Navigating the gig economy to find the most rewarding apps can be overwhelming, with endless platforms promising fast pay, freedom, and flexible schedules. But, you rarely get the full story before you start. Believing that experience is the best teacher, SideHusl.com enlisted a freelancer, Joseph Bills, to test 5 popular gig platforms — Instacart, DoorDash, Rover, GigSmart and Upwork. Bills tried these 5 gigs so you wouldn’t have to guess about how they really work.
Here’s what paid off, what didn’t, and the quirks Bills discovered while trying out these popular side gig apps while living in New York.
Instacart
As an Instacart “shopper,” you accept grocery orders from customers, shop in partnered stores, and deliver purchases right to customer doorsteps. The app shows you the distance from the store to the customer’s home, the payout (including tips), and what you needed to buy for each batch before you accept it. That’s a level of transparency that’s rare in the gig world.
Living in New York in close proximity to several markets, Instacart quickly became my go-to for quick cash and flexibility. By claiming high-paying batches early, I earned just over $120 for five hours — about $24 per hour after accounting for gas, on a busy Saturday.
However, a real challenge was customers adding extra items after I’d already started shopping. What looked like a simple $18 batch could suddenly double in complexity, stretching my time for little added pay.
Shoppers can contact support and have the order dropped when a customer significantly alters it while in process. But shoppers rarely do that for a variety of reasons, including that they’re already shopping and some tips are based on total order value. But there also are customers who simply game the system by submitting small orders and adding to them. And Instacart does little to curb this practice.
I adapted by checking for changes before checkout and staying in touch with customers to manage surprises.
DoorDash
DoorDash lets you deliver everything from restaurant meals to groceries and snacks using your own car, scooter, or even a bicycle. The app stands out for its ease of onboarding and upfront pay information. Before you accept a delivery, you see exactly how much you’ll earn (including expected tips) and what route is involved.
But what really stood out for me is how fast you could get started. I was out delivering the day after I signed up.
My earnings ranged from $12 to $20 an hour, with my top hour hitting $28 during a dinner rush, thanks to a couple of stacked orders. The app always shows you how much you’ll earn before you accept a delivery, so I could cherry pick the best-paying jobs.
I focused on peak meal times, stacking orders whenever possible. And I avoided hanging around during slow hours to keep my average payout high. The site also offers instant payments, which is handy if you’re dealing with a cash crunch.
Rover
Are you an animal lover? Rover might be your dream gig. The platform connects pet owners with sitters and walkers for everything from half-hour dog walks to overnight pet sitting in your own home. You set your rates, choose which pets to accept, and pick your preferred services.
The site also stands out for its flexibility—it runs 24/7. And the work can be as frequent or occasional as you like.
The biggest challenge is getting your first gig. It took me about a week for my first dog walk after spending about 2 days perfecting my profile with photos and references. I responded quickly to every inquiry, offered free meet-and-greets, and accepted last-minute requests.
This approach secured my first five-star review about 2 weeks after I registered and created a profile. That good review led to more bookings, multiple dog walks and some overnight stays. In the end, I earned around $300 in my first month.
Getting started can feel slow, but reliability, responsiveness, and communicating clearly and frequently with clients can set you apart. Once you build a little trust, bookings become easier and more regular.
Upwork
Upwork brings the gig model to the skill economy. This site connects a wide array of freelancers, from writers and programmers to virtual assistants, with clients around the globe. After creating a profile showcasing your skills and experience, you pitch on projects posted by clients. The wide variety means that freelancers with almost any skill can earn money here. And highly rated freelancers in trending niches can build a regular income.
But Upwork can be a time-consuming and costly place to find work. I pay a $20 monthly subscription fee to be on the “Freelancer Plus” plan that provides better access to work. And I always pay $15 for extra “Connects,” the site’s bidding credits that you need to apply to jobs. That allows me to send out over 50 personalized proposals weekly, crafting each pitch to match the client’s needs.
Breaking in is tough and the competition is fierce. It took about 3 weeks of sending multiple proposals without even a response before I eventually landed two writing gigs worth $25 and $40. That’s $65 total. And I spent over 100 hours working on different proposals and applying to job posts before I got my first gig.
Getting my first client on the platform opened the door for more contracts. But contending with lowball offers by competing freelancers can make the platform exhausting.
GigSmart
Looking for variety with your side gig? GigSmart might be just the ticket. The app connects you with local, short-term jobs across multiple industries. Think warehouse help, event staffing, construction, administrative support, and more. Unlike other apps that tie you to one job type, GigSmart displays available gigs in real-time and lets you browse by category. You choose the roles that fit your skills and availability.
Within two weeks, I filled my schedule with jobs in retail inventory (four hours for $56), event setup (six hours for $30 and some free food), and office assistant work (two hours for $40). The best jobs showed up early in the day and were claimed fast. I made it a habit to check the app first thing in the morning and grab whatever fit my skills and timing.
Payouts came the next business day, which was a relief when I needed money quickly. GigSmart’s many options make side hustling accessible and immediate.
Our Takeaway
Each gig app has its strengths. Instacart works for fast movers with good timing. DoorDash is great if you need to sign up and start earning in a hurry. Rover is perfect for patient animal lovers. And GigSmart is good for those who want variety and quick paydays.
But you probably can skip Upwork. Although a wide array of freelancers find work there, bidding on projects that you’ll never get is time consuming and expensive. The amount you earn may not be worth the effort.
