The Best Free Gigs Apps
If you are looking to earn some additional income during your spare time, this article on the best gig apps is for you. Gig economy platforms allow you to work a variety of jobs through a simple mobile application. Read on to find out everything you need to know to find the best gig apps to earn extra cash, including the best free gig apps for gig economy workers.
What Is a Gig App?
A gig app is a web platform or application that allows people to work as independent contractors or freelancers for companies that provide services to people on demand. You are paid for the services you provide based on the tasks you were assigned. On a gig economy app, contractors are paid through various schemes, including base pay, hourly rate, delivery fees, or tips.
Why Do People Use Gig Apps?
People use gig apps because they provide access to temporary and flexible freelance jobs. According to the Pew Research Center, 16 percent of Americans have used an online gig platform to get a job. A gig worker benefits from the gig app business model as it allows them flexible scheduling to accommodate another job, educational pursuits, or family obligations.
How the Best Gig Apps Can Help You Earn Extra Income
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Most people sign up for gig economy jobs to earn extra income as a side hustle. If you want to earn extra cash, the convenient working hours, flexible payment systems, and job range found on these apps can help you meet your goals.
Convenient Work Hours
Gig apps can help you make extra money in your free time. You control the amount of work you do, which translates to how much money you make. Having control of your working time allows you to plan your activities so that you are free to work during peak hours to get access to higher pay rates. Apps like Uber and Fiverr are perfect examples.
Flexible Payment
Many gig apps give you the option to earn your money in different ways. Payment options can range from PayPal to gift cards and direct bank deposits. On Fiverr, for example, you can choose from a range of withdrawal options. The payment process is user-friendly and fast, which is why many people choose to earn extra money through gig apps.
Job Range
No matter what your skillset or passions are, there is a gig app that has jobs for you to earn passive income. If you have strong writing skills, you can work as a content writer. If you can code in a programming language, you can find freelance coding jobs. Other options are babysitting, pet walking, and working as a food delivery driver.
The 10 Best Gig Apps: Overview
| App | Availability | Notable Features | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dabbl | iOS, Android | A variety of tasks available, referral earnings, easy to use | Free |
| DoorDash | iOS, Android | Flexible schedule, decent pay, easy registration | Free |
| Fiverr | iOS, Android | Great customer service, wide range of projects, affordable service | Free |
| Grubhub | iOS, Android | Earn 100% of delivery fee, flexible schedule, high commission rates | Free |
| Instacart | iOS, Android | Covers multiple stores, decent delivery volume, earn 100% of tips | Free |
| Rover | iOS, Android | Excellent communication, low fraud level, decent pay | Free |
| Shipt | iOS, Android | Convenient work schedule, good communication, fixed commission | Free |
| Survey Junkie | iOS, Android | PayPal and Gift cards as payment methods, easy to use, availability of tasks | Free |
| TaskRabbit | iOS, Android | Low fraud level, efficient communication, easy to use | Free |
| Uber | iOS, Android | Flexible schedule, various payment options | Free |
The Best Free Gig Apps
There are many free gig economy apps that cover a wide range of jobs. Below is a list of gig economy apps that can help you get a job and earn extra money.
Dabbl | Free
- Best Feature: Easy to use
- Biggest Downside: Users have reported UI bugs
Dabbl allows you to do a variety of tasks to earn extra money at any time and place. You can watch videos, take surveys, and complete small tasks to earn reward points which can be converted to cash. Imagine making money while watching tv or waiting at a bus stop. Install this app if you want to make money at your convenience.
DoorDash | Free
- Best Feature: Easy to register, decent pay
- Biggest Downside: It can sometimes be difficult to get gig jobs depending on your location
Dashers with DoorDash deliver orders made on the app from its partner restaurants to customers. Workers using Doordash retain 100 percent of the tips and delivery fees that they earn. A worker on DoorDash also earns a percentage of the charge on every single delivery. Costs such as gas, tax, and phone charges rest on the dasher.
Fiverr | Free
- Best Feature: Wide variety of gig jobs that you can choose from based on your skills
- Biggest Downside: Some jobs offer a poor pay rate
Fiverr is a very popular gig economy app similar to apps like Upwork or Craigslist. Fiverr allows you to use any professional skill that you may have to get jobs from independent contractors. You can find gig jobs in fields like digital marketing, animation, graphic design, and content writing.
Grubhub | Free
- Best Feature: Flexible scheduling
- Biggest Downside: Gas and parking fees are out-of-pocket
Grubhub is one of the top food delivery apps in the country. As a part of Just Eat Takeaway.com, Grubhub helps service 32 million active users and has partnerships with over 320,000 restaurants in 4,000 cities across the US. As an independent freelancer worker with Grubhub, you can schedule your preferred work hours on the app. You must also handle your own taxes.
Instacart | Free
- Best Feature: User-friendly
- Biggest Downside: Gas and parking fees are out-of-pocket
Instacart is a grocery delivery app that works by pairing customers with personal shoppers. Gig workers on Instacart buy and deliver groceries to customers through the app. On busier shifts, workers have the potential to earn higher daily earnings. Payment depends on the orders you take per shift and the items that were ordered by clients.
Rover | Free
- Best Feature: Pet lovers can earn money doing what they love
- Biggest Downside: Some app owners have bad experiences with pet owners
The Rover app allows you to make money with gigs and pet services such as pet sitting. This side hustle is unique for animal lovers. You can walk pets, sit pets, and feed pets on this app. The jobs on this app require that you go through a thorough background check. You may also have to invest in your own pet supplies like crates, leashes, and toys.
Shipt | Free
- Best Feature: Reasonable product pricing attracts many shoppers
- Biggest Downside: The Shipt app can experience glitches sometimes
Shipt is a curated marketplace for retailers that makes shopping convenient for its customers. Orders made on the platform are transferred to gig workers to help fulfill them. It’s easy to find work on Shipt as numerous requests always pour in for a variety of products. Communication is very good between clients and workers.
Survey Junkie | Free
- Best Feature: You can easily translate your reward points into cash
- Biggest Downside: You can sometimes get invited to take surveys that you do not qualify for
Survey Junkie is one of the most popular survey platforms and boasts over 10 million members. Survey Junkie uses its army of survey-takers to complete surveys to collect market research for different brands. You can work from anywhere with this app. If you manage to respond to as many surveys as you can, you will earn reward points that can be redeemed for real money.
TaskRabbit | Free
- Best Feature: The app ensures that you get paid for the work you do
- Biggest Downside: The app has bugs that need fixing
This gig economy app will help you earn extra money by doing odd jobs. It serves as a platform for independent contractors to connect with people who perform gigs such as house cleaning, deliveries, and other household tasks. Though it is not easy to get gig economy jobs, this app allows you to interact with clients to discuss how best to complete the task being offered.
Uber | Free
- Best Feature: Plenty of work available
- Biggest Downside: Vehicle depreciation can occur
With over 2 million drivers registered on its platform, Uber boasts one of the largest side gig workforces. If you have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and access to an insured car, you have met the requirements to work as an Uber driver. This rideshare service allows its drivers to set flexible work schedules and earn more driving during peak hours.
Which of the Best Gig Apps Should I Choose?
The best gig app is one that suits your needs, interests, and schedule. The most popular gig economy job is with Uber. Uber gives you a lot of flexibility when earning extra money. It is also not hard to sign up on the platform as long as you have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle.
Popular gig economy apps like Survey Junkie can help you earn extra money no matter how busy your schedule may be. If you’re looking for a gig app that helps you keep 100 percent of the tips you receive, then you should consider food delivery apps such as DoorDash and Grubhub.
Best Gig Apps FAQ
Gig economy apps that pay daily include Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub. These apps let you work in thousands of cities across the country by driving for ridesharing purposes or delivering food from restaurants.
Yes, gig apps are worth it if you want to earn extra money. As the gig economy rises, more people are on the lookout for flexible jobs. These apps help to connect contract workers with clients and facilitate logistics such as work arrangements, payment, and reservations.
DoorDash is considered one of the best paying gig apps to earn extra money. You can make up to $15 – $25 an hour. This food delivery app is easy to use and the sign-up process is quick and easy.
The best app for side gigs is DoorDash. Delivery workers with DoorDash, called Dashers, keep 100 percent of the tips they earn, as well as the delivery fee. Workers also only need a mode of transportation to get started, such as a bicycle, scooter, or skateboard, which means they don’t need to have a driver’s license to work.
