11 Jobs Like DoorDash to Make Money for Deliveries

DoorDash drivers, called dashers, are everywhere these days. With DoorDash, you’re delivering meals – not people, and making decent money at it. Plus, there’s no awkward small talk, unless you want to talk to the bag of burgers and fries on your passenger seat. And hey, they won’t tell.

DoorDash is currently the most popular food delivery app in the U.S., with the majority of the market share. But if you are searching for other jobs like DoorDash, we’ll cover the top alternatives worth considering in 2024.

What is DoorDash?

DoorDash is a food delivery app that connects hungry, at-home diners with food from their favorite local restaurants — including national and regional chains. Dashers are independent contract drivers who collect orders at the restaurant and deliver them to hungry customers.

Dashers set their own schedule, working as many hours as they’d like. They are paid for each delivery (at varying rates based on order total, distance, and drive time) and can also earn tips and bonus pay for Dasher Challenges and Peak Pay.

For many, dashing is more than a side hustle to earn extra cash; it’s an outright, full-time job. Every month, more than 20 million consumers use DoorDash to order meals from its network of more than 450,000 restaurants and merchants.

But beyond DoorDash’s massive footprint, there are plenty of other similar gigs for food delivery drivers.

11 Delivery Jobs Like DoorDash

Here are the best alternatives to DoorDash:

1. Instacart

💰Average Earning Potential: $17.50

At $17.50 an hour in average pay, Instacart wages are quite similar to DoorDash. You’re probably already familiar with this service since its drivers are everywhere. Instacart partners with over 75,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada, including over 1,000 national and regional chains.

Instacart shoppers primarily do grocery shopping. They shop for your order in stores, picking, packing, and ringing up your items, and then delivering them to your front door.

In addition to base pay and tips, you can earn bonuses for referring friends or completing other promotional challenges.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years old
  • Screening: pass a criminal background check (Instacart pays for)
  • Consistent access to a reliable vehicle
  • Consistent access to, and ability to operate, a recent smartphone (iPhone 6s, Android0, or newer versions of either)
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds — with or without accommodation

Pros

  • Set your own hours and work when it’s convenient for you
  • Consistent work — ability to work 40 hours per week
  • Instant access to your earnings within 2 hours of making a delivery
  • Multi-store batching option, meaning you can fill 2 or more orders per shopping trip and maximize your hourly earnings
  • Order add-ons: accept additional orders while you’re in-store to increase your earnings
  • Exclusive discounts for travel, entertainment, auto repairs, and mobile phones and phone accessories

Cons

  • No ability to make deliveries by bicycle or scooter as with Uber Eats and other grocery delivery services
  • Orders are not filled for you; you have to complete the in-store shopping and then check out
  • Wear and tear to your vehicle
  • Deliveries are not 24/7 everywhere. In some areas, deliveries are only available from 9 a.m. to midnight, or even narrower windows of time.

2. Uber Eats

💰Average Earning Potential: $19.33

While it has much less market share than DoorDash, Uber Eats may be more commonly known thanks to its eponymous rideshare app. Uber has been around since 2009, and it jumped into the food delivery game in 2015.

Many drivers drive for both Uber and Uber Eats, switching between the two apps based on available deliveries.

Driving for Uber Eats is quite similar to DoorDash. Pick up hours when you want to, and select the deliveries you want to make based on drive time or potential earnings (base pay and tip guesstimate).

Requirements

Requirements to drive for Uber Eats vary based on the vehicle you use to make deliveries. You’ll also need to pass a background check.

Car Delivery
  • A reliable vehicle that has 2 or 4 doors
  • At least one year of driving experience and a clean driving record
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Valid car insurance registered in your name
  • Meet the minimum age required to drive in your city or state
Scooter delivery
  • Minimum age requirement: 19 years old
  • Must select “Scooter” as the mode of transportation when signing up
  • Your motorized scooter must be under 50cc
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Valid vehicle insurance under your name
Bike delivery
  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years old
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or other government-issued ID
  • Must select “Bike” as your mode of transportation when signing up

Pros

  • Less restrictive age requirements. Teens can drive for Uber Eats. Depending on local laws and regulations where you live, Uber Eats drivers could be as young as 16 years old.
  • 2 for 1. You can easily switch between the Uber and Uber Eats apps to maximize your earnings.
  • Daily pay. You can cash out up to five times per day using InstantPay or Uber Pro Card, an Uber debit card.
  • You set your own hours and choose the deliveries you want to make.
  • Work part-time, full-time, or whenever you’re running low on cash.
  • Outstanding bonuses: Uber Eats offers Quest, Boost, and generous sign-up and referral bonuses.

Cons

  • Bonus earnings, like Quest, are not available in all cities.
  • Car insurance may be too prohibitively expensive for a teenager (under 18) to drive for Uber Eats.
  • Wear and tear to your vehicle.
  • Bicycle delivery is not available for gig workers under the age of 18.
  • Smaller restaurant coverage area than DoorDash.

3. Roadie

💰Average Earning Potential: $22.90

Roadie is an innovative way to send just about anything — from meals to machinery — to where it needs to go within one day. Roadie’s motto to win over drivers is “Deliver packages, not people.”

Founded in 2014, Roadie is a business-centric delivery app working with companies of all sizes. Roadie drivers are all contractors. And for their deliveries, anything goes. Freight can range from banquet trays to floral deliveries to lost luggage being brought from the airport to its owner.

All combined, Roadie drivers cover a delivery range of more than 20,000 zip codes across the U.S. This is the most expansive, same-day delivery coverage area in the nation.

This means Roadie drivers can earn cash for driving just about anywhere in America. Whatever road less taken you travel, odds are there’s a Roadie customer who needs a delivery made there.

Similar to DoorDash, you don’t work any set schedule or shifts. You log in to the app when you want to work, and search for available deliveries nearby.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years or older
  • Valid U.S. driver’s license
  • Valid social security
  • Pass a background check (Roadie covers any fees)
  • Watch Roadie’s training video(s)
  • Maintain a 4-star average community rating
  • A specific type of vehicle may be preferred or required for some deliveries depending on what needs to be transported. When signing up for Roadie, list any or all vehicles you will be using to make drop-offs.

Pros

  • Set your own schedule and deliver during days and times that are convenient for you.
  • You’re delivering packages, not people. No need to keep your car looking spotless, or to keep the radio tuned to bland, inoffensive beats.
  • A fun assortment of goods to deliver. You could be dropping off anything from an urn of ashes (quite rare) to car keys or factory supplies (more common).
  • You could use Roadie to fund your road trip. Look for a package that needs to be dropped off somewhere along the route to your holiday getaway. If you’re willing to go a few miles off the beaten path, you could earn more than enough to cover your travel expenses.

Cons

  • Limited support is available for drivers.
  • You are not guaranteed the deliveries you accept. You “bid” for deliveries you’re interested in, and the customer will select the driver. Customers tend to select the driver with the most experience, which means your first few trips may be to more undesirable locations.
  • No immediate cash-out Payday is once a week.
  • Driver reviews on Glassdoor complain of long driving distances.
  • Vehicle wear and tear.
  • Many drop-offs and pick-ups are in areas annoying to navigate, like airports or busy downtown areas during rush hour.

4. Caviar

💰Average Earning Potential: $22.75

As its swanky name suggests, Caviar is a prestige food delivery app. Caviar connects gourmet taste buds with the finest food in town.

Founded in San Francisco in 2012, the company has expanded its footprint over the years. Although it’s grown rapidly, Caviar is still primarily located in the country’s largest metro areas including Boston, Chicago, and New York City.

Since 2019, however, Caviar has dramatically expanded its dining options. That’s when DoorDash acquired this fine dining app (from Square) in a $410 million acquisition deal. This purchase has proven a major boon for Caviar customers and drivers. Both have access to DoorDash’s entire directory of 450,000 restaurants, which means more choices and more food deliveries.

When drivers make a Caviar delivery, the setup is the same. Log in to the app, select the orders you want to take, and make the deliveries. You can see upfront the total distance you’ll need to drive, order size, and potential earnings with a tip guesstimate.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years or older
  • Valid driver’s license for drivers or government-issued ID
  • Valid social security
  • Vehicle requirements: car, scooter, or bicycle. (Bicycle delivery is limited to select cities.)
  • Screening: pass a background check (Caviar pays for)

Pros

  • Work when it’s convenient for you, selecting the hours and deliveries you want.
  • Immediate payout – get paid right away after completing each delivery.
  • Earn extra pay for deliveries during peak hours.
  • Integrated with DoorDash, Caviar drivers have additional earning opportunities beyond the gourmet dining niche.
  • Special promotions and bonus earnings like registration rewards and driver challenges.

Cons

Based on driver comments on job boards, delivering for Caviar does come with its disadvantages too.

  • Occasionally, earning estimates are off.
  • Inaccurate delivery addresses can be provided (although this may be due to customer error).
  • The bicycle delivery option is not available in all cities.
  • Limited availability. The Caviar app is currently only offered in a dozen U.S. metro areas. But since DoorDash owns Caviar, you can make deliveries for Caviar-like restaurants just about anywhere in the country.

5. Shipt

💰Average Earning Potential: $17

Shipt is a grocery delivery app that’s very similar to Instacart. Shipt drivers are paid to shop for customer orders at local stores and merchants, usually grocery stores. Since being acquired by Target in 2017, most Shipt orders are for Target. In fact, many Shipt shoppers only do Target runs.

Many of these shoppers speak highly of this gig as it is tied to their love of Target. Shipt shoppers have expedited checkout (at dedicated checkout stations) and become intimately familiar with all the ins and outs of their Target. This means customers get a personal shopper who can find hard-to-locate items and may have backroom access.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years old
  • Residency: U.S. resident with a current address
  • Reliable vehicle: 1997 or newer
  • Valid U.S. driver’s license and current car insurance
  • Knowledgeable in fresh produce selection
  • Heavy-lifting: the ability to lift up to 45 pounds
  • Newer smartphone device: iPhone (iOS 10 or newer) or Android (5.1 or newer)

Pros

  • Earn generous sign-up bonuses — the amount can vary based on current promotion or geographic area.
  • Multi-batching. Batch together 2 or more orders within one store run to maximize your earnings.
  • Immediate cashout. Shipt shoppers can cash out within 2 hours of completing a delivery.
  • You can pick the number of hours, days, and times you want to work — and can choose the deliveries you want to pick up.

Cons

  • At an average of $17 per hour, hourly pay is a little lower than many other food delivery apps.
  • Can be difficult (annoying) to try and contact customers during store trips. (Many Shipt customers request to be contacted by text message about possible substitutions if an item is not available.)
  • Wear and tear on your vehicle.
  • You have to shop for and fill the orders, which you’ll either love or loathe.
  • May be limited work if there are few Target stores in your area. This app works best for drivers who live in metro areas with a high density of Target stores.

6. Grubhub

💰Average Earning Potential: $18.50

Founded in 2004, Grubhub has a massive customer reach. Every month, Grubhub serves millions of customers across all 50 states.

Across 4,000 cities, Grubhub boasts a network of over 365,000 restaurants, bodegas, and similar merchants.

While Grubhub dining options are similar to DoorDash, Grubhub organizes its offerings a bit differently. Featured categories include “30 Minutes or Less,” “Support Local Eateries,” and “Don’t Break the Bank.”

For drivers, the setup on DoorDash and Grubhub is the same. You pick up food at local restaurants and then deliver it to the customer. Your total potential earnings are shared with you upfront. Earnings per delivery are calculated off the base pay, driving distance, and tip guesstimate.

And in some locations (where required by law), Grubhub guarantees drivers a minimum wage.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years or older to deliver by bike. 19 years or older to deliver by car. (Minimum delivery age is 21 in Las Vegas.)
  • Screening: pass a background check. (Grubhub pays this fee.)
  • Have a reliable car or bike to make deliveries. (Bicycle delivery is restricted to select areas.)
  • Valid auto insurance is required for drivers
  • Valid identification: driver’s license for drivers or state I.D. for bicyclists

Pros

  • Very detailed information is available with every delivery request.
  • Better than average tips. Customers are prompted to tip higher than average amounts when they place their orders.
  • Driver support: live, US-based phone support.
  • More transparency. Grubhub is open in sharing how your earnings are calculated. The payout is based on mileage, time to make the delivery, type of delivery, and order total.
  • A minimum guaranteed hourly wage is available in some areas.
  • Instant payouts: cash out immediately as often as you want — up to $500 a day. There is a $0.50 fee for each instant payout, so you may want to wait for Thursday. (Drivers are paid Thursdays via direct deposit.)
  • Flexibility: do Grubhub when it’s convenient for you.
  • Plenty of work. There are always deliveries available, and enough work for you to do Grubhub part-time or full-time.

Cons

  • Minimum driving age requirement of 19 years. (Or 21 years in Las Vegas.)
  • You are limited to delivery zones. (Select your delivery zone when you sign up.)
  • You are encouraged to sign up for blocks (longer delivery shifts) but this is not required.
  • Fewer bonuses and promotions with Grubhub than with Uber Eats.

7. Eaze

💰Average Earning Potential: $19.25

Available only in California (for now), Eaze is a marijuana delivery app. Through Eaze you can get paid to bring weed to friends and strangers — but you’re delivering dope the legal way.

Working with Eaze, you are a licensee of the platform. When signing up, you agree to these specific Eaze terms: “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.”

You are a W-2 employee, but not through Eaze. The marijuana delivery app is an intermediary, connecting drivers with marijuana retailers and dispensaries in their network that are in need of couriers.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 21 years old
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must have valid vehicle registration and insurance
  • Short video call interview that takes 5-10 minutes
  • Drivers are direct employees of marijuana retailers who use Eaze’s platform to find couriers.
  • Newer smartphone device: Android that’s 3 years old or newer or iPhone 5 or newer. (The stated iPhone requirement seems inaccurate but that is what is published.)

Pros

  • Unique niche to deliver for, with major Pineapple Express vibes.
  • Get paid mileage reimbursement every two weeks.
  • You could do Eaze alongside DoorDash or other similar side hustles.

Cons

  • Limited availability: Eaze is only in California.
  • Must be 21 years or older.
  • The registration process can take several days or more and requires a phone interview and background check.
  • No daily payouts. Eaze drivers are paid every two weeks.

8. Amazon Flex

💰Average Earning Potential: $19.50

Amazon Flex is another outstanding way to make extra cash. Work when it’s convenient for you, picking up groceries and packages from local distribution hubs and delivering them to customers.

Drivers collect orders at local delivery stations, which consist of fulfillment centers and Whole Foods stores. Drivers sign up for delivery blocks, which are work shifts usually lasting 3-6 hours.

When you take a shift, you agree to a set amount of pay. Amazon calculates how long they think it should take a driver to complete that block. If it takes you 3 hours to complete a 5-hour block, you will still be paid for the full 5 hours. If it takes you longer than 5 hours, you will not receive any additional pay.

In addition to Flex shifts, you can also make deliveries for Prime Now and Amazon Fresh. It’s a similar work setup, but the blocks are shorter — commonly 2-4 hours in length.

Right now, Amazon Flex is available in over 100 metro areas throughout the U.S. Check out current cities where Amazon Flex is hiring additional drivers.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 21 years old
  • U.S. work eligibility
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Vehicle: mid-size or larger. The vehicle must have 4 doors and any truck bed must be covered.
  • Valid car insurance
  • Screening: pass a background check (Amazon pays for)
  • Review training videos to learn best practices for package delivery
  • Select the service area where you want to complete deliveries

Pros

  • Above-average hourly pay for delivery apps.
  • Ability to complete delivery blocks early and earn wages for hours that you don’t work.
  • Set your own schedule and work when it’s convenient for you.
  • Get paid up to 5 days per week on the day(s) you choose.
  • Bonus rewards. Earn exclusive rewards for Flex drivers, like a Free Flex debit card (get free cash back for purchases using it) and exclusive Amazon product discounts.

Cons

  • Minimum age requirement of 21 years compared to other delivery apps open to 18-year-olds.
  • Amazon Flex may not be available in your area. Presently, this service is limited to large metro areas – mostly on the West and East coasts.
  • Delivery work may require some heavy lifting.
  • Some delivery zones require a significant amount of driving — up to 45 minutes per drop-off.

Learn more:

9. GoPuff

💰Average Earning Potential: $15.75

GoPuff could be a great option for drivers who don’t want their car smelling of french fries or curry. GoPuff is more of a convenience store app, with drivers delivering gas station goodies like mini donuts, toilet tissue, or cat litter.

Drivers collect their orders at local distribution hubs. Currently, there are over 1,000 distribution centers in the United States, including 40 states and Washington D.C. GoPuff also operates abroad in England and Wales. And it’s still expanding, both internationally and domestically.

GoPuff drivers sign up for delivery blocks or work shifts around 1-5 hours in length. Or you can pick up last-minute work, taking shifts that are 45 minutes or more in length. For ad hoc work, just log in and look for on-demand orders.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 21 years old
  • Valid U.S. driver’s license
  • Reliable vehicle to make deliveries
  • Valid vehicle insurance and registration
  • Screening: must pass a background check (GoPuff pays for)
  • Pass a pre-paid alcohol delivery training course (where required by law)
  • Smartphone with up-to-date operating system

Pros

  • Deliver for GoPuff when it’s convenient for you.
  • No waiting around for food orders or for customers.
  • No having to shop in-store for items. Orders are picked, packed, and processed for you. Just collect the order and go drop it off.
  • Wait Pay is offered for scheduled delivery drivers, and can vary based on the delivery zone you’re in or how long you spend waiting.
  • Get paid right away with Instant Cash Out. You can get paid within 30 minutes of completing a delivery.

Cons

  • GoPuff is not available everywhere. GoPuff is only in 40 states, although coverage is expanding.
  • You have to request the delivery blocks you want, and may not always get your bids. Requests are submitted late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
  • There’s a $1.99 fee for instant cashouts, and you must have Stripe. (To avoid fees, you can instead get automatic deposits paid weekly on Tuesdays.)
  • Limited deliveries. There may not always be enough shifts for you to get 40 hours a week.

10. Point Pickup

💰Average Earning Potential: $23

Point Pickup is a same-day delivery app that works a lot like Shipt or Instacart. Point Pickup drivers schedule shifts in advance, or can log in to the app and pick up any available orders when they have free time.

While some reviewers like the Ride Share Guy state that Point Pickup is only on the East Coast, on their website Point Pickup states they offer “Same-day fulfillment & delivery in all 50 states.”

There is also a wealth of salary data available for Point Pickup drivers — in all 50 states — on ZipRecruiter.

PointPickup partners with local, regional, and national retailers across the country, with Walmart its most popular store. While it’s mainly seen as a grocery delivery app, you can use Point Pickup for dry cleaning, laundry services, or other types of deliveries.

A huge benefit of Point Pickup is its outstanding perks. Drivers can earn points for delivery streaks, being on time, total hours worked, and more. The perks can be redeemed for benefits that matter, like health insurance, vision, dental, and more.

Point Pickup drivers are still contractors, but the goal of Point Pickup’s CEO is to make the gig economy work just as attractive as any traditional hourly job with benefits.

Unlike many other delivery apps, Point Pickup is focused on providing a best-in-class experience for its drivers, retail partners, and at-home customers.

Requirements

  • Minimum age requirement: 18 years old
  • Vehicle: 2000 model or newer
  • Vehicle registration and car insurance
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Social security
  • Bank account for payments (direct deposit)
  • Screening: drivers must pass a background check (Point Pickup pays for)
  • In Ohio, special certification is required for alcohol deliveries

Pros

  • Outstanding hourly pay.
  • Detailed training (helpful videos).
  • Flexible hours. Set your own schedule and pick your driving zones. You can also limit the distance you are willing to drive.
  • No picking and packing! Orders are pre-assembled for you by store associates. You just have to collect the orders in the designated pickup
  • First-class perks. Earn points for making deliveries, being on time, working weekends, working peak hours, and more. Your points can be redeemed for gift cards, vacations, cash, prepaid credit cards, merchandise discounts, or even health insurance benefits. Point Pickup partners with Sutton Bank to offer health, dental, and vision insurance.

Cons

  • Tips are infrequent. The tipping functionality within the app is disabled. (Customers can offer their driver a cash tip.)
  • You are expected to wait up to 15 minutes for an order if it is not assembled and ready to go when you arrive at the store.
  • There is no immediate payout All deliveries completed by end-of-day Monday are paid out via Stripe the following Wednesday. (Must have banked at least 25 hours.)
  • Drivers must have a Stripe account to get paid. (If you don’t have one, it’s quick and free to set up a Stripe account.)

11. Drizly

💰Average Earning Potential: $17.50

Drizly is another liquor delivery service app. It’s quite similar to Saucey, as it brings alcohol to your door. But unlike Saucey, the order guarantee time is 60 minutes (not 30) and Drizly has a much wider coverage area.

You’ll find Drizly in 31 states — in over 1,500 cities vs the roughly 50 cities that Saucey services.

Since 2012, Drizly has delivered wine, beer, spirits, mixers, ice, and other liquor store purchases. You can order 6-packs of hard cider, kegs, or cases of wine. Many Drizly orders are for large events.

Uber acquired Drizly in 2021, which expanded the liquor app’s coverage area to its current footprint of 31 states.

Requirements

To drive for Drizly, you must be hired through a partner liquor store that uses the Drizly app. If there’s a particular retailer you want to deliver for, Drizly suggests reaching out to that store to see if they already use Drizly.

You can also begin the job application for Drizly online. You answer a short series of questions, upload your resume, and write a sentence or two on why you think you are qualified. If you already have a resume, it could take just 1-2 minutes.

You’ll also need:

  • Meet the minimum age requirement: 21 years old
  • Clean driving record
  • A suitable vehicle with valid insurance
  • Driver’s license
  • Screening: the ability to pass a background check (Drizly or Drizly partner pays for)

Pros

  • You’re hauling cases of beer or bottles of booze, not strong-smelling food or people.
  • Work when you want, no required hours.
  • Drizly support is offered 24/7, but the Escalations Team will need to handle more involved issues. (The Escalation Team’s daily hours are 8 a.m. to 12 midnight.)
  • There is a 10% tip automatically added to all Drizly orders.

Cons

  • You’ll be most busy from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. You can work other hours, but potential earnings will be more limited.
  • Tip distribution is left to the liquor store manager’s discretion.
  • Can entail heavy lifting. For example, a beer keg is 161.5 pounds and requires significant storage transport room. A truck may be required for some deliveries.
  • Limited availability. Drizly is in 31 states and may not be available in your zip code.
  • The sign-up process is more involved. With many other gigs, you can just install the app and sign up. With Drizly, you need to be hired by a local liquor store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some commonly asked questions about driving for DoorDash or other similar delivery apps.

Why deliver food?

Delivering food is a simple and straightforward way to earn extra money. Whether it’s fast food, fine dining, or booze, there’s a gig app for it that needs drivers like you. Even if you don’t have a car, you can deliver by scooter or by bike for many apps.

Top earners can make $30 an hour or more, and many delivery drivers work full-time hours.

What are the best delivery apps to drive for?

Best is a relative term and depends on what’s important to you. If you want to deliver an interesting and motley assortment of cargo, try Roadie. If you’re in California and intrigued by the marijuana delivery market, try Eaze.

Personally, if I were looking for a full-time delivery gig I might opt for Point Pickup. It boasts the highest hourly pay and benefits like health and vision insurance, and the orders are assembled and waiting for you.

Which food delivery app pays the best?

Delivery App Average Hourly Wage
Point Pickup $22.91
Caviar $22.75
Roadie $19.50
Uber Eats $19.33
Eaze $19.25
Amazon Flex $19.15
Grubhub $18.50
Instacart $17.50
Drizly $17.50
Shipt $17.00
GoPuff $15.75

The average wages in this chart are based primarily on data from Indeed and Glassdoor, and in some instances ZipRecruiter and other driver review sites.

There may be discrepancies in our figures based on what you yourself will find on Indeed or Glassdoor based on:

  • Job titles you search. Earnings can vary greatly for the title of “shopper” vs “driver” vs “delivery person” even though they all refer to the same contractor work.
  • Geographic area. By default, job boards may show you the average earnings for your area. The wages we’ve shown in the table and referenced throughout the article are for national averages.
  • Changes in market demand.
  • Changes in the app’s coverage area – if it covers additional zip codes or if a new service is acquired by the app.
  • Change in the app’s pay or bonus structure.

Can you make a living off DoorDash or other food delivery services?

According to many reviews, yes. DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, Point Pickup, and Amazon Flex offer hourly wages ranging from $19 to $23 per hour and the opportunity to pick up 40 or more hours per week.

Does driving for Lyft or Uber pay better than food delivery?

Data is mixed. There are sources (and drivers) who say rideshare pays better and others say food delivery pays better because people tend to tip more for meals.

It could be a wash. But ultimately, whichever you enjoy more is going to pay you more money because you’ll stick with it.

If you hate the smell of fish in your car but don’t mind bringing commuters to the airport, driving people for Uber or Lyft is a better bet. And if you don’t want other passengers in your car, or you have an older vehicle, then you’ll want to stick to food delivery.

What are other hustles to make money?

In addition to rideshare or food delivery, there are a number of other side hustles you might consider:

  • Freelance writing or blogging.
  • Dog walking or pet sitting.
  • Virtual assistant work.
  • Print-on-demand
  • In-home task services like painting or furniture assembly.
  • Tutoring online or creating DIY videos.
  • Proofreading and editing.
  • Playing games and testing apps.
  • Investing in real estate or the stock market with micro-investment apps.

Whatever your money goals, there’s probably an app to help you achieve them and many motivated gig workers have several sidelines going.

It just takes a few extra dollars a day to make an extra thousand dollars a year. And that’s work you can do in addition to DoorDash or any other 9-to-5 you’ve got going.