How Much Time Do Gig Apps Actually Save?

Time… where does it all disappear? According to the 2017 Annual American Time Use Survey by the U.S. Department of Labor, individuals working full-time dedicate over two hours each day to various household tasks, such as cleaning, cooking, and running errands.

The gig economy promises to relieve us from this time bind, offering a range of applications designed to handle grocery shopping, laundry, pet care, or meal preparation. But do these services provide significant time savings to justify their costs? Let’s explore common chores and the applications that aim to manage these tasks on your behalf.

1. Grocery shopping

Typically, individuals visit grocery stores once or twice weekly, averaging around 43 minutes per visit, not including travel time. Utilizing a gig worker for grocery shopping could potentially save you two or more hours weekly, particularly if your local store is far away, consistently crowded, or if you shop frequently.

While grocery delivery services like Peapod, Safeway.com, or Amazon Fresh have been available for some time, gig apps add the benefit of flexibility, allowing you to select items from various stores with delivery options sometimes as quick as an hour. (See also: 6 Ways Having Your Groceries Delivered Can Save You Money)

The cost

Services such as Instacart, Postmates, and Shipt (owned by Target) charge fees per delivery or offer subscription plans for grocery deliveries executed by independent drivers.

Instacart pricing ranges from $3.99 to $7.99 per delivery or $99 for an annual subscription.
Postmates offers a membership for $9.99 monthly or $95.88 yearly, with per-delivery charges reaching up to $20.
Shipt operates in 257 cities and charges $14 monthly or $99 annually. Remember to account for any tips given to delivery personnel.

It is essential to recognize that item prices for these services may be higher than those in retail stores. Instacart acknowledges this by stating that “Item prices are higher than in-store prices in your area.” Likewise, Shipt informs users about price adjustments on groceries from “select retailers” as part of their service fee.

Cost per hour saved

Although you’ll still need to allocate time for selecting groceries through these applications and placing your order, you’ll save the duration spent driving, parking, navigating the aisles, and waiting in checkout lines. If you invest $150 annually in fees for a service that saves you two hours each week, you’re looking at a cost of only around $1.50 for each hour saved. For an extra hour of shopping weekly, it would bring your hourly expense to about $3.

Is it worth it?

If your hourly earnings exceed $20, adopting a gig shopping app likely represents a good investment, particularly if you lack transportation or have work hours that complicate trips to the store during off-peak times.

2. Dog walking

Walking your dog can be enjoyable and beneficial for both you and your pet, but if you’re juggling a long commute, taking your dog out during the day can be a challenge. Alternatively, your busy schedule might not allow for enough exercise time for your dog.

The cost

Both Wag! and Rover can dispatch a gig worker to walk your dog on short notice or as part of a scheduled service, generally costing between $20 and $30 for walks lasting 20-30 minutes.

Cost per hour saved

If you’re only accounting for the time taken to walk your dog, you’re spending about $1 per minute, tallying up to $60 an hour, which makes this service a costly time-saver. However, many users likely rely on these services for workday walks. If your workplace is 30 minutes from home, the $30 charge could actually save you 90 minutes, considering the walk time and round-trip travel.

Is it worth it?

If you’re at home, probably not. Regardless of how busy you are, taking a walk with your dog can be a beneficial and perhaps even rejuvenating experience. However, if you’re at work, utilizing such services could be a practical choice. (See also: How to Make $400+ a Week as a Pet Sitter)

3. Food delivery

Among the various time-saving gig services, food delivery apps like Uber Eats, Caviar, and Postmates (for takeout) can be more challenging to evaluate. Before the rise of these apps, calling for takeout or driving to a fast food outlet was already commonplace.

So, what do these gig services really provide? Each app inspects specific niches in the market. Caviar, for instance, features restaurants that did not previously offer delivery, potentially saving you time spent driving, parking, and queuing at popular locations. Comparatively, if you were deciding between using one of these services versus dining out in a restaurant, significant time savings could apply, but for those who value the dining experience, that convenience may not resonate.

The least time saved with these applications may only amount to the mere minutes spent placing an order over the phone, a process that can be tedious, making those precious minutes saved feel worthwhile.

The cost

Uber Eats has delivery fees ranging between $2 and $8, depending on the distance, with additional surge fees where applicable. Caviar charges a fluctuating delivery fee alongside an 18 percent service charge. Postmates members can pay $9.99 monthly or $95.88 yearly for coverage, with non-members facing delivery fees of $3.99 to $9.99 or more during busy periods.

Cost per hour saved

If we estimate that the actual time saved by ordering food through apps is approximately 30 minutes—this accounts for the duration needed to place a phone order and retrieve your meal—then, should you place a weekly order with a Postmates subscription while tipping $5 per delivery, your service cost equates to $7 for each half hour saved, or $14 for each hour.

Is it worth it?

If you frequently order food from eateries that lack delivery services, then yes, these apps may add value. For those looking to mix up their usual choices, these platforms can offer exciting culinary options. On the other hand, if you prefer home-cooked meals, in-restaurant dining, or rely on established delivery favorites, experimenting with these services might not be necessary.

4. Doctor visits

It can be surprising to find that some medical professionals are adapting to the gig economy. Numerous startups provide options for doctors to make house calls or conduct telemedicine visits part-time or as their primary practice.

For critical conditions like heart attacks or severe injuries, clearly, convenience isn’t a factor—it’s imperative to seek immediate help in an emergency room. However, for ailments like urinary tract infections, rashes, or prescription renewals, traditional visits to clinics or urgent care can consume substantial time. In some instances, scheduling an appointment alone can demand over 15 minutes just to get through the call queue.

On the flip side, apps like Doctor on Demand can connect you with a doctor for a 15-minute consultation in less than five minutes. Services like Heal allow you to book an appointment with freelance doctors who can come to your home. For non-emergency concerns, the time saved can range from one hour for a straightforward visit to several hours for lengthy ER waits.

The cost

Doctor on Demand charges $75 for a 15-minute consultation and collaborates with various employers and insurance providers. Heal implements a flat fee of $149, accepting multiple insurance plans as well.

Cost per hour saved

In instances where you might have seen a doctor in-office, and assuming you pay the app fee yourself (with your regular copay being $20), you could find yourself spending $55 to $79 to save an hour. If these services help you evade a time-consuming ER visit, the costs may remain similar while saving you at least two hours.

Is it worth it?

Utilizing one of these services to bypass emergency room visits for non-urgent conditions can be extremely beneficial.

For routine office visits, if these programs are part of your insurance plan, trying them out could be advantageous. However, if paying out of pocket, the time saving becomes worthwhile primarily for those with high incomes or those dealing with consistently busy medical offices.