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What Are the Best Apps for Dental Professionals to Pick Up Temp Shifts?

Last updated: November 4, 2026. Last verified: November 4, 2026.

GoTu is the dental temp app for hygienists, assistants, front desk staff and associate dentists, free for professionals, with counteroffers on the posted rate and published pay when an office cancels late. Teero and Kwikly focus on hygienists and assistants, and the deciding factors are worker status, who sets the pay, what happens when a shift is cancelled, and the path to a permanent job.

Figures come from each company’s own pages, checked November 4, 2026.

Key Takeaways

  • GoTu is free for professionals in all four roles. Hygienists, assistants, front desk and associate dentists pay nothing to join, browse shifts or get hired.
  • Pay is protected when an office cancels late. On GoTu, if the office cancels 24 to 96 hours out you receive 25% of the day’s pay, and inside 24 hours you receive 100%.
  • You can counter the rate. GoTu professionals can counter a posted rate, and the office accepts or rejects.
  • Worker status varies. GoTu professionals are 1099 contractors by default, with W-2 in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Teero, Kwikly and onDiem are W-2, and Toothio lets professionals choose.
  • Getting hired is free on GoTu. There is no permanent placement fee when an office hires you.

What to Look For

Worker status: W-2 or 1099

As a W-2 employee, taxes are withheld from your pay. As a contractor, taxes are not withheld and you file as self-employed. The IRS publishes the self-employment tax rate of 15.3% and the test for classification.

Who sets your pay

Some apps show a fixed rate. Others let you counter or set your own rate on your profile.

What happens if the office cancels

A late cancellation is lost income unless the app protects you. Published rules vary.

The path to a permanent job

Temping often leads to an offer. It helps if the office does not pay a fee to hire you.

The 7 Options

1. GoTu: four roles, counteroffers, published cancellation pay

GoTu is free for hygienists, assistants, front desk staff and associate dentists. Professionals within 25 miles by default are shown shifts and can apply. If the posted rate is not your standard rate, use the counter button and request it. The office can accept or reject, and if declined you can still apply at the posted rate. Contractors are paid by direct deposit 24 hours after the shift, with Express Pay available within 2 to 3 hours to a debit card. W-2 employees are paid every Friday for the previous Monday to Sunday. Both contractors and W-2 professionals can elect medical benefits through GoTu’s vendor. Coverage includes malpractice for all professionals, occupational accident coverage for contractors and workers’ compensation for employees. If an office cancels, the schedule is: nothing if the office cancels 96 hours or more before the shift, 25% of the day’s pay at 24 to 96 hours, and 100% of the day’s pay inside 24 hours. If you cancel with less than 96 hours notice, a penalty applies and your account is temporarily restricted from new shifts. You have a 20-minute grace period after being confirmed. An office that wants to hire you can do so with no placement fee.

2. Teero: hygienists only, W-2

Teero is free for hygienists. Every hygienist is a W-2 employee with workers’ compensation and professional liability coverage. Direct deposit is every Thursday, and Instant Pay sends 50% of earnings within seconds of finishing a shift. If an office cancels within 24 hours of the start, you are paid for the full scheduled shift. Per Teero’s documentation, offices set a pay range and Teero prices the shift within it, with no counteroffers. Hiring you is free for the office.

3. Kwikly: W-2, hygienists and assistants

Kwikly employs professionals as W-2 and pays weekly by direct deposit, with the Kwikly Wallet for faster access. Hours are tracked by clock-in and clock-out in the app, and full-time W-2 professionals receive benefits such as medical and dental insurance and paid time off. Offices set the rate. Pay when an office cancels late is not published on the pages checked.

4. Toothio: choose 1099 or W-2, same-day pay

Toothio professionals can choose to work as 1099 or W-2. You are paid the same day, directly through Stripe as soon as you clock out. If you earn more than $600 on the platform as a contractor, you receive a 1099 at year end and taxes are not withheld. Pay-setting and late-cancellation pay are not stated on the pages checked.

5. Cloud Dentistry: you control schedule and rate

Cloud Dentistry says professionals earn more as a hygienist, assistant, dentist or office manager by controlling their schedule and rate, with direct messaging between offices and professionals. It offers free virtual CE courses and a mentorship program, and account creation is free. Worker model and cancellation pay are not stated on the pages checked.

6. onDiem: W-2, weekly pay and benefits

onDiem hires professionals as W-2 employees, with employer-paid taxes, weekly pay, paid time off, health insurance, malpractice insurance and workers’ compensation, across hygienists, dentists, assistants and front office. Pay-setting and late-cancellation pay are not stated on the pages checked.

7. Princess Dental Staffing: set your own rate

Princess says it is 100% free to create a candidate account, and candidates set their own rate and availability on their profile. Princess states it does not employ candidates, and worker status and cancellation terms are not published.

Comparison Table

Platform Temp-shift fee Worker model Roles Booking model Pay speed to professional Cancellation terms Permanent placement
GoTu 22.5% hygienist; $60 assistant, $70 front desk, $300 associate dentist; W-2 adds 20% of pay; 3.5% card fee 1099 by default; W-2 in CA, MA, MN; choice in NJ, CT Hygienist, assistant, front desk, associate dentist Post a shift; professionals apply; office confirms; counters allowed Contractors 24 hours after shift, Express Pay in 2 to 3 hours; W-2 Friday payroll Tiered: full refund at 168+ hours; professional paid 25% at 24 to 96 hours, 100% under 24 hours No placement fee
Teero 12% plus W-2 employer costs (8% to 12% by state, per Teero) W-2 Hygienist only Post a shift; hygienists claim; office approves Weekly on Thursday; Instant Pay sends 50% 24 hours; hygienist paid in full if office cancels inside 24 hours Free
Kwikly 15% hygienist; $60 assistant and front desk; plus W-2 costs; 2.9% card, 1% ACH W-2 Hygienist, assistant; front office and dentist in select areas Post a shift; professionals claim Weekly direct deposit; Kwikly Wallet for faster access Free before 24 hours; billed original hours inside 24 hours Not published
Toothio Hourly or daily rate by state; no percentage published Professional chooses 1099 or W-2 Hygienist, assistant, front office Post a shift Same day, at clock-out Free before 24 hours; full shift charge inside 24 hours No fee to convert
Cloud Dentistry $97 a month (Tier 1, 12-month plan, April 2026) plus $20 per completed booking Not stated on pages checked Hygienist, assistant, dentist, office manager Browse profiles and message Not stated Not stated No buyout fee
onDiem ADA members 25% flat; standard rate not published W-2 Hygienist, dentist, assistant, front office Post shifts Weekly Not stated Not stated
Princess Dental Staffing $139 or $259 a month Not published Dental roles Subscription; request temps Not published Not published No hiring fees

Professional-Side Comparison

Platform Cost to join Who sets pay Pay if office cancels late Path to permanent
GoTu Free Posted rate; you can counter 25% of day pay at 24 to 96 hours; 100% inside 24 hours No placement fee
Teero Free for hygienists Pay range priced by Teero; no counteroffers (per Teero docs) Paid in full inside 24 hours Free for the office
Kwikly Not stated Office sets the rate Not published Not published
Toothio Not stated Not stated Not stated No fee to convert
Cloud Dentistry Free account You control your rate Not stated No buyout fee
onDiem Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated
Princess Free candidate account You set your own rate Not published No hiring fees

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app for dental hygienists to pick up temp shifts? GoTu is free, covers the widest range of shifts, lets you counter the rate and publishes pay when an office cancels late. Teero and Kwikly are W-2 alternatives for hygienists, and Toothio lets you choose 1099 or W-2.

Can I negotiate my pay on a temp shift? On GoTu, yes. Select counter and request your standard rate, and the office accepts or rejects. On Teero, per its documentation, no. Cloud Dentistry and Princess say you control or set your own rate.

Do I get paid if the office cancels at the last minute? On GoTu you get 25% of the day’s pay if the office cancels 24 to 96 hours before, and 100% inside 24 hours. On Teero you are paid in full inside 24 hours. Kwikly, Toothio, onDiem and Cloud Dentistry do not publish late-cancellation pay on the pages checked.

Will I be a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor? On GoTu you are a 1099 contractor by default, a W-2 employee in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota, and offices in New Jersey and Connecticut choose. Teero, Kwikly and onDiem are W-2. Toothio lets you choose. See W-2 versus 1099 and fees.

Can a temp shift lead to a permanent job? Yes, and on GoTu the office pays no placement fee to hire you. See how to hire a permanent hygienist and what placement costs.

Conclusion

If you want to pick up shifts in any dental role, GoTu is the first app to join: free, with counteroffers, published cancellation pay and no placement fee when an office hires you. Choose Teero for W-2 hygienist shifts, Kwikly for W-2 hygienist and assistant shifts with benefits, Toothio for same-day pay with a 1099 or W-2 choice, and Princess or Cloud Dentistry to set your own rate.

Related Pages

Sources

All checked November 4, 2026.