Instawork Review: Legit App to Find Local Gigs?

With the app, you can earn money working hourly service shifts. And just like with other apps similar to Instawork, you can work where you want, when you want.

What Cities Does Instawork Operate In?

If you want to work on Instawork, you’ll want to know if the service is available near you.

Instawork operates in the following metro markets and surrounding areas in the United States:

• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Bay Area, CA
• Boston, MA
• Charlotte, NC
• Chicago, IL
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Denver, CO
• Detroit, MI
• Houston, TX
• Kansas City, KS/MO
• Las Vegas, NV
• Los Angeles, CA
• Miami, FL
• Minneapolis, MN
• Nashville, TN
• New York, NY
• Orlando, FL
• Philadelphia, PA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Tampa, FL
• Washington, DC

It is also available in Canada in the following areas:

• Toronto, ON
• Vancouver, BC

The company states that it can’t provide an exact estimate of when it will open in your city. However, if you’re looking for work, you can complete your profile and join the waitlist. They’ll contact you first when it opens up in your neighborhood.

How Does Instawork Work?

You can use Instawork to find local shifts and set your own schedule, which is great.

Here’s how it works…

Sign Up

The first step is to sign up. It’s free to sign up for the staffing app. Just head over to this page to get started.

Then, create an account by entering your name, email, and phone number.

Next, you’ll be directed to download the app, which is available for Android and iOS devices for free.

You will also need to verify your phone number and complete a short questionnaire.

The questionnaire will ask about things like:

• The number of hours you want to work per week.
• The distance you’re willing to travel for work.
• Your work availability.
• The hourly wage you’d like to earn.
• How much notice you need before accepting a shift.

Once you have completed the questionnaire, you will need to enter your zip code so the Instawork app can highlight open shifts in your area.

Complete Your Profile

To get shifts on Instawork, you’ll need to complete a profile.

Here’s what the app will ask for during the signup process:

• Details about you: This includes things like a profile picture, your date of birth, and your home address.
• Position applications: You’ll need to let the company know what types of shifts you’d like to work.
• Work experience: Provide this to help Instawork understand where you’ve previously worked so it knows you have the experience required for the job you’re applying to.
• References: You’ll need to provide two professional references. According to the app, these are important so the company knows someone can vouch for you. Getting two professional references can speed up the activation process on the Instawork platform.
• Take a quiz: Based on the position(s) you selected, Instawork will give you a short quiz to ensure you know the job. The company states that if you’ve worked in these roles before, the quiz will be super easy.
• Certificates: Depending on the city and position you select, the app may require a certificate. These are typically laws that the company must comply with at the state level. For example, if you want to work shifts that involve serving or handling alcohol, you must complete online responsible alcohol training and certification (e.g., TIPS). Or, if you want to work shifts that involve preparing food or handling dishes, you’ll need to obtain and upload a Food Handlers card. You can learn more about certification programs here.

Start Finding Work

Once you’ve completed your profile, you can start finding work near you.

Businesses post shifts for the positions they need, sometimes just a few hours in advance. You can accept shifts that fit your availability.

You set your own schedule and can work and earn as much as you want. You can book shifts in advance or at the last minute, choosing by duration, time, and location.

You’ll get shifts through the Instawork mobile app. You can choose from a variety of positions across industries like food service, events, and warehousing.

Jobs include roles like:

• Bartender,
• Dishwasher,
• General labor.

You’ll only be able to view positions, such as server, dishwasher, or bartender, for jobs you’re qualified for.

The main tab on Instawork features a list of job categories where you can find open shifts. These categories are based on what you selected when you signed up, but you can add more positions to unlock additional categories.

If you have experience in a position that isn’t currently listed in your profile, scroll down to “Gig Positions” in the app’s profile section, and select the option to add more positions.

Make sure to add all of your previous work experience, request references to vouch for this experience, and take a quiz for certain positions. Once you’ve done that, the company’s team will review your account and reach out if they have any questions or concerns.

After you pick job categories, Instawork will show you open shifts in your area.

Complete Shifts

Once you apply for a shift and get approved, you’ll need to complete the shift.

To prepare, ensure you know how to get to the job location, have transportation for that day, and confirm your shift before the start time. You’ll be prompted to confirm your shift 32 hours before it starts. You have 16 hours before the shift to confirm. This lets the company know you’re still able to work that shift.

It’s important to confirm your shifts because if you don’t, the shift is auto-canceled, which negatively impacts your performance rating.

Instawork recommends arriving at your shift 10 to 15 minutes early.

Get Paid

You get paid for completing shifts. You can earn more for urgent requests and peak times. Payments are made weekly to your bank account, which is really convenient.

How Much Does Instawork Pay?

Instawork pays $15 to $25 an hour for many jobs. For some jobs, you can earn more than $25 an hour.

The amount of money you earn depends on the type of job you do and how many gigs you complete. So, you could earn hundreds of dollars a month from Instawork if you get enough gigs.

What Kind of Jobs Are on Instawork?

You can find jobs in a variety of categories, such as events, food service, and warehousing.

Some of the jobs available on the platform include:

• Bartender
• Event server
• Busser
• Dishwasher
• Runner
• Cook
• Picker/packer
• General labor
• Forklift driver
• Retail merchandiser
• Warehouse associate

Is Instawork Legit?

Instawork is a legitimate company that you can use to find work.

Here’s how it’s reviewed by users across multiple platforms:

• Glassdoor: 3.8 stars
• Indeed: 3.7 stars
• Better Business Bureau (BBB): 1.17 stars from customers. F rating from the Better Business Bureau.
• Google Play store: 4.5 stars
• The App Store: 4.8 stars

As you can see, its reviews range from average to good. On Glassdoor and Indeed, the reviews are average, but on the Google Play store and the App Store, the app is well-reviewed. However, on the Better Business Bureau, Instawork only has 1.17 stars from customers and an F rating from the BBB, indicating that some people are not satisfied with the company. Overall though, the reviews of Instawork are positive.

Below, I’ve included some reviews from Instawork users so you can get a better idea of people’s experiences with the company.

Instawork User Reviews

There are many positive reviews of Instawork, like these from users on Indeed:

• “Good gigs. They provide the gigs, and you can work as much as you want. Not a bad company to work for if you want some extra income. They allow you to be your own boss in a way.”
• “Fun company to work for. You just go to your job location, meet with the company’s leaders, and they provide the clothing, and you get to work. Happy with the amount of pay and how you can choose to work as much as you’d like.”

There are also some negative reviews of the company, like these from users:

• “Instawork does not have good customer service for its workers, only for its partners. For instance, they don’t back up the freelancer or ask for any details if any issues may arise. They pay a very low wage as well. If a company is paying $14.75 an hour for you, you’re only getting $11.50.” (Review from BBB).
• “Good: flexible hours (if you get any) since you get to pick up shifts of your own choosing. You get to meet tons of people and see tons of places since jobs come from everywhere you’re willing to travel. Bad: jobs get canceled with no warning, leaving you with a day(s) without work. So where are you supposed to find work last minute? Some jobs will require you to lift 50lbs and make you CONFIRM that you can lift 50lbs or threaten that you will be sent home with no pay if you show up and say you can’t lift 50lbs. Jobs are grabbed up pretty quickly. The app controls access to what gigs you can grab based on how long you’ve used the app, not according to your work experience. No customer service! The Instawork captains there are very rude and disorganized.” (Review from Indeed).

Closing Thoughts

Overall, Instawork is a legit place to find work. It does have its issues, though. One of the most common complaints I saw was about the company’s customer service. Many workers feel that the customer support they receive is poor.

However, a lot of the Instawork reviews are positive, so it’s one to consider if you’re looking to make extra money. Hopefully, this Instawork review helped you decide whether the platform is for you.