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Get paid to make deliveries
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Get paid to deliver food and groceries
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Food delivery apps and services are popular with people hungry for both takeout and extra income around the country, and we'll always recommend delivering food as a side hustle. You can choose your hours and keep 100% of the tips you earn as a food delivery driver, making these services a great way to earn extra money on your terms.
I compared the top food delivery services, finding Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub to be among the best options because they offer the most flexible scheduling and extensive city options. If you want to dip your toe into food delivery to see if it's worth your time, try one or more of these apps.
How we evaluate products
In curating the most popular food delivery services for a side hustle, I focused on the most important qualities for drivers, including geographic availability, pay, flexibility, and driver support/perks. Here’s how each category was measured:
- Geographic availability: Companies with more opportunities nationwide ranked higher than those companies that were available in only major cities. This is why DoorDash with 7,000 city locations made the list whereas Hungry with only 13 city locations did not.
- Pay: I looked at potential and average pay for each company. The companies with higher pay averages and instant pay out without fees ranked higher than companies without instant payment options.
- Flexibility: I only chose companies that allowed workers to choose their own schedules. Several companies also allow deliveries 24/7, making it easier to grab hours when you are free.
- Driver support and perks: The companies that made the best of list had driver support services and perks that made working for them even better. For example, driving for Uber Eats/Postmates means you can get full tuition coverage from Arizona State University and driving for Shipt unlocks community social events exclusive to Shipt’s contractors.
Best food delivery services compared
| Delivery App | Earning potential | When do you get paid? |
| Uber Eats | $17-21/hr | Weekly deposits |
| DoorDash | $17-24/hr | Daily deposits (via Fast Pay) or weekly deposits |
| Instacart | Varies | Instant deposits (with fee) or weekly deposits |
| Postmates | Varies | Instant deposits (with fee) or weekly deposits |
| Shipt | $16-22/hr | Weekly deposits |
| Grubhub | $16-23/hr | Weekly deposits |
| Caviar | $15-20/hr | Daily deposits (via Fast Pay) or weekly deposits |
Editor's note
These estimated earning potential ranges have been sourced from Glassdoor based on reports from real drivers.7 best food delivery services to work for
Uber Eats
With Uber Eats, you can deliver by car, scooter, bike, or even on foot in some locations. The top perk for driving for Uber Eats is that you can receive discounts if you buy gas with the Uber Visa Debit Card.1 <p>Terms apply. We receive a commission for drivers who sign up to deliver with Uber Eats.</p>
Another advantage of using the Uber Visa Debit Card is that you can cash out your earnings up to six times per day at no charge. Although you can receive Instant Pay on your personal debit card, you'll be charged $1.25 per transaction.
Uber Eats doesn't provide hourly estimates, as pay varies by location. However, delivery drivers keep 100% of their tips. Each delivery fare is calculated based on time, distance, and any promotional pay. Uber subtracts a service fee from the total.
Although Uber provides liability insurance coverage, you'll need maintain your own state minimum insurance policy.
Pros
- Get paid up to six times per day
- Non-vehicle delivery options available
- May offer toll reimbursement
- Without Uber Visa Debit Card, instant payouts have a $1.25 fee
- Must be at least 19 to deliver by car or scooter; at least 18 by foot or bicycle
Visit Uber Eats | Read our full Uber Eats review to see if the food delivery app is right for you.
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- Earn money with your car, bike, or even a scooter in some cities!
- Make your own schedule and be your own boss
- You can access your earnings up to 6X per day with Instant Pay
- (Additional terms and conditions apply)
DoorDash
The nice thing about DoorDash is that even though you have to be 18 years of age or older and pass a background check, there are no vehicle inspections for new drivers. Plus, if you don't have a car, it's not a problem — like Uber Eats, some cities allow delivery by bicycle.
DoorDash pays an average of $17 to $24 an hour, according to Glassdoor. You might get additional incentives through things like peak pay.2 <p class="">Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a deliver (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from tips, peak pay, and other incentives.<br></p> Earnings can vary widely by location — some areas, such as college towns, might have more frequent orders, while higher-income areas might offer better tips.
You'll keep 100% of your tips, but DoorDash doesn't reimburse for any expenses, including tolls and parking fees. Plus, you need to maintain your own insurance policy. Make sure you consider these costs when you average your hourly earnings. If you incur an injury while driving for DoorDash, you may be eligible for disability payments and medical expense coverage.
- DasherDirect card allows for instant pay with no fees
- DasherDirect card earns a minimum 2% cashback on gas
- Option for bike dashing
- Without DasherDirect, instant payouts have a $1.99 fee
- No reimbursement for tolls or parking fees
Visit DoorDash | Read our full DoorDash review to see if the food delivery app is right for you.
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DoorDash Benefits
- Be your own boss and set your own hours
- Keep 100% of the delivery fee plus any tips or boosts
- Just pick up the food, drop it off and get paid!
Instacart
One thing I love about Instacart is that you have the option to deliver food and groceries or work in-store. The in-store shopper's schedule is not as flexible as the delivery driver, but it is an option for those who don't have access to a vehicle full time.
As a full-service shopper, you'll get paid per delivery batch, and the amount will depend on the number and type of items, delivery distance, and the level of effort involved. Instacart sometimes runs promotions that allow you to earn extra cash, and delivery drivers also keep 100% of customer tips. Shoppers are provided with injury protection that will help pay medical bills for on-the-job accidents, savings on health insurance, and free access to Care.com.
Instacart scores points with me because they have a tip protection feature that guarantees you a tip up to $10 if a customer zeroes out your promised tip after delivery without reporting anything wrong. Tips are the bread and butter to food delivery service, so knowing what your tip will be before you take on an order can help you plan your trips.
- Extra pay for heavy items
- Protection against zeroed-out tips
- Multi-store batching feature
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds
- Instant cash out for $0.50 fee
Read our full Instacart review to see if the food delivery app is right for you.
Postmates
Postmates is owned by Uber, so you can expect the same level of requirements and perks that Uber Eats food drivers receive. It offers a wide range of delivery options, including by bicycle or on foot, which may be good news for you if you're in a walkable city.
Pay rates will vary based on your area and when you deliver, which is going to be the case for any food delivery app. Delivering during the peak hours allows you to take on multiple orders in the same area at once, which increases your per-hour rate. But note that Postmates isn't offered in nearly as many cities as Uber Eats or Doordash, so it's a lot more niche. But if you happen to live in Los Angeles, this is probably the first food delivery service we'd recommend driving for.
- Better perks the more you deliver
- Can cancel an order at any time
- Your reward status can drop if you have a slow month
- Higher age requirements for delivering with a car
- Less popular than other apps
Read our full Postmates review to see if the food delivery app is right for you.
Shipt
Shipt is a grocery delivery service that allows you to shop for orders at Target and other big-box retailers and grocery stores in many locations. Perks include free Shipt membership for yourself, a guaranteed minimum pay rate of $16 per hour (called the Shipt Earnings Standard), and the option for larger deliveries. With some of these apps, it can be hit or miss in terms of the number of opportunities you receive, depending on the volume of fast food orders placed and the number of other drivers competing against you. So, a guaranteed base pay is a big deal.
Shipt doesn't reimburse for mileage, so you'll be responsible for gas and vehicle maintenance costs, but you'll get exclusive discounts on auto insurance, maintenance, gas, and more. Your vehicle size determines how many packages and hours of work you can secure at a time — for example, a larger vehicle will allow you to deliver up to 50 packages with a route time of five to seven hours. Since Shipt is flexible with the number of hours you work, you can view your route, stops, and estimated pay before committing for the day.
- More reliable hours
- Guaranteed $16 an hour or more
- Limited delivery areas
- Cannot deliver with a two-door sedan
Read our full Shipt review to see if the food delivery app is right for you.
Grubhub
Grubhub is a food delivery service that becomes more worth it the longer you drive for the app. Drivers with higher ratings get better scheduling priorities — you can block off the time you want to work, making it easier to get jobs.
Eligible drivers will also be able to do catering orders and orders over $150. If you can get to this level where you can do these higher-paid orders, you might be able to have less competition and earn more per hour. While Grubhub doesn't give details on when a driver becomes eligible, it is most likely when they have successfully delivered over 100 orders and have a good rating.
Grubhub doesn't reimburse for mileage, but the company does offer perks like 15% off at Jiffy Lube and cashback rewards for gas purchases through GasBuddy. One worthwhile perk that makes Grubhub stand out from the rest is that it offers drivers milestone rewards. Drivers can earn gift cards and gear after 50 or 100 deliveries. And if you have a Chase bank account or sign up for one, you can get instant payouts.
Expect to earn around $16 to $23 an hour, according to Glassdoor, though your earnings can be more or less based on your area and how many orders you fulfill. Seattle and New York have guaranteed pay rates.
- Milestone recognition and rewards
- Opportunity for higher earning deliveries
- Must be over 21 in Las Vegas
- No reimbursement for mileage or gas
Caviar
Caviar is a part of DoorDash, so when you sign up for one, you can accept delivery opportunities from both. When customers order from Caviar, they're selecting from a curated list of restaurants. Caviar tends to cater to higher-end restaurants so these deliveries could result in better tips, but that's not necessarily always the case. The signup process, requirements, pay structure, and perks are the same as with DoorDash.
While I do appreciate that Caviar might give you opportunities for higher-end restaurants, it is a bummer that it was acquired by DoorDash because it gives you fewer companies to rotate between.
You'll receive base pay plus extra if you drive during peak hours or complete a challenge. According to Ziprecruiter, you could earn an average of $17 per hour. Like the other companies on this list, you'll also keep 100% of your tips.
- Higher-end restaurant deliveries
- Access jobs through DoorDash
- Without DasherDirect, instant payouts have a $1.99 fee
- No reimbursement for tolls or parking fees
How to make more money with food delivery services
- Keep your finances organized. As an independent contractor, you'll need to pay quarterly taxes, and there are certain expenses you can deduct to reduce your overall tax burden.
- Make sure you're insured. If you deliver by car, you'll need an auto insurance policy. And because you'll be driving for business, you'll need to either choose one of the best car insurance companies that offer a rideshare endorsement or purchase commercial car insurance.
- Earn rewards on gas. Because you'll be driving a lot, you might want to get one of the best gas credit cards so you can earn rewards.
- Be aware of the requirements. Know that you'll likely be required to submit to a background check, but in most cases, not every conviction will preclude you from employment. If you made a mistake in the past and your record reflects that, be prepared to explain the circumstances. Too many infractions on your driving record might also hurt your chances of getting hired.
- Get a working smartphone. If your phone is too old or unreliable, it'll prevent you from reaching your full potential in a delivery job. Make sure you have a working smartphone, either Android or iOS, and a way to display it on your dash so you can follow GPS directions easily. Plus, you'll need a decent data plan.
- Work for multiple services. Many delivery drivers choose to work for more than one of the best food delivery apps. Deliveries could be slow on one app while another is offering a bonus, so getting on board with more than one company could make it easier to potentially earn $100 a day on a consistent basis.
- Work peak hours or drive to larger cities. All of these delivery apps offer flexible scheduling, but if you want to make the most per hour, you will need to work the hours and locations with the most opportunities. If a busy city or college town is 30 to 60 minutes away, it might be worth the drive if you plan to work peak hours.
- Provide great customer service. A FinanceBuzz survey found that Americans tip 16% on average when they order delivery, and though many customers may automatically tip that amount, it's possible to get more or less depending on the service you provide. Be prompt, always follow instructions, and if you're providing no-contact delivery, follow up with a friendly phone call or text to ensure the customer received their items.
FAQs
What is the best food delivery service to work for?
The best food delivery service for you will depend on several individual factors. First, narrow down the list to services for which you can meet the requirements. For example, if you're under 21, you won't be able to work for Gopuff, and if you don't have a car, you won't be able to deliver for Shipt.
Next, choose whether you'd like to pick out items at grocery stores or pick up prepared meals at local restaurants. You might decide to sign up for more than one delivery service so you can take advantage of multiple promotional pay offers.
Who pays more: Uber Eats or DoorDash?
Neither Uber Eats nor DoorDash publishes official average hourly rates, as they vary by city. For both services, you'll earn pay for each delivery that's based on the time, effort, and distance required, along with any bonus payouts, such as for driving during peak hours.
You'll also keep 100% of your tips. It's important to note that Uber Eats takes a cut of your total calculated delivery fare (except tips), but this doesn't necessarily mean you'll earn less than if you worked for DoorDash.
Which is better: Shipt or Instacart?
When deciding between Shipt vs. Instacart, first ensure you meet the requirements for both. If you don't have a car, you have the option of working for Instacart as an employee. Shipt tends to be a better option for Target lovers who enjoy access to a community of shoppers, whereas Instacart may be a better fit for people who like visiting a variety of stores. But there's no reason you can't work for both.
Bottom line
Most of these food delivery services are quick to get started with, and you can drive for multiple companies at a time. If you need a creative way to make money without worrying about resumes and job interviews, try out delivery driving to make money. Uber Eats and Doordash are two of the best services we've tried.
Like most side hustles and contract positions, your mileage may vary — not just your car mileage, but how much you can make based on your efforts, time, and location. There are also mixed reviews for all of the companies from drivers, so the best way to determine which app to delivery food best for you is to try them all out or talk to other delivery drivers in your area.
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