Working 9 to 5 is great until you feel monotonous, or you face toxicity in the work environment. When you work on your own terms and schedule, none of this can bother you. And Wonolo is a good app to help you in that regard.
However, if it ain’t working or suitable for you, there are a bunch of alternatives you can try for gig work and part-time or even full-time jobs. But with so many options, it can be confusing and raise concerns regarding their legitimacy.
And that’s where I step in!
Top 7 Apps Similar To Wonolo [Reviewed]
To curate this list, I have tried over 14 instant work apps. These range from being rather broad and different in terms of the gigs to being more focused on specific sectors. Another thing that I have focused on is the payment.
The featured platforms will not only ensure that you have a stream of income but also give you peace of mind as you can be your own boss.
Lastly, all the apps also have a straightforward UI, which ensures you can easily navigate through them to find your gigs.
So let’s get into the reviews!
1. Best of All: Snagajob
When it comes to finding new shifts or gigs, there’s nothing that works for me as well as Snagajob does! First of all, I want to talk about the UI of the app, which is near-perfect. The app has everything organized really well.
Once you upload your resume on the app, you don’t have to do anything again and you can apply for jobs in just a couple of taps after that. You can search for jobs based on the pay, hours, industry, or location.
The search interface is pretty smooth and you can sort the results based on recency or relevance. Snagajob lists the jobs to you with the hourly as well as the daily pay rate – which gives you a fair idea of how much you are likely to make at the end of the shift.
The app also supports ‘Map Search’ option which can help you find jobs near you. It can also provide you with some handpicked jobs after taking you through a small quiz that asks you different questions to gauge your interests and expertise.
Comparisons with Wonolo
If you read the Snagajob and Wonolo reviews, they usually make users feel like they’re using two very similar apps. However, over time, you will begin to notice their subtle differences.
- Wonolo doesn’t require any resumes or interviews. You can straightaway apply for the jobs there. Snagajob, however, requires a resume to be uploaded, which is sent to all employers
- Snagajob focuses solely on hourly jobs, while Wonolo also offers you longer gigs that pay on an hourly basis
- Both these apps have a map-based searching algorithm that helps workers find jobs nearby
Key Features
- Snagajob features only those jobs that pay by the hour
- Map search makes it easy to check who is hiring in your area
- Comes with a dashboard that allows you to check your application status
- Search for jobs that fit your schedule and availability
- A sorting and filtering mechanism that makes job search breezy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy-to-use app with a user-friendly interface | Some users have reported they get logged out randomly |
| Easy application process – just a couple of clicks to apply | You have to build and submit a CV |
| Shows relevant job posts and sends daily alerts for new jobs |
Payment Details
Payments on this app are made every Friday and sent via direct deposits to bank accounts. However, what I get on Friday is the amount that I earned the week before, as the billing cycle is from Tuesday to Monday.
2. Best Runner Up: Instawork
Instawork is one of the closest alternatives to Wonolo. The gigs on Instawork can pay you as high as $30 an hour, which is the best in the industry.
The app allows you to go through a long list of gig listings and select the ones that suit your needs. You can even book that gig in just one simple click.
The platform helps you find jobs in different sectors, including hospitality, food and beverage, and warehousing, among others. It is one of the most popular gig-work apps in the US, and it works across 37 cities.
If you fulfill the monthly requirements such as a no “no-show,” work a minimum number of shifts and maintain a specific minimum average rating. Instawork will reward you as a “top pro.”
As a top pro, you will get up to 25% more bonus on selected shifts, instant payments, and many other perks. Employers prefer these workers and sometimes have exclusive gigs only for pros.
Comparisons with Wonolo
Wonolo and Instawork have quite a few differences. While we know that both these apps primarily look at gig-based jobs and short-term shifts, there’s more to it than what meets the eye.
For instance, Wonolo offers a very diverse set of gigs and shifts, while those being offered at Wonolo are largely hospitality or warehouse-centric.
Here are some more comparisons:
- Instawork has a program called ‘Top Pro’ where some of its best workers are identified and rewarded with additional benefits. There’s no such provision in Wonolo.
- Wonolo supports a much larger set of cities in the US compared to Instawork, which supports only 37 cities.
- Payments on both apps can take 1-5 days to reach you. However, Instawork also supports quicker payments with an additional fee.
Key Features
- Have control over your schedule and work hours
- The Top Pro program provides better opportunities and rewards
- Provides occupational accident insurance coverage
- Some gigs even offer instant payouts
- Operates in over 37 cities in the US
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Features some very high-paying gigs | A lot of focus on hospitality and warehousing and not on other sectors |
| ‘Top Pro’ ensures better performance from the worker and satisfaction for the employee | High-paying jobs have a high rejection rate |
| Available across almost all major metro cities of the US |
Payment Details
Instawork’s billing cycle is generally Monday to Sunday. On Wednesday, the app will send you the payment for the previous week, which can take up to Saturday to show up in your bank account.
For Top Pro users, there’s an InstaPay option as well, where you can get an instant payment for certain jobs.
3. Best for Local Gigs: GigSmart
GigSmart is one of my favorite apps that help find shifts and gigs. It allows you to set your own schedule and book gigs in advance. It even gives me a calendar of the upcoming gigs, so I don’t miss out on anything.
What amazed me the most about this app was how easy it was to land a gig on it. In many Wonolo competitors, one needs to send elaborate resumes and answer interviews. GigSmart, however, makes it much simpler.
There are no interviews, there are no resumes!
Out of all the apps on this list, I believe that GigSmart has the most diverse set of jobs available. The app also provides benefits like dental insurance and vision plans through its worker benefit portal.
This is something that I really appreciate as a gig worker because most other apps don’t take care of this aspect of our lives.
Comparisons with Wonolo
Both these apps are extremely similar in terms of how they function. However, there are some minute feature differences between the two that come to the forefront when you have spent some time on both these apps.
- There’s an instant payment option on GigSmart which charges you a small fee. Wonolo does not support instant payments at all.
- You don’t need to sit through interviews or create resumes for Wonolo as well as GigSmart.
- Both these apps can help you set your own schedule and work hours and find jobs that suit your availability.
Key Features
- Simple process – create a worker profile and start applying for gigs
- Find gigs based on your time slot preference
- Provides W-2 worker benefits, including medical, dental, and vision care
- Instant payments credited to the Gigsmart wallet – withdraw any time
- Also supports full-time salaried jobs
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Workers are covered by occupational accident insurance | Some users have reported that the app doesn’t show the correct distance |
| Payments are credited instantly to the wallet | Employers might take a long duration to confirm a gig |
| Coast-to-Coast availability: jobs in all 50 states |
Payment Details
Funds are instantly transferred to your GigSmart wallet once the employer confirms that the task has been completed. You can choose to withdraw from the wallet at any time, and that would take about 4 days to reach you.
For more comprehensive details, you may check out its full review.
4. Best for Next Day Pay: WorkWhile
An app that provides flexible working options in over 30 US cities, WorkWhile is one of the latest discoveries that I have made despite working gigs for years.
However, this is not even the best part of the app.
What sets it apart from other apps is the payment mechanism. The app promises next-day payment, and it stands good on its promise too!
There’s also a wallet on this app where you can keep storing your income and withdraw it later if you don’t want it immediately. It can be compared to Wonolo when it comes to finding work near you.
It is one of the simplest apps to use. The platform has a lot of listings that keep getting refreshed every few minutes. The searching mechanism here is also pretty good, as I can filter by date as well as location to get jobs on the exact day and area.
I recently found a very well-paying delivery driver job on WorkWhile which helped me make quite the extra buck over the weekend! But if you want to explore more of delivery-based gigs, you’re better off checking apps like Amazon Flex.
Comparisons with Wonolo
WorkWhile is one of the best apps for people who want to take control of their own time and schedule and want to choose what rates they want to work at.
Wonolo, too, does something very similar, but there are subtle differences between the two. Here’s a comparison:
- One of the biggest differences between Wonolo and WorkWhile is that the latter provides you with additional bonuses and rewards from time to time. Wonolo has no such incentives.
- WorkWhile and Wonolo both show you job listings along with an hourly rate as well as the rate of the entire shift.
- When it comes to payments, WorkWhile payments are typically faster. WorkWhile can pay you right on the next day, while Wonolo takes up to 5 days to pay you.
Key Features
- Allows you to select any job that you want to work for out of a long list
- Workers get a support chat operated by actual humans on the other end
- Initiates fund transfer process in 24 hours
- Supports over 30 cities in the US
- Map-based search to find jobs near your area
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free virtual healthcare and other perks for workers | Sometimes the clocked time isn’t recorded by the app |
| Next-day payment ensures the money reaches you quicker | Supports only 30 cities in the US as of now |
| No premium fees on the next-day payment option |
Payment Details
As mentioned above, there’s a next-day payment option without any extra charges. The money reaches you in 24 hours and is credited to your debit card. If you want the funds in your bank account, you can choose to take it the regular way, which takes up to 3 days.
If you want to learn more about WorkWhile, you may read its full review.
5. Best for Food Services: Qwick
If you are someone who really wants to work in the Food and Beverage industry or in hospitality, Qwick is the go-to app for you.
This app specializes in the F&B sector and provides a diverse set of jobs ranging from line cooks to servers and cleaners to dishwashers.
A standout feature of Qwick is the fact that it gives you instant payments if need be. It charges a 3% fee, but the payout reaches you in just 30 minutes! It takes a maximum of 2 days for the funds to reach you without the instant pay feature.
Another thing about Qwick that I really want to talk about is the support system for workers. There’s a live chat that will help you at any point of the day in case you need assistance.
My favorite part of this app is the ease of setting my schedule here. It gives me three options in the shifts – and I can select multiple options too! Once I choose my shift timings, it will show me the jobs available that day.
What’s more, I can even set a different schedule for each day of the week, giving me more time for myself and my family!
Comparisons with Wonolo
Qwick specializes only in the hospitality industry, and most of the jobs that you will see on Qwick deal with Food & Beverages or hospitality-related tasks. Wonolo, on the other hand, has a much diverse range.
Here’s a quick comparison:
- Qwick has an option for instant payout in 30 minutes. However, there’s a fee attached to it. Wonolo doesn’t have any instant cashout options.
- Both Wonolo as well as Qwick let you find gig-based jobs based on your schedule. Qwick’s UI is incredible when it comes to setting up your schedule and day-based availability.
- As pointed out above, Qwick specifically deals with the hospitality industry, while Wonolo doesn’t limit itself to any industry but instead looks at hourly jobs all over.
Key Features
- Shows hourly as well as daily rates on the gig search page
- Instant payouts in 30 minutes
- Dedicated 79425 hotline for texting any kind of support
- Qwick allows you to choose between three different sets of shifts every day
- Supports 23 major cities across the US
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good app if you’re looking to find jobs specifically in hospitality | Works only in a limited number of cities |
| The User Interface and navigation are very smooth | Charges flat 3% every time you make instant transfers |
| Allows you to customize your daily schedule with ease |
Payment Details
The money that you make on Qwick can be withdrawn in two ways. The first is the instant cashout method that we have addressed above. Here, you will need a Stripe account, and you’ll have to pay a flat 3% fee every time you withdraw.
There’s another method for direct bank transfers that can take up to 2 days. If you want to know more about this app, read the Qwick app review.
6. Best for Full-Time & Part-time: Upshift
We all want a little more control over our work schedule. A regular 9 to 5 only goes well with some, and for people who prefer doing gig work, control over their timing is one of the biggest benefits.
The Upshift is simple and easy to use and even provides a map-based search mechanism where you can find gigs and shifts located near you.
There are no interviews that you might have to sit through, and you don’t have to prepare resumes either. The app handles everything pretty well and connects you to prospective employers for daily shifts and gigs.
The app offers gigs across many industries, ranging from manufacturing and warehousing to hotels, catering, and events. I have personally used it multiple times to work as a bartender on days I have some extra time and want to make some extra cash.
Comparisons with Wonolo
The biggest benefit of using both these apps is to ensure you are getting exposed to as many jobs around you as possible.
Here is a quick comparison:
- Wonolo as well as Upshift both help you find jobs that are in the gig economy and help you get different shifts based on your time and location preferences.
- The entry barrier is a little easier on Wonolo, while on Upshift, you have to fill out a form and then even go for an in-person verification process.
- Personally, I find Wonolo’s UI a little more appealing than that of Upshift, which feels somewhat clunkier.
Key Features
- Being a gig worker on Upshift gives you all the W-2 insurance benefits
- All businesses registered on Upshift have been vetted and verified
- You can set your own schedule and availability
- Find jobs in your preferred area with a map search
- No interviews or resumes are required to find gig work on Upshift
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Verified employees, as well as employers, ensure safety | Finding consistent work on this app is a little tough |
| Allows you to set your own preferred work hours | Instant Payments happen only via EarnIn |
| Provides W-2 insurance coverage to all workers |
Payment Details
Payments are processed every Friday on Upshift. The payment that you get on Friday is from the previous week’s cycle (Monday to Sunday). If you have an EarnIn account, you can also get instant payments.
However, to qualify for instant payments, you need to get two payouts from the regular method on Upshift first.
7. Best for Flexible Work: Shiftsmart
Last on my list but not the least of the lot, Shiftsmart is one of the smartest apps out there for finding gig work. What is very assuring about this app is that it has over 3 million registered users across 50 countries!
The app has a very detailed dashboard, and the search filters help you narrow down everything to a perfect match. The app has decent pay rates and also shows you a map-based search option where you can look for jobs near you.
You don’t even have to expand the map listings to see how much each job pays because the hourly rates are shown upfront.
The app can help you track all your earnings and provide timely and regular payments. It also takes care of your training once you are onboard. Shiftsmart is one of the most trusted apps I have relied on multiple times.
Comparisons with Wonolo
Here’s a closer look at a comparison between Wonolo and Shiftsmart – two apps that are pretty similar yet quite different from each other.
- Shiftsmart has an international user base with over 50 countries supported. Wonolo is based only in the US at the moment.
- Both apps allow you to search for gigs over a map so you can find gigs near you.
- While Wonolo focuses only on gig work, Shiftsmart can help you find hourly work as well as gig-based long-term work from some of the leading brands in the world.
Key Features
- ‘Premium Shifts’ which can pay as high as $30 per hour
- Supports instant payment withdrawals
- Create your own work calendar based on your availability
- Supports part-time shifts of 4 hours or less
- A dashboard that allows you to track your income and payment status
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Allows you to find part-time gigs across some of the biggest brands in the world | Employers often take a long time to accept gigs on the app |
| Offers a higher pay scale compared to other apps | While this is a global app, most of the work is concentrated around the US only |
| Map-based search lets you find jobs located conveniently |
Payment Details
Direct deposits to the bank from Shiftsmart can take between 2 to 3 business days. However, you can also opt for instant payments, which cost you $3 per payment but reach much quicker. For more details, read the full review.
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount of money you can make on gig or job apps depends on your work industry, quality, and how much the employer pays. Usually, they are slightly higher than minimum wages and sometimes can go as high as $30 per hour.
Wonolo, Instawork, and Shiftsmart are three of the best apps to find flexible jobs. Shiftsmart even allows you to find part-time, flexible jobs of up smaller shifts of up to 4 hours.
Wrap Up!
Wonolo, which stands for Work Now Locally, has been one of the best apps out there when it comes to finding gig-based work opportunities near you. However, given how spread out employers are over all these apps, it is not advised to rely on just one app for finding work.
I have relied on a number of different apps, especially the ones reviewed above, to ensure that I am never short of cash. I hope this list helps you as well!
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