9 Jobs Like DoorDash That May be a Better Option

The gig economy offers numerous ways to make money as a side hustle, including delivering food for companies like DoorDash.

But DoorDash delivery isn’t the only way to get paid for driving. Other delivery gigs like DoorDash can help you make money on your own schedule.

Uber Eats is Uber’s version of DoorDash. If you’re already an approved Uber driver, they automatically approve you to deliver food for them too. This is a great way to double dip on your time on the road. You can switch on either app, see which is the busiest, and take advantage of the chance to earn money. If you aren’t already an approved Uber driver, you can still sign up exclusively for Uber Eats.

Uber Eats requirements:

• The requirements are less strict because they don’t require a specific year or type of car; it just needs 2 or 4 doors. In some areas, you can even deliver on a bike or scooter, which is a great option if you don’t have a car.

Uber Eats offers weekly direct deposits, or you can use Instant Pay, which allows you to access your funds immediately for a small fee, up to four times a day.

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Shipt offers two ways to earn money. One is a service similar to Instacart, where you shop and deliver items to customers who order from certain stores. Shoppers earn pay per order, and Shipt guarantees a minimum of $16 an hour nationwide, plus shoppers keep 100% of tips earned.

In certain cities, Shipt also offers the option to deliver packages from Target without the shopping requirement. It's a simple process—you reserve a route with pre-planned stops and pay. You pick up the packages at the designated Target store and drop them off at the correct locations.

Shipt eligibility requirements:

• To work with Shipt, you need a valid driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, valid auto insurance, knowledge of produce (for shoppers), and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

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If you don’t feel like dealing with restaurants and their delays, you can make money shopping for groceries with Instacart. Rather than picking up orders already packaged and ready to deliver, you shop for a customer’s order and deliver it to their location.

Like DoorDash, you work when you want and can choose which orders to accept based on pay, location, distance, or any other factors. Instacart bases its pay on the store, delivery distance, complexity of the order, and any available boosts. They also run promotions periodically, and drivers keep 100% of the customer tips.

Grubhub is also a food delivery app that requires drivers to pick up orders from restaurants and deliver them to customers. Drivers can deliver using a car or bike. Like most apps, Grubhub offers a pay structure with base pay, bonuses, and tips. However, it also offers the Grubhub contribution, which offers a guaranteed rate even on slow days when you meet the Offer Commitment Rate criteria.

Grubhub requirements:

• It’s relatively easy to qualify as a Grubhub driver as long as you're at least 18 years old (21+ in Las Vegas), own a car (or scooter/bike in select areas), have a valid driver's license and auto insurance for drivers (or state I.D. for bikers), and own a smartphone (with a data plan).

Like most gig apps, you can cash out daily (for a small fee) and, as with similar apps, keep 100% of the tips you earn.

Amazon Flex is another job like DoorDash that doesn’t focus on food but instead on package delivery. However, instead of picking up individual orders, you reserve a block of pre-determined deliveries you must complete within your shift.

Amazon offers the option to pre-schedule your blocks or be available for Instant Offers. Either way, you know the route and number of deliveries before you start. You also decide how frequently you get paid, whether weekly, daily, or any other increment. You will receive the payments via direct deposit.

Amazon eligibility requirements:

• To drive for Amazon Flex, you need reliable access to a mid-size or larger vehicle and a valid driver’s license. You must be 21 years old or older, have valid auto insurance and a smartphone to accept orders. You must also have a valid bank account for direct deposit.

Gopuff is another on-demand delivery service that pays drivers to pick up orders and deliver them to customers. Unlike Amazon Flex, you pick up orders individually, but each order comes from a central warehouse, so you don't have to pick up orders from various stores.

Gopuff tells you upfront how much an offer is worth. They base the pay on the estimated time and distance of the trip, including outside factors that could affect the delivery time, such as weather, traffic, or road closures. You have 30 seconds after receiving an offer to accept or decline it, and like most gig apps, you keep 100% of the customer tips.

Gopuff eligibility requirements:

• To drive for Gopuff, you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license, a reliable vehicle with insurance in your name, and an updated smartphone.

Roadie is a UPS company that offers a crowdsourced delivery program. It partners with businesses of all sizes to provide same-day and next-day delivery.

Roadie is transparent about all details of orders, so you know beforehand if you want to accept them. They pay up to $12 per trip, but your pay can increase if you choose multi-stop deliveries.

They also have exclusive offers for drivers with larger vehicles and don't have minimum vehicle requirements.

Drivers receive direct deposit, or after five deliveries and signing up at least seven days ago, you can opt for Instant Pay, for a $1.99 fee per withdrawal.

Favor hires personal assistants, not drivers, even though you deliver restaurant orders, groceries, or anything else customers need to their doorstep. Their nickname for drivers is runners.

Favor eligibility requirements:

• To drive for Favor, you must be at least 18, have a smartphone, reliable transportation and be able to pass a background check. Of course, you must also live in Texas, since that’s the only state they operate.

Eaze drivers deliver cannabis from licensed retailers in California and Michigan. The retailers and drivers use the Eaze platform to connect, but if you drive for Eaze, you work directly for the retailer. Eaze drivers have guaranteed earnings with an hourly rate and mileage reimbursement.

Eaze eligibility requirements:

• Since retailers hire drivers individually, the requirements may vary, but in general, you must be at least 21 and have a valid driver's license and auto insurance.

To increase your chances of landing delivery driver gigs, check out these tips.

• Know the vehicle requirements. Some apps have specific vehicle requirements, such as age or number of doors. Some areas allow delivery by bike or scooter, but it depends on the location.
• Have an up-to-date phone. An updated phone capable of running the latest version of iOS or Android is crucial for any delivery app to guarantee you can run the service's app and snag orders.
• Understand the insurance requirements. Most delivery apps require drivers to carry insurance. Check the requirements with the app, and contact your insurance company to ensure you have proper coverage while using your vehicle for business purposes.
• Know how you get paid. Understand the payment structure, whether you know the pay upfront, and if you can earn tips. Also, consider the payment frequency and whether they offer instant access to your earnings.
• Track your mileage. The IRS allows a specific deduction per mile when driving for business purposes. In 2024, you can claim a deduction of 67 cents per mile for business tasks. So, keep track of your mileage on each trip you take.
• Sign up for more than one app. Don't limit yourself to just one app. You can sign up for multiple apps, increasing the chances of making money. Be careful, though. You might need to turn off the other apps or set yourself as unavailable when fulfilling an order for a different app.
• Pay attention to high-demand times. Get to know the area's demand and when it's highest. Pay attention to major events or regular busy times and schedule yourself during those times to increase your earnings.
• Make sure it's worth it. Calculate your per-hour rate and ensure you are making enough money, accounting for the downtime you must spend between orders.

How much do DoorDash drivers make?

How much you make as a Dasher depends on how many deliveries you take, the demand while you work, and the number of tips you receive. A good goal could be to make $100 a day.

Which apps pay better than DoorDash?

Each delivery app offers a different pay structure and has different levels of demand. Choosing the app with the highest demand in your area and working when demand is highest will help you make the highest possible earnings for your area and situation.

Do jobs like DoorDash pay for gas?

You work as an independent contractor for most of the gig delivery apps. You're responsible for all expenses, including gas, car maintenance, and taxes. However, you may be eligible to claim mileage on your taxes, which can offset a portion of the gas, auto insurance, and maintenance costs for using your car.

Starting a side gig as a delivery driver could be a good way to earn extra cash that helps you meet other financial goals. These gigs are flexible because you can set your own hours and work part-time or full-time.

Carefully research different opportunities to see what’s likely to work best for you and whether signing up for multiple apps makes sense.

If delivery apps aren't your cup of tea, check out our other side gig ideas on making some extra cash.