Who doesn’t want to make some extra cash? During my college days, I was always on the lookout for side hustle opportunities. I must admit, I relied heavily on Shiftsmart to find flexible gigs and earn money on my own terms.
Shiftsmart is like Tinder but for jobs. While it does a good job in most areas, it lacks a consistent stream of part-time jobs, especially in non-metro regions. As a flexible worker living outside a big city, having more gig options would be ideal.
In this article, I’ll discuss the 10 most legit alternatives I’ve found that let you find remote jobs and gig work. So, let us begin!
Top 12 Apps Similar To Shiftsmart
I’ve hand-picked platforms that help take control of your schedule and earn extra income when you need it. To curate this list, I took a closer look at the 18 most popular job-finding apps and got my team to try each individually.
The selection has been made primarily based on the quality and quantity of jobs available on them. Besides, I have also kept user reviews and ratings in mind.
Rest assured, the apps that I have included will ensure you always have a side hustle going on! These are all legit and verified apps that pay well and on time. So, what are you waiting for?
1. Best Overall: Wonolo
If you are looking for flexible part-time work, Wonolo is a great option. It offers you day-to-day shifts, and even short to long-term work opportunities.
Besides, one of the most impressive things about Wonolo that I love is the fact that it has an incredibly easy UI that you can navigate through without any difficulties! Some of its key features are as follows:
- No need for resumes or interviews to get work
- Find shifts that you are comfortable working on
- Offers pretty quick payments
Minimum Requirements
- Basic knowledge about the task you’re about to take on
- Agree to all the terms and conditions that are set by the hiring team
- A bank account or a debit card to receive payments on
How does Wonolo pay?
The payments happen either directly as bank deposits into your bank account, or you can opt to have the amount transferred straight into your Debit card.
Wonolo usually takes a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 days to send you the payments for the tasks you have completed. The payment is initiated after the manager marks the task as completed.
If you want to learn more about features, functionality, fees and stuff, check out the complete Wonolo review.
2. Best Runner Up: Upshift
Are you looking for work but don’t want to go through the hassles of sending your resume to multiple employers and sitting in interviews? Head over to UpShift, where you can get gigs with ease across a variety of workplaces.
The best part about UpShift is that it offers you the ability to work around your schedule, giving you more control over your time.
- Offers flexible shifts that pay well
- Allows you to work around your schedule
- Allows you to get paid weekly
Minimum Requirements
- An in-person document check to verify your credentials is required
- You don’t need any major degrees, just a basic understanding of your domain
- You must be at least 18 years of age
How does the Upshift pay?
Upshift’s payment mechanism works on a weekly basis. You could choose the day of the week that you want to get paid, and the app will automatically ensure that you are paid on that day based on the tasks that have been marked completed by the hiring manager.
One major limitation is that UpShift is available only in 17 US states at the moment. However, they do plan to expand soon.
3. Best for Gig Work: GigSmart
GigSmart is one of the closest Shiftsmart competitors. In this app, you can easily find work from home jobs without going through the hassle of interviews and preparing resumes. The app allows you to work flexible and part-time gigs.
What makes it even more special is that it offers a wide variety of industries you can choose your job from.
- Freedom to choose gigs that align with your interests
- Wide varieties of industries compared to other similar apps
- A ‘worker benefit portal’ helps you get easy access to healthcare services
Minimum Requirements
- Basic knowledge of your domain of work
- You need to be a minimum of 18 years of age to get a gig on GigSmart
- Profiles are rated by the community, the better your rating, the more likely you are to get gigs
How does the GigSmart pay?
They usually pay on a bi-weekly schedule. However, there is also the option for you to get instant payments, but you will have to pay a 3% commission on that.
Another interesting payments-related feature of this app is that it comes with a GigSmart wallet, where all your uncollected funds are stored and you can withdraw them at a later date all at once.
For more details, you may check out my complete review of Gigsmart.
4. Best for Students: Bluecrew
Bluecrew is perhaps the top Shiftsmart alternative out there if you are looking for work in the warehousing and retail sectors.
The app is also an excellent option for people looking forward to getting part-time shifts in events, stadiums, and other related sectors. Bluecrew allows you to set your own schedule and work around it at your comfort!
The key features include:
- Get W-2 worker benefits such as overtime, sick days, insurance, etc
- Find short and long-term gigs, as well as part-time and full-time hourly work
- Browse through a variety of gig options to choose the best combination for you
Minimum Requirements
- You need to be at least 18 years of age to get on Bluecrew
- A one-time onboarding process has to be undertaken to become a crew member
- You need to be hard-working and possess a basic knowledge of the task
How does the Bluecrew pay?
Bluecrew will pay you every week. However, there’s also an option where you can choose immediate payouts under the ‘on-demand pay’ option. However, you will be charged a small fee for that.
The W-2 benefits that Bluecrew offers make it worthwhile the while of signing up on this app. You won’t be charged for them.
5. Best for Hourly/Daily Shifts: Instawork
If you are looking for hourly and daily shifts, Instawork is a top option for you. This is a very good alternative to Shiftsmart and offers well-paying gigs that can go as high as $25 per hour.
The app not only allows you to work on a flexible schedule but also gives you various rewards and ratings that help you land better gigs in the future.
- Provides a diverse set of gigs: everything from hospitality to housekeeping
- Allows you to track all the gigs you have applied for and see their status
- Offers jobs across over 37 cities in the US
Minimum Requirements
- You have to be available for the shifts that you choose to work in
- You need to be at least 18 years old to get a gig on Instawork
- You need to live in a city that is supported by Instawork
How does the Instawork pay?
Instawork usually pays those working on gigs with them weekly. However, there is also an option to get paid instantly but that might involve some charges that will be borne by you.
Instawork also allows you to review your paychecks via their job tracker dashboard. Instawork also has a referral program, that allows you to earn even more.
6. Best for Next Day Pay: WorkWhile
WorkWhile gives you the option to work both, full-time, as well as flexible jobs. The app allows you to set your own schedule and get paid on the basis of the work you do.
One of the best things about this app is that the support reps are quite helpful and will guide you in a step-by-step manner. WorkWhile is one of the best work from home job apps out there!
Check out the key features:
- Work around your schedule by choosing gigs that suit you best
- Offers a wide variety of jobs that pay well on an hourly basis
- Excellent support from the customer service reps
Minimum Requirements
- Primarily, your age needs to be above 18 to work with WorkWhile
- You also need to undertake an orientation before being onboarded to the platform
- Hold a legitimate bank account in the US to get paid
How does the WorkWhile pay?
The app pays you on a next-day basis. You will get paid after the gig is marked completed successfully. When you withdraw your funds from the app, you might be charged a small ‘Trust and Safety’ fee, so watch out for that.
For more details, you may read my full review of the WorkWhile app.
7. Best for Freelancers: Qwick
Are you looking forward to finding work exclusively in the Food and Beverages sector? Are you looking for gigs in hospitality? Qwick is just the perfect app for you in that case.
The app also allows you to set your schedule differently every day, and work according to your preferred shift slots. Take a look at its key highlights:
- Great app for gig workers in the hospitality sector
- Excellent chat-based support for gig workers
- ‘QwickScore’ rating ensures you get better gigs
Minimum Requirements
- At least one year of recent F&B experience
- You will need to undergo a Qwick orientation program
- You will require an account on Stripe to get paid
How does the Qwick pay?
There are two methods of payment on Qwick. You can either get paid any time within 30 minutes (by paying a 3% commission), or you can get paid within 1-2 days of completing the gig. The wages on Qwick are usually higher than most other apps (and significantly more than minimum wage).
The app also comes with a two-way rating system where the person hiring you rates you after the work, and you get to rate them too. The higher your rating, the more shifts you can get in the future.
Want to learn more about this app? Check out the complete review of Qwick app.
8. Best for Part-time Jobs: Indeed Flex
Indeed is one of the most popular job-finding apps for full-time work seekers. However, for part-time workers and gig workers, it has a dedicated app called ‘Flex’. The app is named so because it helps you find shifts that give you the flexibility to work on your time and your terms.
It is a highly trusted app as it comes with the reputation of the Indeed job board.
- Offers a large range of gigs and shift options from across industries
- Smart matching algorithm helps match workers to employers based on their skills
- You can work around the timings you want and set your minimum rate
Minimum Requirements
- You need to be at least 18 years of age to find work with Indeed Flex
- You need to hold a bank account to get paid
- You need to be registered with Indeed Flex to get started
How does the Indeed Flex pay?
There’s a dashboard that will show you your rating, your earnings, and your minimum rate on the app itself. You can get paid on a weekly basis on Indeed Flex. Do note that customer support on this app is almost inaccessible so you might want to watch out for that.
9. Best for Warehouse Work: Veryable
Veryable is the perfect app for people looking for gigs and shifts in the manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing sectors. The app helps provide on-demand shifts and helps you work around your own schedule.
It is a great place for independent contractors because it allows you to bid on the jobs as well, giving you an upper hand in the pay negotiations. The app is currently available in about almost 20 states in the US.
- One of the fastest payers in the gig industry – next-day payments
- A bidding system for pay negotiations
- Allows you to showcase your experience and certifications
Minimum Requirements
- A background check needs to be completed to join Veryable
- You will need to fill out a tax form before you start work
- You will need to register with Vault Payment Solutions to get paid
How does the Veryable pay?
Veryable pays you the very next day after your gig is marked completed. The bidding system can help you get more money for your work.
Another great thing about this app is that multiple affiliate partners provide you with special perks and discounts if you are a Veryable shift worker. Do note that to get paid, you will need to sign up with Vault Payment Solutions.
10. Best for Work on Demand: Bacon
Bacon is a very good option for people looking for jobs like Shiftsmart. The app helps you find a shift or a gig with just a few simple taps on your screen! The app provides on-demand jobs that pay on an hourly basis, and all of these are highly flexible jobs where you can set your shift timings.
The app also analyzes your profile and sends you recommended gig options that you can apply for. Here are its key features:
- Very simple and easy-to-use UI where you can find a job quickly
- The app has a dashboard that helps you track your earnings
- Allows you the freedom to set your own shift timings
Minimum Requirements
- You will need an account on one of the payment partners to get paid
- You need to be at least 18 years old to find work with Bacon
- You will undergo a background check before you are listed on Bacon
How does the Bacon pay?
There are different payment providers that you can use to get paid. Everee is the fastest which pays you within one business day but charges a small fee on it. Stripe usually takes 2 to 3 days to pay you after the shift is approved.
The app also has a dashboard that showcases your earnings as well as charts your growth on a graph.
After every gig, you get to rate the employer and they get to rate you. The higher your rating, the better your chances of finding more gigs on Bacon.
11. Best for Jobs in Your Area: Adia
The Adia app is a very good option for people who are looking forward to finding gigs in their local area. The app uses a smart matching mechanism where it showcases gigs based on your job matches.
It also has a very nuanced ‘shift details’ page which gives you all the information about your shift in one place. Adia offers work opportunities from a wide range of sectors, so you can choose based on your interests.
- A detailed earning dashboard as well as a ‘rewards’ section
- With Adia, you get W-2 benefits that usually full-time employees tend to get
- You can find jobs that allow you to work on your own time
Minimum Requirements
- You need to answer a skills assessment test
- A background check will then be carried out
- You might also have to sit for an interview with the recruiter
How does the Adia pay?
Adia pays you every Friday. You will be paid on the basis of the hours that you work. Furthermore, there are some rewards too. You earn points with every hour that you work for. As you move up the ladder, you get gift cards, exclusive app features, and more.
Adia also covers all those who find work with them as W-2 employees and gives them many full-time benefits. This makes it one of the best ShiftSmart alternatives for gig workers and independent contractors.
12. Best for Ease of Use: Shifts by Snagajob
Shifts by Snagajob helps you snag shifts based on your preferred timings. The app not only allows you to search for the best shifts in your area but also notifies you when new gigs are available so you can apply quickly.
As you work more on this app, you will get recommendation ratings, as well as a counter for total shifts worked. Having a good score there will help you get more shifts in the future.
Here are the key features:
- Complete freedom to choose when and where to work
- No commitments: you don’t have to keep working with the same recruiter
- Get paid higher than the minimum wage
Minimum Requirements
- You need to be hard-working and have a basic knowledge of your domain
- You need to be at least 18 years of age to get gigs on Shifts by Snagajob
- You need to have a bank account in the US to get your payments
How does the Shifts pay?
Once your shift is completed and the shift manager marks it complete, you will get paid. The payments reach your bank account on a weekly basis. The app also has a system for rewards and bonuses that help you make some additional amount on top of what your hourly rates are.
What also sets this app apart from other similar apps is that Shifts by Snagajob usually pays a better amount than the average minimum wage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many apps pay you to pick up shifts. These include the likes of Wonolo, Qwick, Instawork, WorkWhile, etc. You can set your work timings here and find shifts easily.
These apps help you find work as a part-time worker or an independent contractor across manufacturing, hospitality, events, warehousing, logistics, retail, and many other industries.
Most gig apps will pay you an hourly rate that is higher than the minimum wage. However, Veryable is one app that allows you to bid and negotiate for a higher hourly payment with your employer.
Yes, shift-based work providers are highly trustworthy as they are often the official partners of many organizations that have a frequent need for gig workers.
Wrap Up!
While ShiftSmart is an excellent option for people who are looking for side hustles, no app is perfect. You can also use multiple shift apps at the same time to find more gigs.
These apps help you make part-time income, and who can say no to extra money? Do let me know which of these platforms worked the best for you.
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