With all of the different apps out there, it can be hard to figure out which one is the best food delivery service 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, we’ve done thousands of deliveries ourselves!
Best Food Delivery Services To Work For in 2021
We recommend signing up for multiple delivery apps to maximize your earnings.
Our list of the best food delivery services 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.
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:
Keep reading and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and tricks for making the most money as a delivery driver.
Best Food Delivery Services To Work For in 2021
We recommend signing up for multiple delivery apps to maximize your earnings.
1) DoorDash
DoorDash is the best delivery service app due to demand. In 2021, Second Measure found DoorDash had 56% of sales in January 2021 – more than Uber Eats and Postmates. Additionally, DoorDash offers high earnings for couriers: DoorDash drivers right now are earning $20-25 an hour.
DoorDash demand increases at night and on the weekends (i.e. when most people order out).
DoorDash is one of the best delivery apps to work for because it pays a minimum rate per delivery and lets you keep all your tips. This means if your pay per delivery is below their threshold, DoorDash will make up the difference.
How to Use the DoorDash Driver App, Guide and Tutorial for New Dashers in 2021:
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 United States)
- Final Step: consent to a background check
Locations available: DoorDash is available nationwide.
2) Instacart
In our investigation of Instacart shopper pay, we found that Instacart pays shoppers $20+ per hour, including tips which are usually 5-20%+ of the order. Instacart shoppers keep 100% of tips. The most efficient Instacart shoppers are earning up to $45 per hour.
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.
Watch our 2021 Instacart Shopper review here:
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 say 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
Locations available: Instacart is available nationwide.
3) Postmates
Postmates is one of the best delivery services to work for. Postmates was launched in San Francisco over 9 years ago and has grown into one of the best delivery apps to work for drivers and customers. Like many of these other delivery apps, Postmates also allows you to deliver orders by bike as well.
Orders from Postmates often range from restaurant meals to groceries, alcohol and more. From our Postmates driver review and pay experience, Postmates couriers can make around $20 an hour.
Requirements to work for Postmates:
- 18 years of age or older
- Ability to drive around food (this also means scooters and, in some cities, by foot)
- Social Security Number
- Background check after you set up a Postmates profile
Locations available: Postmates is available nationwide.
Hot Savings – Gas Discount App
You’ll definitely come out way ahead driving deliveries. At the same time, it’s smart to reduce your expenses!
The best and easiest-to-use app we’ve researched is GetUpside. Here at The RideShare Guy we use this app to automatically get gasoline discounts. It’s worth it.
15¢/gal bonus offer included
Why Start Delivering 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.
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.
You’re a Free Agent – Take Advantage
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.
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!
Final Words
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!
FAQs for the Best Food Delivery Services
GrubHub vs DoorDash
Wondering 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 $20 to $25 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, 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, with drivers making $20 to $25 an hour.
To earn more 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?
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 to $25 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.
For a higher end experience, there’s Caviar. However, you may be less busy delivering for Caviar since it tends to cater to more expensive restaurants, so sign up for all of the above to make sure you’re constantly busy while you’re ‘on app’.
What’s the best food delivery app to work for?
What skills do you need for delivery driver jobs?
Not a ton! If you’re driving for grocery delivery services like Instacart or Shipt, you will want to be familiar with the layout of local grocery stores. As drivers have told us, the quicker you can find items and get out, the more you will earn hourly!
You will also want to be familiar with the layout of your city as a delivery driver. If you know the easy places to park, know your city streets well, know how to get around traffic diversions and the like, the faster you will be able to deliver. This will also increase your per-hour earnings.
Can you drive for multiple services?
Yes, absolutely! We break down how to drive for multiple delivery apps here.
Ready to get started? Sign up for the top 3 below!
- DoorDash
- Instacart
- Postmates
Then check out the best cash back apps if you want to save some money.