9 Best Delivery App Jobs (and Gigs) to Work For in 2023

Delivering food is a terrific way to make fast cash. The growth of the on-demand culture makes 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.

Best Delivery Job Apps to Work for in 2023

Delivering pizza is no longer the only way you can get paid to deliver food to people. You can now work for numerous delivery service apps and earn good money.

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 7,000 cities nationwide, Canada, and Australia.

As a Dasher you deliver restaurant meals to people at home or work. Unlike other services, you only deliver food.

In most cases, you need a car, but you can deliver food via bicycle or scooter 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.

DoorDash drivers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery. This makes it one of the highest-paying delivery app jobs in the space.

Read our guide on the best times to DoorDash to learn how to maximize earning potential.

You get paid each week for the meals you deliver. If you need access to your earnings faster than that, you can sign up for Fast Pay after completing 25 deliveries.

There is a $1.99 fee to withdraw earnings instantly.

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

• Smaller orders can result in lower payouts
• Driver support is only available via chat

Learn more: Read our DoorDash Driver Review

2. Uber Eats

Uber is a pioneer in the rideshare space. Several years ago they launched Uber Eats as a separate offering letting contractors 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 is available in 6,000+ cities, and 60+ countries around the world, so it offers plenty of opportunities to make money with your car.

If you don’t want to deliver food you can drive with Uber Driver. This lets you serve riders by taking them to a chosen location.

You can also drive with both services if you wish to increase your earning opportunities.

*As of 7/18/22, Uber is migrating to a combined Driver & Delivery program that will allow a user to select how they want to earn with Uber, i.e., driving, delivering, or both! This consolidated program will be named Uber “One Earner.” Under this new model, whether a user lands on a Driver or a Delivery page, they’ll have the option to self-select which type of earning opportunity they want.

Uber Eats Pay

Earnings for drivers vary greatly depending on location and time spent performing deliveries. 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. Instant Pay is available, and has a $0.50 fee.

If you use the Uber Debit Card the fee is waived.

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

3. Instacart

Personal grocery shopping and delivery is another terrific way to make money if you don’t want to deliver meals. If this intrigues you, 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 6,000 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.

Drivers report you can earn up to $20 per hour as a shopper. Pay is weekly, but you can withdraw earnings daily for a minimal $0.50 fee.

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

4. 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, but still operates in 5,000 cities throughout the country, and is growing fast.

The app recommends which store is closest for shopping, allowing you to save time, and accept more orders.

Shipt Shopper Pay

Shipt pays somewhat 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 receive a free Shipt membership. Drivers are paid each Friday.

Instant pay is available, for a minimal $1.00 fee.

If you want to work for Shipt, but don’t want to grocery shop you can now deliver packages with the service.

Shipt Driver is a new service, offered in select cities, allowing you to only deliver packages. It operates similarly to Amazon Flex in this way.

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

5. 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 $0.50 per mile driven, according to their website. Drivers indicate pay is close to $15 – $19 per hour.

Pay is weekly, via direct deposit, but you can withdraw funds instantly for a small $0.50 fee.

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

6. Saucey

Saucey is an alcohol beverage delivery app offering a unique opportunity to make money. The service is roughly 40 cities nationwide, 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. Unfortunately, you can’t withdraw earnings when driving for the app.

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 delivery app jobs, 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

7. 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. Like other delivery app platforms, 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.

The app pays weekly, but you can get funds whenever you wish through the Cash app 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

8. 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 is widely available in most cities.

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.

Postmates Pay

Postmates pays you for the time you wait at a restaurant, drive time, and your promptness. Delivery drivers indicate you can earn an average of $20 per hour driving for Postmates.

This makes the service one of the best-paying delivery app jobs to work for.

Direct deposits are made weekly and hit your bank account on Wednesdays or Thursdays. You can withdraw earnings instantly, as long as you have a $5 balance, for a $0.50 fee.

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

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 can earn $10 – 18 per hour. Similar to other courier services, you keep 100 percent of your tips. Pay is weekly, or you can withdraw earnings instantly for a $0.99 fee.

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

There is a lot to consider when driving for an on-demand app. Here is how the platforms compare for average pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Working as a courier is a promising way to make money on the side. Here are some common questions people have before signing up to work for a delivery company.

What skills do you need for delivery driver jobs?

Courier jobs are a terrific option because you don’t need special skills or experience to make money.

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.

You can apply via the respective 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 and wear and tear on your car.

Most services don’t pay for gas, so you will need to account for that expense.

What is the best food delivery app to work for?

It can be overwhelming to choose a delivery service to work for as there is a lot of choice. 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 drivers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery.

That qualifies it to be considered the best food delivery service to work for.

If you prefer to stick to delivering groceries, Instacart Shopper is best.

How much do app delivery drivers make?

The average range for delivery drivers is between $12 to $22 an 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 $23 an hour.

As an added bonus, both services regularly look for new drivers.

How do you get delivery gigs?

It is fairly simple to get delivery jobs in an app. Depending on the service, you log into the platform and out yourself as ready to work.

This lets you see orders that are available for pickup. You select the order(s), pick them up, and deliver them to the customer.

The tip amount and driver rating will be available to view upon completion of delivery.

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 some other ways you’ve tried to make money that require little skill?

 

*Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.