With all of the different apps out there, it can be hard to figure out which is the best food delivery services to work for.
Which app pays the best? Which one’s the easiest to sign up for? Well, we did the digging so you don’t have to.
At The Rideshare Guy, we’ve been covering rideshare and delivery apps since 2015. Not only have we talked to thousands of delivery drivers, but we’ve also done thousands of deliveries ourselves!
Our list of the best food delivery services is based on 3 criteria:
- Pay
- Flexibility
- Tips
These are the three things that delivery drivers care about the most. Below, you’ll find our list of the best apps to work for, all vetted by full-time drivers.
12 Best Food Delivery Services To Work For in 2023
Here are the best food delivery services to work for now:
1. DoorDash
- Availability: DoorDash is available nationwide.
DoorDash is the best delivery service app. In 2023, Second Measure found DoorDash & Caviar had 65% of sales in January 2023 – drastically more than Uber Eats and Postmates combined.
Additionally, DoorDash offers high earnings for couriers: DoorDash drivers right now are earning $20-25 an hour.
As a heads-up, DoorDash demand increases at night and on the weekends (i.e. when most people order out). Sometimes I’ll receive 2 requests a minute from DoorDash. Other times I’ll go 90 minutes without a request. But incentives are offered at the busiest times, sometimes as much as $3 extra per order with a minimum acceptance rate.
DoorDash is the best delivery app to work for because it pays a minimum rate per delivery, encourages generous tips, and lets you keep all your tips. This means if your pay per delivery is below their threshold, DoorDash will make up the difference.
This is how DoorDash driver pay is calculated:
Requirements to work for DoorDash:
- 18 or older
- Any car, scooter, or bicycle (in select cities)
- Driver’s license number
- Social security number (only in the United States)
- Final Step: consent to a background check
Pros & Cons of Delivering with DoorDash
Pros
- Provides order info upfront so you can guesstimate tip
- Competitive pay
- Offers incentives at peak times
Cons
- Delivery payouts are a low flat rate
- Limited driver support through chat
- Wild swings in demand in some markets
- Scheduling is required during busy times
Related:
- Uber Eats Vs DoorDash: Which Is Better?
- How to Use the DoorDash Driver App, Guide, and Tutorial for New Dashers
2. Uber Eats / Postmates
- Availability: Uber Eats is available nationwide.
Uber Eats is most definitely one of the best food delivery services to work for. When I’m out delivering, I treat Uber Eats as a separate animal, and it’s definitely one of the best delivery apps to work for.
Uber Eats is one of the best food delivery apps to work for because it’s one of the best-paying delivery jobs. The best earnings opportunities I’ve found while being an Uber Eats driver are through pursuing incentives like Quest and Boost.
Whether you’re already driving for Uber or not, if you’re looking to diversify your income, Uber Eats can help with your strategy, since there may be some times during the day when fewer people are requesting trips and more people are ordering food from local restaurants.
Uber Eats acquired Postmates in 2020 for $2.65 billion. In 2021, they began transitioning their drivers from Postmates to Uber Eats.
Requirements to work for Uber Eats:
Car Delivery
- Meet the minimum age to drive in your city
- Have a 2-door or 4-door car
- Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance under your name
- Have at least one year of driving experience
Scooter delivery
- Be at least 19 years old
- Have a motorized scooter under 50cc
- Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance under your name
- When signing up, be sure to choose to Deliver with a Scooter under the transportation method
Bike delivery
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a government-issued ID
- When signing up, be sure to choose to Deliver with a Bike under the transportation method
Pros & Cons of Delivering for Uber Eats
Pros
- One of the best paying delivery companies
- Can combine it with promotions from Uber
- Integrates well with the Uber app
- Lets drivers in most states deliver across state lines
- Great job for part-timers
Cons
- Difficult to use with other best delivery apps
- Promotions like Quest aren’t available in every city
- Restricts out-of-state deliveries for drivers in CA, MS, and PA
- Payment model changes from time to time
Related:
- How much do Uber drivers make?
- What it’s really like to deliver food for Uber Eats
- 6 Tips for New Uber Eats Drivers
3. Instacart
- Availability: Instacart is available nationwide
In our investigation of Instacart shopper pay, we found that Instacart shoppers can make $20 and up per hour.
Making Instacart one of the best food delivery services to sign up for is Instacart’s guaranteed earnings program. With Instacart, guaranteed earnings promotions are offered in rotating regions!
Here are some notable geographies where guaranteed earnings are live this week:
Instacart will rotate which regions offer the guaranteed earnings amount, meaning more delivery drivers will have options to earn. This promo is only open to new Instacart in-store shoppers and is assigned based on the zip code for which delivery drivers sign up.
With Instacart, you’ll spend your time delivering groceries instead of restaurant meals. Order requests come through on the app and when you accept one, you’ll be able to head to the store and start shopping for the customer’s items so they can be delivered.
Since you shop and deliver orders, each order will take longer, but this also means you’ll likely earn more per order than you would with another one of the best delivery apps like GrubHub or DoorDash. Instacart is a great way to make $100 fast, which is why it’s one of the best food delivery services to work for.
Requirements to work for Instacart:
- At least 18 years old
- Eligible to work in the United States
- Consistent access to a vehicle
- Consistent access to and be able to effectively use a recent smartphone (iPhone 6s / Android 5.0 or newer)
- Ability to lift 50 lbs with or without accommodation
Pros & Cons of Working for Instacart
Pros
- Pays more per order than some competitors
- “Instant Cash Out” pays you instantly for a $0.50 fee
- Shares earnings, store, and customer location upfront
Cons
- Drivers have to schedule shifts in advance
- Earnings of shoppers we surveyed varied from $11-$25/hr
- Can require heavy lifting
Related:
4. Caviar
- Availability: Caviar is available in major metropolitan areas nationwide. If you’re in a smaller city, you’ll be sent delivery opportunities for DoorDash.
During our Caviar driver experience, we found Caviar drivers can make $20 to $25 per hour.
However, Caviar is not as widely available as other delivery apps – meaning your earning potential could be a lot less if people in your city don’t know about it. However, customers have certainly heard of DoorDash and now Caviar is owned by DoorDash.
When you sign-up for either Caviar or DoorDash you can make deliveries for both services, as DoorDash acquired Caviar in 2019.
While Caviar was restricted to upscale restaurants, since its merger with DoorDash you can pick up fast food orders, too. You’ll go to a Doordash page because they’re the same company now. Through DoorDash, you can deliver for either Caviar or DoorDash.
What makes Caviar one of the best delivery apps to work for is the potential to expand and partner with more restaurants in different areas. The pay structure is similar to DoorDash, where drivers can see an estimated pay rate before accepting the order.
This consists of the driver base pay, any peak pay bonuses, and a customer tip. One main difference with this app is that you’re given order numbers instead of telling the restaurant you’re there to pick up a specific meal.
Drivers can choose to get paid out instantly after each delivery and track earnings with Cash App.
Requirements to work for Caviar:
- 18 years of age or older
- Any car, scooter, or bicycle in select cities
- Driver’s license number
- Social Security Number (in the US)
- Consent to a background check
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Caviar
Pros
- Payouts are fair
- Displays earnings before you accept an order
- Instant payout option
- Pays extra during high-demand times
Cons
- Linked delivery addresses are occasionally inaccurate
- Compensation estimates aren’t always accurate
5. Shipt
- Availability: Shipt is available nationwide
For those of you that aren’t familiar with Shipt, it’s a shopping app. Similar to Instacart, you get paid to shop for customers (usually groceries) and then deliver the order to their house/apartment.
The Shipt app makes all of this easy, showing you exactly what items to buy and routing you to the delivery address.
Shipt was acquired by Target in 2017, so a lot of shopping will take place at Target stores. They’ve also partnered with a number of other grocery chains, which adds some variation to the shopping experience.
View our article on Shipt pay here. Drivers we’ve interviewed say Shipt pays $15-17 an hour, with veteran Shipt shoppers earning $22/hour.
Plus, you can get a sign-up bonus if you’re in one of the metros that are currently offering referral pay. To get the sign-up bonus, click this link.
Requirements to work for Shipt and become a Shipt shopper:
- At least 18 years old
- Valid current mailing address
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance
- A reliable vehicle (1997 or newer)
- Knowledge of produce selection
- Ability to lift 45 pounds
- Smartphone – iPhone (iOS 10 or newer) or Android (5.1 or newer)
Sign-up bonus is available in certain metros.
Pros & Cons of Shopping with Shipt
Pros
- Potential to complete multiple shopping lists at once
- Offers a referral bonus in some areas
- Up to five instant cashouts a day for a small fee
- Lets you schedule hours or pick up jobs on the go
Cons
- Lower pay than some competitors
- Can be difficult to get in touch with customers during shopping trips
- Better suited to big cities with high demand
6. Grubhub
- Availability: Grubhub is available nationwide
From talking to Grubhub couriers, we’ve found Grubhub drivers make on average around $11 an hour.
On occasion, Grubhub offers an hourly guarantee for drivers during certain times of the day. Being on the schedule guarantees minimum hourly earnings (only $11 in L.A.) but requires an 85% acceptance rate for the day.
You can deliver with a car or a bike, and GrubHub is generally big on pushing drivers to schedule their shifts in advance, even though you can still drive whenever it’s convenient for you.
You’ll also be restricted to a delivery zone set when you register. The zone I work in is huge, so it hasn’t been a big problem for me. But there have been times when I found myself outside the zone and wish I could deliver.
Requirements to work for Grubhub:
- Car (or bike in select areas)
- Valid driver’s license and auto insurance for drivers
- Valid state I.D. or driver’s license for bike riders
- Smartphone
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Grubhub
Pros
- Provides extensive order info with incoming requests
- Encourages customers to tip generously when placing orders
- Live & helpful US-based phone support
- Consistent order volume at meal times in my city
- All orders are prepaid
Cons
- Incentives seem rare if at all for drivers
- Encourages drivers to sign uo for scheduled blocks
- Drivers are limited to a delivery zone chosen at registration
Related:
7. Eaze
- Availability: Eaze is only available in California
Eaze is a marijuana delivery company that hires drivers who are paid hourly.
When we delivered weed with Eaze, we found drivers could make around $15 and up, which makes it one of the best delivery apps to work for.
Drivers are not employees of Eaze, but they aren’t necessarily independent contractors either.
Here’s what their terms of service state: “You acknowledge and agree that you are not an employee or independent contractor of Eaze and that you are solely a licensee of the Driver Platform. Your employment or independent contractor agreement with Your Retailer shall govern the terms and conditions of your employment or contract work.”
Eaze drivers tend to make around $15 – $18 per hour and are also able to keep 100% of their tips.
Requirements to work for Eaze:
- Drivers are hired and employed by independent licensed retailers. In order to use Eaze’s driver app, retailer drivers need an iPhone 5 (or newer) or an Android (3 years old or newer).
- Regulations require that all retailer drivers be 21+ years of age, and have a valid driver’s license, registration, and auto insurance.
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Eaze
Pros
- Higher guaranteed hourly rate
- Eaze pays out your mileage reimbursement every two weeks.
Cons
- Eaze is only available in California
- Interview and onboarding process are than competitors
- More hoops to jump through for compliance
Related:
8. Amazon Flex
- Availability: Amazon Flex is available in over 50 cities nationwide
Right now, it’s an absolute must to try to sign up for Amazon Flex. In our review of driving for Amazon Flex, we found drivers could make $18 to 25 per hour with Amazon Flex. That’s incredible – and chances are there is plenty of work to go around right now!
Judging by how busy Amazon is, there should be plenty of ongoing opportunities but they do have a wait list as well.
Amazon.com orders are picked up from a delivery station and then delivered directly to the customer’s home. Drivers typically have a 3-6 hour delivery block.
Delivering for Amazon restaurants and Amazon Fresh are also options as well. Drivers can expect to earn around $18 – $25 per hour.
Requirements to work for Amazon Flex:
- Live in a city where Flex operates
- Be 21 or older
- Have a valid US driver’s license and Social Security Number
- Mid-size or larger vehicle
- Have an iPhone or Android smartphone
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Amazon Flex
Pros
- High hourly rate and plenty of work
- Easy to find flex shift offers
- Earnings aren’t reduced if you complete orders early
Cons
- Waiting list in areas that don’t have Amazon Flex yet
- Might require heavy lifting
Related:
9. GoPuff
- Availability: GoPuff is available nationwide
GoPuff hires driver-partners to deliver items like snacks, medicine, drinks, and more. Think of GoPuff as basically a mobile convenience store.
GoPuff drivers can make around $14 per hour but there are also bonuses available for longer shifts. While you do have to lock in shifts with GoPuff, operation hours are basically 24/7, so in most markets you can choose a shift during any time of the day.
How it works is you’ll report to your local GoPuff warehouse location and wait for orders to deliver. Customers must sign off when you deliver their order so no leaving items at the door like with Amazon Flex.
Requirements to work for GoPuff:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a valid U.S. driver’s license
- Vehicle insurance and registration
- Own a smartphone
- Be willing and able to pass a pre-paid alcohol delivery training course (where applicable)
Pros & Cons of Delivering with GoPuff
Pros
- Lets you deliver from a central location
- Ability to set your own hours
Cons
- May have to deal with cash payments/tips
- Not available in all U.S. cities
Related:
10. Point Pickup
- Availability: Point Pickup is available in all 50 states
Point Pickup is a delivery system on the East Coast that allows for same-day delivery of items ordered by customers. It’s similar to Instacart, but you can schedule a shift and also start driving whenever you want.
The majority of delivery requests involve picking up orders from Walmart or delivering items that have been ordered online.
Requirements to work for Point Pickup:
- Valid driver’s license
- Be 18 years of age
- Bank account
- Social security number
- Vehicle year 2000 or newer
Related:
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Point Pickup
Pros
- Offers detailed training videos
- Lets you set driving zone and limit deliveries by distance
Cons
- Customers can’t tip in the app and aren’t encouraged to
- Pay isn’t as great for drivers
- Limited availability outside the East Coast
Related:
11. Saucey
- Availability: Select Cities in the US
Saucey is an alcohol delivery service that can bring liquor straight to your door. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.
Saucey is the DoorDash of alcohol delivery apps and one of the most popular options available to anyone looking to drink responsibly at home.
According to Indeed, Saucey drivers make $15 per hour delivering with Saucey, although according to the LA Times, drivers in Los Angeles make less (around $7 an hour).
Requirements to work for Saucey and become a Saucey courier:
- 21 and up (you’re delivering alcohol!)
- Valid driver’s license
- No DUIs in the past 5 years
- Smartphone
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Saucey
Pros
- Lets you set your delivery area
- Extended delivery hours on the weekend
- Pays consistent fees
Cons
- Limited to major cities like New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco
- Lower average pay
12. Favor
- Availability: Favor is only available in Texas
Favor is a delivery app that offers deliveries for almost anything, including food, groceries, dry cleaning, etc. Favor calls themselves “personal assistants”, not delivery drivers. If you want to deliver more than food, the company’s wide selection of delivery options might appeal to you.
Drivers say they earn around $12 per hour, so you will want to combine Favor with other delivery apps listed here in order to boost your hourly pay. But if you’re already driving for one of the other food or grocery delivery service apps, this app can be a great resource for making some extra money.
Drivers get to keep one-third of the delivery fee and all of their tips.
Requirements to work for Favor and become a personal assistant:
- 18 years old
- Clean record
- Smartphone
Pros & Cons of Delivering with Favor
Pros
- Competitive bonuses
- Flexible scheduling
- Quick hiring process
Cons
- Limited to Texas
- Some drivers report app glitches
Related:
Why Start Delivering Food Now?
It’s never been a better time to drive for delivery companies right now. People are becoming more accustomed to ordering online, it’s pretty cheap for customers, and for drivers, it’s a no-brainer to drive for delivery when rideshare is slow.
Right now, because of the coronavirus and lack of demand for Uber and Lyft drivers, it’s never been a better time to drive for delivery. Drivers are making hundreds of dollars per week, but you’ll want to sign up sooner rather than later to get started.
And if you’re still not convinced to try a delivery job, watch our recent video to learn why now is the time to get into delivery.
Which Service is the Best Food Delivery App to Work For?
By now, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve officially entered the age of the on-demand economy.
While I prefer working for certain apps and tend to avoid others, I know that each app offers unique advantages and disadvantages, so I try to keep an open mind and always evaluate the opportunities presented to me.
My experience in the rideshare and delivery industry has taught me that no two days of driving are the same. One day DoorDash might be jumping and Postmates is dead. Another day Uber Eats might be offering an incentive that’s too good to pass up. That’s why there’s not just one best delivery app to work for.
It’s in my best interest to go online with a number of the apps I’m signed up with and then make informed decisions about which order requests I’d like to fulfill.
Keep in mind that local conditions pay and other factors vary from one market to the next and my favorite delivery apps might not be the same as those of another driver.
Every market is different, so we recommend you sign up for all delivery companies in your city to see which one is the busiest and most profitable for you!
Which Food Delivery Company Pays the Best?
In the question of ‘what food delivery service pays the most’, it depends on which food delivery service is most popular in your city!
However, in general, DoorDash followed by Uber Eats is the delivery company that pays the best.
DoorDash and Uber Eats pay the most because they are the most well-known and used by customers, which means there will be more demand and more requests for couriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company pays better, GrubHub or DoorDash?
Grubhub drivers can earn $12-13 an hour although the more proficient you become at driving, the more you can earn. Compare this to DoorDash, where you can make closer to $20 per hour.
Grubhub’s base salary for drivers is currently $4 per order, but it does vary on the market you drive in. The earnings are also based on the mileage and time it takes you to pick up an order from a restaurant and drop it off at a customer’s house.
DoorDash driver pay is calculated as follows: base pay + promotions + tips = earnings. Base pay ranges from $2-10 depending on the following factors: time, distance, and desirability. Deliveries that are less popular with Dashers, for instance, will have a higher base pay.
DoorDash promotions give drivers an opportunity to earn more but aren’t guaranteed for every order. When it’s busy, peak pay could be in effect, which means you’ll earn more money on each delivery.
Tips with DoorDash are the same as GrubHub: you get to keep 100% of the tip a customer leaves.
Which delivery app pays the most?
Instacart is one of the highest-paying delivery apps out there, with drivers making $20 an hour on average. To earn extra cash with Instacart, be sure to look for bigger orders (which usually means a better tip) and shop at stores you’re familiar with. Don’t like grocery shopping? DoorDash or Postmates are excellent choices for delivery apps that pay the most. DoorDash drivers earn between $20-25 an hour. Postmates couriers can earn around $20 an hour.
How do the best delivery apps compare to each other?
It depends on what you’re looking to do! For grocery shopping, Instacart and Shipt are your best choices. Between the two, Instacart pays more, is in most cities, and is more well-known than Shipt.
However, you should always sign up for both to see which company is more popular with shoppers, and which ones pay more.
Instacart shoppers can earn $20 an hour and up. For food delivery services, some of the big names include Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, and Caviar. Uber Eats is probably among the most well-known, but from couriers we’ve talked to, DoorDash and Postmates currently pay drivers better than Uber Eats.
What’s the best food delivery app to work for?
The best food delivery app is the one that’s most popular and pays the best in your market! In general, those food delivery services are Instacart, DoorDash, and Postmates.
Uber Eats is usually one of the more popular delivery apps in most cities, but it usually doesn’t pay well. It’s a good add-on in addition to the services mentioned above, but if you get a DoorDash ping and an Uber Eats ping at the same time, typically the DoorDash ping will be more ‘worth it.’
Which Food Delivery Service Should You Work For?
Overall, given the pros and cons listed above, it’s clear that there’s no one size fit all app when it comes to delivering food, packages, snacks, and household items in the gig economy.
My favorite thing about delivering for multiple shopping apps is that I have options. Delivery apps are a great option to have when Uber or Lyft are slow, and delivering also enables people who have children they need to bring along to still work in the gig economy.
If you don’t want to deliver restaurant meals, you can try delivering packages for Amazon Flex or groceries with Instacart.
It probably won’t hurt to sign up for a few of these apps, that way you can test out the features for yourself and see how much you’re able to earn in your market.
Do you have more questions about choosing the best delivery app to work for? Do you drive for any delivery companies? Let us know in the comments below!
