Hustle smart: job marketplaces for finding quick freelance work in the UK

Whether you want to top up your income or save for something specific, short-term gigs and odd jobs are a practical way to earn money on the side. There are more platforms than ever connecting freelance workers with businesses and individuals — which makes choosing one harder, not easier.

This list covers job marketplaces that operate in the UK, across four categories: general freelance gigs, ride-sharing and delivery, hospitality and events, and pet or house sitting. US-only apps (DoorDash, Instacart, Lyft, Wonolo, Craigslist, and similar) are omitted on purpose: they do not work here.

Whatever your skills or schedule, there’s likely a platform here that fits. Jump to the section that interests you most.

General job marketplaces for quick freelance gigs

TaskRabbit — UK cities

TaskRabbit covers a wide range of tasks: cleaning, moving, handyman work, furniture assembly, personal assistance, and more. You create a profile, list your skills, and bid on tasks posted by clients. Clients review profiles, pick someone, and pay through the platform. TaskRabbit takes a service fee on top of your hourly rate. It operates in a growing list of UK cities, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

Airtasker — Australia, UK, and Ireland

Airtasker covers cleaning, gardening, handyman work, IT support, and similar tasks. The person posting describes what they need and sets a budget; interested workers bid with their proposed fee. The poster picks someone based on their bid and profile. Airtasker deducts a service fee from your earnings.

Gumtree — UK and other countries

Gumtree is a classifieds platform where you can find short-term gigs including freelance work, event staffing, creative projects, and manual labour. Listings are posted by individuals and businesses, and communication happens directly between the two parties.

Clickworker — various countries, including from the UK

Clickworker offers micro-tasks you can complete online, such as data entry, content creation, AI training data, and research. You register, complete tasks based on your skills and availability, and get paid based on the complexity of each task. Work is remote, so you can do it from the UK.

Ride-sharing and delivery gigs

Uber — UK and various countries worldwide

Uber lets drivers use their own vehicles to transport passengers. Uber Eats adds food delivery to the mix. You sign up, pass Uber’s screening, and use the app to accept ride or delivery requests. You earn a portion of each fare or delivery fee. In the UK, Uber drivers are workers (see the 2021 Supreme Court ruling), not employees and not self-employed contractors.

Bolt — UK, Europe, and Africa

Bolt is a ridesharing platform with food delivery in many of its markets, including the UK. Drivers use the app to offer rides and earn a portion of each fare.

Deliveroo — UK, Europe, Asia, Middle East

Deliveroo connects delivery riders with restaurants and customers. You accept food delivery requests through the app, pick up orders, and deliver them.

Just Eat Takeaway.com — UK, Europe and beyond

Just Eat Takeaway.com (operating as Just Eat in the UK) is a food delivery platform. After a 2023 restructuring in the UK, most delivery is now done by gig workers rather than employed drivers. You accept delivery requests through the app and transport meals from restaurants to customers.

Quick jobs in hospitality and events

Indeed — UK and various countries

Indeed is a general job search platform where you can find short-term and part-time hospitality gigs, including event staff, waiting staff, and housekeeping roles. Indeed Flex (in the UK and US) is a separate product specifically for temp shift work. You search and apply for positions listed by employers.

Reed — United Kingdom

Reed is a UK job search platform that lists short-term hospitality roles including event staff, waiting staff, and hotel positions. You apply directly through the platform.

TotalJobs — United Kingdom

TotalJobs lists roles across many industries, including hospitality positions like event staff, waiting staff, and housekeeping. You create a profile, apply for positions, and communicate with employers through the site.

Caterer.com — United Kingdom

Caterer.com specialises in hospitality and catering job listings, including event staff, chefs, and kitchen roles. You apply for positions through the platform and employers get in touch directly.

Hosco — various countries, including the UK

Hosco is a hospitality-focused jobs platform with a strong international footprint and a tight link to hospitality schools. You create a profile, search for full-time, part-time, or seasonal roles, and apply directly.

Pet sitting and house sitting jobs

Rover — UK, North America, and parts of Europe

Rover connects pet owners with pet sitters, dog walkers, and other pet care providers. You create a profile, list your services, and set your rates. Pet owners browse profiles and book directly through the platform.

Care.com — UK and various countries

Care.com covers a range of caregiving services including babysitting, older-person care, pet care, and housekeeping. You create a profile, list your skills and availability, and apply for jobs. Families review profiles and get in touch directly.

TrustedHousesitters — UK and various countries

TrustedHousesitters connects homeowners with house sitters who care for homes and pets while owners travel. Sitters typically provide care in exchange for accommodation rather than payment. Both sides pay an annual membership, and there’s now a per-sit booking fee on top.

PetSitter.com — UK, US, and Canada

PetSitter.com connects pet owners with pet sitters and dog walkers across the UK, US, and Canada. Sitters create profiles and list their services. Pet owners browse and book, with terms varying by service.

BorrowMyDoggy — United Kingdom and Ireland

BorrowMyDoggy connects dog owners with dog lovers who offer walking, sitting, and care services. You create a profile, browse dog listings, and connect with owners to agree on terms directly. Often unpaid — many sitters do it for the company of a dog rather than money.

Yoopies — UK and Europe

Yoopies offers caregiving services across Europe, including babysitting, older-person care, and pet care. You create a profile, list your skills and availability, and families hire through the platform.

How to choose the right platform

Start with where you are. Most of these platforms still have city or region limits even inside the UK, so the first filter is simply availability in your location. From there, think about what you’re good at and what kind of work fits your schedule.

If you want variety and flexibility, general platforms like TaskRabbit or Airtasker are a good starting point. If you have a car and want to work when it suits you, delivery and ridesharing apps tend to have the lowest barrier to entry. Hospitality platforms work well if you have service industry experience and want consistent short-term shifts — Indeed Flex is the shift-fill product in that set. Pet and house sitting is a good fit if you want something lower-intensity that might come with perks like free accommodation.

It’s worth signing up for two or three platforms at once. That way you’re not dependent on one source of gigs, and you can see which one actually delivers work in your area.

If you run the team, not the gig hunt

The platforms above are marketplaces. You apply, they match you, and the work is usually with a stranger.

If you already have a pool of people you work with again — event crew, hospitality extras, regulars on a rota — the problem is the other way around: posting open shifts to people who already know you. Zelos is a task and shift signup app with built-in messaging. You post the work, they claim what fits, and the conversation stays on the shift. It is invite-only, with no public job board. The free plan covers unlimited members and 25 concurrent active tasks.

For the operator side of that pattern, see simple staffing software.