Start Shift Tracker: Easy Setup for Gig Workers (2025)

You downloaded the app. Now what?

This guide walks you through every step of setting up ShiftTracker: from the first screen to your first logged shift with mileage tracking and earnings data flowing. No prior experience needed.

Gig workers who use tracking tools make better decisions, not because the tool magically improves conditions, but because the data shows exactly which shifts, times, and platforms are actually paying and which ones are quietly draining your time. You can't fix what you can't see.

Step 1: Download and Create Your Account (2 Minutes)

ShiftTracker is available on iOS and Android. Search "ShiftTracker" in the App Store or Google Play and install.

When you open the app for the first time:

1. Tap Create Account
2. Enter your email and set a password
3. Verify your email address via the confirmation link
4. Select your primary gig platform (you'll add more in the next step)

That's the account. Next, start the 7-day free trial in the App Store, Google Play or the web checkout. It needs a payment method, but nothing is charged during the trial. When it ends, 7 days after you start, billing starts automatically unless you cancel before then.

Step 2: Add Your Gig Platforms (3 Minutes)

ShiftTracker supports all major delivery, rideshare, and gig platforms. To add each one:

1. Go to Settings → Platforms
2. Tap Add Platform
3. Select from the list: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Walmart Spark, Grubhub, Amazon Flex, Lyft, Uber, and others
4. Label each with a nickname if you prefer (optional)

You can switch between platforms mid-shift or track them simultaneously. If you run DoorDash and Uber Eats at the same time, you can log earnings from both within a single shift entry and split the time manually.

Multi-platform workers (those earning from 2-3 apps simultaneously) generally see the biggest insight gains from tracking. Learn more about comparing DoorDash and Uber Eats pay structures so you know which to prioritize in your market.

Step 3: Configure Mileage Tracking (2 Minutes)

This is where ShiftTracker pays for itself. Mileage is your single biggest tax deduction as a gig worker: at the 2026 IRS rates (72.5 cents per mile for January–June, 76 cents from July 1), 10,000 miles split evenly across the year equals a $7,425 deduction (5,000 × $0.725 + 5,000 × $0.76).

To configure mileage logging:

1. Go to Settings → Mileage
2. Turn on Odometer-Based Mileage Logging
3. Grant location permission (used only to record your approximate city and state at shift start and end — no GPS route tracking)
4. Select your vehicle type (car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.)
5. Enter your vehicle's license plate or a nickname for your records

Once it's set up, you'll enter your odometer reading when you start a shift and again when you end it, and ShiftTracker calculates your business miles from the difference. Every shift record also gets an automatic start and end city from your approximate location, so it carries date, start location, end location, and miles — exactly what the IRS requires for a contemporaneous mileage log.

For the full IRS requirements and why this matters at tax time, read our guide on mileage tracking rules for delivery drivers.

Step 4: Log Your First Shift

Starting your first tracked shift takes seconds:

1. Open ShiftTracker
2. Tap Start Shift on the home screen
3. Select your platform for this session
4. The timer starts. Enter your starting odometer reading if you set up mileage logging in Step 3.
5. As you complete orders/rides, tap the + button to log each payment: enter the amount and tip separately
6. When done, tap End Shift

After ending the shift, you'll see a summary: total earnings, total miles, shift duration, and your effective hourly rate. That last number (your real earnings per hour) is the most important figure in gig work.

Step 5: Set Your Minimum Hourly Rate

Go to Settings → Goals and set a minimum hourly rate. This is the number below which a shift isn't worth your time.

A minimum between $15 and $22 per hour after fuel and mileage is a common starting point. Once configured, ShiftTracker alerts you mid-shift if your current hourly rate falls below your target, giving you the data to decide whether to push through or call it.

Setting this number forces clarity. Without it, most drivers just keep going indefinitely, which is how you end up with a 10-hour day that nets $14/hr after expenses. See how net income differs from gross earnings and why the difference matters for this calculation.

Your First Week: What to Track and What to Look For

In week one, just log everything. Don't change your behavior. You need a baseline.

After 5-7 shifts, open your Earnings Dashboard and look for:

• Your best hours: Which start times produce the highest hourly rate?
• Your worst time slots: Where are you consistently under your minimum rate?
• Platform performance: Which app pays better in your market, on which days?
• Mileage efficiency: How many miles per dollar are you logging? High miles, low pay is a signal to change zones or platforms.

Cutting your worst time windows (without changing anything else) is often the fastest way to raise your average hourly earnings.

Connecting the Web Portal for Full Earnings History

ShiftTracker has a desktop portal that mirrors your app data. Log in at shifttrackerapp.com with your account credentials.

The web portal is useful for:

• Reviewing monthly and quarterly earnings summaries
• Exporting mileage logs and expense reports for taxes
• Viewing charts of earnings trends over time
• Printing IRS-compatible mileage documentation

The complete web portal guide walks through every feature in detail.

The IRS requires that mileage logs for business deductions be "contemporaneous": recorded at or near the time of each trip, including date, destination, business purpose, and miles driven.

Source: IRS Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses, 2024

Exporting Your Tax Report

When tax time comes, go to Reports → Tax Export. Select your date range (usually January 1 through December 31 for the prior year) and choose your format: PDF for printing, CSV for uploading to tax software.

The export includes your full mileage log with IRS-required fields, a summary of earnings by platform, and a categorized expense report if you've logged additional deductions.

This document goes directly to your tax preparer or into TurboTax/H&R Block. No reconstruction, no guessing, no missing miles. See our full gig worker tax prep guide for what to do with this report at filing time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does ShiftTracker take to set up?

Under 10 minutes from download to first logged shift. Account creation takes 2 minutes, adding platforms takes 3 minutes, and configuring mileage tracking takes 2 minutes. Your first shift can start immediately after. Location permission is only used to record your approximate city and state at shift start and end.

Which gig platforms does ShiftTracker support?

ShiftTracker supports all major gig platforms: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Walmart Spark, Grubhub, Amazon Flex, Lyft, Uber, and more. You can log shifts from multiple platforms in the same session and compare earnings per hour side-by-side in the dashboard, essential for multi-app workers.

Does ShiftTracker track mileage?

Yes, from your odometer readings rather than GPS. Turn on mileage logging in Settings → Mileage, then enter your odometer reading when you start a shift and again when you end it. ShiftTracker calculates your business miles from the difference and automatically records your approximate start and end city, meeting IRS contemporaneous log requirements for the standard mileage deduction (70 cents/mile for 2025; for 2026, 72.5 cents January–June and 76 cents from July 1).

Can I use ShiftTracker for multiple gig platforms at once?

Yes. Multi-platform tracking is one of ShiftTracker's core features. Log earnings from two platforms in the same shift, split time between them manually, and compare which app is delivering better pay in your market by day and time. Multi-app drivers can find this is where the biggest hourly rate gains come from.

What does ShiftTracker cost?

ShiftTracker starts with a 7-day free trial, then Elite at $7.99/month or $59.99/year, billed automatically until you cancel. There is no free plan: when the trial or a subscription ends, the app is locked until you subscribe again (your data stays in your account).