Warehouse and distribution teams have more ways than ever to cover shifts without calling a traditional staffing agency. This guide compares five options operations leaders evaluate most in 2026: GigSmart, Instawork, Wonolo, Veryable, and PeopleReady — and what each is built for.
An on-demand staffing platform connects your operation directly with hourly workers who can pick up open shifts — often the same week, sometimes the same day. Instead of routing a request through an agency branch, you post the shift, review workers who apply, and confirm the ones that fit. Traditional agencies typically charge markups of 25–75% depending on the role; GigSmart publishes flat service fees, so you can see the math before you post.
Weigh five things: coverage in your markets, how workers are screened and rated, how fast shifts actually fill, pricing transparency, and whether the platform can grow from filling gaps into managing your core team. The right answer depends on whether you need occasional surge coverage, a steady flex crew, or a single platform for both.
| Platform | Built for | Worker model | Coverage | Pricing approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GigSmart (G-Flex) | Warehouse, logistics, hospitality, events, facilities | 1099 or W-2, business chooses per shift | All 50 states | Published service fees (35% for 1099, 45% for W-2) |
| Instawork | Hospitality and light industrial shifts | Platform marketplace | Major metros | Contact provider |
| Wonolo | Warehouse, fulfillment, and general labor | Platform marketplace | Select markets | Contact provider |
| Veryable | Manufacturing and distribution operations | On-demand labor marketplace | Select industrial markets | Contact provider |
| PeopleReady | Traditional industrial staffing with an app option | Agency-employed workers | National branch network | Contact provider |
G-Flex is GigSmart's on-demand staffing marketplace. You post a shift, Smart Hire AI surfaces best-fit workers first — prioritizing your favorited and repeat workers, then expanding to top-rated qualified workers nearby — and you review ratings, experience, and availability before confirming the hire. Smart Hire AI activates 72 hours before shift start (ASAP shifts trigger it immediately), backfills automatically when workers cancel, and runs an SMS confirmation flow that auto-reopens shifts for workers who don't confirm.
The numbers: 4,000+ businesses use GigSmart, with over 2 million workers on the platform and coverage in all 50 states. Last-minute shift requests see a 92% fill rate.
Pricing is published: 1099 workers carry a 35% service fee ($25 per-shift minimum), W-2 workers a 45% service fee ($45 minimum). Background checks are available as optional add-ons through the Checkr integration, with MVR and drug screening as further optional add-ons (contact us for pricing).
Where it fits best: warehouse and logistics teams that want one platform to cover surge shifts now and manage their core team later — G-Force adds scheduling, time tracking, geofencing, and in-app messaging for W-2 staff when you're ready.
Instawork is an on-demand staffing marketplace connecting businesses with hourly workers, with a strong presence in hospitality and light industrial work across major metros. Businesses post shifts and workers pick them up through the Instawork app. It's a fit for operations in covered metros whose needs lean toward hospitality-adjacent and light industrial roles.
Wonolo (short for "Work Now Locally") is an on-demand staffing marketplace focused on frontline work — warehouse, fulfillment, delivery support, and general labor. Businesses post jobs and workers accept them through the app. It's a fit for fulfillment operations in Wonolo's covered markets that need flexible general-labor coverage.
Veryable is an on-demand labor marketplace built specifically for manufacturing, logistics, and distribution operations. Its model centers on short work opportunities ("Ops") that businesses post and operators accept. It's a fit for manufacturing-heavy operations that want to flex capacity up and down around production demand.
PeopleReady is a traditional industrial staffing agency with a national branch network, and its JobStack app adds a digital ordering option. Workers are employed by the agency. It's a fit for teams that prefer an agency relationship — recruiting, employment, and payroll handled by the staffing provider — over a marketplace model.
If you want published pricing, nationwide coverage, your choice of 1099 or W-2 workers on a per-shift basis, and a path from on-demand coverage to full workforce management, GigSmart is the strongest fit of the five. If your operation runs almost entirely on manufacturing capacity swings, Veryable's industrial focus is worth a look; if you want an agency to employ the workers end to end, PeopleReady's model does that.
On GigSmart, ASAP shifts trigger Smart Hire AI immediately, Smart Hire AI activates 72 hours before any shift starts, and last-minute requests see a 92% fill rate. Fill speed on other platforms varies by market and role — ask each provider for their numbers.
It varies by platform — check each provider's screening options. On GigSmart, background checks are optional add-ons through the Checkr integration, so you decide which shifts require them.
Traditional agencies typically charge 25–75% markups depending on the role. GigSmart publishes its service fees — 35% for 1099 workers and 45% for W-2 workers — so total cost is visible before you post a shift.
On GigSmart, yes — Smart Hire AI prioritizes your favorited and repeat workers first when new shifts go up, so strong performers become your go-to flex crew.