.
As a service provider, you can use Upwork for Freelancers to submit bids for paid project requests. For example, an online business might post a request for someone to help with building a basic WordPress site. If that’s your specialty, you can submit a bid and try to land the gig.
Sound appealing to you? Download the Upwork for Freelancers app on iOS or Android and get started.
26. Indeed Job Search
The Indeed Job Search app is a lesser-discussed option for freelancing gigs. Using the app, you can search for both full-time and part-time gigs. You’ll be surprised at how many legit companies are looking for remote employees these days.
Best of all, it’s completely free to use as a job seeker because the company listing the job covers the fees. Not only does this structure leave more money in your pocket, but it also weeds out clients who cannot afford to pay competitive rates.
Download the Indeed Job Search App.
27. VIPKid Teach
VIPKid is an English language learning platform that primarily connects Chinese students with North American teachers. Once you’re in, you should have no issues finding plenty of teaching opportunities because tons of students use VIPKid.
To qualify as a teacher, you’ll need some teaching experience, a bachelor’s degree, and a computer with a stable internet connection.
The VIPKid Teach app helps teachers schedule, review parent feedback and track earnings. With a 3.8-star rating in the App Store and a 2.8-star rating in the Google Play Store, it’s far from the best-rated app in this article.
However, I’m cutting it some slack due to the fact that it’s helping over 100,000 side hustlers teach English remotely.
28. Gigwalk
Gigwalk is an app that connects you with paid gigs in your area. In most cases, the gigs are posted by major retailers and consumer brands that are seeking better visibility into the quality of their products and services.
For example, suppose a major soda retailer wants to see if its products are sufficiently stocked at your local Safeway. This brand might post a gig request for someone to visit the supermarket and snap some photos of the soda aisle. You would then have to submit these photos and document what you saw.
If you’re up for an adventure, Gigwalk could be worth exploring.
29. EasyShift
EasyShift is an app that gives the user an opportunity (called a Shift) to earn cash by answering questions about ordinary experiences like eating at a restaurant, grocery shopping, or even going to a gas station.
And one of the best parts is that you don’t have to make the purchases to complete a Shift! The answers help give brands the knowledge of how they are publicly perceived and get opinions on the quality of their products.
With the average Shift taking only 15 minutes to complete, EasyShift could be a great addition for anyone working in the gig economy.
One thing that sets EasyShift apart from many gigs is that people working normal jobs can also do them. Since the content is about things average people do as a normal part of life, EasyShift can be a side hustle for a wide range of users.
Best Gig Apps for Caregivers
30. Care.com Caregiver
Care.com is the leading website for caregiving gigs, with over 32.9 million members scattered across 20 countries.
If helping others is your calling, download the Caregiver app to find childcare, senior care, housekeeping, and even pet care gigs.
31. Rover
Rover is a gig app for dog lovers. Using the Rover app, you connect with local pet owners in your area and get paid for dog walking, boarding, or making drop-in visits.
32. Wag! Pet Caregiver
Wag! is another popular choice for animal lovers. The app connects pet owners with over 400,000 pet caregivers across the country.
Using the Wag! Pet Caregiver app, you can find pet-training, pet-walking, and pet-sitting gigs throughout the United States.
The app has 4.7 stars on the App Store, but only 3.5 stars in the Google Play Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the gig economy?
The gig economy refers to a flexible work model where people work for several different companies or clients, often at their own leisure. It fundamentally differs from the traditional work approach, which involves full-time 40-hour weeks and binding agreements. Gig economy workers typically work as independent contractors, taking jobs on a per-assignment or per-project basis.
Learn More:
Do gig workers owe taxes?
It depends on how much money you bring in over the course of the year and whether you’re working part-time or as an independent contractor.
The vast majority of the above side hustles treat you like a 1099 contractor, which means companies don’t deduct taxes from your paycheck, and you’re responsible for paying your own taxes each quarter.
However, if you make less than $12,950 over the course of the year, you generally do not have to submit a tax return.
Do gig economy workers receive benefits?
Gig economy workers typically don’t receive direct benefits from employers. However, some jobs offer discounts for services like healthcare and auto care.
If you’re a full-time gig worker, you’ll most likely have to source your healthcare and set up your own tax-friendly retirement accounts.
Which gig apps pay on the same day?
Here are the top gig apps that pay workers the day they perform services: Uber, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, and Grubhub. Each app has its own unique requirements for same-day payments, so be sure to review those if that’s important to you.
Which gig apps pay the most?
It depends on what type of gig you want to do and how much time you spend doing it. DoorDash offers the most earnings for dedicated delivery drivers. However, if you find steady work as a mover on TaskRabbit, for example, you’ll earn more than you can with DoorDash.
Going a step further, if you’re an expert at a specific service (e.g., graphic design, SEO, or coding), you can set your own prices on sites like Fiverr and Upwork. If your services are exceptional, you can charge much more money than any traditional gig app will pay you.
In my opinion, this should be your ultimate goal.
Which is the Best High-Paying Gig App for You?
There’s a lot to like about the gig economy. But you have to hustle if you want to succeed—especially if you’re looking to replace your full-time job.
That said, embracing gig work can be one of the best personal finance decisions you make. Whether you work a side hustle or two or go all-in and work side hustles exclusively, gig apps can change your life.
How do I know? Just a few years ago, I had only a few bucks to my name. I was so broke that I had to move in with my parents and started working odd jobs. I started working side hustles. At one point, I had 13 different income streams.
Fast-forward to today, and I’m a millionaire. If I can do it, you can too! So get out there and start making money.
Take my word for it: You’ll never look back once the extra cash starts rolling in. Here’s to landing the best gigs that lead you to long-term financial freedom!
No comments yet. Add your own