The Best Side Hustle Apps Have These Features in Common

It’s no wonder that 4 in 10 Americans have a side gig. The average student loan payment each month is $351, then add to that rent, utilities, and having a morsel of a social life, and the month will likely run longer than the cash in your account. Whether you’re just looking to make some extra money or you’re exploring side gigs to find a new career direction, there are a number of reasons having a side hustle is a good thing.

In addition to providing you with some extra cash, side gigs also give you the opportunity to build new skills and gain experience in different industries. Starting career exploration with a part-time side hustle can be a great way to determine if the industry is really for you.

A side hustle may be awesome, especially for college students, but they’re not all created equal. When you’re choosing your side gig, especially an app-based side gig, there are three qualities you should look for to ensure you’re creating the best-case scenario for your schedule and wallet. Below, we’ll explore which features the best side hustle apps have in common.

Broad Focus

If you’re going to spend your downtime working on your side gig, it should at least be something you want to do with the flexibility to match your specific needs. The best side hustle apps provide a wide range of services that allow you to broaden your horizons. These broad focus apps give you the opportunity to exercise different skills and try out different services to find out what you’re best at and enjoy the most.

With a broad range of opportunities, you’ll never get bored. If you want a variety of side gig options in one platform, check out these apps:

Care.com

Whether your gift is SAT prep or dog walking, the Care.com app allows you to find a job that fits your skill set. Provide child care, adult and senior care, pet care, and home care to customers, or find tutoring, errands, and odd job opportunities.

Fiverr

With more than 116 different service categories, you’re sure to find a few gigs right for you on Fiverr. This app connects you to entrepreneurs and businesses in need of graphics and design, music and audio, writing, digital marketing, and more. If you’re a creative looking to build your portfolio, download this app today.

Hubstaff

Skip the bidding-for-gigs process and get straight to work on Hubstaff. You’ll be connected with business owners searching for IT managers, coders, designers, marketing gurus, and content writers. Find consistent work in your particular niche, and don’t lower your rate just to grab a job.

TaskRabbit

Are you handy around the house? If you enjoy home improvement and are good at repairs, then TaskRabbit is a great app for making some extra cash in your spare time. Choose from a variety of household chores from putting together furniture, mounting a mirror, or helping someone move. The opportunities are endless!

 

Tispr

Tispr is a great app for creatives that are looking to pursue their passions and build or diversify their portfolio while making a little extra cash. After creating a profile on the app, you’ll have access to a wide variety of creative job opportunities with diverse companies that are looking for someone with your expertise.

Gigwalk

Gigwalk matches side hustlers with businesses in their area that are looking for a little extra help. Whether you’re running an event or just running errands, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for a variety of side gigs right in your area that you’re qualified to help with.

Bonuses and Incentives

Don’t miss out on bonus checks or added incentives just because you’re working a side gig. While traditional work environments may not offer you the chance to take advantage of incentives, some of the best gig apps often offer bonuses or incentives for side hustlers who work hard and consistently deliver.

Bonuses and incentives are one of the best ways to maximize your extra cashflow. If extra “perks” of the job make a side hustle more enjoyable for you, spend your time on one of these apps:

Lyft

When you join Lyft as a driver, you can enjoy a sign-on bonus when you meet certain trip requirements within the first 30 days. Lyft also offers a number of other bonuses and incentives like weekly ride challenges, power zones with an incentive for picking up riders in certain areas, and streak bonuses.

Instacart

With Instacart, you get paid to deliver groceries to customers’ homes. This app offers incentives for you to earn even more on the app’s busiest days. You can also earn commissions based on your speed and accuracy, meaning the more you work and better you get, the more potential you have to earn more.

Uber

When you drive with Uber, you can take advantage of incentives like Boost, which multiplies your trip fares by a specified amount for all of the trips you complete within a hotspot during certain times. In addition, Quest incentives allow you to earn extra money for reaching certain trip goals in a specified time period. Uber usually has two quests per week, one for Monday through Thursday, and another one for the weekend. This gives Uber a slight advantage over Lyft when it comes to driving part-time.

Postmates

When it comes to incentives that help increase your earnings, Postmates is one of the best delivery apps out there. They often include bonuses that allow you to earn an additional amount for each delivery accepted and completed within a certain timeframe as well as bonuses for completing a certain amount of deliveries in a specified timeframe.

Wag

If you’re passionate about animals and want to make some extra cash walking dogs, then Wag! is a great side hustle app as it provides some extra incentives for hard-working dog walkers. The app offers featured walks, some of which have bonuses attached to them, which allows you to earn additional funds on top of the initial walk pay out.

Flexible Scheduling

One of the biggest perks of a side hustle is that you’re able to make extra money during your free time. If you want the freedom to sign on for a few hours and make money on your schedule, then finding an app with scheduling flexibility is a top priority. Many jobs will allow you to work early morning, afternoon, or late at night, allowing you to pick the jobs that fit best within your schedule.

Whether you’re balancing a full-time job or just other side hustles, you’ll want to check out some of the apps that allow for flexible scheduling. If you want to set your own schedule each day, here are your best side gig app options:

Wonolo

With the Wonolo staffing platform, you can choose from a variety of jobs in your community. The app allows you to choose from immediate hourly, single, or multi-day jobs. With a single swipe, you can accept or deny the job based on how much (and if) you want to work for the day. You’re only committed to the jobs you choose, but if you need to back out of a gig, you need to let the employer know more than 12 hours out.

Amazon Flex

For side giggers 21 and older, Amazon Flex is a great way to set your own schedule on a daily basis or for the week ahead. You can choose to deliver Amazon packages each day from available blocks of time or set your schedule before the week starts if you prefer a regular routine.

Dolly

Dolly lets you make money on your time without driving someone around or walking their dog. You simply move boxes, furniture, or anything else people need help transporting. Whether you want some weekend work or can bring in some cash in the evenings, the Dolly app shows you how much you’ll make before you accept the job and explains what you’ll be moving (so there are no surprises when you arrive on scene). This app is best for those who don’t mind a little sweat and can lift at least 75 pounds. If you have a truck, you can make even more working for Dolly.

Shipt

With Shipt, you can earn up to $22/hour shopping for the app’s members. This side hustle app allows you to be your own boss and set your own hours. Whether you want to work full- or part-time or only have availability during certain days of the week or hours of the day, you make your own schedule with Shipt.

 

Rover

If you love dogs and want to make some extra cash, Rover is a great app that allows for flexible scheduling. Whether you just want to work weekends or need specific days off during the week, you set your availability using a convenient calendar feature, allowing you to only get dog walking and petsitting requests on the days you are available.

Finding the right side gig app depends on your priorities. Whether you want to choose your daily schedule, benefit from bonuses and incentives, or find gigs tailored to your skill set, knowing which side hustle app to choose will offer the best fit for your needs.