Qwick App Review: Is Qwick for Freelancers Legit?

Qwick is a web platform and app that matches hospitality industry gig workers with businesses that need shifts covered on the fly. It offers the flexibility to set your own schedule and get paid fast after each shift.

For anyone who’s worked in the hospitality industry before, it’s easy to see the advantages of an app like Qwick. Instead of slaving away as a part-time or full-time employee, you have the opportunity to choose your own shifts, work in new places, and get lightning-fast pay.

After you complete the Qwick orientation process, you’ll automatically get matched with suitable shifts based on your experience. You can then accept or decline the offered shifts.

Costs and fees

Qwick doesn’t charge gig workers any fees to use the app. There’s no signup fee, membership fee, or background check fee.

Wondering how it’s possible for Qwick to make money with this business model? The answer is that Qwick places its service fees and charges on businesses/employers, charging them 40% of the worker’s hourly wage.

With that said, you will need to pay a 1% fee if you opt to use Qwick’s instant pay feature to access your money 30 minutes after your shift ends. Additionally, if you want to work Qwick jobs that require a certain certification or license, such as bartending gigs, you may need to pay to get credentialed.

Types of services

Qwick for freelancers offers gig work for all of the following roles:

• Banquet captain
• Banquet cook
• Banquet setup
• Banquet server
• Barback
• Barista
• Bartender
• Mixologist
• Busser
• Coat check attendant
• Concession worker
• Dishwasher
• Cleaner
• Event chef
• Event help
• Food assembler
• Food runner
• Line cook
• Prep cook
• Restaurant server

Locations

Qwick is available in the United States only, and the platform only operates in a relatively small number of cities. Below is Qwick’s list of operating cities as of March 2024:

• Phoenix, Arizona
• Los Angeles, California
• San Diego, California
• San Francisco, California
• Denver, Colorado
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Miami, Florida
• Orlando, Florida
• Tampa Bay, Florida
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Chicago, Illinois
• Baltimore, Maryland
• New York City, New York
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Austin, Texas
• Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• San Antonio, Texas
• Washington, D.C.

In order to sign up to accept Qwick staffing opportunities, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have at least 1 year of relevant work experience from the past 1–3 years
• Have a cell phone with data and/or WiFi capabilities
• Have a checking account, debit card, or prepaid card
• Have a Social Security number

In addition to these basic requirements, you may need to meet additional requirements for certain positions. For example, for bar work, you may need to meet a higher minimum age requirement and carry a special license. For food prep jobs, you may need a food handler’s permit. For more information, check out Qwick’s information page on worker certifications.

Does Qwick do background checks?

You do not need to undergo a background check to work for Qwick. With that said, Qwick freelancers do have the option to voluntarily take a background check for the chance to get shifts with companies that require background checks.

Qwick background checks are run by Checkr. The background check generally takes anywhere from a couple of minutes to 72 hours, although it can take a few weeks in rare cases.

How your QwickScore determines your eligibility

Qwick has a scoring system for freelancers known as QwickScore, which they’ll use to assess your work performance once you start working for Qwick. Scores range from 1 to 5, and they update over time based on your work activity.

Your QwickScore reflects a few key factors:

• Punctuality
• Ratings from employers
• Number of shifts worked
• Cancellations

This score doesn’t just influence how likely you are to get matched with shifts—if your score dips low enough due to offenses like short-notice cancellations, you could get suspended or even kicked off of the Qwick platform.

Qwick uses Stripe to pay workers through the Qwick professionals app. Stripe is a third-party payment processor, and you’ll need to create a Stripe account in the Qwick app to get paid. You can receive money with a checking account, debit card, or prepaid card.

You have two payment options:

• Standard payment: Receive your payment within 1–2 business days. Standard payouts have no processing fee.
• Instant pay: Get your money within 30 minutes of completing a shift. Instant payouts come with a 1% fee.

After you work a Qwick shift, the business that hired you will send your paycheck to Qwick, and then Qwick will pass that payment on to you through Stripe.

Earning tips through Qwick

Some jobs offered on Qwick come with the opportunity to earn tips. Eligible shifts will be clearly labeled to show “+ tips” after the base rate. You’ll receive tips in one of two ways:

• Cash: Get your tips in cash, usually immediately at the end of your shift.
• Through the app: Get your tips sent through the Qwick app. The processing time is usually 2–3 days.

It’s ultimately up to the employer to decide whether to offer tips for a position and how to pay out tips to Qwick professionals.

Qwick bonuses

Qwick has its own bonus system. If you’re eligible for a bonus, you’ll see it in the app. Bonuses require you to meet certain criteria, usually working a certain number of shifts in a set amount of time.

Not everyone qualifies for bonuses. Whether you’re offered bonuses, how many you’re offered, and what conditions you need to meet will depend on factors like location, your experience level, and the shift type.

To earn a bonus for a particular job, you can’t receive a 1-star rating from the employer. Bonuses are typically paid out within 2 days after you complete your last qualifying shift.

How much can you make with Qwick?

Businesses hiring workers through Qwick are free to set their own rates. However, Qwick does suggest rates based on factors like local wages and demand. Past Qwick users have reported receiving hourly rates in the range of $10–$30 per hour.

While businesses do set the rates they want to offer, some types of jobs pay more than others. Getting qualified for higher-paying jobs and working more shifts will increase your overall income from Qwick.

To get started with Qwick, you need to create an account. You can register your account either online using Qwick’s signup page or by using the Qwick for Freelancers mobile app. You’ll then be prompted to complete the virtual onboarding process, which includes the following steps:

1. Set up your profile: Provide basic information about yourself, your work experience, and the types of jobs you want.
2. Add your payment method: To get paid by Qwick, you need to set up a Stripe account in the Qwick app. During this process, you’ll be asked to provide some personal information and link your chosen payment account or card.
3. Complete the Qwick orientation: The Qwick orientation is essentially a short interview with a Qwick orientation specialist where you discuss your work experience and ask any questions you might have about the app. The chat should take around 5–10 minutes.

Once your account is all set up, you’ll begin receiving relevant work requests through the Qwick app.

Where to download the Qwick app

App Store Google Play

Overall, Qwick’s online reviews are mostly positive from workers seeking flexible and occasional gig work. Those who love Qwick say it offers lots of freedom to choose your own hours and make extra money.

Negative reviews are primarily from users who are frustrated with Qwick’s experience requirements and the lack of consistent work. Some point out that Qwick isn’t the best place to start your hospitality career since you need prior experience—which is something that you don’t typically need for most regular jobs in the industry.

Here’s a deeper look at what users have to say are the best and worst features of Qwick for freelancers.

There’s a risk of getting suspended or banned

It’s best not to take Qwick for granted. The platform has been known to suspend or even ban users for certain offenses, such as no-shows or late cancellations. This won’t be an issue for most users, but it’s worth bearing in mind that unprofessional behavior could cost you the right to find shifts through Qwick.

User reviews:

“Uncontrollable circumstances arose on my way to the shift , pushing me back 5 mins … Didn’t make the shift but spoke with the manager, she understood and told me to come to the next shift EARLY … Got back on the app and was told, that specific company doesn’t want to work with me anymore but I could still work through the app … A couple hours later, I was banned from the whole app. No explanation or reason.” (Apple Store, June 2022)

“I walked out of two jobs two days in a row because they were both shit shows. I was suspended for like a week.” (Reddit, March 2022)

You can test out employers for long-term positions

Even though Qwick is advertised primarily as a gig app for picking up shifts, some workers say that you can also use Qwick to try out a company before accepting a temp-to-hire or permanent position.

The best part is that you won’t have to make any major commitments. If you decide you don’t like the company or the people you’re working with, you can simply stop accepting shifts there.

User reviews:

“Some places the ppl will welcome you may even offer you a full time job … some places are deplorable but at least you don’t have to go back there if you don’t like it.” (Indeed, January 2024)

“It also provides an avenue for ‘temp to hire’ opportunities & is all around great for networking, especially if you’re new to an area.” (Google Play, November 2023)

“You get to pick when and where you want to work, and if you like a place and they like you, they can continue to request you for shifts or maybe offer you a position in their company if that’s something you’re interested in. You get to try different places and see what works best for you, so you don’t get stuck working a job that you hate day after day. It feels pretty empowering to be in charge of when, where, how, and for what rate of pay you want to work. And if you don’t like a place, you don’t ever have work there again.” (Apple Store, September 2023)

Full-time gig work is possible

While job availability seems to vary from place to place, you could be lucky enough to live in an area with plenty of shifts up for grabs. In this case, you could become one of the many Qwick freelancers who’ve been able to quit their day jobs and switch to full-time gig work.

User reviews:

“Not long after downloading Qwick, I quit my other job. Now I’m doing Qwick shifts full-time and I love it. Not only do I get to decide my own schedule, I get to choose the type of work and location too. This app ultimately gives the employee more control over their occupation AND improves time efficiency in my life.” (Apple Store, February 2023)

“This is by far the best gig site I have found … I have been averaging 24 hrs a week.” (Google Play, October 2022)

“I can work when ever I want as much as I want. Some weeks I feel like working very long hours and other I work only enough so I can spend time with my kids.” (Glassdoor, July 2022)

Fast pay helps you take control of your finances

One of the features that users love most about Qwick is the app’s speedy payout process. Even if you go for the standard payment option, you’ll get paid by Qwick within 2 days. With instant pay, you’ll receive your money in a matter of minutes.

In a world where so many hospitality employees feel trapped, living paycheck to paycheck, Qwick seems to succeed in empowering workers with the financial stability necessary to start calling the shots in their own careers.

User reviews:

“This app has been one of the only apps that I have been able to get consistent ships with and get paid quickly after each shift.” (Apple Store, January 2024)

“The best part about is getting shift pay hours after you have completed the shift or even within a day or two if one elects regular payout. Personally, I rarely ever picked instant pay because regular came so fast.” (Indeed, November 2023)

“10 minute payouts … Great way to make some extra money with the quickness!” (Google Play, October 2022)

“I love the fact that I get paid as soon as my shift ends, it makes me feel financially secure.” (Glassdoor, July 2022)

You can’t always depend on jobs being available

Virtually all of today’s job apps fall victim to the problem of inconsistent work availability, and Qwick is no different. Depending on the type of work you do and where you live, you might find that there’s no point using Qwick because there simply aren’t any suitable jobs going.

Some users complain about going through the whole signup process only to find out that the nearest Qwick jobs are out of state or hours away. Others who live in major cities say the market is oversaturated with gig workers, making it hard to compete for the jobs that are available.

User reviews:

“It used to be good but now they’re too oversaturated. I live dead center in one of the largest cities in the nation and I only get a shift about once every 6 months.” (Google Play, February 2024)

“You can barely get a gig because there’s rarely anything to do. When there is one, everyone waits around like vultures to get it, and it is immediately gone.” (Indeed, January 2024)

“There aren’t that many shifts close to where I live and sometimes there aren’t many shifts available at all and all you can do is join the waitlist.” (Apple Store, September 2023)

“In the LA area, the jobs offers are few and too far away. (After almost a year, I have only worked 2 shifts.) More often invited to join a waiting list for mismatched positions.” (Indeed, August 2023)

“Still haven’t done a job. They’ve matched me with a small handful of jobs and all of them were in new jersey … Still no jobs in Philly. It’s a waste unless you have a car then you’ll be able to travel to all these out of state jobs.” (Apple Store, May 2023)

If you live in an eligible area and have experience in a high-demand specialty, Qwick could be your dream gig app. People working for Qwick have more good things than bad to say about their experience, and Qwick is a legit app that seems to live up to its promise of empowering gig workers.

In the best case, Qwick will give you the flexibility and freedom to choose when and where you work and who you work for. You’ll even have the option to turn down shifts without penalty or prevent certain employers you don’t like from requesting you.

With that said, Qwick is only available in a short list of cities, and it’s only going to be worth it for you if you happen to live in one of those areas. You also need at least 1 year of recent work experience to even get approved for the app, so it won’t be a good option for you if you’re new to the hospitality industry.

Qwick app pros and cons

Before signing up for Qwick, take a look at the app’s main advantages and disadvantages.

Apps like Qwick

Not sure if Qwick for freelancers is the right app for you? Thankfully, there are plenty of other apps for picking up shifts and on-demand job apps. Here are a few to consider:

• Instawork
• TaskRabbit
• Wonolo
• Jobble

It’s worth comparing your options. Some apps may have more opportunities that align with your work experience or be more popular in your town. Even if you do decide to use Qwick, you could earn even more money and access more opportunities by trying out a couple of different options.