Delivering food is a terrific way to make fast cash. The growth of the on-demand culture, plus the current pandemic, make delivery jobs one of the top side hustles in the gig economy.
People always want someone to deliver food from local restaurants, and grocery delivery.
This article covers the nine best delivery app jobs in the market, or the best platforms to work with based on requirements and pay.
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Best Delivery Job Apps to Work for in 2021
Delivering pizza used to be the only way you could get paid to deliver food to people. You can now work for numerous delivery service apps and earn good money.
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Here are the best platforms to make money delivering food.
1. DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps in the market. Liked by both customers and drivers (called Dashers), the service is available in over 4,000 cities nationwide, Canada, and Australia.
As a Dasher you deliver restaurant meals to people at home or work. Unlike Postmates, you only deliver food. In most cases you need a car, but you can deliver food on foot or bicycle depending on the regulations in your home city.
DoorDash Pay
DoorDash pays a little differently than other food delivery jobs. Dashers receive at least $2 per order plus 100 percent of the customer’s tip. Reports indicate you can earn up to $25 per hour as a Dasher, making it one of the highest paying delivery app jobs in the space.
You get paid each week for the meals you deliver.
Dasher Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance (if driving)
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
Read our Uber Eats vs. DoorDash comparison to see how the two popular apps are for drivers.
Pros and Cons of Delivering for DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the top delivery companies in the space. Here’s how they measure up.
Pros
- The app has a default tip rate of 15 percent
- You can pick and choose what orders to accept
- Offers numerous incentives and challenges to increase earnings
Cons
- You must schedule hours in advance
- Driver support is only available via chat
Learn more: Read our DoorDash Driver Review
2. Instacart
Does personal grocery shopping and delivery rather than delivering meals sound like a better way to make money? If so, Instacart Shopper is a top choice to deliver groceries to people at home.
With Instacart you can earn money as a full-service shopper by shopping for groceries and delivering them to people.
Similar to other food delivery services, you set your own schedule. After selecting an order, you do the shopping, and deliver the items. The service is widely available, offering work in over 5,000 cities nationwide and in Canada.
Unlike restaurant delivery services, you must have a car to work for Instacart.
Instacart Shopper Pay
Instacart pays contractors a commission based on the amount of each order. The more expensive the order, the more you earn. You can also earn tips in this role. Reports indicate you can earn up to $20 per hour as a shopper.
Instacart Full-Service Shopper Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
- Access to a vehicle
- Able to lift up to 40 pounds
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Instacart
Instacart is much like DoorDash as they’re the largest grocery delivery player in the market. Here’s what to know about working for them.
Pros
- You can view estimated earnings before taking an order
- Available all over the country
- You can schedule hours in advance
Cons
- You may have to carry heavy bags of groceries
- A car is required
Learn more: Read our Instacart Shopper review
3. Shipt Shopper
Shipt Shopper is another popular service that lets you make money delivering groceries. The service works similar to Instacart.
Shipt isn’t as widely available as Instacart, as it operates in only 400 cities throughout he country, but it is growing.
The app recommends which store is closest for shopping, allowing you to save time, and accept more orders.
Shipt Shopper Pay
Shipt pays a little differently than Instacart. You earn a base of $5 per order, plus 7.50 percent of the order total. For example, if you accept a $100 order you will receive $12.50 for your time, plus tips.
After you complete 100 deliveries, Shipt lets you to earn up to $22, or more, per hour. Plus, you get a free membership to Shipt. Drivers are paid each Friday.
Shipt Shopper Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
- Access to a vehicle
- Able to lift up to 40 pounds
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Shipt
Shipt is smaller than Instacart, but still provides good opportunity to make money on the side. Here’s how they measure up.
Pros
- You receive a free Shipt membership
- Shoppers can batch orders to increase earnings
- You can view how much you’ll earn before taking an order
Cons
- It’s not in as many cities as Instacart
Learn more: Read our Shipt Shopper Review
4. Grubhub
Grubhub was one of the first players in the delivery app space. It’s a well-known way to deliver fast food to people, or get meals from fast casual restaurants.
Similar to other driving jobs, you can set your own schedule. Pay is weekly, but you can cash out any time you wish with Instant Cash Out.
Grubhub Pay
Grubhub pays slightly more than other platforms – $3.25 per delivery, plus $.50 per mile driven, according to their website. However, reports indicate pay is close to $12 – $15 per hour.
Grubhub Requirements
- 19 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
- Access to a vehicle
- Two years of driving experience
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Grubhub
Grubhub was one of the first on-demand delivery services. Here’s what to know about delivering for the company.
Pros
- The app provides a lot of information on orders
- Grubhub offers phone support to drivers
- The app has a default tip rate of 15 percent
Cons
- Fewer incentives than other delivery jobs
- Drivers must sign up for specific delivery locations
Get started: Sign-up to drive for Grubhub
5. Saucey
Saucey is an alcohol beverage delivery app offering a unique opportunity to make money. The service is only available in larger cities, including:
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Los Angeles
- New York
- San Diego
- San Francisco
Customers have the option to get beer, wine, spirits, cigars, and snacks delivered right to their door. Saucey guarantees delivery within 30 minutes and operates between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.
*Related: Want more a more in-depth review of some of these services? Check out our Postmates vs. DoorDash guide to see which is better for drivers.*
Since you’re delivering alcohol, you must check customer IDs before handing over items ordered.
Saucey Pay
Reports indicate Saucey drivers earn $10-12 per hour. However, you can earn tips to increase earnings.
Saucey Requirements
- 21 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
- Access to a vehicle
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Saucey
Saucey isn’t as widely available as other services, but still offers a legit way to make money. Here’s what to know.
Pros
- They guarantee a minimum pay if you commit to a schedule in advance
- Limited shopping
Cons
- Tips aren’t guaranteed
- Hours are more limited than other services
Get started: Sign-up to drive for Saucey
6. Caviar
Caviar is a smaller, but growing, food delivery service. The service is available on the East Coast, large cities in the Midwest, and California.
The app shows all the information you need before accepting an order, including earnings. And, you can work on your own schedule.
Caviar Pay
Caviar is one of the best food delivery apps to work with for pay. The service claims drivers can earn up to $25 per hour, including tips. You can request payment after each delivery.
The app pays weekly, but you can get funds whenever you wish through a debit card they attach to your account.
Caviar Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
- Access to a vehicle, motorcycle, or scooter
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Caviar
Caviar was recently acquired by DoorDash and focuses on gourmet food delivery. Here’s how the service measures up.
Pros
- Instant payment after each order completion
- You get to see pay before accepting each order
- Live phone support is available
Cons
- The hiring process is a little longer than other delivery apps
- Not as widely available as other services
Get started: Sign-up to deliver for Caviar
7. Postmates
Postmates is a delivery app that lets you deliver food to customers, but also alcohol, dry cleaning, and more. Since it’s more courier-based rather than just strictly food, it’s similar to working for the Amazon Flex driver app.
The Fleet app is in all 50 States, and over 700 cities throughout the country.
Postmates promises delivery in under an hour. The more you deliver, the more you earn. Contractors have to be fast. Multiple slow trips in a row will pause you from being able to accept new orders.
You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. You can also deliver merchandise if you have a bike or motorcycle in some locations. Similar to other food and essentials delivery apps, Postmates requires contractors to agree to a background check before starting.
Direct deposits are made weekly and hit your bank account on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
Postmates Pay
Postmates pays you for the time you wait at a restaurant, drive time, and your promptness. Reports indicate delivery drivers average $20 per hour driving for Postmates.
This makes the service one of the best paying delivery app jobs to work for.
Postmates Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance (if driving)
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Postmates
Postmates is a true courier job. You can deliver anything with the app. Here’s what to keep in mind when considering working for the Fleet app.
Pros
- You can work whenever you wish
- Plenty of incentives and challenges to increase earnings
- You get paid for waiting on orders
Cons
- The orders can be small, which can impact pay
- Limited support for couriers
Learn more: Read our Postmates driver review
8. Uber Eats
Uber is a pioneer in the rideshare space. Several years ago they launched Uber Eats as a separate offering letting contractors to deliver food orders to clients. Similar to the traditional app, Uber Eats allows you to choose to accept an order as it notifies you in the app.
Uber Eats operates in 6,000+ cities, and 45 countries around the world, so it offers plenty of opportunity to make money with your car.
Uber Eats Pay
Delivery drivers for Uber Eats can earn $15+ per hour delivering meals to people. This depends on where you live as some cities allow you to earn a per-mile or minute rate. This delivery app gig also pays tips. You get paid per delivery and are paid weekly.
Read our Postmates vs. Uber Eats comparison guide to learn how to increase earnings.
Uber Eats Requirements
- 19 years or older
- Your car must have at least two doors
- May use a scooter with 50cc+ engine
- The car must not be older than a 1999 model
- You must have a government-issued ID and insurance
- At least one year of driving experience, if delivering by car
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Uber Eats
Uber Eats is another major player in the food delivery app space. Here’s how they measure up.
Pros
- You can work simultaneously for the rideshare and delivery service
- Plenty of incentives to increase earning potential
- It’s widely available throughout the country
Cons
- Pay can be confusing and often refigured after finishing an order
Get started: Sign-up to deliver for Uber Eats
9. Favor Delivery
Favor is similar to Postmates. Not only do you deliver meals to people at home, you also deliver groceries, dry cleaning, and more. Favor says they’re personal assistants, not just delivery drivers.
The service isn’t as widely available as other platforms and is only available throughout Texas, though it plans to expand to the Midwest. Favor offers both part and full-time work, and the site claims to offer flexible work schedules.
You must pass a background check, have a driver’s license, and access to a car to start.
Favor Delivery Pay
Drivers earn $10 – 18 per hour. Similar to other courier services, you keep 100 percent of your tips.
Favor Delivery Requirements
- 18 years or older
- Valid driver’s license and insurance
- Agree to a background check
- Have a current smartphone
- Access to a vehicle
Pros and Cons of Delivering for Favor
Favor is a smaller delivery service, but provides ample opportunity to make money. Here’s what to know about the service.
Pros
- You can work whenever you wish
- Plenty of incentives to increase earnings
- You can deliver by bike in some cities
Cons
- It’s currently only available in Texas
Get started: Sign-up to deliver for Favor
Best Delivery Apps Compared
| App | Avg. Hourly Pay | Pay Frequency | Bike/Motorcycle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | $20 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Instacart | $20 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Shipt Shopper | $22 | Weekly | No |
| GrubHub | $12 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Saucey | $12 | Weekly | No |
| Caviar | $25 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Postmates | $20 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Uber Eats | $15 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Favor | $14 | Daily | No |
What Skills Do You Need for Delivery Driver Jobs?
If you want to make extra money, courier jobs are a terrific option because you don’t need special skills or experience.
As long as you can provide good customer service and are timely, you should be able to excel. If a service has special requirements, they will list them during the application process.
How Do You Get Started?
The on-demand delivery app space has exploded in recent years. The first five options in our list should be available in most metro areas.
If you don’t know what service is available in your city, do an internet search for “food delivery driver jobs near me” to identify options. Find a service you like and apply. Most services allow you to apply via their app and you should hear back within a couple of days if you’ve been approved.
Most services let you work around your schedule. They will also tell you when is the best time to maximize your earnings.
Can You Drive for Multiple Services?
As you’re looking at the best delivery app jobs, you may wonder if it’s possible to work for more than one service. Most companies will treat you as a contractor, so you can work for as many as you want.
This increases flexibility and earning potential. However, it may also increase your auto insurance costs. Gabi offers a terrific opportunity to reduce those expenses. The service lets you compare up to 40 insurers to find the lowest priced insurers.
Which Service Should You Work For?
With so many side hustle opportunities out there, it can be overwhelming to choose one. Each of these delivery jobs is a little different and it’s important to pick one that fits best with your lifestyle.
Before choosing a service, look at what the ones you’re considering expect. If you can’t perform what they want, it may not be worth your time.
The most well-known service is DoorDash. The service is available nationwide and offers the ability to earn $20+ per hour. That qualifies it to be considered the best food delivery service to work for.
How Much Do Delivery App Drivers Make?
The average range for delivery drivers is between $12 to $22 an hour. However, the average is closer to $14 to $16 per hour. Pay varies for each app, but there are several things that impact pay. Those are:
- Living in a larger city
- Your ability to work during peak periods, such as evenings and weekends
- Taking advantage of blitz promos
If you’re a fast worker and can occasionally batch orders it’s probable you can earn near $20 an hour.
Which Delivery Service Pays Most?
Caviar pays the most, at an average income of $25 per hour, but it’s not available nationwide. DoorDash and Shipt Shopper lead for companies available in more cities with drivers being able to earn between $20 to $22 an hour and they’re both regularly looking for new drivers.
Summary
There are many ways to make money as a delivery driver. You can deliver anything from meals, to alcohol, and dry cleaning.
It’s important to know that as an independent contractor you need to track your income and expenses for taxes. These companies will not do that for you. However, that’s not a major issue.
If you want to supplement your income, use one of the above services to find jobs delivering to people in your free time.
What are your thoughts on delivery jobs as a way to supplement income? What are some other ways you’ve tried to make money that require little skill?
