Gig economy apps have become popular as they can be a good source of extra income.
That’s because you can easily find work, and you can usually work when it fits into your schedule. This is basically what Shiftsmart offers.
Shiftsmart claims you can work when you want and where you want. So, it’s definitely an alluring offer.
But is Shiftsmart legit, or is it a scam? That’s one of the things this Shiftsmart review will address.
It will give you a real inside look, so you will know exactly what to expect before you even sign up as a member. Then, you can decide if it is really worth pursuing or not.
So, let’s go ahead and examine everything Shiftsmart has to offer, shall we?
What is Shiftsmart, and what does it offer?
Shiftsmart is a gig economy app that will help you find part-time work so you can earn extra cash. And yes, it is indeed a legit app since it will pay you for doing the jobs you find in the app.
Now, is this app really worth using or not?
To answer that, we first have to look at the earning opportunities it offers so you can understand how the app works. This will also give you an idea of the amount of time and effort you need to invest to earn.
So, here’s how to earn from Shiftsmart.
The earning opportunity – Jobs
Shiftsmart basically acts as a middleman because all it does is show you job offers. To apply for a job, you can either go to their website or use their mobile app (I will talk about their app later).
After you’ve applied for the job, you will be asked to download the app. If you’ve already downloaded the app, you can just open it and log in to see all the shifts available for the job you applied for.
However, every job has its own onboarding process you need to complete before you can take on any shift.
When you’ve completed their onboarding process (which includes answering a few profile questions), you can now start taking on shifts. The best thing about this is that you won’t be forced to take certain shifts. It will still be up to you when you want to work. If there’s a shift available, you will get notified via SMS by Shiftsmart. The app will also notify you via push notifications when a shift becomes available.
If you want to work on that shift, just press it and hit the “Check-In” button. Make sure you do this when you are already at the location. When you’ve checked in, just do the work required, and when your shift is over, just press the “Check Out”.
When you’ve finished the shift, the shift manager will have to verify the work you did first and approve your shift. When it is approved, that’s when you will get paid (I will talk about their payment process later).
Now, what happens if you accept a shift early and then, later on, find out that you need to cancel it because of some emergency? Well, you can do that by logging in to the app, going to the “Schedule” section, and hitting “Remove from Schedule”.
Once you’ve done that, your shift will be canceled. Keep in mind, though, that cancellation policies vary by project. At Shiftsmart, certain roles have formal policies around cancellations and access to work. If these policies exist for your role, they will be very clearly communicated to you during virtual training and in-app messaging while you work on the job.
That’s why I would advise you to only accept shifts when you are sure you can show up. And I would also recommend you only cancel a shift if you really have to. Otherwise, you risk losing your spot for the job you applied for.
As for the jobs you can find on Shiftsmart, they will mostly involve providing customer support, conducting phone surveys, testing new products before launch, delivering services, or auditing restaurants. So, the jobs are actually quite easy to do, which is a good thing because earning won’t be that complicated.
Recommended: Check Out the Top GPT Sites
How do you get paid?
You will earn a certain amount for every shift you complete, which you will always know before you start a shift.
For shift payments, the payment will typically be credited to your Shiftsmart account balance within 24 to 48 hours.
But sometimes it can take up to 5 business days for it to be reflected.
Now, some jobs won’t require you to work on shifts. A good example is a mystery shopping job. In this type of job, you will get paid after the job is completed and your work is verified. This can also take a couple of days to be verified. So, don’t expect to receive payment immediately.
When the payment is reflected in your account balance, you can withdraw it immediately via Stripe. You don’t need to reach a payout threshold to withdraw your earnings. Then, you can transfer your earnings from Stripe to any bank account or debit card.
Their payment system is very simple, and I like the fact that they don’t have a payout threshold. You can withdraw your earnings anytime you want. Plus, I also like the fact that they use a convenient payment method like a direct bank transfer (via Stripe).
If you are looking for more sites that offer a convenient payment method, I recommend you also check out the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.
How much money can you make?
The amount you can earn from a gig economy app like Shiftsmart will mostly depend on your location.
The reason why I say this is that the availability of jobs will depend on the city you live in. If you live in a city with plenty of Shiftsmart employers, there will be more opportunities to earn. That's what I observed when I tested it, which is to be expected, because that's usually how these gig economy platforms work.
But if you live in a rural area, you will most likely not find any opportunities to earn. To find out which cities the job is available in, you just have to apply for it. If your city or state is not listed, then don’t even bother continuing the application because you won’t earn anything.
As for how much Shiftsmart employers pay, I would say they pay quite decently. Each shift can pay $10 to $50, depending on the workload.
These jobs aren’t exactly what you call high-paying jobs, but I would categorize their pay as decent, especially since they are only meant for side gigs/hustle.
The jobs on Shiftsmart aren’t designed to be the main source of income. If you go in with that expectation, you will be disappointed. But overall, I would say Shiftsmart's earning potential is pretty decent if you live in a city with plenty of opportunities.
Can you use it on mobile?
As mentioned earlier, Shiftsmart has a mobile app you can download. In fact, all the shift scheduling has to be done using their app.
The app is called Shiftsmart Partner.
You can’t do it on their website since they don’t have a member dashboard. All you can do on their website is apply for jobs (which I will talk about next).
As for their app, it is available for download on the Android and iOS app stores. So, there won’t be a compatibility issue with their app. It is also very easy to use since the user interface is quite intuitive. You will easily get used to navigating it.
This makes the whole user experience quite good, in my opinion, which is all you are looking for in a mobile app.
Who can join Shiftsmart?
Shiftsmart is available in quite a few countries.
From what I have been able to find out, you can join from 50+ different countries.
However, how many gigs you can find will vary a lot from country to country. You will find the most opportunities if you live in the US, UK, Canada, Italy, or Australia.
Plus, as mentioned earlier, certain jobs are only available in specific cities or states. You also have to be at least 18 years old to register as a Shiftsmart worker.
The first thing you need to do is apply for a job. If the state or city you live in is not available on the sign-up form for the job you applied for, as I’ve recommended earlier, you shouldn’t push through with the application process because that means it is unavailable where you live.
But if your city or state is available, just submit the form. Then you will be asked to download and install their mobile app. When you’ve installed the app, you can then log in to it to start viewing all the available shifts for the job you applied for. That’s all there is to it.
Can you get support?
Shiftsmart has an FAQ page that discusses most of the important topics you need to know about the platform. So, if you have any questions about their app or your account, you can check out their FAQ page first.
Now, if you can’t find the answers you are looking for, you can submit a support ticket by going to the “Help” section of their website. Click the “Submit a request” link in the upper right-hand corner and fill out the form. You can also use their app to submit your inquiry since their contact form is also available on their app.
Overall, I would say Shiftsmart has a decent support system in place for its members since it offers a convenient way for you to get in touch with its support team.
However, I have received quite a bit of feedback from other members about not being able to get proper support, but more about this below.
Are there any Shiftsmart complaints?
Before doing gig jobs like those Shiftsmart offers, you need to make sure it is a legit company, or you could end up wasting a lot of time.
As mentioned earlier, Shiftsmart does pay, and since I first published this review, I have heard from many who have been paid by them and are happy with the app.
However, I have also heard feedback from several members who have not had a good experience.
You can see some of these in the comment section below, and there are examples of people not being able to get paid for the work they did and not being able to get help from their customer support.
As mentioned, I have heard both good and bad experiences, and wanted to add that here so you know and can consider it before deciding whether this is for you or not.
Also, whether you have had good or bad experiences yourself, feel free to share them in a comment below so others can see them, as that can help them make the right decision for themselves.
Final Verdict
Shiftsmart is a legit gig economy app that will pay you for working on shifts for the job you applied for. It has interesting features, but it also has some drawbacks you need to consider.
Let me wrap up this review by summarizing its pros and cons to give you an overview of what Shiftsmart has to offer. Then, you can decide if it is a good fit for you or not.
Pros:
- No payout threshold
- It offers a convenient payment method
- A lot of gigs available (in some locations)
Cons:
- Limited earning opportunities
- Some complaints about poor support
In my opinion, the one major drawback of Shiftsmart is that the jobs they offer aren’t available in many places. So, not everyone can benefit from this platform. If you happen to live in a city with plenty of Shiftsmart jobs, this can be a way to earn some extra money.
That’s why I suggest you try this out, especially if you live in a metropolitan area, and observe if plenty of shifts are available. If there are, this can be a way to earn decent money. But if you live in a rural area, I wouldn’t bother trying it out. You won’t get any opportunity to earn.
I would instead suggest you check out the top survey and GPT sites in your country. The sites on this list all have good earning potential, and you will be able to find a site you can join regardless of where you live.
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with Shiftsmart, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
There are SOO many issues with them and its impossible to leave a proper review.
1. They will MANUFACTURE a reason to fire you on or by the time you qualify for the $500 bonus.
When I got to 50 shifts I didnt get my bonus. I got to 56 shifts and still no bonus. So, I asked about it. Their response? They unscheduled ALL of my shifts for the upcoming week and then sent a TEXT MESSAGE saying that I must be reviewed prior to getting my bonus or more shifts. I went from working a full week scrubbing toilets to not working AT ALL. As an uneducated male of color that dropped out of high school and has just a GED, I cant even explain what this does to me internally. I gave them 100% and I already have an eviction notice that is 2 weeks old, loans and bills that are due. I can not stress how much I needed them to be upfront about my bonus. I am in the worst place ever in life because I calculated and planned on that bonus. My car is destroyed from all the miles. I would not recommend these people because WHEN something does go wrong, trust me, you will get the coldest shoulder possible. No one to talk to, no one responds to your messages. People of color are in a world of sht if employers like this become the norm. They will create situations which the only way to get what is owed is by going to court. Employment, People of color, and Law have ALWAYS been a hot topic.
Sorry to hear that but thanks for sharing your experiences so other can see what to be aware of.
I should explain just a bit more. SHIFTSMART is apparently JUST the name given to the software application you as the worker use to find available work. From there on the other end it’s a CLIENT contracted by a group such as Circle K, Dynata, 7-11 etc. whom generates shifts for work assignments they need completed. THIS is where the communication breakdowns begin. As you can see it’s already a situation with a middleman… And the worst part is the middleman is actually YOUR BOSS. So this chemistry is why so many errors occur and you as the worker will always get the short end of these communication errors.
So truthfully most reviews would probably give somewhere about 3 – 5 stars for Shiftsmart (the app does occasionally have its errors) but I’d bet a great majority of the reviews with 3 stars or less are actually meant for THE CLIENT however there is no way to leave a review for the Shiftsmart CLIENT.
I should have learned my lesson from Dynata. The 1st day there were atleast 25 of us who could not work because of software issues and the host of that chat abandoned all of us in the middle of tech issues. I worked a total of 15 hours for Dynata and was only paid for 4. This was about 45 days ago. If I could post a screen shot I would show you they still have not till this day responded to my inquiry about the other 11 hours. Not even an explanation… Just simply NO RESPONSE AT ALL.
And then please read my Circle K review above. So the CLIENTS are who truly cause the issue but Shiftsmart seemingly has no way or maybe no interest in getting feedback showing how USERS interact with SHIFTSMART CLIENTS. They currently only monitor how USERS interact with SHIFTSMART. So… In the end your only getting half the story unless you get someone like me that goes into much detail.
This is a misclassification of employment and we can file a class action lawsuit also for being missclasified they owe overtime if you worked over 40 hrs
Thank you for the information
ShiftSmart is a scam. It is like pulling teeth to get paid. ShiftSmart is a bait and switch company. BBB is full of unresolved complaints about them, check them out.
Thanks for sharing your opinion about this. But please share a bit more instead of just saying it is a scam without further explanation why you say this.
Can you please specify since I’m currently in need of a side hustle and the app’s money would really help me in someway.
The problem is with the primary Employer to begin with, such as Circle K….if they had an HR/Staffing operation without their heads up their arses and using quality internal enterprise technology, they’d be hiring employees directly as part-timers while utilizing a quality Workforce Shift Scheduling system. Furthermore, Smart Phone Apps utilized for the purpose of hiring has proven to be an absurd method of managing an enterprise business operation, to include Payroll.
It’s obvious ShiftSmart isn’t a very good “Temp Staffing” firm, much less a reliable Tech Platform, doing both poorly pretty much sinks the entire ship of both business models.
Thanks for sharing your opinion about this.
This ap was great to start but there is zero support when it malfunctions and that is around 75 percent of the time. I have arrived for shifts and been turned away and they still advertised those same shifts/ locations. I worked 4 shifts in 2 days and still have not been paid even though my work was verified and given rave reviews. I opened tickets and was rejected with no reason or response. On those 2 days I worked with another girl from shiftsmart who did nothing but hide in the backroom on her phone the whole day. The manager on duty even found her hiding in the floorboard of her car talking on the phone yet they sent her back again the next day. Very upset that poor work ethic is paid while the actual work is not. My proof is useless if they don’t even look at it or respond to it. Very unprofessional. My only recourse now is small claims court. Such a shame to ruin a great idea with poor management.
Sorry to hear that but thanks for sharing your experiences.
I have worked for Shiftsmart for a few months now, doing CircleK cleaning and merchandizing. The app is an absolute horror. It fails to work more often than it does, and it has malware that eats up data and burns your battery, despite not giving it permissions. I’m having a tech guru go through and doing a written analysis on my installation to show me all that it is illegally doing in the background.
When you have app or shift issues, you are supposed to “message manager”, but that is in the app, and doesn’t work half the time either. So then you call, and are on hold forever, rarely do they answer. They will not provide a working email. So you try for days and days. Then when you finally get a support ticket, they either close it with no response, or say “not our department, this other one handles it” even though it is the exact department the app tells you to contact. So you contact the other department, and they say “not our department”. See the pattern? You actually do not get a real human with a first and last name. There is no accountability, no recourse.
After reading the BBB complaints and several reviews on Indeed and other places, I have come to the conclusion that they are engaging in fraud (promising bonuses they do not pay, not paying for shifts they are legally required to, retaliating against partners that complain by lowering our ratings, etc.) So, I am filing a legal complaint with my state labor board as well as the federal agency and then going to see if a class action can be taken. This is really, really disappointing, given I have been getting rave reviews from several of the store managers I worked for. Companies not paying you what they owe you is illegal, it’s called wage theft, and for a low paying gig to begin with, take that times over a million partners (workers) they have on board, and they are likely scamming tens of millions of dollars out of workers.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.