The Gig Worker Guide
Keep more of every gig dollar
Fees, mileage deductions, and tax set-asides compared side by side — so you decide before another app drains a shift.
The money stack
Pros, watch-outs, plan ladders, and verified pricing — enough to choose without bouncing through ten review pages.
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Best for tax buckets
Found Business Banking
$0 mo to start Free to startBusiness checking with automatic tax set-asides — strong default for new 1099 workers.
Why it makes the cut
- Tax set-aside tooling is clearer than most neobanks
- Zero monthly fee keeps cost low when gigs are slow
- Bookkeeping and invoicing reduce spreadsheet juggling
Watch out
Not a traditional bank branch experience — partner bank model
Plan ladder
Found: Free · Found Plus: $35/mo · Found Pro: $80/mo
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Best mileage app
Everlance Mileage Tracker
$8.99 per month From $8.99/moAutomatic trip detection and clean IRS-ready exports without weekly spreadsheet chores.
Why it makes the cut
- Reliable auto-tracking reduces forgotten business miles
- Clear personal vs business classification workflow
- Works across rideshare, delivery, and client drives
Watch out
Unlimited automatic reporting usually needs a paid plan
Plan ladder
Free: Free · Plus: $8.99/mo · Premium: $14.99/mo
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Best DIY tax filing
FreeTaxUSA Online Tax Filing
$0 mo to start Free to startLow-cost federal filing with self-employment flows that match gig income reality.
Why it makes the cut
- Dramatically cheaper than many big-box DIY suites
- Handles common 1099 and Schedule C situations
- Transparent state fee vs surprise upgrade walls
Watch out
DIY interview still requires organized books
Plan ladder
Federal: Free · State: $15.99/mo
Business banking compared
Price, standout feature, and the catch — Found, Lili, and Novo on one table.
| Tool | From | Standout | Watch out | Best for | Platforms | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Found Business Banking | Free to start | No monthly account fee on the core Found plan | Not a traditional bank branch experience — partner bank model | DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, and multi-app drivers who need tax set-asides | Web · iOS · Android | |
 Lili Business Banking | Free to start | Free Start tier for core business checking | Best tax tooling sits behind paid tiers | Freelancers who want free checking now and room to upgrade later | Web · iOS · Android | |
 Novo Business Checking | Free to start | No monthly fee and no minimum balance | Built-in tax estimation may feel lighter than Found’s tax-first UX | Freelancers and online sellers who want free business checking | Web · iOS · Android |
Head-to-head
Found vs Novo
Found leads 2 rows Novo leads 1 row
Choose Found if automatic tax estimates and expense categorization for 1099 deposits matter most. Choose Novo if you want simple free checking with reserves and already run payouts through Stripe or Shopify. Run both fee schedules once — instant transfer and ATM costs often matter more than the $0 monthly line.
| Feature | Found | Novo |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 core plan | $0 checking |
| Tax set-asides | Built-in tax estimates + set-asides Wins | Reserves for tax goals |
| Bookkeeping | Expense categorization + invoicing Wins | Lighter; relies more on integrations |
| Integrations | Gig and freelancer focused | Stripe, Shopify, QuickBooks, Xero Wins |
| Best for | Multi-app gig workers needing tax buckets | Freelancers with online payouts |
| Branch / cash deposits | Fintech / partner bank model | Fintech / partner bank model |
Mileage trackers compared
Starting price, what each app actually nails, and the trade-off before you install another GPS drain.
| Tool | From | Standout | Watch out | Best for | Platforms | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everlance Mileage Tracker | From $8.99/mo | Automatic trip detection on iOS and Android | Unlimited automatic reporting usually needs a paid plan | Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Instacart drivers logging high annual miles | iOS · Android · Web | |
 Gridwise Plus | From $9.99/mo | Built specifically for multi-app gig drivers | Core value requires Plus — free tier is intentionally limited | Full-time multi-app delivery and rideshare drivers | iOS · Android | |
 Solo Gig Earnings Tracker | See pricing | Built for multi-app rideshare and delivery work | Feature depth and pricing vary by market — verify before recommending a paid tier | Drivers hopping Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart in the same shift | iOS · Android | |
 Stride Mileage & Tax Tracker | Free to start | Free automatic mileage and expense tracking | Fewer multi-app market insights than Gridwise Plus | Part-time gig workers who want free mileage logs | iOS · Android · Web |
Head-to-head
Everlance vs Gridwise
Everlance leads 1 row Gridwise leads 2 rows
Choose Everlance if automatic mileage, expense scans, and tax-ready exports are the job to be done — especially if you also drive to freelance clients. Choose Gridwise Plus if you live in multi-app hustle mode and want earnings plus demand insights alongside mileage. Many full-timers trial both for a week; keep the one whose weekly cleanup takes less than ten minutes.
| Feature | Everlance | Gridwise |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free; Plus ~$8.99/mo Wins | Free; Plus ~$9.99/mo |
| Automatic mileage | Strong — unlimited on paid plans | Included with Plus |
| Multi-app earnings | Expense/mileage focused | Core Plus value Wins |
| Market insights | Limited | Demand and opportunity data Wins |
| IRS mileage estimates | Standard mileage rate support | Standard mileage rate support |
| Best for | Clean tax exports & mixed driving | Full-time multi-app drivers |
More tools worth comparing
Fuel & cost savers
- Upside
Urban/suburban drivers who refuel at major chains with Upside offers
Free to start Start Free
Tax software
- FreeTaxUSA
Gig workers with straightforward Schedule C returns
Free to start Start Free - Keeper
Freelancers and gig workers with messy card spend
From $15/mo Start Free
Invoicing & accounting
- FreshBooks
Consultants and freelancers with recurring clients
From $19/mo Start Free - Wave
Freelancers and consultants invoicing clients monthly
Free to start Start Free
Picks are based on fees, tax workflows, and gig-fit — not star ratings we invent. How we review · Affiliate disclosure · Pricing sample verified Oct 11, 2026
Guides after you pick tools
All guides →- account safety If your gig app deactivates you, do this first Screenshot the deactivation notice, trip history, and rating panels immediately.
- banking Best business banking setups for gig workers Prioritize tax buckets / auto set-asides over flashy cash-back if you struggle with quarterly estimates.
- mileage IRS mileage rate, explained for gig drivers 2026 has two rates: 72.5¢/mi (Jan 1–Jun 30) and 76¢/mi (Jul 1–Dec 31) — split your miles by half of the year.