Hospitality Staffing Apps: Top Platforms for Employers and Gig Workers in 2026Hospitality Staffing Apps: Top Platforms for Employers and Gig Workers in 2026

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Hospitality staffing apps help businesses fill hourly and temporary roles across the hospitality industry, including restaurants, event venues, hotels, catering companies, and bars. These platforms connect employers with pre-vetted hospitality workers on short notice, making it easier to manage fluctuating demand, last-minute callouts, and seasonal spikes without relying on traditional staffing agencies.

Unlike restaurant-only or event-specific staffing apps, hospitality staffing apps support multiple hospitality use cases within a single platform. They offer role-based matching, flexible scheduling, time tracking, and fast payments—allowing operators to source staff for different types of hospitality jobs.

Top-Rated Apps for Sourcing Hourly Hospitality Workers

Finding reliable hourly staff in hospitality can be challenging, but several apps make it easier for businesses to source workers quickly and efficiently. These top-rated apps are widely used by restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and event venues:

  1. Instawork – Offers vetted hourly workers for roles like servers, cooks, bartenders, and event staff. Employers can post shifts, manage schedules, and get workers booked in real time.
  2. Qwick – Designed for hospitality businesses that need last-minute or flexible staffing. It connects managers with professionals who can pick up shifts instantly.
  3. ShiftPixy / ShiftSmart – Provides on-demand hourly staffing for restaurants and hotels, with features for scheduling, labor tracking, and compliance.
  4. Wonolo – Real-time staffing app for temporary hospitality work, making it easier to fill urgent or high-volume shifts.
  5. 7shifts – While primarily a scheduling tool, it also helps employers manage hourly staff and communicate with their team efficiently.
  6. HotSchedules – Combines scheduling, shift management, and labor forecasting for restaurants and hotels.
  7. Deputy – Workforce management platform that simplifies scheduling, shift communication, and hourly staff tracking.
  8. RosterElf – Helps hospitality managers plan shifts, track labor costs, and fill hourly roles efficiently.
  9. Timeero – Workforce management app with scheduling and mobile time tracking, suitable for hotel and hospitality staff.
  10. Shiftgig / Deploy / BookedOut – Gig-style platform for hourly hospitality work, helping businesses match available staff to shifts quickly.

Hospitality Gig Apps: Find Flexible Shifts in 2026

If you’re looking for flexible, short-term work in the hospitality industry, hospitality gig apps make it easy to find shifts on your schedule. Here are some of the top apps that let you pick up work in restaurants, hotels, catering, and events:

  1. Instawork – Pick up shifts as a server, bartender, or cook. Instant booking and fast payments make it one of the most popular gig apps.
  2. Qwick – Designed for hospitality professionals who want control over their schedules. Works for restaurants, hotels, and event staffing.
  3. Wonolo – Offers on-demand hospitality shifts along with other hourly work. Ideal for last-minute gigs.
  4. ShiftPixy / ShiftSmart – Connects hourly workers with restaurants, hotels, and catering gigs. Flexible and mobile-friendly.
  5. GigSmart – Lets workers find short-term shifts across hospitality and service industries.

These apps allow you to choose shifts, track hours, and get paid quickly, giving you the flexibility to work when and where you want.

FAQs

Can a hospitality staffing app replace a hospitality staffing agency?

In many cases, hospitality staffing apps can replace traditional agencies for filling shift-based or urgent roles because they offer real-time matching, mobile booking, and flexible scheduling without long recruitment cycles. However, agencies may still be valuable for executive placements, complex payroll handling, or compliance support in specific jurisdictions.

What is an example of a mobile app in the hospitality industry?

Instawork is a mobile app that lets hospitality workers find shifts and let businesses post open staffing needs directly from their phones.

How do hospitality staffing apps work?

Most hospitality staffing apps let employers post shifts or jobs, workers apply or claim available shifts, and both sides manage scheduling, communications, and sometimes payments via mobile interfaces.

Are hospitality staffing apps good for small businesses?

Yes — many apps (like Instawork) are scalable and let small restaurants or venues post a few shifts at a time, helping them handle last-minute shortages without agency overhead.

Do hospitality staffing apps handle payroll?

Some apps provide built-in payroll or pay-processing features, while others simply handle shift booking and workforce communication; additional payroll tools or integrations may still be needed for full compliance.

Can workers choose when they work?

Yes — many hospitality staffing apps let professionals view and accept shifts that fit their schedules, giving them flexibility and control over hours.

Are these apps only for restaurants?

No — while many started in restaurants, most of the leading platforms also cover hotels, catering, events, and general hospitality roles.

Do hospitality staffing apps screen workers?

Many platforms include vetting such as background checks, skill verification, or ratings based on performance to help businesses find reliable staff.

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