Gig App Provider Ranking Keeps Working All Summer, Rain Or Shine

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” The famed philosopher knew nothing of apps or the connected economy, so he could not have imagined that we would highjack his phraseology 180 years later to explain … gig apps.

Readers of this ranking have seen mentioned more than once. Consistency. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the quality of being consistent.” If that doesn’t describe PYMNTS Provider Ranking of Gig Economy Apps then nothing does. Foolish? Hobgoblins? Hardly.

This ranking is where we meet a focused group of digital-first operators who have cleverly organized the finding of work into speedy smartphone experiences that beat the hell out of old-school classifieds, and even online job listings. Because sometimes you need a gig now.

Changes are minimal since last we met, as you’re about to discover.

That’s what we call consistency, Waldo.

The Top 5

After that intro, regular readers should be able to recite the top 3 by heart. We’ll do it for you.

At No. 1 it’s DoorDash, which, like others, is once again sweating California’s Proposition 22 ballot measure on labor laws and gig drivers that was ruled unconstitutional in August.

Uber Driver takes No. 2 another month, now working with tech firm GetUpside to offer fuel and convenience store promotions to Uber drivers and delivery people.

Grabbing No. 3 for another month it’s Instacart Shopper.

Another repeater at No. 4 as the Fiverr app takes it yet again. Fiverr just unveiled a freelancer subscription loyalty program. That’s what innovation looks like.

Here’s a change. A tie at No. 5 changes the composition of the Top 5, where we first find Amazon Flex which was already there, now joined by Lyft Driver rising one chart position to enter the Top 5 at No. 5. Lyft also added 3.6 million active riders in Q2. Way to be, gig workers.

The Top 10

Here among the Top 5 hopefuls, they’re stacked like planes waiting to land.

At No. 6 for another cycle, it’s the Upwork app.

The Freelancer app is working away contentedly at No. 7, just where we left it.

Grubhub for Drivers is parked at No. 8, no doubt celebrating its August pact with Olo, an on-demand commerce platform for the restaurant industry.

No changes at No. 9 as TaskRabbit takes it in a hop.

Hourly online staffing platform Snagajob snags No. 10 once again.

And that’s a wrap for this Provider Ranking of Gig Economy Apps.

Solid companies. Steady performances. In a word: consistency.

Later for now, gig app fans.