The Best Gig Apps: Explore Top Platforms by Skill Set

The traditional idea of being in the office for 40 hours a week is no longer the only acceptable way to work. And if you want to earn extra income, you also have more choices beyond who is hiring in your local area. Gig apps give you access to work at your fingertips, whether you want to market your skills to clients as a freelancer after work or pick up a side gig walking dogs between classes. 

If you're looking to break into the gig economy, we'll go over the best gig apps and the different types of platforms. You can work on demand with these flexible jobs. 

Ride-sharing apps

Ride-sharing apps let you work whenever you want, and make finding customers easy. You don't have to drive around waiting for someone to hail a taxi. All you have to do is turn on the app when you're available, and you can start accepting riders and earning money. 

Requirements vary by location, but drivers typically need a valid driver’s license, a qualifying vehicle, and to pass a background check. In some countries or cities, additional steps, such as exams or driving tests, may be required.

Ride-sharing apps are on-demand gig work, meaning you don't have to market your services. The app assigns riders to you when you turn your availability on. 

As a driver, you can earn feedback and tips from riders, which impacts your earnings on the platform's algorithm. The app may prioritize drivers with better reviews and assign them more riders, especially for those who also have positive feedback. 

Ride-sharing platforms tend to be competitive when it comes to driver pay. Choosing which app to drive for may depend on where you live and which app is the most popular in your area. You can sign up for a few driving apps and test them out to see which one you earn more on. 

Uber

Uber was one of the first rideshare platforms to take off in the U.S. The company launched in San Francisco in 2010. Today, Uber operates in more than 70 countries and over 10,000 cities worldwide.

Each city has its own vehicle requirements. Check and see if your car is eligible to drive. If you don't have a car (or don't want to use yours), you can rent a car to use while driving through Uber. 

Lyft

In San Francisco, cars with fuzzy pink mustaches started taking over the streets as Lyft launched in 2012. Lyft drivers put these mustaches on their cars so riders could easily find them. Today, drivers can add a sticker or light-up sign, but the company has retired its signature pink mustaches.

Lyft operates in 11 countries and in nearly 1,000 cities across North America and Europe. See if your car meets the requirements, or you can use a rental through Lyft Express Drive. 

Regional favorites

Check and see which rideshare apps are most used in your area. Some cities and countries don’t allow foreign rideshare companies to operate locally. Instead, those looking for a ride may use traditional taxi services or an independent rideshare app.

Europe:

• Bolt
• FREENOW
• Cabify

Asia:

• Grab
• Gojek
• DiDi

South and Central America: 

• Cabify
• easyTaxi
• inDrive

Africa and the Middle East:

• Careem
• Yango
• Bolt
• Snap!

Food delivery apps

Food-delivery apps are similar to ride-sharing. These apps let you earn money driving, but delivering food or groceries instead of people. Food delivery service isn't just for cars; depending on the gig app and where you live, you can use a car, scooter, bike, or even walk. The apps aren't as strict about your mode of transportation since you don't have passengers. 

Food delivery driving is an on-demand job. You can turn your availability on when you want to start picking up food orders. The platform will tell you which restaurants or grocery stores to go to, and they should have the groceries or meals ready by the time you arrive. Scan the app on your phone or use the company-provided card, pick up the order, and then deliver it to the customer. 

Some gig workers prefer food delivery over ride-sharing because you don't have to stay in the car the whole time. You have opportunities to walk when you go to restaurants or stores and make deliveries. If you also want to deliver groceries, you may be able to pick up pre-shopped orders or do the shopping yourself and earn even more.

Most food delivery service platforms have similar pay structures. Delivery drivers earn a base rate for each order and may also receive tips from customers. The base amount is determined by the distance they must drive, the time spent at the restaurant, and overall service demand. Some platforms offer additional incentives and pay more during peak hours. 

When evaluating food delivery gig apps, you'll want to find the most popular in your area. Some gig workers use multiple apps to increase the number of orders they receive — this is called multi-apping.

DoorDash

On DoorDash, you can start delivering food using your car, scooter, motorcycle, or bike as long as you pass the basic requirements, like having a driver's license and background check. After your first successful "Dash," the company will typically provide you with a food-warming bag and red card. The red card is how you pay for non-prepaid customer orders and doesn’t connect to your bank account or earnings. 

DoorDash is available in cities across the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico.

GrubHub

You can deliver food on Grubhub using your car or bike (available in select cities only). Like DoorDash, you may receive a free warming bag after your first successful GrubHub delivery. Grubhub is available in over 4,000 cities across all 50 states. 

You can use the block scheduling feature (once you meet the criteria) to help guarantee you'll make a minimum amount during your pre-booked shift. 

Uber Eats

Uber and Uber Eats are the same app for drivers. If you meet the requirements, you can do both gigs. When you want to work, you can check which service has more demand. 

Uber Eats is more flexible on vehicle requirements, and you can even use a bike, scooter, or walk, depending on your location. You don't need a driver's license unless you’re using a motor vehicle — just a government-issued ID, which is a great option for those who don't drive. 

Uber Eats is available in cities across the U.S. and over 45 countries globally. 

Postmates

Uber acquired Postmates in 2020. While customers can still place orders through Postmates, any new drivers will need to use the Uber Eats app. Drivers on Postmates can use their car, bike, scooter, or walk (depending on location) to deliver food, groceries, and other goods to customers. 

Instacart

Instacart focuses on grocery delivery and shopping. Instacart offers full-service and in-service shopping options. Full-service Instacart shoppers fulfill and deliver shopping orders. They go to the grocery store, select the items the customer ordered, message the customer about any substitutions, and deliver the order. In-store shoppers don’t offer delivery; they only package orders for pickup. Shoppers use the Instacart payment card to pay for the order. 

Regional Favorites

Compared to driving, food delivery apps tend to be more localized. Available apps may vary by city. You'll want to check what customers use in your area. 

While you may only have one or two rideshare driving apps to choose from, food delivery can have more options. Smaller apps can be competitive in the food delivery space through restaurant partnerships. 

Popular platforms globally: 

• Deliveroo 
• Just Eat
• Glovo
• Eat24
• ChowNow
• Foodpanda
• Swiggy
• Zomato
• Rappi
• Meituan
• Bolt Food
• Pedidoya

Freelance job platforms

Freelancing lets you offer a specific skill, whether it’s technical or creative, directly to your clients. You can start freelancing as a side hustle or build a full-time career. 

Instead of cold-calling clients and finding leads yourself, freelancing platforms let independent professionals market their services and clients post projects, while also facilitating payments, dispute resolution, and communication. Working on a platform offers protection for both the freelancer and the client.

As a freelancer, you can work remotely and focus on work that you enjoy doing most — your niche. Set your own hours and choose the projects that you work on. Freelancing is becoming more popular both as a side gig and as an alternative to a traditional 9-to-5 job. 

The Upwork Research Institute found that 28% of skilled knowledge workers operate as freelancers or independent professionals seeking greater autonomy, financial control, and meaningful work. This number is growing among Gen Z, with 53% of workers reporting they’re already working full-time hours on freelance projects. 

Depending on the platform, you can work on hourly or fixed-price jobs. You can set your rate and decide how much you want to charge clients for different skills. Some skills are in higher demand than others, but as you gain experience and become an expert at what you do, you can start charging more. You can see hourly rates by skill to give you a better idea of the market rate for different skills on Upwork. 

Deciding what freelancing platform to use will likely come down to the quality and types of jobs available, as well as the overall user experience. 

Learn more about why many professionals are choosing to freelance instead of working a 9-to-5 in this episode of Work Week.

Upwork

Upwork is the world’s human and AI-powered marketplace and has facilitated over $30 billion in total transactions and services since its founding. Clients post over 60,000 jobs per week on the marketplace across 10,000 skills and more than 130 work categories. 

Freelancers on Upwork can submit proposals to clients looking to hire independent professionals for their projects right now. These are hot leads. As a freelancer, you search for projects that fit your skillset and work with clients from all over the world. 

Upwork also provides freelancers with tools and resources to help manage their business; everything you need from submitting projects to getting paid is all in one place. 

“Upwork is the most productive freelancing site that I feel comfortable with for building revenues, billing, reviews and creating a freelancing future.” 

— William T. Cooper, Top Rated marketing and sales strategist

Clients can pay freelancers hourly or per project. Hourly contracts have payment protection, and freelancers can track their hours using the desktop app. When working on fixed-price projects, the client pre-funds the project before the freelancer begins. Funds are released after the client approves or 14 days pass, whichever comes first. 

Upwork charges a service fee ranging from 0% to 15% per contract. 

All you have to do to get started on Upwork is create an account. Fill out your profile and then begin submitting proposals to projects that are a good fit for your skills.

Fiverr

Fiverr started as a gig platform for small, low-cost services, originally priced at $5, which is where the name comes from. Today, freelancers sell services at fixed prices and often offer tiered packages with different levels of scope and cost. Fiverr charges freelancers a 20% service fee on completed orders.

When listing a service, sellers outline exactly what they need from the buyer before work begins. Buyers pay upfront, and earnings are released to the freelancer after the order is completed and processed. Buyers can also leave optional tips after delivery. While services no longer need to be priced at $5, many Fiverr projects are designed as clearly scoped, fixed-price offerings.

Fiverr has introduced an hourly work option alongside its fixed-price gigs. Eligible sellers can offer hourly services through custom offers, but unlike on Upwork, the project must have a minimum of eight hours per engagement. 

Freelancer.com 

Freelancer.com supports both hourly and fixed-price freelance projects, like Upwork. Clients post projects, and freelancers submit bids outlining their approach, experience, and pricing. The platform also offers local project listings for in-person work, such as event staffing, photography, or promotional tasks, depending on location. 

Freelancer.com charges a service fee of 10% or $5 USD per project, whichever is greater, and provides payment protection through milestone payments and tracked hourly work. Unlike gig-based platforms like Fiverr, Freelancer.com does not focus on prepackaged services. Instead, freelancers compete for work by bidding on projects or entering contests. 

Contests allow multiple freelancers to submit work for a single brief, with the client selecting and paying only the winning entry. While contests can help clients compare options and assess skills, freelancers should note that only the selected submission is compensated.

Task and odd-job apps

Another popular category of gig apps focuses on tasks and odd jobs. Many of these tasks and assignments are in-person, but you may find some virtual options. Users on these gig apps need help with tasks such as furniture assembly, moving, dog walking, and pet sitting. If you're skilled at fixing or assembling items, you can offer your services. Work on demand when you have free time and choose the different types of projects you want to take on.

These platforms let you choose an hourly rate or a fixed price for different services. You can set your availability and let clients book time slots that work for you. The work app you choose may depend on what's available in your city. 

TaskRabbit

Taskers on TaskRabbit can choose from a wide range of categories, including contactless tasks. All you have to do is create your profile, select your skill, and set your hourly rate. 

TaskRabbit allows independent workers (Taskers) to set their own hourly rates and keep 100% of the amount they charge for labor, as well as 100% of any tips and reimbursements. 

New Taskers must pay a one-time $25 registration fee to use the app before they can start accepting jobs. 

TaskRabbit is available in at least 157 cities across the United States and in multiple countries, including Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. 

Thumbtack

On Thumbtack, you can find a wide range of home and local services — from one-time tasks like furniture assembly and small repairs to larger home improvement projects such as electrical work, general contracting, or renovation. Many professionals offer services such as electrical, handyperson, cleaning, lawn care, and landscaping, and can build ongoing or repeat-work relationships with clients based on demand and customer needs.

Thumbtack operates on a pay-per-lead model, where service providers pay only when they receive and respond to potential customer leads; lead costs vary by service type and location. Professionals control how many leads they engage with and can send custom quotes for jobs that fit their skills. 

Thumbtack is available in all 50 states. 

Rover

If you have some free time and love animals, you can earn extra cash by walking dogs and being a pet sitter on Rover. Find pet owners in your neighborhood who need help taking care of their dogs, cats, and other pets during work or when they go out of town. 

If your living situation is pet-friendly and meets Rover’s requirements, you can offer overnight care or boarding in your own home. You can also provide pet care in the owner’s home, such as drop-in visits or overnight stays. On Rover, you decide which services to offer, set your own rates, and manage your availability, then respond to inquiries and booking requests from pet parents.

Wag!

Wag! is another platform that connects pet owners with caregivers for services like dog walking, pet sitting, and drop-in visits. Caregivers choose which services they want to offer and set their availability. In most markets, care is provided in the pet owner’s home, and, in some cases, caregivers may also offer in-home boarding where allowed.

Becoming a Wag! caregiver requires passing a background check and completing required onboarding steps, including safety training and assessments. As caregivers complete jobs and receive positive reviews, their profiles can gain visibility and attract more client bookings.

Short-term rental and hosting apps

Short-term rentals and hosting apps are great ways to earn passive income in the gig economy. If you have a spare bedroom or rental property, you can make extra money by renting it out to travelers and vacationers. As a host, you have to maintain your rental space and get it ready between guests — but it's not a job you have to work at every day. 

Short-term rental and hosting apps let you list your property and its availability. Choose competitive, fair, nightly, weekly, and monthly rates for your space. You can accept guests based on their stay length and ratings.

Some cities have laws regarding short-term rentals. Be sure to research what is permitted in your area before listing your property. 

These platforms offer both renters and hosts greater security and protection than renting directly from individuals. Hosts might have insurance through the apps in case of damages or disputes. Guests must verify their identity when creating an account. The review system also helps to build trust. As a host, if you see many positive reviews, you can rest assured the guests will likely be who they say they are.

Airbnb

Travelers can book Airbnbs in over 220 countries and regions around the world. On Airbnb, you can rent out an entire place, unique space, or just a room. The platform allows hosts to rent out shared spaces, making it popular for those living in big cities.

Depending on where you live, if you have a big property, you can even think outside the box and rent out yurts, R.V.s, and other less traditional stays. Some hosts find they can make money renting out their spare rooms by the night rather than finding a long-term roommate. Listing your room or second home on Airbnb can become a profitable business.

Vrbo

Compared to Airbnb, Vrbo is stricter about the types of properties hosts can list. You can't rent out a room in your house or any shared space — only the entire home. The types of properties on Vrbo tend to be more traditional than those on Airbnb. As a host, you get to set the rules and pricing. 

Vrbo is also a global platform available in over 190 countries. Some hosts choose to list their properties on both Airbnb and Vrbo to attract more bookings. Some travelers choose Vrbo for longer-term stays over Airbnb. 

Creative gig platforms

If you enjoy crafting and creating, you can monetize your hobbies on a creative gig platform. These types of gigs make it easier to market and sell your arts and crafts, whether you have a physical or digital product. It’s a great way to make money doing something you love. 

Creators can set up digital storefronts for customers and clients to shop. Sell whatever you want to make or accept custom requests. You can run your own small business selling your art. If you sell physical goods, keep in mind that you'll need to package and ship them out to your customers in a timely manner.

Etsy

Instead of creating your own e-commerce website to sell your artwork and crafts, you can use Etsy as your storefront. On Etsy, you can sell your goods to people worldwide. People turn to Etsy to buy creative goods from independent creators. 

As you sell more of your art, you will start getting customer feedback, which can help grow your business. You can add physical products to your shop, like a handmade craft, or digital products like a planner or template. Create listings for each product with pictures and descriptions for customers to shop. 

Dribbble

Dribbble is a gig platform created for digital artists to connect with clients and other creators. On Dribbble, you can freelance and find clients by searching the job boards and networking with other designers. 

You can also create a portfolio to market your design services. Dribbble is a creative community with categories like animation, branding, illustration, and product design to choose from. 

Patreon

Patreon is a subscription-based gig platform for creators. Anyone from podcasters to educators can create content and monetize it. Creators on Patreon earn money through exclusive paid content. Subscribers called Patrons must pay to access their favorite creators' pages and content. 

On Patreon, as a creator, you have more options for the types of content you want to offer. You could livestream and interact with your Patrons or sell limited-edition prints of your artwork. 

Compared to other gig platforms, you have to build a following on Patreon and may need to advertise on social media to drive traffic to your page. Creators earn money through engagement rather than selling digital or physical products. 

Gumroad

Gumroad is an e-commerce platform that lets creators sell products directly to their audience without building a full online store. Creators can upload and sell a wide range of items, including digital products like ebooks, templates, courses, art, software, music, and memberships, as well as physical goods if they choose to handle shipping themselves. 

Gumroad provides easy-to-use tools for pricing, payment processing, product delivery, and analytics, making it a popular choice for independent creators who want a simple way to monetize their work online. Transactions on Gumroad are subject to a platform fee (such as a percentage of each sale), and in many cases, additional payment processing charges apply, but there are no required monthly fees just to list products. 

Tutoring apps

Another category of gig apps focuses on tutoring and skill-based instruction. If you’re knowledgeable in a subject, language, or software, you can offer one-on-one support to students or professionals who want to learn or improve specific skills. These platforms make it easy to connect with learners and meet virtually for personalized sessions.

These platforms can make it easier to find students rather than having to advertise your services on a website or social media. They can also help you feel more secure by vetting your clients and facilitating payment. 

VIPKid

Educators who meet VIPKid’s qualifications can help students worldwide learn English on VIPKid. Each one-on-one virtual class is 25 minutes long. VIPKid designs and develops the curriculum, which teachers can view in advance before each class.

Teachers must apply to become an educator on VIPKid, meet the qualifications, and pass a demo lesson and a mock class with another VIPKid teacher. Once you're ready to start teaching, you can add your availability and let students begin booking your classes. 

Skillshare

Skillshare is a course-based platform where creators can share their knowledge by recording on-demand classes for students and professionals. Instead of teaching one-on-one, instructors create video lessons on topics ranging from creative skills to business, technology, and personal development. You don’t need formal teaching credentials to publish a class, but courses must follow Skillshare’s guidelines and quality standards.

Creators on Skillshare earn income through the platform’s subscription model, which is based on student engagement, such as minutes watched. Once a class is published, it can continue earning over time as new students enroll.

Preply

Preply is a tutoring platform that connects learners with tutors for one-on-one online lessons. While it’s best known for language tutoring, tutors can also teach academic subjects, test prep, and professional skills. Tutors create a profile, set their own hourly rates, and choose their availability, allowing them to work with students from around the world.

Lessons are held through Preply’s platform, and tutors can tailor sessions to each student’s goals. As tutors gain experience and positive reviews, they may be able to raise their rates and attract more students. Preply is often a good fit for educators who want flexibility and prefer individualized teaching over pre-recorded courses.

Quick tips for succeeding on gig apps

Succeeding on gig apps starts with finding the right platform for your interests and lifestyle. Some apps let you work on demand, while with others you’ll need to be consistent and build your following. Think about your skills and what you enjoy doing, and see which apps match best. 

Once you're ready to start working on a side gig app, these tips can help you succeed: 

• Craft a standout profile. Spend time optimizing your profile for the platform to attract clients and projects.
• Gather client feedback. Many gig apps are based on feedback. Be sure to showcase positive reviews and do your best work to keep your customers and clients happy. 
• Keep learning. Stay updated on platform changes that may affect algorithms or new features that you can monetize. 
• Manage client expectations. When you list your services, submit proposals, and meet with clients, make sure you set clear expectations and know the full scope of the project before accepting.
• Find your niche. Many freelancers succeed by choosing a niche and working hard to become experts and the go-to person in that specialty. 
• Upskill. As a freelancer, you can take courses to stay competitive, hop on new trends, and expand your service offerings to clients. 
• Diversify your services. Depending on your schedule, you may be able to work on multiple gig apps during your workweek. Use whatever app is more popular and pays more at the time. 
• Network outside the platform. You can use your personal network, social media, or blog to drive traffic to your profile and attract clients. 
• Manage your time effectively. On many gig apps, being productive helps you earn more.
• Mindfully budget. When freelancing or working in the gig economy, sometimes it may be slower than others. Keep in mind that the workload may not always be steady when managing your finances. 
• Prioritize self-care. Take time for yourself and prioritize self-care to avoid burnout. When freelancing or working in the gig economy, saying yes to every opportunity can be tempting but can lead to stress. 
• Create a manageable schedule. Be realistic about the hours you can take on without sacrificing work quality or your mental health. 

Start freelancing on Upwork

On Upwork, you can build a career or earn additional income doing exactly the type of work that you love. As a freelancer, you get to work when and where you want, setting your own schedule. Decide how many hours you can dedicate each week and choose the projects you say yes to.

Whether you're looking for a side hustle to earn extra income outside of your 9-to-5, or you want to try out freelancing before committing to it full-time, you can find jobs that fit your skill set. Build relationships with clients from all over the world, looking for someone just like you to help with the next project.

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Upwork does not control, operate, or sponsor the tools or services discussed in this article, which are only provided as potential options. Each reader and company should take the time to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.