Walmart Spark is the closest alternative to Amazon Flex, and entails very similar work.Â
For more flexibility and the ability to work from home, try an alternative like Freecash.Â
Amazon Flex is a great job in some regards; flexible hours, very little customer interaction or micromanagement, and lots of time in your own vehicle, where you can listen to music or a podcast.
I have worked similar jobs, from food delivery to ridesharing, and I think this is some of the best type of gig work out there, second only to online hustles that allow you to make money from home. To help you find your next gig, here are the best jobs like Amazon Flex, ranked.
Walmart Spark is the closest job to Amazon Flex, except rather than driving to Amazon fulfillment centers, you will drive to Walmart at the start of your shift. But everything else, including your schedule, average earnings, and day-to-day responsibilities will be nearly identical.
While they aren't constantly hiring to meet demand, in the way Amazon are, Walmart Spark is still a popular service. As long as you have a driving license, finding work with Walmart Spark is realistic for everyone.
As long as you are 18, have a license and car insurance, and can pass a background check, you can apply.
Everyone has taken an Uber at this point, but have you considered riding for them? If you want a job like Amazon Flex, you should consider it.
You decide your schedule and get to pick the jobs you take, giving you autonomy and flexibility. And although some customers are difficult, in my experience the vast majority will sit silently in the back with headphones in.
The only drawback is that applying to join Uber as a rider is more complicated than other suggestions on the list. You will need commercial insurance and, depending on your area, you may also need additional licenses. For instance, in New York you need a separate license from TLC (the Taxis and Limousine Commission).
I also wanted to include a suggestion for work that can be done from home, for those who might still need to get their vehicle or documentation in order before driving professionally. Freecash is a 'task site', where you can get paid for completing simple tasks online, like answering surveys or trying new games as a player tester.
You can work on your phone and make decent money, with top earners reaching $5,000.00 a month. And starting on Freecash is easy:
Roadie is a gig work app for same-day delivery, largely used by small independent shops who want to provide the Amazon experience. In that sense, it is similar to Amazon Flex, providing autonomy and flexibility. However, the way you go about getting work is far less consistent, and can lead to frustration and wasted time.
Every time a potential delivery job pops up, you get the chance to bid for the work, rather than being automatically assigned a bunch of jobs in the morning. As a new driver, you will need to make it through a period of losing most of these bids (especially the well-paying ones).
While I don't consider Roadie one of the best delivery jobs, they are certainly not a bad employer.
DoorDash is one of the best food delivery companies to work for. Sure, there is a lot more waiting awkwardly in restaurants than with Amazon Flex, but in most other respects, the job is incredibly similar. You will get the chance to work alone, and you will have the flexibility to choose your hours and schedule.
Although the work is less consistent, and demands that you work at unsociable hours for the best pay, there is one key advantage that DoorDash has. You can earn tips, and if you work in a generous area, these tips could make a significant portion of your wages.
Shipt will have you driving to customers during the day and delivering goods, which makes it similar to Amazon Flex. But it's worse because rather than getting all your jobs from a fulfillment center, you need to go to various stores yourself and pick up every item for delivery.
You might go to Target for a tent, PetSmart for dog food, and CVS for medication, all in one day. Now, if you live in a dense metro area with lots of stores, this isn't so much of a problem, but it certainly makes the job a hassle in suburban and rural areas.
Last, and very much least, we have Instacart. This service works like Shipt, you have to go to the store yourself to buy what the customer wants and then deliver it yourself as well. But Instacart is focused on groceries, where Shipt is more broad.
I have Instacart at the bottom because, although you do have flexibility and autonomy, the earnings potential is low, the demand for work inconsistent, and shopping for food can be frustrating.
Instacart is worth considering for anyone looking for similar work to Amazon Flex, but there are better alternatives to pick.
