Side hustles are a fantastic way to earn money, but finding the right opportunity can be challenging. Gig economy apps like TaskRabbit are an excellent solution to this problem.
The platform is the go-to website to find local gigs. However, there are other platforms that can connect you with on-demand jobs.
This guide shares the top alternatives that can help you find odd jobs around town.
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What is TaskRabbit, and How Does It Work?
TaskRabbit is a website that connects independent contractors who are looking for work (also known as Taskers) with companies and people who need help completing various jobs.
The type of work varies, and each job is generally a one-time gig.
Here are some examples of the tasks you can do on TaskRabbit:
- Cleaning
- Delivery services
- Furniture assembly
- Heavy lifting
- Home repair (electrical/plumbing work)
- Moving help
- Wait in line
- Yardwork
As a Tasker, you set your own hours and rates. After creating a profile, potential clients can find your services by running a search on the platform.
If you are a good fit for their needs, they send you an invitation for work.
This odd jobs app handles all payments, so no cash exchanges hands. Taskers are paid weekly and keep 100 percent of their earnings, including tips.
To become a Tasker, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Consent to a background check
- Be able to work in one of TaskRabbit’s active cities
- Have an active bank account
- Own a smartphone
- Provide a valid U.S. social security number
- Pay a one-time, non-refundable $25 registration fee (in select cities)
- Submit a business license confirming you are a sole proprietor (only in California)
You can find approximately 200 different types of gigs on TaskRabbit. However, it’s not the only online marketplace that helps you locate on-demand jobs.
What Other Apps Are Like TaskRabbit?
There are many opportunities to find local gigs, regardless of your skill level. Here are some legitimate alternatives to TaskRabbit that can help you make money on the side.
1. DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the leading gig economy apps for independent contractors. The platform is an on-demand meals app similar to Uber Eats.
As a Dasher, you deliver meals from local restaurants to customers. In order to sign up, DoorDash has to be active in your area.
Fortunately, the service is available in over 5,000 cities nationwide. If it’s not currently active in your city, don’t worry. The company is constantly expanding.
You must be at least 18 years old and complete a background check to deliver for DoorDash. Unlike TaskRabbit, there’s no potential registration fee or business license requirement.
It takes several days to complete the sign up process. Upon completion, you can start making deliveries and work on your own schedule.
While having a car makes delivering for DoorDash more convenient, you can deliver by bike or scooter in select cities.
*Related: If you’re looking for other courier jobs, read our guide on side hustles like Uber Eats to identify additional opportunities.
You earn a flat rate per order which can vary based on several factors, including:
- The time you spend waiting at a restaurant
- Drive time between locations
- Blitz bonuses
DoorDash drivers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery. You keep 100 percent of the tips you receive, and payment is released weekly via direct deposit. Instant cashouts are available for a $1.99 fee.
Read our review to learn more about how to make money on DoorDash.
2. Steady
If you don’t know where to start when looking for a side gig, Steady is an awesome resource. It is a free app that lets users find money-making opportunities in their city.
The app has over three million active users and implements many of the same requirements as TaskRabbit.
Steady is similar to TaskRabbit in that it helps people find a wide variety of gigs. Potential jobs available on this app include:
- Freelance work
- Full-time jobs
- Part-time work
- Side hustles
Aside from full-time work, gigs can include anything from day jobs to side hustles you can do in your free time. You’ll find delivery jobs, customer service work, and more.
The hourly pay depends on the type of work you do, but members earn an average of over $5,500 per year in income from the app.
Steady has a feature called Income Boosters that you can use to increase earnings. The app itself doesn’t pay you, but you receive payment from the company that is seeking help.
Even though you don’t have to provide banking information to use this app, doing so provides some benefits. One of the best perks is the ability to use its income tracker.
This tracker lets you monitor your earnings for current and past months, plus it includes other helpful tools.
If you want to make money on your own schedule, Steady is a useful resource to aid in your job search.
Read our review of the Steady app to learn more.
3. Care.com
If you’re skilled at domestic work, Care.com is an excellent option to find job opportunities. Care.com is to in-home work as TaskRabbit is to handyman jobs.
Similar to other TaskRabbit alternatives, you must create a profile if you want to search for work or have potential clients send you job offers.
Your profile lets you highlight your skills, background, experience, and desired hourly rates. You can even use it to share testimonials from former and current clients.
Opportunities you can find on Care.com include:
- Child care
- Daycare
- Housekeeping
- Pet care
- Senior care
- Tutoring
The website is free to use, but it does offer a premium membership that unlocks features like job notifications. A month-to-month subscription is the most expensive option at $20 per month.
This price reduces to $15 a month if you sign up for three months or $10 if you sign up for six months.
Whether or not you pay for a membership, you keep all of your earnings. Plus, you and your client decide on payment terms.
If you simply need help finding short-term gigs near you, you might want to try one of the other TaskRabbit competitors on our list.
4. Handy
Handy is a great service to use if you want to make money doing odd jobs. This app functions similarly to TaskRabbit and focuses on general handyman work.
The requirements to find gigs on Handy are much like TaskRabbit. However, you might need to fulfill additional requirements if you’re offering to complete more technical work.
Jobs you can find on Handy include:
- Cleaning jobs
- Electrical work
- Furniture assembly
- Plumbing work
- TV mounting
Handy quotes rates of up to $22 per hour as a cleaner, $45 per hour as a handyman, and $62 per hour as a lawn care provider. It also boasts that some of its top professionals earn $1,000+ per week.
The platform allows you to set your own schedule. You receive payment through the app as soon as you complete a job. This is different from TaskRabbit, which takes a week to release your payouts.
5. Thumbtack
If you run your own business, you know how difficult it can be to find paying customers. Thumbtack is a good solution to this problem and is one of the more unique apps like TaskRabbit.
This website is a great solution for professional contractors who want to expand their businesses.
With Thumbtack, you can post your availability for over 1,100 different services related to home repairs, maintenance, handyman work, and more.
They recently added new service categories, including caring for pets, wellness coaching, helping at events, logo design, and computer repair.
You must become a Thumbtack Pro and pass a background check to join. Make sure to list your rates and skills in your portfolio.
The site is free to join. However, it requires that you pay for leads if you don’t sign up for a membership.
6. Shiftgig
On-demand staffing apps can be a good way to earn extra cash in your spare time. If you need a short-term cash infusion, these apps can help you find jobs in your area.
Shiftgig is a virtual staffing agency that helps match qualified workers with paying jobs in their area.
Some of the most popular industries they staff include:
- Hospitality
- Light industrial work
- Experiential marketing
- Healthcare
The gigs aren’t typically full-time jobs. Instead, they are short-term opportunities to make money.
If you want to use the platform, the requirements are similar to what you will find with other gig economy apps.
Once you register, you can start looking for paid gigs. How much you get paid depends on the type of work you perform.
You can use your smartphone to browse and claim local shifts that match your skills and availability.
7. Staffy
Working at events can be an excellent way to make money on the weekends. Unfortunately, getting this type of work can be competitive.
Staffy is a helpful app that connects you with jobs if you have experience in hospitality. The platform lets you find same-day gigs as well as opportunities to work at future events.
While it also has some healthcare gigs, the app specializes in the hospitality industry.
Unlike other opportunities, you must upload your resume and provide references when creating an account. Beyond that, the requirements are similar to other TaskRabbit alternatives.
Better yet, you can set your own rates. Plus, you can use the platform for free since restaurants and hotels pay to utilize the service.
You get paid five days after completing a shift. After finishing five shifts, you qualify to withdraw funds immediately for a $5 fee.
8. Wonolo
Wonolo is another on-demand work app that lets you make money without a job. Like TaskRabbit, there’s a wide variety of gigs available on Wonolo.
Potential jobs include:
- Warehouse operations
- General labor
- Event staffing
- Cleaning
- Food production
- Administrative work
- Delivery drivers
*Related: Looking for courier gigs? Read our jobs like Amazon Flex guide to learn about more opportunities.*
Payment is made through the Wonolo app and gets released 12 hours after shift completion.
The requirements to use this platform are similar to what you’ll find with TaskRabbit. You can use the app if you are 18 years of age or older.
9. Porch
Porch is one of the more specialized apps like TaskRabbit. While you can complete jobs like painting or cleaning, they offer skilled tasks as well.
Some of the opportunities you can find on Porch include:
- HVAC work
- Plumbing work
- Electrical work
- Roofing
- Appliance work
The website is a lot like Thumbtack in that it’s more suited for business owners who are looking for lead generation.
After opening an account, you want to complete your profile. Make sure to include your credentials and past reviews for customers to see.
You can also choose where you want to work, your rate, which projects you’ll do, and how you prefer to be paid.
To use Porch, you’ll need to pay for a Porch Pro membership. This typically costs $360 annually. Luckily, the platform is currently running a special that lets you join for $259.99 per year.
You receive numerous benefits from a Pro membership, including credits if a customer cancels service.
If you don’t want to pay for a service to find gigs, Porch might not be the right option for you. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep in mind that it can be beneficial to have multiple ways to attract clients.
Can You Make a Living From Odd Jobs Apps?
Yes, it is possible to earn a livable wage from side job apps.
For example, Dashers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery. Other driver gigs are similar, and you might be able to earn more with good tips.
Additionally, having specialized skills can open the door to more lucrative opportunities.
Trying several different platforms simultaneously is a good way to amplify your earning potential. If you use this strategy, you can make money on your own schedule and choose the best jobs that come your way.
Side job apps are also a terrific option for resourceful students home from school. If you’re looking for summer gigs for college students they can be a good choice to earn cash.
Ultimately, the most important factor when using odd jobs apps to earn a living is that you put in the effort needed to be successful.
What is the Best Alternative to TaskRabbit?
TaskRabbit can be an excellent choice to find short-term gigs, but it’s far from the only available option.
If you like work that you can do in your free time, delivery jobs like DoorDash are a top choice.
For people with handyman or skilled labor experience, Handy is a good option. It has over 1,000 categories to find paying jobs and is free to use.
Alternately, if you need lead generation, Thumbtack is another legitimate alternative that will put your profile in front of potential clients.
Summary
The gig economy is booming. There are countless opportunities, from making money online to local jobs. Each option has the potential to pay well and provide scheduling flexibility.
Apps like TaskRabbit make it easy to earn money on the side to supplement your income or meet other financial goals.
If you have expertise in a particular field, that’s great. However, it’s not required for some platforms. If you can run errands, clean a house, or do general labor, there are many opportunities to make money.
What are your favorite ways to earn money on the side?
*Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.
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