Working as a delivery driver is a terrific way to make money in your spare time. This side hustle usually requires minimal skills, and you can maximize your earnings as a courier if you put in some extra effort.
The on-demand delivery space has exploded in recent years, so you may want to know which app is best. Jobs like DoorDash often let you earn good money, but which one is the right fit for you?
This guide shares a few of the best delivery apps to consider if you want to supplement your income.
Table of Contents
What Is DoorDash?
DoorDash is a popular on-demand food delivery platform. The side gig app is available in 7,000 cities throughout the United States and some select international markets.
Customers can order meals on the platform from their favorite restaurants. These meals are then delivered to their house or office.
As a Dasher, you select orders within the DoorDash driver app and complete delivery.
To start delivering for DoorDash, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Be able to pass a background check
- Have a clean driving record and valid insurance
- Own a newer smartphone with the latest update
- Have a reliable vehicle
- Be able to attend orientation (based on your city and state, so make sure to check)
The requirements are fairly similar to other delivery apps.
Once you sign up and complete all of the requirements, you can start driving for DoorDash. You can even earn cash with your bike delivering meals for DoorDash, in some cities, if you don’t have a car.
Driver compensation varies depending on numerous factors like tips. Read our guide on the best paying delivery app gigs to see how it compares to other side jobs.
What Can I Do Instead of DoorDash?
The delivery giant is a great choice to make money on the side, but it’s not the only way to make money as a delivery driver.
Here are the top seven DoorDash alternatives to earn quick cash.
1. Uber Eats
Uber Eats is one of the most well-known on-demand driver apps like DoorDash.
Like their parent company, Uber, the service is widely available nationwide and delivers fast food from hundreds of restaurants, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and sit-down restaurants as well.
Uber recently acquired Postmates. Read our analysis of Postmates vs. Uber Eats to learn how they compare.
Uber Eats Requirements
- 19 years or older
- Your car must have at least two doors
- May use a scrooter 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
You can also drive for Uber Driver if you drive for the Eats platform.
*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.
**Related: Read our DoorDash vs. Uber Eats analysis to see how they compare for drivers.
2. Instacart Shopper
If you don’t like the idea of delivering restaurant meals, Instacart Shopper is one of the best jobs like DoorDash. With Instacart Shopper, you do personal grocery shopping for customers.
Like DoorDash, customers place orders on the Instacart app. As an independent contractor, you accept orders, go to the grocery store to buy the items, and deliver them to the customer.
You must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the U.S. to work for Instacart. The company also has many of the same requirements as DoorDash.
*Related: Read our guide on the Instacart peak hours to help maximize your earnings.
Instacart is available in nearly 6,000 cities throughout the United States, and it partners with hundreds of grocery and convenience store chains.
You can work as few or as many hours as you want. You must also choose your schedule a minimum of one week in advance.
Instacart Shopper claims you can earn at least $20 per hour, inclusive of tips. However, that varies based on your location.
Pay is commission-based, so the more expensive the order, the more you can earn.
Read our Instacart vs. DoorDash analysis to learn how the two delivery driver apps compare.
3. Shipt Shopper
Shipt Shopper is a lot like Instacart Shopper. You do on-demand grocery shopping for customers and deliver items to their homes.
It sets itself apart by directing shoppers to the nearest stores to increase efficiency and earnings.
Shipt has seen significant growth recently and is now available in over 5,500 cities nationwide. It doesn’t work with as many retailers as Instacart though, as they only partner with roughly 125 companies.
*Related: Read our analysis of Shipt Shopper vs. Instacart Shopper to learn which of the grocery delivery services is best to work for.
Requirements to deliver for Shipt Shopper are similar to DoorDash and Instacart. Read our Shipt vs. DoorDash analysis to see how the two platforms compare for drivers.
Pay is commission-based. You earn a base of $5 per order, plus 7.50 percent of the total amount. For example, if you accept a $150 order, you will earn $16.25 for your time, plus tips.
Getting high-paying orders is good, but it’s also essential to balance that with the time it takes to complete the order.
Shipt claims drivers can earn up to $20 per hour. It also runs promotions for drivers, like the ability to earn up to $22 an hour after completing 100 deliveries and a free Shipt membership.
Pay is weekly, and you can schedule hours in advance to work as much as you want. Read our Shipt Shopper review to learn more.
4. Grubhub
Grubhub is one of the most popular delivery app jobs like DoorDash. The service is in over 4,000 cities, which is less than DoorDash, but it partners with over 300,000 restaurants.
Another difference between DoorDash and Grubhub is that you must be at least 19 years old to drive for the latter.
*Related: Read our detailed comparison of Grubhub vs. DoorDash to learn which is the better side hustle.
You must have access to a car to deliver for Grubhub, though they do allow you to deliver food via bike, motorcycle, or scooter in some locations.
The service claims to pay more than other platforms. You’ll receive $3.25 base pay per delivery, plus $0.22 per mile driven.
Grubhub says that drivers can earn up to $30 per hour, though reports indicate it’s closer to $15 – $20 per hour.
Like other delivery app gigs, Grubhub also gives the opportunity to earn bonuses if you work during peak times like late night weekend shifts.
The pay makes them similar to other alternatives to DoorDash, but it is nice to have a guaranteed pay per delivery.
You’ll get paid weekly and work on your own schedule.
5. Caviar
Caviar is a smaller food delivery service that’s expanding rapidly. Founded in 2012, it was recently acquired by DoorDash.
You can deliver for both companies, increasing your ability to make money on DoorDash.
While Caviar partners with numerous establishments, they specialize in working with higher-end restaurants.
The partnership focuses on more efficient order filling, allowing you to potentially increase your earnings.
Caviar is one of the higher-paying delivery apps. The service claims hourly earnings can hit $25, inclusive of tips.
It also allows drivers to request payment after each delivery through a debit card that’s attached to your account.
Pay is deposited weekly, and you can work on your own schedule.
6. Drizly
Drizly is a perfect option for couriers who like to run errands that don’t include delivering meals but instead focus on late night snacks and alcohol.
You either need to be 18 or 21 years old to deliver for Drizly, depending on state and local laws where you reside.
The Drizly app is a bit different than other delivery side gigs like DoorDash or Instacart Shopper. With those apps, you spend time driving between retailers and customers.
*Related: Looking for other courier gigs? Read our review of jobs like Amazon Flex to learn about more opportunities.*
With Drizly, you work at one store at a time and work solely for one retailer during your shift. Driving is only between that one location and customers.
That store can vary from shift to shift. Additionally, your income is largely based on the store you’re working at on a given day.
In short, the store determines your pay. Think of it as delivering pizza for one store as opposed to numerous locations.
Pay tends to be on the lower end, at roughly $13 per hour. But, you also receive tips that allow you to potentially earn more.
If you live in a big city or can work peak hours, this is an excellent option if you’re looking for weekend jobs near me to earn cash.
Pay is released weekly, and you can schedule hours a week in advance.
7. Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is a perfect alternative to DoorDash for people who want to deliver packages instead of food or meals.
The service is an on-demand delivery network that the company uses to deliver packages. You aren’t an Amazon employee in this role. Instead, you are an independent contractor.
Working for Amazon Flex entails collecting packages from Amazon warehouses and delivering them to customers. You choose the shifts you work.
You must be at least 21 years old to deliver for Amazon and have access to a mid-sized or larger vehicle. The one drawback to driving for Amazon Flex is the competition.
They don’t always have a need for drivers, and demand depends on your location. If you’re able to deliver for Amazon, you can schedule hours a week in advance.
Pay ranges from $18 to $25 per hour, but you usually don’t receive tips. However, the company does offer peak pay if you work during busier periods, such as around the holidays.
Amazon Flex pays twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Read our Amazon Flex driver review to learn more.
Top Driver Jobs Like DoorDash Compared
Here is a breakdown of the DoorDash alternatives so you can get a quick idea of which one might be the best option for you.
| App | Avg. Hourly Pay | Pay Frequency | Bike/Motorcycle? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | Varies | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Uber Eats | Up to $15 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Instacart Sopper | $20 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Shipt Shopper | $22 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Grubhub | $15 | Weekly + instant | No |
| Caviar | $25 | Weekly + instant | Yes |
| Drizly | $13 | Weekly | No |
| Amazon Flex | $18 | Weekly | No |
How Do Delivery App Drivers Make Money?
The formula to make money with your car is simple. All you have to do is provide excellent service and be efficient. Much of your earnings as a courier comes down to tips.
You want to do what you can to increase the chances of a better tip. Examples include:
- Regular communication with the customer via the given app
- Ensuring you deliver the correct items
- Having extras of common condiments on hand
If you provide quality customer service and take advantage of promotions, you’re likely to earn more money as a driver. You can also work for multiple apps to increase earnings, this is known as a side gig stack.
Read our guide on how to build a side hustle stack to maximize your earnings with multiple gigs.
Which Driving App Makes the Most Money?
Shipt Shopper, as stated publicly, is the highest paying driving app as you can earn up to $22 an hour.
Grubhub and Caviar are close to those earnings, though Caviar is dependent on the ability to have enough higher-end restaurants in your city that partner with the service.
Additonally, Dasher pay varies on factors like tips and time spent delivering items.
Amazon Flex is a high-paying package delivery service, but they aren’t always hiring contractors.
You can work for multiple services at once. With some effort, it’s not difficult to combine platforms into jobs that pay $20 an hour as a driver.
Bottom Line
The on-demand food delivery space provides ample opportunities to make extra money. Jobs like DoorDash and Instacart offer flexibility, weekly pay, and require minimal specialized skills.
You won’t replace your day job, but earning $15-18+ per hour with any of the possible alternatives to DoorDash is a terrific option to supplement your income. When managed effectively, these side hustles are a great way to reach your financial goals.
What’s your favorite way to make money on the side?
*Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. 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 tips, peak pay, and other incentives.
*Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval
*Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply
*Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability
*Dash anytime: Subject to availability
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
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