Top 6 Gig Apps to Make Real Cash in January 2026

If you like to be behind the wheel, you’re in luck. A lot of the most popular gig apps involve driving.

Our pick: DoorDash

DoorDash is a food delivery app that operates across the country.

We’ve ranked DoorDash in first place in our list of driving and delivery apps because it’s the biggest of the delivery driver apps in the US, so there’s a lot of work available nationwide.

It also gets an edge over ridesharing apps, as you don’t have to worry about having strangers in your car, making it the ideal side hustle for introverts.

To become a DoorDash driver, follow these steps:

1. Sign up
2. Select the hours you want to work (DoorDash’s peak hours are often at lunch and dinner time)
3. Accept or reject delivery requests
4. Pick up food, alcohol (if legal in your area), and groceries, and drop them off
5. Earn a base pay, plus tips

Your daily earnings with DoorDash can fluctuate depending on various factors, including your working hours and driving area. This, in turn, will affect how much you can make delivering for DoorDash overall.

Other apps to try

While DoorDash comes in first place for driving-based gig apps, you can also check out these other platforms:

Uber

You probably already know what a rideshare driver is and have heard about Uber, the popular ridesharing app that connects drivers with passengers. Getting started is very straightforward; just make sure you meet Uber’s requirements and you should be good to go. If you don’t own a vehicle, you can still start this side hustle by renting a car with Uber.

While it’s one of the most popular gig apps around, Uber has a lot of drivers, so competition can be stiff. Still, as indicated below, Uber drivers can expect to earn about $20–$30 per ride. Moreover, the app offers a signup bonus for new drivers in the form of an earnings guarantee, and you’re allowed to sell products to your passengers to make some extra money if you like.

Note that the earning potential of Uber Black drivers (who offer Uber’s premium service) is generally higher than that of regular drivers, making it a good way to boost your earnings. Don’t forget to look into Uber tax deductions to minimize your costs.

Lyft

An Uber alternative, Lyft is another app you can use if you’re interested in offering rideshare services. Like Uber, it pays drivers on a per-mile basis and encourages passengers to tip within the app. It’s a good idea to use both apps in tandem with each other to pick up more rides and maximize your earnings with Uber and Lyft.

Before signing up with the app, make sure to review Lyft’s driver requirements to check your eligibility. In addition, you may want to look into rideshare insurance if your personal auto insurance doesn’t cover commercial driving.

Uber Eats

Another delivery app, Uber Eats works the same as DoorDash. This app has more lenient restrictions than the Uber rideshare app (especially since you can qualify to drive for Uber Eats with a scooter or bicycle, or even deliver on foot).

That said, if you’re wondering whether you can become a delivery driver at 17 (or younger), the answer is no. As you can see below, you must be at least 18 or 19 years old to become an Uber Eats driver, and other apps in this space have similar minimum age requirements.

If you want to have a more comprehensive insight into the factors that affect your earnings, you can read our article about how much you can make delivering with Uber Eats.

Grubhub

Like Uber Eats and DoorDash, Grubhub is a popular delivery gig app that lets you sign up to be a driver and make money running around and delivering food. You can set your own hours and accept or decline orders on the app, then grab meals from restaurants and take them to the orderer’s location.

All of these apps pay comparably. Which one you sign up for depends on how popular each is in your area. The best approach is to sign up for several in the beginning and experiment to find out which gives you the best shot at landing gigs.

Instacart

Instacart falls into the same realm of delivery gig apps, but it works a little differently than the three above. If you become an Instacart shopper, you’ll be tasked with grocery shopping on someone’s behalf and then dropping off your haul.

Signing up and using the app is easy and flexible, allowing you to set your own hours and only make the shopping trips that appeal to you. How you plan your schedule will largely affect your expected pay with Instacart.

Amazon Flex

If you want to cut out the hassle of grocery shopping or picking up orders from restaurants, download the Amazon Flex app to become an Amazon delivery driver and drop off orders at their final destinations.

As an Amazon Flex driver, you’ll designate a “block” of time to work within, then pick up orders from the Amazon location near you and deliver each package to its rightful home. Amazon Flex boasts one of the highest pay rates of any delivery gig app, claiming an average of $18–$25 per hour, plus tips.

Spark Driver

Combine Instacart and Amazon Flex, and you get the Spark Driver app, also known as the Walmart Spark app. As a driver, you’ll shop at your local Walmart store, then deliver the goods. Like its competition, the Spark Driver app pays a base rate, plus tips.

The benefit of using Spark over similar apps is that you’ll always be working with the same store, so you won’t need to run around looking for your shopping target or familiarize yourself with different businesses (which can be especially frustrating if one of the stores in your area frequently reorganizes its layout).

Shipt

An Instacart alternative, Shipt is another grocery shopping and delivery app. You just download the app, sign up as a driver, then accept grocery orders you want to pick up and drop off.

There are no marked differences between Shipt and Instacart, but the former is a more popular service nationwide, so you might have better luck finding gigs on it.

Grabr

A unique gig app for the brave wayfarer, Grabr is an international delivery platform that helps people access products from different countries. If you have a trip coming up, you can enter your origin and destination into the app and claim any deliveries you can make during your travels.

Basically, you’ll buy a product in one country and deliver it to someone in another. Payment is upfront, so it’s guaranteed, and you’ll be in full possession of the items you transport, so there won’t be any surprises.

Here are some of the best apps to pick up shifts or temp work of various types. If you’re comfortable with manual labor (i.e., handyman work, yard work, etc.) or service industry gigs, one of these might be a great fit for you.

Our pick: Instawork

Instawork is one of the most popular apps for picking up shifts in hospitality, customer service, and other diverse industries.

We’ve given Instawork the top spot in our list as it operates in over 40 major markets across the US, with plenty of opportunities to pick up shifts. Moreover, if you’re a top performer on Instawork, you may be able to get paid the same day with Instapay.

As a contractor with Instawork, you won’t be charged any fees or commissions. You’ll take home 100% of your earnings from the app.

Other apps to try

Outside of this month’s top pick, here are a few other gig apps you can use to find tasks and shifts:

Wonolo

Wonolo sets you up with shifts in various task categories, like delivery, cleaning, production, warehousing, and general labor, among others. You set your own schedule and category preferences, so you’re in control of when and what gigs you work.

Like Instawork, Wonolo charges commissions and fees to the job requester, not the freelancer, meaning you get to keep 100% of your earnings on the app.

Jobble

An expansive gig app, Jobble provides you with a host of opportunities to make extra money by picking up shifts. Like Instawork and Wonolo, it offers gigs in the general labor space, but it also connects you with more specialized work, including service industry and healthcare shifts.

The hiring company posts an hourly or per-project rate for each job in the listing. You’ll track the time you work on the Jobble app, then get paid according to the rate set by the hiring company.

Upshift

Upshift is another worthwhile app to check out if you’re looking to pick up in-person shifts. It’s a particularly good choice for catering, food service, and warehouse gigs.

Just be aware that while Upshift is a legit app for making quick cash, it’s only available in 12 states across the country. Before signing up, check the locations Upshift currently operates in.

GigSmart

GigSmart is another gig app specifically for picking up shifts in your local area. Instead of focusing on a particular type of job, the platform features gigs across a wide range of industries, including warehouse and manufacturing, catering, retail, construction, and much more.

You get to set your own schedule, choose which gigs you want, and even get paid instantly.

Qwick

Pick up shifts in the service industry by downloading the Qwick gig app. Once you sign up, you can find front-of-house, back-of-house, and catering gigs to work in your spare time.

The work you can pick up includes bartending, hosting, serving, dishwashing, event prep, and other roles in food and hospitality.

Note: As of writing, Qwick isn’t available everywhere in the US. Before signing up, check whether Qwick operates in your city or region.

If you’re already working as an independent contractor in a particular field or you have advanced skills or knowledge in a certain area, you may want to look for a gig app that’s a little more specialized than the generic gig apps that are open to just about anyone.

Many of these apps require professional experience in a particular field or even special licenses or certifications. The plus side is that they often allow you to earn more and focus on doing the work you’re best at.

Our pick: TaskRabbit

As a “tasker” on TaskRabbit, you’ll pick up spare jobs around town during timeframes you pick and get paid at a rate you set. While it’s one of the most popular apps to find house cleaning jobs, you can also use it to find work in different task categories, such as house painting, building, and yard work, to name just a few.

TaskRabbit is our top pick of the gig apps for skilled contractors because it has the widest variety of jobs available. However, probably the biggest selling point of performing tasks on TaskRabbit is that the company won’t take a cut of what you earn.

There’s a $25 registration fee when you sign up, but you’ll keep 100% of the money you make.

Other apps to try

Aside from TaskRabbit, you can also check out a few other gig apps for skilled contractors:

HelloTech

If you’re tech-savvy and looking to earn a side income, using the HelloTech app is a great way to land tech repair and assistance gigs in your area. Just sign up as a technician and get matched with local jobs that fit your skills—whether that means mounting a TV or repairing a modem.

While the platform claims a high average payout of $100 per day, they’ll also take a percentage commission from each job you complete.

Field Nation

Field Nation is an IT labor marketplace, and it’s known for being one of the best work-on-demand apps for finding IT gigs. Creating a profile is free, but you’ll need insurance to join their network of technicians.

The app is ideal for independent contractors who are looking to pick up a bit of extra work. It gives you the opportunity to do anything from starting a computer repair business on the side to offering occasional network cabling and installation services.

Puls

Puls is a unique gig app for IT repair specialists. The primary purpose of this marketplace is to connect experienced repair technicians with clients who need someone to come perform home repairs or phone repairs.

Only roughly 10% of applicants are approved, but if you have the right skills, you could earn decent money as a Puls technician.

Check out the following legitimate passive income apps to land side jobs that make you money without requiring effort or interaction. These are mostly apps that let you rent out things, from spare rooms to vehicles to equipment.

Note that we’ve left out several popular rental platforms based on the amount of work those sites usually require. For instance, if you start an Airbnb side hustle or become a host on Vrbo, you can earn passive income by collecting rent. However, compared to the apps we listed below, you need to put in much more work to get these side hustles off the ground.

Our pick: Neighbor

With Neighbor, you can rent out your unused space as private storage to locals in need. List your spare room, garage, shed, basement, or even closet so that people in your community can turn your extra square footage into much-needed storage.

You can make arrangements and communicate with renters through the app, and the platform even provides up to $1 million in insurance coverage.

We recommend Neighbor above all the other passive-income apps because it’s a low-effort way to generate extra cash. Once renters store their items, you don’t need to do much else other than ensure their stuff stays safe.

Other apps to try

Aside from this month’s top pick, you can check out other apps that let you generate a passive income, such as:

Sniffspot

Turn your backyard into a private dog park with the Sniffspot app. This app allows you to rent out your green space to dog owners in need of a private lawn for their furry companion.

The process is easy—you just list your space on the app, review and accept visits (only one at a time), then get paid monthly. Accepting visits only means you grant them permission to enter your private property at a specific time, but doesn’t require you to greet them or interact whatsoever.

Turo

A great way to make passive income on an app is by renting out your car for money. One popular car-sharing app called Turo lets you rent out your vehicle while you’re not using it. It pays you 65%–75% of each trip’s price.

To rent out your car on Turo, you’ll need to meet certain requirements, like owning a car that’s no more than 12 years old.

Carvertise

Another way to earn passive income from your car is to rent out ad space on your car using a service like Carvertise. This is just one of several apps that pay you to advertise on your car.

It’s as simple as it sounds—just sign up, wait to get connected with a suitable ad campaign, get your car wrapped, and then drive around like you normally would. You’ll get paid for the advertising without having to do any work.

Rentah

A unique peer-to-peer rental service, Rentah lets you list almost any kind of profitable things you can rent out. This could mean renting out a music studio, a prom dress, a stroller, an hour of your time, or even a waffle maker.

If it can be of service to others and you can part with it for a few hours, you can list it on Rentah. The best part is that fees are minimal, and you get to set the listing price for what you’re renting out.

If you’re looking for a side hustle that will keep you active and give you the chance to soak in some sun, look no further. These gig apps will take you outdoors and get your body moving.

Our pick: Wag!

Calling all dog-loving side hustlers—Wag! is one of the most popular dog-walking apps that link you up with busy people who need you to take their dogs out for a stroll.

Wag! gets the top spot in our list of outdoorsy gig apps as it boasts high hourly rates for walkers and is available in all 50 states.

However, the drawback is that Wag! takes a pretty huge cut of your earnings, which can greatly affect your potential earnings as a dog walker. Therefore, if you get serious about working as a dog walker, it’s a good idea to eventually take your business off-app.

Other apps to try

If an outdoors side hustle is what you’re looking for, you can also try apps like:

Rover

An alternative to Wag!, Rover is another app you can use if you want to start a dog walking side hustle. It’s also popular across the US and even has a presence in the UK and Canada. A huge point in its favor is that Rover takes a smaller cut of what you earn on each walk compared to Wag!

One of the main dog walking business tips is to pick the right app to use. If you’re debating whether to use Wag! or Rover, reading our breakdown of Wag! vs. Rover may help you make a decision.

Dolly

Show off your muscles and bring home some extra money with the Dolly app. You can be a “Helper” (i.e., someone who has a vehicle to contribute to moving services), or you can be a “Hand,” which is someone who helps with the moving process by helping lift and carry items (no vehicle required).

The app boasts average hourly earnings between $35–$50. As an added bonus, you can get a decent workout in the process.

Bellhop

Another on-demand moving services app, Bellhop lets you become a mover and lend a helping hand to people who are moving in your area.

You can set your own schedule, accept jobs, then work with a team to complete the move. As you complete more jobs, your Bellhops “rank” will increase, which will lead to a higher pay rate.

Lugg

Another moving gig app, Lugg isn’t just for moving people from one home to another. As a lugger, you can help out with small home moves, transporting purchases from stores to people’s houses, getting rid of junk, or picking up Craigslist finds.

If you have a truck, you can use it to make more money, or you can just sign up as a helping hand and still earn extra cash.

Lawn Love

Get your hands and knees dirty with the Lawn Love app, which lets you start a lawn care side hustle or pick up yard work gigs. You can provide services such as mowing, gutter cleaning, leaf removal, gardening, and more.

If you have a knack for outdoor work, this is the perfect app for finding small jobs around town working in the sunshine. Lawn Love will charge the work requester a fee for using the app, so you’ll keep 100% of your earnings on each job.

iVueit

This is one of the more unique side hustles for getting you out and about. iVueit lets you take pictures around town with your smartphone. You just accept a “vue,” go to the location and take photos, then complete a survey and submit it to earn some extra bucks.

You won’t be able to earn all that much money with this app, but it’s a novel and fun way to supplement your income, and you can fit it around many of the other side hustles on this list (including the ones that already involve driving all over town).

Oppizi

It may not land you the highest-paying gigs on this list, but Oppizi provides a fun and easy way to earn extra money in your spare time and get outdoors.

Just download the app and sign up for distribution opportunities. You’ll collect advertising materials (like pamphlets) and then distribute them in your area.

If you’d prefer something quieter, look into these apps featuring jobs you can do remotely, from the comfort of your own home.

Our pick: Upwork

Upwork is a popular platform to start freelancing with or without experience. It connects you and your services with paying customers.

Upwork is your best bet for finding reliable remote freelancing opportunities, as it has a huge amount of jobs available in varying industries.

To get started, you make a profile that highlights your skills and experience, then apply for jobs that catch your eye.

Other apps to try

You can also find online gigs on platforms like:

CrowdGen by Appen

CrowdGen by Appen is a freelancing platform that connects independent contractors with online AI projects and tasks. Most of the jobs involve completing tasks that improve AI.

You’ll track your own rates and hours on approved jobs and send an invoice to Appen each month to receive payment.

Fiverr

Fiverr is another popular gig platform for finding freelance work. Similar to Upwork, the platform lets you post your own jobs, performing a service of your choice, and set the hourly or per-project rate you desire.

The services can be anything that’s performable online, such as graphic design, photography, data entry, and virtual assisting. Keep in mind that Fiverr will take a 20% cut of your earnings, so set your rates accordingly.

Amazon MTurk

If you like the sound of getting paid for surveys and other microtasks with Amazon gift cards, Amazon MTurk might be an obvious gig app to try (although it also pays in cash). Amazon MTurk is short for Amazon Mechanical Turk, a system you can participate in as a worker to help refine Amazon’s technological abilities.

Through the platform, you’ll be matched with microtasks to complete, like image processing, information gathering, and data verification. Like other microtask platforms, don’t expect to make a huge chunk of change here.

Note: Amazon MTurk is not available on the App Store.

Premise

Another microtask app, Premise is an easy way to score low-effort gigs with no special skills or experience, such as taking paid surveys or capturing photos.

Simply download the app and create a profile, then complete tasks that appeal to you and get paid. Since this is a microtask site, you won’t see huge payouts. For example, completing a survey on the app usually pays $0.05–$0.10.

UserTesting

Similar to microtasking, testing products (and other items) and participating in focus groups are popular online side hustles for making a few extra bucks with a low level of commitment. One app that provides this opportunity is UserTesting.

Through the platform, you’ll match with suitable studies or testing opportunities.

Choosing the best gig app isn’t always as simple as checking which one has the best reviews. There are several other features you should also consider to make an informed decision and get the most out of gig job apps.

Here are a few factors that you should take into account when making your decision:

• Job types: Some gig apps focus exclusively on one type of work (e.g., rideshare and delivery job apps). Others offer a wide range of jobs, potentially allowing you to earn more if you have a more diverse skill set.
• Fee structure: In addition to considering the overall cost of using a gig app, you should take into account fee structure. Some gig apps make money by taking a cut of your revenue, which can be beneficial if you don’t have much money to spare when you’re starting out. Others charge a one-time signup fee or membership fees but allow you to keep 100% of your earnings, which can be ideal if you end up earning a lot from your app-based side hustle.
• Freedom and flexibility: One of the biggest advantages of doing app-based gigs is that you have more control over your work than you would with a traditional job. However, some gig apps give workers more control than others. For example, some require you to commit to working a certain number of hours or limit how much you can charge or the types of services you offer. On the other hand, some may give you full freedom over your rates and schedule.
• Protections for gig workers: Gig apps have to generate money one way or another, and it’s common for apps to take more from either workers or customers. In many cases, you can expect to have better support and lower fees if you’re using an app that has a fair business model or prioritizes gig workers over clients.
• Demand and market saturation: More popular and well-known gig apps will have more client users, but they’ll also often have more pros that you’ll have to compete with. Ideally, you should use an app that has adequate demand but not too much competition.

What are the highest-paying gig apps?

The highest-paying gig apps are generally the ones that allow you to set your own rates. In this case, there’s no limit to what you could earn. Job apps that don’t take a cut of your earnings can also allow you to earn more in the long run.

What gig apps are available in your area?

Once you’ve decided what type of gig app you want to use, do a little digging to find out which ones are the most active in your city or town. This will help you ensure that you choose the best point of entry into the market, get access to the most clients or customers, and avoid wasting your time on apps that aren’t viable for landing gigs.

One way to find out if a gig app is available where you live is to check their “locations” page, if they have one. You may also be able to browse services from the customer’s end. In some cases, you may need to download the app or sign up for the service to assess the job availability in your area.

Gig apps offer a lot of benefits, but just how useful they are for you depends on how you use them. These tips will help you maximize your earning potential from gig apps.

Put thought into your app profiles

Many gig apps, especially ones that allow clients or customers to directly request services from working professionals, have a profile feature for gig workers. Depending on the type of work you’re doing, profiles can be incredibly important for helping clients decide whether to pick you over other workers on a gig app.

Put time and thought into how you convey your professional background and expertise. It’s always good to give people a sense of who you are as a person as well. If in doubt, consider getting a friend or family member to look over your profile and tell you what they think.

If you’re using a gig app that allows customers or clients to leave you reviews, then you should also prioritize customer satisfaction. Reviews can make or break your success on a gig app.

Understand the tax implications of being a gig worker

Unlike employees who work a standard job for a company, gig workers are often classed as independent contractors (self-employed workers) by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As such, they’re responsible for managing their own income taxes.

It’s important to read up on how to handle your taxes as a gig worker. This way, you can avoid potential penalties and issues with the IRS. In many cases, if you earn more than a certain threshold amount from gig apps ($400 in 2024), you’ll need to pay taxes on that income.

Leverage multiple gig apps

Don’t feel like you need to just pick one gig app and stick with that alone. Many of the highest-earning gig app workers know how to take advantage of multiple apps and platforms to fill in any gaps in their work schedule and maximize their earning potential.

For gigs that involve commuting from place to place, using multiple apps can also help you plan out a more efficient route that reduces travel costs and increases the number of hours you spend on the job rather than commuting.

Just be wary of spending too much on app fees. If you’re using apps that have ongoing membership fees or lead generation fees, then you’ll need to be selective about which apps you choose to ensure the benefits outweigh the costs.