Key Takeaways
- Popular food delivery apps like DoorDash, GrubHub, Instacart, and Shipt offer flexible delivery driver opportunities with minimal requirements and easy sign-up processes.
- Platforms such as Amazon Flex, GoShare, and Roadie allow drivers to earn money by delivering packages, furniture, or other items using their own vehicles. Earnings range from $15 to $60 per delivery.
- Specialized delivery services like Eaze (cannabis), Saucey (alcohol), and Peach (lunch) offer drivers higher earning potential, with hourly rates reaching up to $55 in some cases. However, availability may be limited to certain cities or regions.
Best Delivery Driver Apps
Delivery Job Top Pick
DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours
Decide when, where, and how much you work
No experience or training required
Best for Personal Shoppers
DollarBreak’s test earnings – $60.63 over 5 hours before expenses
Earn at least $4 for every order
Get $10 for each friend you refer
26 Delivery Driver Apps
DoorDash
Our Experience and Earnings with DoorDash
How DoorDash Works
DoorDash is a platform that provides customers with food delivery services from various local restaurants. Becoming a Dasher and making money delivering food with DoorDash can be among the highest-paying food delivery driver jobs.
The steps to becoming a Dasher include:
- Sign up to become a Dasher on the company’s website
- Schedule your Dasher orientation meeting at DoorDash office where you’ll do the following:
- Listen to a quick presentation of how the app works
- Sign a tax form
- Pick up DoorDash branded shirt, a prepaid shopping card and insulated bags to deliver hot products.
- Complete sign up by passing the basic background check.
- Get the Dasher app (Android or iOS) and earn money as a delivery driver.
DoorDash allows you to fulfill deliveries using a car, bike, scooter or motorcycle.
GoPuff
GoPuff is a platform that provides delivery services for essential goods like cleaning supplies, groceries, snacks and others on demand. Plus, you can get paid to deliver alcohol.
If you want to become a delivery driver for GoPuff, you need to:
- Sign up and fill out your contact information on the company’s website
- Next, provide detailed information about yourself and pass a basic background check. You should also upload photos of your car and required documents, such as car insurance
- Once the GoPuff recruiters approve your application, they’ll invite you for an onboarding meeting. During this meeting, you’ll listen to a presentation about the company and best practices to increase your earnings. You will also sign the agreement and fill out the tax form
- Download the GoPuff app on your iPhone or Android smartphone, and you can start delivering orders on the platform
As a delivery driver with GoPuff, you can earn up to $21 plus tips per hour.
Grubhub
Grubhub allows its customers to order food from their favorite restaurants and have it delivered to their doorsteps. You can also sign up to become a delivery driver with GrubHub to earn some extra cash.
To sign up for food delivery driver jobs with GrubHub, simply:
- Apply online on Grubhub website or using an app (for Android or iOS)
- Pass a criminal background check
- Access onboarding meeting covering the app functionality, scheduling, deliveries, etc.
- Sign the agreement and tax form
- Get car decals, warming bags and more from Grubhub
Delivering with Grubhub you can earn on average $15 per hour.
Instacart
Instacart is an on-demand grocery delivery platform that offers one of the best delivery driver jobs on the market. As an Instacart delivery driver, your job involves visiting grocery stores to help customers purchase their orders and then delivering them to customers’ addresses.
Here’s how to get a job as a delivery driver for Instacart:
- Sign up as an Instacart full-service shopper on the company’s website
- Download the Shopper app for Android or iOS to complete your sign up and start your background check process
- Pass a background check and get approved
- Fill out the paperwork. You need to sign an independent contractor agreement and W-9 tax form
You can earn on average $1,500 per week as a full-service delivery driver. In addition, you can also keep 100% of all tips you receive. Thus, you can boost your earnings on the platform by providing superb customer service.
Shipt
Shipt is a US-based on-demand delivery service provider for groceries and household essentials.
To become a delivery driver with Shipt, you will need to:
- Sign up as a Shipt shopper on the company’s website and answer simple questions that will show your communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Submit video responses showing your communication skills and familiarity with Shipt mobile app
- Sign the Shipt Shopper agreement
- Once you get approved, download the Shipt app (for Android and iOS) to start delivering orders
With Shipt, you can earn $22 per hour and keep 100% of customer tips. However, you must be at least 18 and own a 1997 or newer vehicle to become a delivery driver with Shipt. You must also be able to lift at least 40 pounds since some larger orders may require heavy lifting.
Amazon DSP
Amazon offers one of the best delivery driver apps to enable you to start your package delivery business as a delivery service partner. You can own up to 40 delivery trucks and employ 100 employees as a delivery service partner.
The platform also offers several payment structures, including:
- Fixed monthly rate depending on the number of your vans operating for Amazon
- A route rate depending on how long your route is
- A per-package rate depending on your number of successful deliveries
However, do note that to become an Amazon delivery service partner, you will need to have $30,000 in net liquid assets and enough money to pay an estimated start-up cost of $10,000. Nonetheless, according to the company, you can earn between $70,000 to $300,000 annually, making it a good investment.
Roadie
Roadie is an on-demand delivery driver app that connects delivery drivers with people who need to transport a package from one location to another. The platform is designed to help drivers earn extra cash on trips they are already making.
According to the company, you can earn up to $12 for local trips. To maximize your earnings, you can also take on 2 to 3 deliveries per trip heading in the same direction.
PickUp
PickUp is a great platform that offers delivery driver jobs that enable you to earn, on average, $45 per delivery. The platform provides on-demand, same-day pickup and delivery services.
However, do note that you will need to have some special equipment, including:
- 4 large moving blankets measuring 72”x80”
- 4 ratchet straps with a minimum length of 1”x15’
- 2 protective tarps with a minimum of 11’x7’ for open-bed trucks
- 2 or 4-wheel furniture dolly that can be folded
- Stretch wrap with a minimum measurement of 18”x1500’
- Basic tool kit
If you already possess this equipment, PickUp is one of the best delivery driver apps for making money with a truck.
Eaze
As Eaze helps licensed retailers deliver cannabis, you must be at least 21 years old to get accepted as a driver. As a delivery driver with Eaze, you will not be an employee but an independent contractor. The platform connects you with cannabis retailers in your area that need delivery services.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting a job as Eaze delivery driver:
- Apply to become a driver on the company’s website
- Pass a criminal background check
- Let Eaze match you with licensed retailers
Eaze lets you earn on average $17 per hour.
Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex allows you to earn money by delivering Amazon orders to customers’ doorsteps.
Becoming an Amazon Flex delivery driver is simple:
- Sign up for Amazon Flex driver
- Choose the service area where you’ll pick up and deliver Amazon packages
- Provide tax and payment details
- Download the Amazon Flex app (for Android and iOS) to find the orders
- Get approved and start delivering
As an Amazon Flex delivery driver, you can earn on average $18-25 per hour, meaning that you could earn more than $1,000 weekly.
Favor Delivery
Favor Delivery is one of the top food delivery platforms based in the US. You can sign up for delivery driver jobs on the platform. Delivery drivers with Favor Delivery are known as Runners.
To become a Runner, simply follow these steps:
- Fill out a Runner application indicating basic information, such as your name and contact info
- Pass a quick background check
- Schedule an orientation meeting, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. During this orientation, you’ll learn tips and tricks from top-earning runners to start your delivery career on the right path. Don’t forget to bring your driver’s license and direct deposit information with you because you’ll also need to do the paperwork.
- Download the Runner app on your iPhone or Android and start accepting orders.
Favor Delivery pays between $10 to $18 per hour.
Dispatch
Dispatch is a hugely popular platform that provides on-demand delivery services to businesses. To get a job as a Dispatch delivery driver, you should:
- First, select the city you’re interested in delivering
- After you select your city and click on view, you should fill out your contact information and submit your application.
- The next step is to provide detailed information about yourself and pass a basic background check. You should also upload photos of your car and required documents, such as car insurance.
Once the Dispatch team approves your application, they’ll invite you for an onboarding meeting. During this meeting, you’ll listen to a presentation about the company and best practices to increase your earnings. You will also need to sign the agreement and fill the tax form.
Dispatch lets you earn on average $14 per hour.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats is a food delivery service provided by Uber. You can join the platform as a delivery driver to earn some extra cash. The platform allows almost anyone to join and start delivering food. In general, most delivery drivers on the platform deliver by car, although you can delivery on foot or on bike in some cities.
Becoming a delivery driver for Uber Eats is relatively simple:
- Sign up as a driver on the company’s website
- Pass a screening process and upload required documents along with your photo
- Get approved and start accepting orders to deliver.
As a delivery driver with Uber Eats, you can earn between $8 to $12 per hour, plus tips.
Peach
Peach is a platform that offers daily lunch delivery services. If you want to work with Peach as a delivery driver, you need to:
- Start by downloading the Peach app on your iPhone or Android phone
- Then, sign up as a driver within the app fill out any required information and verify your identity
- Once you get approved as a Peach partner driver, you’ll start getting requests that you can accept and deliver
As a delivery driver with Peach, you can earn between $50 and $70 daily for part-day work.
DeliverThat
DeliverThat is one of the best food delivery services, allowing customers to order food from various restaurants. The platform offers some of the highest-paying food delivery driver jobs.
To become a delivery driver for DeliverThat, start by:
- Selecting your state, city and type of orders you’d like to deliver (Catering or Take-out)
- Next, submit the required information about you and your vehicle to complete your application
- Pass the driver screening procedure
- Purchase delivery bags to maintain food quality during transportation
On average, DeliverThat drivers can earn $15 per delivery for small, take-out deliveries and $25 per delivery for large, catering deliveries.
GoShare
GoShare connects truck drivers on-demand to people who need help to deliver large items like furniture and home appliances or need help moving. The amount you can earn will vary based on the type of vehicle that you use to carry out deliveries.
Type of the vehicle | Average earnings per hour |
---|---|
Cars, SUVs, Minivans | $45 |
Standard Pickup Truck | $70 |
Labor Only | $60 |
Full-Sized Cargo Van | $105 |
Box Truck | $168 |
To become a GoShare driver, simply follow the steps below:
- Download the GoShare app on your iPhone or Android phone
- Submit the online application
- Watch the orientation video provided after you sign up
- Pass vehicle inspection
- Pass background check
FedEx Local Delivery Driver
FedEx is an American shipping company that provides package delivery services nationwide. Follow the simple steps below to apply to local delivery driver jobs at FedEx:
- Find a job that suits your location, skills and vehicle type the best
- Fill out the online application form
- Schedule an interview
- Pass a drug test
- Pass a background check for criminal record
You can earn up to $17 per hour as a FedEx local delivery driver.
UPS Delivery Driver
UPS is one of the largest American parcel delivery and supply chain companies. To become a UPS delivery driver, you need to:
- Choose what type of driver you want to be: package delivery driver (by car), tractor or trailer driver, freight driver.
- Apply online for a UPS delivery driver position
- Schedule an interview
As a UPS delivery driver, you can earn around $30 per hour at the start. In addition, your pay can also increase to up to $37 per hour with 4 years of experience or more, making this one of the best delivery drivers jobs you can get.
Dominos Delivery Driver
Domino’s Pizza is one of the most famous American pizza chains, providing a delivery service. To apply for a job as Domino’s delivery driver, you need to:
- Fill out the online application or one of Domino’s restaurants
- Pass a basic background check for criminal record
- Visit the Domino’s office for onboarding procedures, including signing the agreement.
With Dominos, you can earn between $12 to $20 per hour. Plus, you also get to keep 100% of all customer tips. Thus, you can earn up to $1000 per week when you deliver with Domino’s.
Comparisons
Uber Eats vs DoorDash
Between Uber Eats and DoorDash, the latter is the better option if you’re looking to maximize your earnings while working flexible hours.
Food deliveries require special gear, such as a hot bag – DoorDash provides it, and Uber does not. With DoorDash, this gear comes in a free Welcome Kit and your Red Card that you can use to pay for orders after completing your first order. As Uber Eats doesn’t provide a hot bag, you’ll need to purchase it yourself because delivering without it could affect the food quality.
DoorDash also offers opportunities for people in the gig economy to become delivery drivers. After all, it’s available in more than 7,000 cities. Whereas Uber Eats is only available in over 500 cities.
Uber Eats | DoorDash | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $8 to $12 hourly | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours |
Tips | 15% to 20% of the food bill | At least 15% of the food bill |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 2 miles | 2 to 4 miles |
Availability | More than 500 cities | Over 7,000 cities |
Delivery methods | Car, motorbike, and bicycle or by foot in selected cities | Car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle, Ebike, Pizza bicycle |
Payments offered | Bank transfer | Direct deposit, |
Payout | Daily, Weekly, Instantly | Daily, Weekly, Instantly |
Driver reviews | 4.6 | 4.7 |
DoorDash vs Favor
After comparing Favor and DoorDash, it’s clear that DoorDash holds an advantage. Although the earning potential on both platforms is similar, DoorDash offers better earning opportunities, such as surge pricing.
DoorDash is also available in over 7,000 cities, compared to Favor’s availability in only 20 cities. This means DoorDash is more likely to be available in your area.
DoorDash has more than 1,000 restaurants available, while Favor has just over 400. Lastly, when it comes to reviews, DoorDash has more positive reviews on both Trustpilot and app stores.
DoorDash | Favor | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours | $12 to $18 per hour |
Tips | At least 15% of the food bill | $2 to $6 per order |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 2 to 4 miles | 7 miles |
Availability | Over 7,000 cities | Over 200 cities |
Delivery methods | Car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle, Ebike, Pizza bicycle | Car, bicycle, trucks, motorcycle, and scooter |
Payments offered | Direct deposit, instant cash out | Direct deposit |
Payout | Daily, Weekly, Instantly | Instantly or weekly |
Driver reviews | 2.6 | 4.6 |
Instacart vs Grubhub
After comparing the two, Grubhub is the better option for delivery drivers. First, it offers potential average earnings of $15 per hour. In comparison, Instacart only pays around $10 per order.
Additionally, thanks to the Grubhub contribution, you’ll have guaranteed earnings if you work scheduled blocks. Instacart doesn’t have this option.
While the average delivery distance is 5 miles, compared to Instacart’s 4-mile delivery distance average, note that you can pick up the customer’s order and quickly return to the road to deliver. In comparison, you’ll have to ensure your customer’s Instacart order is packed well, and you might take more time to pick up the items.
Grubhub also has more delivery methods for drivers, such as a car or motorcycle, and you can even start working using a bicycle. With that, you’ll save on operational costs since you don’t have to pay gas and hefty maintenance fees.
Instacart | Grubhub | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $10 per order | $15 per hour |
Tips | At least 5% of the total bill | $5 or 20% of the total bill |
Schedule | Flexible | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 4 miles | 5 miles |
Availability | Over 13000 cities in North America | 4,000 cities in the US |
Delivery methods | Car and scooter (50-cc max) | Car, motorcycle, or bike |
Payments offered | Direct deposit | Direct deposit |
Payout | Weekly, Instantly | Weekly or Daily |
Driver reviews | 4.2 | 4.5 |
Shipt vs DoorDash
After looking at the similarities and differences between Shipt and DoorDash, it’s fair to say that DoorDash offers better opportunities for delivery drivers.
DoorDash’s average delivery distance is only 4 miles, which is quite cost-effective for your vehicle compared to Shipt’s 7-mile average delivery distance. Since you won’t be driving long distances, this also leaves you time to accept more orders in the app.
If you want to work in food delivery but would instead not use a car, DoorDash can let you use your bicycle. This option is quite the cheapest for your operation costs, as you don’t have to pay for gas, parking fees, and pricey maintenance and repairs.
Finally, DoorDash offers three payment options, with DasherDirect as the most convenient. You’ll receive your earnings on your Business Visa card right after completing your order. Then, you can withdraw those from one of the 20,000 ATMs in the country, and use it to pay for gas. The cherry on top is that you’ll receive 2% cash back for gas purchases. Meanwhile, Shipt only offers weekly and instant direct deposit payout methods.
Instacart vs DoorDash
DoorDash may be a better option than Instacart if you want to become a delivery driver. Its requirements are less strict than Instacart’s, as you only need a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle, including a car, bicycle, or motorcycle. On the other hand, with Instacart, you can only use a car or a scooter.
DoorDash also offers more options for receiving earnings, including weekly payments without transaction fees or daily payments with a small fee. It offers a Business Visa card that allows for free withdrawals from ATMs and provides 2% cash back on gas purchases.
In contrast, Instacart only offers payment every Wednesday or Friday, depending on your role. For these reasons, DoorDash may be a better option for drivers looking for more flexibility and ease of access to their earnings.
Instacart | DoorDash | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $10 per order | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours |
Tips | At least 5% of the total bill | At least 15% of the food bill |
Schedule | Flexible | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 4 miles | 2 to 4 miles |
Availability | Over 13,000 cities in North America | Over 7,000 cities |
Delivery methods | Car and scooter (50-cc max) | Car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle, Ebike, Pizza bicycle |
Payments offered | Direct deposit | Direct deposit, instant cash out |
Payout | Instantly | Daily, Weekly, Instantly |
Driver reviews | 4.2 | 2.6 |
Uber Eats vs Grubhub
Grubhub is a better option if you want to work as a food delivery driver. The potential earning at Grubhub is around $15 per hour, plus tips. Meanwhile, Uber Eats drivers have an earning potential of $8 to $12 only.
The company also guarantees you’ll get minimum earnings even during slow hours through their Grubhub contribution. Plus, you can increase your potential earnings by joining their recognition program. Meanwhile, Uber Eats can only help you improve your earnings through surges and Boosts, which are promotional zones where you can get 2.5 times the base amount.
What’s also great about Grubhub is its availability in over 4,000 cities. This means you’re more likely to find customers in your area. In comparison, Uber Eats is available only in 500 cities.
Finally, Grubhub’s sign-up process is more convenient and straightforward. Through its onboarding process, you can adequately prepare for your first delivery job. Uber Eats doesn’t have this step, which leaves you little support to learn more about your work.
Uber Eats | Grubhub | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $8 to $12 hourly | $15 per hour |
Tips | 15% to 20% of the food bill | $5 or 20% of the total bill |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 2 miles | 5 miles |
Availability | More than 500 cities | 4000 cities in the US |
Delivery methods | Car, motorbike, and bicycle or by foot in selected cities | Car, motorcycle, or bike |
Payments offered | Bank transfer | Direct deposit |
Payout | Daily, Weekly, Instantly | Weekly or Daily |
Driver reviews | 4.6 | 4.5 |
GoPuff vs Instacart
Comparing these two platforms, Instacart is the better option if you want to work as a delivery driver. While GoPuff seems to have a high hourly earning potential, with Instacart, you can earn up to $700 per week. With GoPuff, your earning potential falls around $250 weekly.
That amount is possible as Instacart is available in 13,000 locations, works with over 80,000 merchants, thus offers more deliveries, and is generally more popular than GoPuff. Plus, you can deliver by scooter, which can help you lower operating costs.
Meanwhile, GoPuff is available in around 1,000 cities and has over 250 micro-fulfillment centers nationwide. You’ll also need a car to deliver, which requires higher operating costs than scooters.
Additionally, Instacart has a lower minimum age requirement of 18 years, providing opportunities for more people to join the gig economy. With GoPuff, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old to sign up.
GoPuff | Instacart | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $18 to $25 per hour | $10 per order |
Tips | 15% of the total bill | At least 5% of the total bill |
Schedule | Flexible hours | Flexible |
Average delivery distance | Within 30 minutes drive | 4 miles |
Availability | Over 1,000 cities | Over 13,000 cities in North America |
Delivery methods | Car | Car and scooter (50-cc max) |
Payments offered | Direct deposit | Direct deposit |
Payout | Weekly, Instantly | Weekly, Instantly |
Driver reviews | 2.6 | 4.2 |
Shipt vs Instacart
Instacart is a better option if you’re looking to work as a delivery driver. It offers a higher weekly earning potential, up to $700 plus tips, and is available in over 13,000 cities in North America.
Meanwhile, Shipt offers a potential earning of around $200 to $500 and is available in over 260 cities only.
As it’s also a more popular platform, orders tend to be more frequent with Instacart. You’ll also not need to worry about traveling too far to deliver orders as the average distance for deliveries is only 4 miles, while Shipt deliveries are usually around 7 miles. Plus, you can deliver by scooter in some cities, whereas Shipt drivers can only use their cars.
Instacart is also not very strict with its driver requirements, and you can drive any car for delivery. With Shipt, your car needs to be a 1997 or newer model, and you should be knowledgeable about product selection.
Shipt | Instacart | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $22 | $10 per order |
Tips | 20% of the total bill | At least 5% of the total bill |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible |
Average delivery distance | 7 miles | 4 miles |
Availability | Over 260 cities | Over 13,000 cities in North America |
Delivery methods | Car | Car and scooter (50-cc max) |
Payments offered | Direct deposit | Direct deposit |
Payout | Weekly and instantly | Weekly and Instantly |
Driver reviews | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Seamless vs Grubhub
Grubhub and Seamless might seem like separate companies vying for your delivery business, but that’s not quite the case. Grubhub actually acquired Seamless back in 2013, making them the same under the Grubhub hood.
Interestingly, they’ve kept the two apps and branding separate, perhaps because of Seamless’ strong reputation in certain areas.
The good news is that it doesn’t matter which platform the order comes from – you’ll use the same Grubhub driver app to see offers, pick up food, and deliver it to hungry customers. Think of it as a double dose of delivery opportunities without the hassle of juggling two apps!
Grubhub vs DoorDash
DoorDash is a better option for workers than Grubhub.
The average delivery distance is lower for DoorDash at 2 compared to Grubhub to 4 miles, meaning you’ll need less travel time and have more chances to pick up orders. You also have numerous vehicle types, from pizza bicycles to electric bikes and scooters to cars, compared to Grubhub, which only allows cars, motorcycles, and bikes.
DoorDash has more payout options than GrubHub. Besides the usual weekly automatic and instant payments (subject to a fee), DoorDash offers an instant payout option called DasherDirect. This allows DoorDash to send your payment right after completing an order straight to your Business Visa card. Like any debit card, you can withdraw your earnings through ATMs with 0 fees. You can also use the card to purchase gas, and you’ll get a 2% cashback from selected gas stations.
GrubHub | DoorDash | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $15 per hour | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours |
Tips | $5 or 20% of the total bill | At least 15% of the food bill |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 5 miles | 2 to 4 miles |
Availability | 4,000 cities in the US | Over 7,000 cities |
Delivery methods | Car, motorcycle, or bike | Car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle, Ebike, Pizza bicycle |
Payments offered | Direct deposit | Direct deposit, instant cash out |
Payout | Weekly or Daily | Daily, Weekly, Instantly |
Driver reviews | 4.4 | 2.6 |
Instacart vs Amazon Fresh
Compared to Amazon Fresh, Instacart is a better option for delivery drivers. It offers a higher earning potential, more flexible schedules, and a more straightforward sign-up process.
Instacart Personal Shoppers can earn around $10 per delivery plus 100% tips, usually 5% of the total bill. This, along with base pay and promotions, can make up an average of $700 weekly. On the other hand, Amazon Fresh drivers earn around $600 weekly.
Instacart offers an instant cashout option in addition to automatic weekly payments. Meanwhile, Amazon Fresh drivers are only paid twice a week, and they cannot cash out their earnings whenever they want.
Instacart also has a broader availability, covering over 13,000 cities in North America and working with more than 80,000 merchants. Amazon Fresh, however, is available in 50 cities in the US and only has 42 stores.
Instacart delivery methods are also more flexible, allowing drivers to use any car or scooter that can carry 50 pounds. In contrast, Amazon Fresh requires a midsize or sizeable 4-door vehicle.
Finally, Instacart has a lower age requirement of 18 years old, making it easier for drivers to qualify. With Amazon Fresh, you’ll need to be at least 21 years to apply as a driver.
Instacart | Amazon Fresh | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | $10 per order | $18 to $25 per hour |
Tips | At least 5% of the total bill | At least $5 per order |
Schedule | Flexible | 2 to 4-hour scheduled blocks |
Average delivery distance | 4 miles | Up to 50 miles |
Availability | Over 13000 cities in North America | 50 cities in the US |
Delivery methods | Car and scooter (50-cc max) | Car |
Payments offered | Direct deposit | Direct deposit |
Payout | Weekly, Instantly | Twice a week |
Driver reviews | 4.8 | 4.6 |
Alternatives to Delivery Driver Jobs
Lyft
Although Lyft does not offer delivery driver jobs, the platform provides one of the best alternatives: rideshare driver jobs.
Unlike delivery drivers, whose jobs are transporting cargo, food and/or packages from one location to another, your job as a rideshare driver would involve transporting people from one location to another. On average, you can earn between $20 to $28 per hour as a rideshare driver with Lyft after subtracting maintenance and fuel costs.
In addition, you also get to enjoy flexible working hours. You can maximize your earnings by working exclusively during peak hours from 7am to 9am and 6pm to 9pm, making it one of the best alternatives to delivery driver jobs.
Uber
Uber is among the most well-known and popular ridesharing apps in the US and worldwide. If you cannot find a suitable delivery driver job but would still like to make money using your car, becoming a rideshare driver with Uber is a great option.
As an uber driver, you have one of the highest-earning potentials compared to the other delivery driver jobs on this list. Driving for around 50 hours per week can earn up to $1034 or more.
The company also makes payments 5 times weekly, so you won’t have to worry about waiting too long to receive your earnings.
Uber vs Lyft
Based on the comparison of earning potential, availability, and customer reviews, Uber is better than Lyft.
Regarding earning potential, Uber drivers have a higher average hourly rate than Lyft drivers, between $16.20 to $30.35 per hour, depending on their location and service tier. Additionally, Uber offers various features like surge pricing, which can significantly increase drivers’ earnings.
Uber is better for customers as it is available in more cities, over 3,000, than Lyft and has higher ratings. Customers appreciate Uber’s polite and professional drivers, clean vehicles, and reasonable prices.
Finally, Uber’s driver app received significantly higher ratings, at 4.6, than Lyft’s driver app, which only has a 3.7 average rating. It indicates that fellow drivers prefer Uber’s driver app more, making it a reliable app for your ridesharing service.
Uber | Lyft | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | Up to $1000 per week or up to $30 per hour | $20 to $28 per hour or $600 to $800 weekly |
Tips | At least 10% of ride payment | 20% of the ride payment |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 5 to 6 miles | 5 to 6 miles |
Availability | Over 3,000 cities in the US | Over 650 cities in the US |
Delivery methods | 4-door car | Car |
Payments offered | Direct deposit or debit card | Direct deposit, and debit card |
Payout | Instantly and weekly | Instantly, daily, and weekly |
Driver reviews | 4.6 | 3.7 |
Doordash vs Lyft
While DoorDash and Lyft offer different services, Lyft seems to be the better option for drivers. Its earning potential is slightly higher (up to $28 per hour).
It also offers three payout options. Express Pay has a lower transaction fee of $0.50, while DoorDash’s Instant Pay charges $1.99.
Regarding driver’s apps, Lyft also seems preferable to drivers, seeing that it has received higher average ratings of 3.7. The Dasher app, meanwhile, received a 3.2 average rating.
Finally, considering the time it takes to complete one job, you only need 16 to 20 minutes to complete a ride with Lyft, whereas DoorDash deliveries tend to last 40 minutes on average.
DoorDash | Lyft | |
---|---|---|
Earning potential | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours | $20 to $28 per hour or $600 to $800 weekly |
Tips | At least 15% of the food bill | 20% of the ride payment |
Schedule | Flexible schedule | Flexible schedule |
Average delivery distance | 2 to 4 miles | 5 to 6 miles |
Availability | Over 7,000 cities | Over 650 cities in the US |
Delivery methods | Car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle, Ebike, Pizza bicycle | Car |
Payments offered | Direct deposit, instant cash out | Direct deposit and debit card |
Payout | Daily, Weekly, Instantly | Instantly, daily, and weekly |
Driver reviews | 3.2 | 3.7 |
How Much Do Delivery Drivers Make a Day?
On average, delivery drivers make $82 – $114 per day. However, this amount may vary depending on the delivery company you partner with.
You can refer to the average pay rates featured in this article to determine how much you can earn by working as a delivery driver.
How to Become a Delivery Driver?
The exact requirements to become a delivery driver will vary based on the specific platform you choose to work with. Nonetheless, some general provisions apply to most delivery driver jobs.
Some of these general requirements include:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Own a vehicle that is insured
- Provide a clear criminal record
- Have an up-to-date iPhone or Android smartphone
Be sure to check with the particular platform for information on their requirements for becoming a delivery driver, as they may vary.
Is It Dangerous to be a Delivery Driver?
The most prominent danger delivery drivers face is road accidents. Especially people who deliver on bikes or mopeds are at risk of getting severe injuries caused by accidents. However, accidents are covered by your insurance.
On occasion, there are more extreme dangers that delivery drivers may experience, like robbery. Nonetheless, it would be best if you were not too concerned about these since they generally don’t occur very frequently.
How to Become The World’s Best Delivery Driver?
Here are some tips to become better at your job as a delivery driver:
- Be friendly and communicate with your customers when necessary. For example, notify them you’ll be late when stuck in traffic.
- Be a safe driver and try to lower your stress while you’re stuck in traffic, not letting road rage take over. Most employers only recruit delivery drivers with clean driving records, so keep them clean.
- Plan your routes efficiently to fulfill as many daily orders as possible.
- Be patient. You will have to wait for restaurants to prepare orders or for your customers to come to the door. Either way, keep calm.
- Be attentive and make sure nothing smooshes, breaks, spills or leaks during transportation.
Which Delivery Jobs Pay The Most?
There are many platforms offering delivery driver jobs. However, regarding which delivery company pays the most to drivers, Peach is a clear winner. Peach offers the highest hourly payout of $30 to $55 per hour. If you work consistently and average 40 hours per week, you can earn between $4,800 to $8,800 monthly.
Nonetheless, Peach may not be available in all US cities. Thus, you may also consider joining a platform like Instacart or DoorDash, which are available in most US cities.
Note that you’re an independent contractor when working with delivery companies. Thus, your total earnings depend on you and might vary based on how many orders you fulfill daily.
What is The Best Food Delivery Service to Work for?
If you are wondering what is the best food delivery service to work for, some of the top options include:
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
- GrubHub
- Favor Delivery
- GoPuff
Here are the platforms ranked based on the amount you can earn as a delivery driver with them.
Best Food Delivery Service to Work For | Earning Potential |
---|---|
DoorDash | DollarBreak’s test earnings – $115.50 over 5 active hours |
Uber Eats | Up to $12 per order |
GrubHub | Up to $15 per hour |
Favor Delivery | Up to $18 per hour |
GoPuff | Up to $15 per hour |
How to Become a Food Delivery Driver?
While some food delivery platforms allow you to complete deliveries by bike, most platforms will require access to an insured vehicle and a valid driver’s license. Although most companies will require you to pass a background check, this is often a formality for most people.
Most platforms will also require you to have a smartphone to manage and track your deliveries.
In fact, if you’re super organized, you can even work for multiple platforms, increasing your earning potential. Just be sure not to mix up your orders so that your customer satisfaction ratings don’t decrease.