Gig economy apps match you with paid work one job at a time. No boss, no set hours, and you can quit whenever. Below are 36 that are worth your time, with what each pays, what it takes to get in and how fast the money hits your account.
Quick reality check: you’re an independent contractor on most of these, so gas, wear on your car and taxes are on you.
| App | What you do | Get paid | You need | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | Deliver food and groceries | Daily (Fast Pay $1.99) | Car, scooter or bike | Check it out |
| Uber Eats | Deliver food | Up to 6 times a day ($1.25) | Car, bike or on foot | Check it out |
| Shipt | Shop and deliver | Weekly, then Instant Pay | Car | Check it out |
| Amazon Flex | Deliver packages | You pick the days | Midsize sedan or bigger | Check it out |
| Freecash | Games and offers | Most cash-outs instant | Phone | Check it out |
| Testerup | Test mobile games | Usually within 24 hours | Phone | Check it out |
| TaskRabbit | Odd jobs | Client charged within 24 hours | Depends on the task | Check it out |
| Rover | Pet sitting | 2 days after the job | None | Check it out |
| Upwork | Freelance work | Wednesday after the billing week | Laptop | Check it out |
Delivery gig apps
This is where most people start, since all you really need is a car (or a bike in some cities) and a clean background check. The big ones all pass 100% of tips to you, so the customers who tip well make or break your night. If you’re torn between the top two, read our DoorDash vs Uber Eats breakdown, or see more apps like DoorDash.
1.DoorDash Dasher
Best overall delivery app
- What it is
- DoorDash’s delivery gig, covering restaurants, groceries, convenience stores and pet stores in 7,000+ US cities.
- What you do
- Dash when you want. Accept an offer, grab the order, drop it at the door.
- How much it pays
- $2 to $10+ base pay per offer, promotions like Peak Pay and Challenges, and every cent of your tips. The amount on the acceptance screen is the minimum you’re guaranteed.
- The catch
- Fast Pay costs $1.99 per cash-out unless you use DoorDash’s Crimson debit card, which gets you free instant deposits after every dash.
Worth it? Yes. If you only download one gig app with a car, make it this one.
2.Uber Eats
- What it is
- Uber’s food, grocery and package delivery side, run through the same Uber Driver app.
- What you do
- Deliver by car, motorbike, scooter, bike or even on foot, depending on the city.
- How much it pays
- Base fare plus promotions plus tips (you keep all of them), and you see the fare before you say yes. Get paid weekly, or use Instant Pay up to 6 times a day.
- The catch
- Instant Pay is $1.25 a pop to a debit card unless you have the Uber Pro Card.
Worth it? Yes, especially if you don’t have a car. Bike and walking delivery only need you to be 18.
3.Grubhub
- What it is
- Restaurant delivery, with a scheduling system that lets you book blocks ahead.
- What you do
- Book a block or deliver on short notice by car, motorcycle or bike.
- How much it pays
- Base pay covers mileage, delivery type and time, plus missions and 100% of tips. Earnings are ready 15 minutes after each delivery, and you can cash out instantly to your bank.
- The catch
- No pay numbers on Grubhub’s driver site, and the instant cash-out cost isn’t posted either.
Worth it? Only as a backup app in a city where it’s busy.
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4.Instacart Shopper
- What it is
- Grocery shopping for other people, in the US and Canada.
- What you do
- Pick a batch in the Shopper app and do full service (shop and deliver), shop only or delivery only.
- How much it pays
- Each batch pays based on travel, item count and weight, and expected shopping time, plus 100% of tips. Heavy orders add at least $2. If a customer zeroes out your tip with no issue reported, Instacart covers it up to $10.
- The catch
- Weekly pay lands Wednesday to Friday. Instant cash-out costs “a small fee” Instacart doesn’t spell out.
Worth it? Yes if you’re quick in a store and want more control than food delivery gives you.
5.Shipt Shopper
- What it is
- Target-owned shopping and package delivery.
- What you do
- Shop and deliver orders, or run package routes in your own insured car.
- How much it pays
- Offer pay is set by the estimated time and effort, then bonuses and every dollar of tips on top. Direct deposit hits every Friday for the week before.
- The catch
- Instant Pay (3 times a day) only unlocks after your first weekly payout.
Worth it? Yes if you like Target runs. It’s a nice second app next to Instacart.
6.Spark Driver
- What it is
- Walmart’s gig app for delivering, or shopping and delivering, Walmart orders.
- What you do
- Switch on Spark Now and take trips in your zone from 6 AM to 11 PM.
- How much it pays
- Per trip, based on distance, order size and extras like heavy items or apartments, plus 100% of confirmed tips. Paid instantly or weekly, your choice.
- The catch
- If your zone is full, you wait for a text that a spot opened up.
Worth it? Yes. Any safe car works, no motorcycles or scooters.
7.Amazon Flex
- What it is
- Delivering Amazon packages in blocks you reserve.
- What you do
- Book a block up to a week out or grab a same-day one, then drive the route.
- How much it pays
- “Most delivery partners earn $18 to $25 per hour,” per Amazon, with a guaranteed $15 to $19 per scheduled hour by area. Cash-out to the Flex debit card is free, or 50 cents for a faster bank transfer.
- The catch
- 21+ and a 4-door midsize sedan or bigger. No motorcycles or scooters.
Worth it? Yes if you want to know your hourly before you start. Flex is the most upfront about it.
8.Roadie
- What it is
- Crowdsourced delivery for packages headed your way.
- What you do
- Pick up a Gig and drop it off in your everyday car. Signing up takes about 5 minutes.
- How much it pays
- Up to $12 per local trip, more with multiple stops. Weekly or instant payouts.
- The catch
- Pay swings a lot from gig to gig.
Worth it? Only as a filler app for trips you’re already making.
- What it is
- On-demand moving and delivery for anyone with a car, pickup, van or box truck.
- What you do
- Move furniture, haul appliances or just show up as labor.
- How much it pays
- Average earnings up to $105 an hour for full-size cargo vans and $84 for labor only, per GoShare. Deposits land in 4 business days.
- The catch
- Vehicle has to be 2004 or newer with no salvage title, and you need a checking account.
Worth it? Yes if you have a truck or van and a strong back.
Driving people pays the same way as delivery, but neither big app posts a pay figure, and both have stricter rules for you and the car.
10.Uber Driver
- What it is
- Rideshare driving with Uber, in hundreds of US cities.
- What you do
- Drive people around in your own car or one from an Uber rental partner.
- How much it pays
- Uber doesn’t publish what drivers make. You get paid weekly, or cash out with Instant Pay up to 6 times a day.
- The catch
- You need at least a year of driving experience, and renting a car through a partner starts at $260 a week.
Worth it? Only if your car qualifies. Renting one to drive is a tough way to make money.
11.Lyft Driver
- What it is
- Uber’s main rideshare rival.
- What you do
- Drive a 4-door car (yours or a Lyft Express Drive rental) and take ride requests.
- How much it pays
- No pay numbers on Lyft’s site. Express Pay gets your earnings to you in about an hour or two.
- The catch
- Lyft’s requirement list says 25 or older, plus criminal background and driving record checks.
Worth it? Only if you’re 25+ and want a second rideshare app.
Gig apps you can do from the couch
No car, no interview, no background check. These pay you for games and offers on your phone, and they’re great for the dead time between delivery orders too. For more, here are the apps that pay you real money.
12.Freecash
- What it is
- An earn app that pays for games, app trials and surveys.
- What you do
- Fill gaps between deliveries (or skip the car entirely) by doing offers on your phone.
- How much it pays
- Your first offer unlocks a $10 welcome bonus. Most PayPal, crypto and gift card cash-outs are instant, with a $5 PayPal minimum after your first withdrawal.
- The catch
- First withdrawal needs ID verification and a $5 to $20 minimum depending on region. You must be 16+.
Worth it? Yes. It’s the best no-car gig app here for quick money.
13.Testerup
- What it is
- Get paid to test mobile games and answer surveys.
- What you do
- Choose a game, reach the goal and collect. The reward is shown before you start.
- How much it pays
- $10 welcome bonus. Payouts go to PayPal, Venmo, a Visa virtual card or an Amazon gift card, usually within 24 hours and up to 3 business days.
- The catch
- PayPal and Venmo payouts lose 5%. The Visa card and Amazon gift card don’t.
Worth it? Yes if you’re 18+ and play games anyway.
14.Bigcash
- What it is
- A coin-based rewards app for games, apps and surveys.
- What you do
- Do quick offers (Bigcash says 5 to 10 minutes in most cases) and stack coins.
- How much it pays
- 250 coins = $1. Cash out to PayPal, gift cards or Bitcoin, sent within 36 hours per the App Store listing. Bigcash claims up to $170 on a single offer.
- The catch
- The cash-out threshold can change per account, and rewards can get reversed if an advertiser flags you.
Worth it? Yes for short offers you can knock out in a wait at the restaurant.
15.Branded
- What it is
- Points for reaching levels in games and apps.
- What you do
- Install a listed game and play to the target level.
- How much it pays
- 500 points = $5, plus 100 points just for joining.
- The catch
- Game offers take about 7 days to credit.
Worth it? Only if you can wait a week for the points to show up.
16.Swagbucks
- What it is
- A Prodege rewards app for surveys, games and shopping cash back.
- What you do
- Mostly shop through it and pick up surveys and game goals on the side.
- How much it pays
- 100 SB = $1, gift cards from 300 SB. PayPal cash takes 2 to 5 business days.
- The catch
- The $10 welcome bonus needs a $25 purchase through Swagbucks within 30 days.
Worth it? Only if you shop online a lot.
17.KashKick
- What it is
- A US-only app that pays cash for games, surveys and offers.
- What you do
- Play to milestones and claim deals.
- How much it pays
- $10 minimum, paid by PayPal or gift card. Most withdrawals get approved within a day.
- The catch
- Earnings sit pending about 14 days on average before you can cash out.
Worth it? Yes if you’re 18+, in the US and fine with a wait.
Task and shift apps
Hands-on work, paid by the job or the hour.
18.TaskRabbit
- What it is
- The go-to app for local handyman jobs and odd jobs.
- What you do
- Assemble furniture, mount TVs, help people move, clean. You draw your own work area and set your hours.
- How much it pays
- You pick your hourly rate and minimum. Client charges don’t come out of your pay, and tips and expenses are 100% yours.
- The catch
- A one-time $25 registration fee that’s non-refundable, and you need a checking account (not savings or prepaid).
Worth it? Yes if you own a drill and know how to use it.
19.Instawork
- What it is
- Shift work on demand: events, warehouses, kitchens, hotels.
- What you do
- Book a shift, show up, get paid.
- How much it pays
- Up to $30 an hour, and Instawork says the US average across all jobs is over $20. Eligible shifts pay instantly.
- The catch
- Workers get vetted (background check and phone screen), and it’s only in some cities.
Worth it? Yes if you want hourly pay without a car. No cost to start.
20.Angi Services
- What it is
- Handy’s old pro app, now Angi Services, for cleaning and handyman jobs.
- What you do
- Browse jobs with the customer’s price showing and claim the ones you want.
- How much it pays
- Prices are shown per job before you claim it. No pay share is posted.
- The catch
- You need paid experience, a background check, ID and the right licenses for the work.
Worth it? Only for people who already do this work.
21.Gigwalk
- What it is
- Small store tasks for brands, done on your phone.
- What you do
- Check displays, take photos, confirm prices.
- How much it pays
- $3 to $100 a gig, paid to PayPal.
- The catch
- Gig availability is hit or miss depending on your area.
Worth it? Only if there are gigs on the map near you.
Pet and care apps
Watching someone’s dog or kid is trust work, so these platforms vet you first, and most of them charge you something to get in.
22.Rover
- What it is
- A marketplace where you run your own pet sitting and dog walking business.
- What you do
- Board pets at your place, house sit, drop in or walk dogs.
- How much it pays
- Your rates, your call. Rover takes 20%, so you keep 80%, plus tips. Payment clears 2 days after the job.
- The catch
- Profile review costs $49 to $79 upfront depending on location.
Worth it? Yes if you’re a pet person with a flexible schedule.
23.Wag!
- What it is
- On-demand dog walking.
- What you do
- Walk dogs in your area through the Wag! Pet Caregiver app.
- How much it pays
- Wag! doesn’t list its pay share on the sign-up page.
- The catch
- You need to be 18+ and a US permanent resident, and pass the background check.
Worth it? Only next to Rover, to fill your schedule.
24.Care.com
- What it is
- A marketplace for babysitters, nannies, senior care and housekeeping.
- What you do
- Build a caregiver profile and connect with families who need help.
- How much it pays
- Care.com doesn’t employ caregivers or set the pay. You work that out with the family.
- The catch
- Caregivers pick a paid Basic or Premium membership, and a background check is required.
Worth it? Only if you want long-term, regular care work.
Freelance and online work apps
No driving at all. You need a skill and some patience, since the first client is the hardest one to land. Writers should also look at how to get paid to write articles.
25.Upwork
- What it is
- A freelance marketplace for hourly and fixed-price work.
- What you do
- Spend Connects to pitch clients, win contracts and deliver.
- How much it pays
- Upwork takes 0% to 15% per contract. Hourly money comes the Wednesday after your billing week. Bank withdrawals cost $0.99 and land within four business days.
- The catch
- Fixed-price jobs have a five-day security hold, and Connects cost $0.15 each.
Worth it? Yes for anyone with a skill that clients pay hourly for.
26.Fiverr
- What it is
- Sell a service at a set price.
- What you do
- Create a Gig (logo design, editing, voiceovers) and deliver orders.
- How much it pays
- 80% of each order is yours, and tips go straight to you. PayPal payouts arrive in 24 hours with no charge.
- The catch
- 14-day clearing period before you can pull money out.
Worth it? Yes if you can turn your skill into a clear package.
27.Freelancer.com
- What it is
- A freelance marketplace with projects and contests.
- What you do
- Bid on jobs posted by employers.
- How much it pays
- The freelancer fee is 10% or $5, whichever is bigger, on fixed-price jobs, and 10% on hourly ones.
- The catch
- It gets taken as soon as you accept a fixed-price project.
Worth it? Only as a third option after Upwork and Fiverr.
28.Rev
- What it is
- Transcription, captioning and subtitle work.
- What you do
- Turn audio and video into text from home.
- How much it pays
- $0.40 to $1.10 per audio minute for transcription, paid weekly by PayPal for approved work. Subtitle translators earn $1.70 to $4.00+ per minute depending on language.
- The catch
- Expect a waitlist when you apply.
Worth it? Only if you’re a fast, careful typist.
29.Wyzant
- What it is
- Online and in-person tutoring.
- What you do
- Tutor students in subjects you know.
- How much it pays
- Tutors keep 75% of their posted hourly rate.
- The catch
- Wyzant keeps a 25% platform fee on every lesson.
Worth it? Yes if you can tutor something in demand.
30.UserTesting
- What it is
- Testing websites and apps out loud for companies.
- What you do
- Share your screen, talk through what you see and click.
- How much it pays
- Rewards vary by test and show in your dashboard. Paid by PayPal about 14 days later.
- The catch
- PayPal only, and no taxes are taken out, so set some aside.
Worth it? Yes. Free to join and you can do it from the couch.
Apps to rent out your stuff
Your room, your pool, your parking spot. These turn stuff you already pay for into income.
31.Airbnb
- What it is
- Hosting travelers in a room or a whole home.
- What you do
- List your place, set prices and rules, take bookings.
- How much it pays
- Most hosts pay about 15.5% of each booking to Airbnb. Money is released about 24 hours after check-in, then hits your account based on the payout method you pick.
- The catch
- New hosts who aren’t verified wait until checkout, and reviews can hold funds up to 45 days.
Worth it? Yes if you’ve got space travelers want and your city allows it.
32.Peerspace
- What it is
- Hourly rentals for shoots, meetings and events.
- What you do
- List a space with character and host bookings.
- How much it pays
- 20% service fee on the booking plus extras. Paid within 7 days of the booking date.
- The catch
- Plain spaces don’t get booked.
Worth it? Only for a space that stands out.
33.Swimply
- What it is
- Rent your pool by the hour.
- What you do
- Host swimmers on your schedule.
- How much it pays
- Swimply takes 15% to 25%, and the rest is deposited after each booking.
- The catch
- You’re on the hook for keeping the pool and yard guest-ready.
Worth it? Yes if you have a pool sitting empty most days.
34.SpotHero
- What it is
- Rent out a parking space.
- What you do
- Submit your spot. SpotHero reviews it and lists it if it fits.
- How much it pays
- Paid monthly by ACH, usually 7 to 10 days into the month, for the prior month’s reservations.
- The catch
- Your spot has to stay available, and SpotHero can’t arrange towing for you.
Worth it? Only for spots in busy areas.
Selling apps
The fastest one-time cash is usually sitting in your closet.
35.Mercari
- What it is
- A selling app for clothes, gadgets and home stuff.
- What you do
- List from your phone and ship when it sells.
- How much it pays
- Free to list. A flat 10% selling fee on the item price plus buyer-paid shipping. Free direct deposit or $3 Instant Pay.
- The catch
- Instant Pay caps at $600 a month.
Worth it? Yes for decluttering fast.
36.eBay
- What it is
- The classic place to sell used stuff online.
- What you do
- List items or flip finds.
- How much it pays
- 250 free listings a month. eBay takes 13.6% of most sales up to $7,500, plus a $0.30 or $0.40 order fee.
- The catch
- Those fees come off every sale, so build them into your price.
Worth it? Yes for anything with a brand name people search for.
Before you sign up
Check the cost to cash out. DoorDash charges $1.99 for Fast Pay and Uber Eats $1.25 for Instant Pay, and both have a debit card that skips it. If you cash out every day, that adds up over a month.
Check the cost to get in. Most of these are free, but TaskRabbit, Rover and Care.com all charge something before you earn a dollar.
And run more than one. Pairing a delivery app with a phone app like Freecash means you’re earning even while you wait on an order. Want the bigger list of ideas beyond apps? Check our full list of side gigs, or everything under app-based gigs.
Gig economy app FAQs
What is the best gig economy app?
For most people with a car, DoorDash. It’s in 7,000+ US cities, the base pay is shown before you accept, and you can cash out daily. Without a car, Freecash and Testerup are the easiest to start.
Which gig apps pay instantly?
Freecash (most cash-outs), Instawork (eligible shifts), DoorDash (Fast Pay, $1.99), Uber Eats (Instant Pay, $1.25) and Grubhub (Instant Cash Out). Spark Driver and Roadie also offer instant payouts.
What gig apps don’t need a car?
Uber Eats lets you deliver by bike or on foot in some cities. Phone apps like Freecash, Testerup and KashKick, freelance apps like Upwork and Fiverr, and Instawork shifts don’t need a vehicle at all.
Do gig apps do background checks?
The delivery, rideshare, pet and care apps do. DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, Amazon Flex, Spark, TaskRabbit, Rover, Wag! and Care.com all run one. The phone earn apps work differently: Freecash and Testerup verify your ID or face before your first payout.
Next step
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