Whether you’re looking to break out of your boring 9-to-5 job or just make extra money on the side, food delivery is one side hustle you’re not going to want to miss. But with so many food delivery driver apps to choose from, which are the best? That’s what we’re going to find out.
But, with so many food delivery apps to drive with, how do you know which one is best for you?
Luckily, other people have forged ahead of you, and we can learn from their experiences as drivers. So I’ve done some digging to bring you the details on which delivery driver apps are the best to work for and will make you the most money.
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How much money can you make in food delivery?
Most delivery driver apps pay by the delivery – so you can be in charge of how much you want to earn in a shift. Pay can range from about $10 to $25 per hour. Most apps pay using a formula that includes base pay, time spent, mileage, and tips. Some apps even offer extra pay during busy times.
The biggest cost you’ll face is the cost of fuel and the wear and tear on your vehicle. If you don’t have a gas-efficient car, you can use HyreCar to rent a car to make your deliveries with.
While this will cut into your profit margin, you’ll save on the costs of using and maintaining your vehicle.
What are the requirements for delivery app jobs?
Before you start applying for a delivery app job, you’ll need to make sure you meet the requirements.
In most cases, all you need is a valid driver’s license, a functioning car, and car insurance.
Most companies ask that you are also at least 18 years old and consent to a background check as well. For the most part, these are standard requirements for any employment in the US, minus the car and driver’s license.
Have everything you need to get started? Good! Now, let’s discuss the best food delivery apps in detail.
Best delivery driver apps to make money
DoorDash
As one of the largest food delivery apps, there’s job security with DoorDash. They deliver food from local restaurants, chain restaurants, and convenience stores like CVS. Since they’ve partnered with so many companies, there’s always something to deliver.
There is no minimum amount of hours required to drive for Doordash, but drivers must schedule their work hours ahead of time.
To get started, you complete a simple application and then wait 1-2 weeks to be approved.
How much money can you make with DoorDash?
Delivery drivers on DoorDash earn about $15 to $20 per hour. Drivers are paid based on base pay, tips, and promotions. Base pay is $2 to $10 per delivery, which you can see before you agree to pick up an order. The base pay is determined by time, distance, and desirability.
Drivers get to keep 100% of the tips they earn, making this a great side hustle for college students. In addition to all of that, drivers also sometimes get to make extra during promotions. Promotions include things like peak pay and challenges.
DoorDash pays weekly, directly into your bank account.
Get started driving for DoorDash here.
Instacart
Instacart connects delivery drivers to people who need groceries. As an Instacart shopper, you shop the grocery store as if you were shopping for yourself – only you’re shopping for someone else!
Because you’re choosing people’s bananas and groceries are oftentimes out of stock, there’s more customer service involved with Instacart than there is with other delivery driver apps.
If the store is out of an item that was ordered, you’ll text the customer through the app to see if they’d like you to substitute items. Customers can also add on additional things by texting you through the app.
Instacart delivery drivers are called full-service shoppers as they both do the shopping for the groceries and then deliver them.
How much money can you make with Instacart?
Instacart shoppers typically make $12 to $20 per hour. Instacart pays shoppers based on the size and complexity of an order.
Similar to DoorDash, if the app is particularly busy, Instacart shoppers earn higher rates. In addition, as an Instacart shopper, you’ll get to preview the estimated earnings of each order before accepting it.
You can work whenever you like and keep 100% of the tips you earn. In addition, since you can contact the customer directly and offer substitutions, you have the chance to really wow the customer and sometimes earn larger tips.
Get started driving for Instacart here.
Postmates
As a Postmates driver, you can deliver by car, motorcycle, bike, scooter, or foot – though some of those options vary by market. Postmates doesn’t just deliver food, though it’s what they’re known for.
Their motto is “Anything, anytime, anywhere.” Of course, for the delivery driver, that means you’ll need to be prepared to deliver more than just food.
How much money can you make with Postmates?
Postmates Fleet employees earn anywhere from $15 to $20 per hour. However, pay is a little more complex with Postmates, as it’s based on a formula that accounts for mileage, minutes spent waiting at the restaurant, pick-up, and drop-off.
Additionally, location is factored into the formula, so what someone is earning in Seattle is totally different from what someone in Nashville is earning.
Drivers have the option to cash out whenever they want or get weekly direct deposits. In addition, there are no time commitments with Postmates; you can simply jump on the app and get to work whenever you want.
Get started driving for Postmates here.
Shipt
Like Instacart, Shipt is a grocery delivery service. Though it started as a subscription-based service, it has since opened up its service to everyone, even folks without a subscription. This means there’s more demand than ever for Shipt shoppers.
With Shipt, delivery drivers – called shoppers – can shop for more than one order at a time, meaning they can earn even more per hour if demand is high.
How much money can you make with Shipt?
Shipt shoppers typically earn $15 to $20 per hour.
Another Instacart similarity is that shoppers can preview how much they’ll earn on an order before accepting it. They also get a free Shipt membership as an employee.
Shipt is not as widespread as other food delivery services, so this is something to keep in mind as you’re looking for the best delivery driver app for yourself.
Get started driving for Shipt here.
UberEats
There’s no shortage of work for delivery drivers at UberEats, who have seen orders increase 197% since the beginning of 2020 (source).
UberEats, which is part of rideshare company Uber, has more strict rules on what is considered an eligible car – it must be a 1998 model or more recent, and often requires four doors, though this does vary by location. You can also deliver via scooters and bikes of certain models.
UberEats is one of the only delivery apps that allows you to have a passenger in the car with you. So if you have a friend who wants to hang out or kill some time, they can ride along and keep you company.
How much money can you make with UberEats?
UberEats delivery drivers can expect to make anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour. Drivers are paid weekly and earn pay based on base fare, trip supplements (accounts for time and distance), and tips.
Get started driving for UberEats here.
Grubhub
As one of the oldest food delivery services, Grubhub has a pretty wide reach, serving 4,000 cities in the US.
Grubhub’s primary delivery is restaurant orders. Drivers can schedule their hours ahead of time or jump on the app and work without notice.
How much money can you make with Grubhub?
Drivers for Grubhub typically make $12 to $15 per hour. The pay accounts for total mileage, time spent driving and picking up food, and tips.
The Grubhub app encourages customers to tip more generously than others, with the default tip rate set at 15%. In addition, drivers can see detailed information on orders and estimated earnings before choosing to accept them.
Get started driving for Grubhub here.
Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is a bit different than the other delivery driver apps on this list. When you work as an Amazon Flex driver, you deliver for Prime Now, AmazonFresh, and Amazon Restaurant Delivery, as well as packages.
Drivers work whenever they want, but they must agree to work in 3-6 hour blocks of time. To be an Amazon Flex driver, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old, drive a 4-door or larger vehicle, and have insulated freezer bags for food.
How much money can you make with Amazon Flex?
According to their website, Amazon Flex drivers earn $18 to $25 per hour. However, a driver’s earnings depend on tips, time taken to complete deliveries, and location.
With Amazon Flex, even if you complete your deliveries early, you still earn the same amount. Drivers can take their time or work more quickly and get some time back in their day – either way, they won’t need to worry about their pay being affected.
With Amazon Flex, you get paid out twice weekly. Jobs are more competitive, as the number of openings is limited.
Get started driving for Amazon Flex here.
The best delivery app to work for is subjective – it truly depends on your goals as a driver.
Instacart allows you to work on-demand, so you don’t need to worry about planning hours ahead of time.
It also allows you to get bigger tips, as customers typically spend more on groceries than they would a restaurant food delivery.
Alternately, Amazon Flex has the highest average hourly pay and doesn’t dock your pay if you complete deliveries early.
If you want to make side hustle money and work in the gig economy, give one (or more) of these delivery driver apps a try!
