Top Hospitality Hiring Platforms in 2025
Compare the top hospitality hiring platforms - Instawork, GigSmart, Gigpro, and shiftNOW - to find the best hiring solution for your business.
Why Choosing the Right Platform Matters
In the hospitality industry, staffing challenges are a constant concern. Whether you manage a hotel, restaurant, or event venue, having the right people at the right time directly impacts guest satisfaction and profitability.
Hiring platforms have become a popular solution, but not all are designed with hospitality in mind. This article compares four leading options: Instawork, GigSmart, Gigpro, and shiftNOW, so you can decide which one best fits your needs.
What to Look For in a Hospitality Hiring Platform
When evaluating hiring platforms, hospitality businesses should focus on:
- Industry specialization
- Worker vetting and reliability
- Speed of shift fulfillment
- Cost and transparency
- Ability to build a roster, not just fill one-off shifts
Instawork
Instawork is one of the most widely recognized names in the hiring platform industry. Founded in 2016, it has evolved into a platform serving multiple sectors, including hospitality, logistics, and light industrial work. Its app-based approach connects businesses with hourly workers, called “Pros”, who are available to pick up shifts at short notice.
Strengths
- Operates in many U.S. markets with a large pool of workers
- Covers hospitality jobs as well as warehouse and event staffing
- App features like ratings and payout options
Limitations
- Because it covers multiple industries, not every worker has strong hospitality experience
- Consistency and reliability can vary for last-minute shifts
- Workers may need additional training to meet hospitality standards
GigSmart
GigSmart markets itself as a flexible gig platform that connects businesses with independent workers across dozens of industries. It was designed as a general gig economy tool rather than a hospitality-specific solution.
Strengths
- Helpful in posting jobs across many industries, not just hospitality
- Easy to post shifts quickly, which helps with urgent needs
- Broad access to a large pool of gig workers
Limitations
- Lacks focus on hospitality roles, making it harder to find specialized talent
- Requires more time to screen applicants
- Fewer hospitality-specific features, such as role-based vetting
Gigpro
Gigpro is more focused than Instawork or GigSmart, but its scope is narrower. Its main use case is one-off hospitality shifts. Perfect for businesses that need a bartender for a single event or a dishwasher for a one-time occasion.
Strengths
- Hospitality-focused, with roles like servers, line cooks, and bartenders
- Designed for urgent, last-minute coverage needs
- Simple posting process, especially for small businesses
Limitations
- Not built for scaling or creating long-term staffing solutions
- Businesses may need to repost the same jobs repeatedly
- Limited ability to build ongoing relationships with workers
shiftNOW
shiftNOW is a purpose-built platform designed specifically for hospitality businesses. Unlike generalist gig apps, it was created with restaurants, hotels, catering companies, golf courses, and event venues in mind. Its focus is on making it easy and affordable to find pre-vetted local talent.
Strengths
- Tailored entirely for hospitality roles and businesses
- Workers are vetted to ensure they have relevant experience
- Supports on-demand, seasonal, event, and full-time hiring
- Unique features like profile videos and worker reviews to help managers make better hiring decisions
- Transparent, predictable pricing options
Limitations
- Strongest network of workers in hospitality-heavy regions
- Expanding reach but not yet as broad as Instawork’s multi-industry footprint
Head-to-Head Comparison
Which Platform Is Right for You?
- For broad coverage across industries: Instawork or GigSmart
- For one-time or emergency shifts: Gigpro
- For hospitality businesses seeking locally vetted, reliable staff: shiftNOW
Conclusion
Hospitality hiring platforms are not created equal. While Instawork, GigSmart, and Gigpro each have their place, they are either too general or too limited for long-term success in the hospitality industry.
shiftNOW stands out because it was designed specifically for the hospitality industry from the ground up. If your business needs a hiring partner that understands your industry, request a demo to see how shiftNOW can help.
