TaskRabbit Review

Here's one of the greatest things I love about iOS: Every so often, through the iTunes App Store I discover a new Internet service of some kind that I've never heard of.

TaskRabbit is one of those particular services, and chances are, many iOS users have yet to discover the service, either. TaskRabbit is a web-based solution for people looking to hire other people to accomplish their tasks and errands.

The idea strikingly simple but smart at the same time. On TaskRabbit, users can post their task and what they can afford to pay for someone else to get it done. From there, a certified "task rabbit" – as they're called – will pick up the assignment and complete the task for said fee. The service functions as a two-way street, though, meaning users can become "task rabbits" themselves and earn money for completing other people's tasks. Of course, in order to become a task rabbit, they have to pass a certification process, which includes an online video-screening done by the company.

The kinds of tasks that can be posted on TaskRabbit range from shopping to food delivery to cleaning other simple errand-like requests. Users can even file requests under a "something else category," which enables users to accomplish just about anything through the website.

A quick look through the tasks in my area reveals what kind requests users have, so far. For example, when I searched through the database at the time of writing this review, in Los Angeles, I found a user looking for help packing while another user was requesting someone to pick up some groceries at a local store. Other tasks featured similar requests, meanwhile.

As far as the app itself goes, TaskRabbit is well-designed and features a clean, intuitive interface. The app does feel a little unbalanced, though. It seem the half of the app designed for listing tasks on the service is more developed than the half focused on searching through tasks posted by other users. For example, users can look at tasks in their area, but the process is limited to a map with pins showing those tasks. Being able to search by category or view list-style results would greatly enhance the experience.

The concept behind TaskRabbit is certainly intriguing, and I can't help but want to watch the service and see what kind of growth it experiences. That said, it does cater to a certain kind of audience. This isn't a service for everyone. What's more, TaskRabbit is only available in a limited number of high-population cities for now. For those who will benefit through use of TaskRabbit, though, the iOS app will most likely come in handy.

[gallery]