Only 36 Percent of Gig Platforms Make Payouts Instant

Many companies have spent the past decade refining customer experiences, yet one component still moves slowly: how fast people can access their money.

PYMNTS Intelligence data indicate that while businesses continue to invest in engagement tools, the biggest loyalty driver in the “instant economy” may be something far simpler. It is whether funds land in a consumer’s account the same day.

The report, “Money Mobility Ecosystem: Meeting Recipient Expectations in the Instant Economy,” a collaboration between PYMNTS Intelligence and Ingo Payments, outlines a rapidly shifting expectation among workers, renters and even gamers.

The study highlights that money mobility has become a frontline factor in retention, with slow payouts pushing people toward platforms that promise immediate access instead. Nearly 9 in 10 businesses now offer instant payouts for at least one purpose, yet gaps remain between the availability of instant options and the people who rely on them. These mismatches have begun to shape competitive dynamics in several sectors.

The report’s topline numbers make the case that instant access is no longer a convenience. It is a threshold expectation that influences where workers choose to pick up jobs, where renters make payments and where digital consumers spend. But beneath the headline findings sits an understated theme: companies often treat instant payouts as a feature when users view it as infrastructure. When payouts arrive within seconds, recipients stay within an ecosystem longer and cycle their funds back through it more frequently. When they do not, they look for alternatives.

Among the report’s findings:

Nearly 9 in 10 businesses now use instant payouts for at least one purpose, underscoring how widespread the shift toward real-time disbursements has become. The study notes that companies that lag in offering instant access risk losing both workers and customers to platforms that have fully adopted it.

Only 36% of platforms consistently offer instant payouts to gig workers, despite most workers saying they need earnings the same day. This shortfall creates openings for gig marketplaces with stronger money-out capabilities.

Businesses that prioritize instant access for income-related disbursements report stronger relationships and improved retention, as well as faster recycling of funds back into their own ecosystems. Instant payouts become a revenue efficiency tool, not just a user perk.

These patterns point to a deeper implication. As more financial tools move to real-time rails, the companies that treat money mobility as core infrastructure may gain advantages that are difficult for slower counterparts to counter. Workers who expect instant earnings are less willing to wait several days for a transfer.

Gamers who fund their accounts or receive winnings instantly are more likely to stay within the same digital environment. Renters who can make or receive payments in real time are less likely to switch services. Fast access strengthens habits.

The report also notes that instant capabilities remain uneven across industries, with many organizations still working through operational, technical and compliance challenges.

Yet the direction is clear. As consumers become more accustomed to immediate access in nearly every digital interaction, the cost of withholding their money for hours or days grows. Companies that still see instant payouts as optional may find that users feel differently.

In the instant economy, the speed of money increasingly determines the speed of loyalty.