What Is The Best Delivery App To Work For

Want to earn extra money? Consider working as a delivery driver. Read this review to find out which apps pay the most.

But with so many delivery apps available, which is the right fit for you? Find out how top jobs (like DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub) compare.

Best Delivery Driver App Jobs

Here are the best delivery apps to drive for. Read on to find out how much you could make with each company.

What Delivery Service Pays Best?Select your state to find an app

Most Customers: DoorDash

DoorDash is a popular option for drivers interested in food-only deliveries. The app connects customers to local restaurants and pushes orders to drivers (also called Dashers) who are logged in. They've also expanded to delivering from convenience stores and drugstores in some areas.

When driving for DoorDash, like most delivery services, you're your own boss. You can manage your own hours and deliver where you want, when you want. After an order is completed, the DoorDash app encourages customers to tip generously when it's time to pay out. But great customer service can help you earn more.

DoorDash

Requirements:

18 years or older
Own a car, scooter, or bicycle (in select cities)
Valid driver's license number (if delivering by car)
Social Security number (only in United States)
Consent to a background check

To be a Dasher, you can't have more than 3 violations over the past 3 years. But just one major violation like DUI can also get you disqualified.

What you can get paid with DoorDash:

$10-$25 an hour, including:
Amount per delivery (depending on the duration, distance, and desirability of the order)
100% of tips

Based on the national average, Dashers get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery. 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.

Pro Tip: The app shows you hotspots where you're likely to get lots of deliveries. You can also take advantage of promos like Peak Pay and Challenge Bonuses to help you earn more.

Knowing the best apps can get you far. Being smart about driving can take you further. Stick around to the end for the 5 best hacks to make even more money.

Easiest Sign-Up: Uber Eats

You probably know Uber for its ride-sharing services. The popular app added food delivery in 2014 with Uber Eats.

Because of Uber's large, built-in customer base, Uber Eats may be the ideal choice for drivers. However, Uber's formula to determine earnings is less straightforward than other delivery apps. See if you're located in the 500+ cities Uber Eats delivers to.

Requirements:

If driving: meet the minimum driving age in your city
If driving: have at least one year of driving experience
If driving: valid driver's license, registration, and insurance
If biking: be at least 18 years old
If biking: government-issued ID
In many markets, registration and proof of residency are required
Provide information for a background check

What you can earn with Uber Eats:

$8-$15 an hour, including:
Flat amount per pickup
Flat amount per drop-off
Per-mile rate calculated by multiplying the distance between pickup locations and drop-off points (not applicable in all cities)
Per-minute rate calculated by time spent from the arrival at the first restaurant to final drop-off (not applicable in all cities)
100% of tips
Surge Zones and Quest Goals are promotions Uber Eats provides so you can earn more

What are the best apps for delivery drivers?

Waze for navigation
Hurdlr for mile tracking
Mint for accounting and budgeting
GasBuddy for finding gas
Weather Channel for weather
GateGuru for airport schedules
Urgent.ly for roadside assistance

Uber Eats is in 500+ cities. That's great if you live in a small city.

If you live in a big city, the next pick is a must-have. Find out which app is buzzing in metro areas below.

Best for Big Cities: GrubHub

Credit: Grubhub

GrubHub, one of the first food delivery services on the market, has since partnered with over 115,000 restaurants. As a driver, you'll receive all necessary information with each orders: pickup location, drop-off location, and total payout plus tip.

GrubHub drivers decide when they work but are limited to a delivery zone (chosen at registration). Depending on where you're located, some zones may be smaller than others. So, if you spend a lot of time away from your local area, you'll miss out on delivery opportunities.

Requirements:

19+ years old (21+ in Chicago and Las Vegas)
iPhone with iOS 11 or higher OR an Android with 5.0 or higher (must have a data plan)
Checking account with direct deposit capability
Valid driver's license (for at least 2 years)
Auto insurance (if driving)
Have a valid state ID (if riding a bicycle)

What you can earn with GrubHub:

Average of $12 an hour (based on time and mileage)
100% of tips
Instant Cash Out allows drivers to cash out available earnings at any time

Drivers also receive GrubHub equipment (car decal and insulated delivery bags).

Tips can make or break your delivery driving experience. See how you can maximize your earnings below.

Best Tips: Caviar

Operating in over a dozen large city areas, Caviar is a high-end food delivery service owned by DoorDash. Not only do they keep customers satisfied, their support team is also dedicated to assisting drivers throughout their drive time.

While Caviar drivers can earn up to $25 an hour during busier times, you won't always make that much. To maximize your earnings and receive bigger tips, try working with more expensive restaurants. If interested in driving for Caviar, check their website for areas they currently serve.

Requirements:

18+ years old
Own a vehicle (car, truck, bike, scooter, or motorcycle)
Minimum 2 years driving experience
Own a smartphone
Must pass a background check

What you can earn with Caviar:

$10-$25 an hour, including:
An "effort-based algorithm" calculated by distance, time, and size of the order
100% of tips
Get paid instantly after any order through Cash App

Don't want to deal with hot food all day? You don't have to. Some apps let you make deliveries without setting foot in a restaurant.

Most Variety: Deliv

Deliv is unique because they don't prioritize food orders like most delivery apps. Instead, they help local retail businesses with same-day deliveries.

As a driver, you might deliver dog food with one order and office supplies with the next. Deliv partners with companies like Best Buy, Walgreens, and PetSmart, to name a few. You can schedule your hours in advance or on a daily basis. Plus, most deliveries are within a 15-mile radius. Check their website for areas they're located in.

Requirements:

18+ years old
Own a car (2004 or newer)
Smartphone with data plan
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
Speak English fluently
1+ year(s) driving experience
Pass a background check

What you can earn with Deliv:

Up to $22 an hour, including:
Rate for time on task
Rate for delivery miles

Did you know you can actually make money by shopping? Keep reading for the best app to satisfy your inner shopaholic.

Shopping Fans: Instacart

Credit: Instacart

Instacart is a delivery app geared to making grocery shopping easier. They want to become the world leader in online grocery delivery.

As a full-service shopper, you're responsible for collecting and delivering a client's order (Instacart provides the grocery list). You're paid weekly, earn tips, and have the freedom to work whenever you want. Plus, you can review the estimated earnings prior to accepting or declining a delivery opportunity.

Instacart

Requirements:

18+ years old
Eligible to work in the United States
Access to vehicle
Access to smartphone (iPhone 5 / Android 4.4 or newer)
Ability to lift 50 lbs with or without accommodation

What you can earn with Instacart:

$7-$20 an hour, including:
Per-delivery rate (if task involves only delivery)
Per-delivery rate based on the number, weight, and type of items (if task involves personal shopping)
100% of tips

Other Delivery Driver Apps to Consider

Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex drivers can deliver groceries or packages and earn an average of $18 - $25. You pick up packages from an Amazon delivery station or local stores and deliver directly to customers. Depending on the order, your delivery blocks are typically 2-6 hours. Amazon allows Flex drivers to keep all customer tips. The bigger your car is, the more money you can make since you'll deliver more packages.
OrderUp
OrderUp is a food delivery service owned by Groupon. While smaller than companies like DoorDash and GrubHub, OrderUp continues to grow and is currently available in California, Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Virginia. Drivers are paid commission plus tips for every order they make as a driver.
Shipt Shopper
If delivering groceries interests you, consider driving for Shipt. Being one of the more popular grocery delivery services, shoppers can earn up to $22/hr. Work part time or full time while helping people get the things they need. Available in all of the U.S. except for Alaska and West Virginia.
Seamless
Seamless is a food delivery app owned by GrubHub Inc. When customers use their app, Seamless suggests new restaurants and dishes based on previous orders, encouraging them to place an order. Like other delivery apps, drivers get paid for every order completed plus tips.
Saucey
Saucey is an alcohol-only delivery service. Drivers deliver beer, wine, spirits, mixers, and more, though you must be 21 or older to join. The service is currently available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, Oakland, San Jose, South Bay LA, Orange County, San Diego, DC, New York, Dallas, and Chicago.
Eaze
Eaze is an online platform for information and legal access to cannabis in California and Oregon. Local dispensaries receive orders and payments directly from consumers on Eaze. The dispensary then sends one of their own employees to deliver the order, using the Ease app to locate the drop-off location.
Favor Delivery
Favor Delivery is a service offered only in the state of Texas. Drivers for Favor Delivery think of themselves as personal assistants, and claim to get anything in under an hour.

Delivery apps like the ones in this article are just a small sample of the money-making apps out there. Find more apps that pay real money.

What Experts Say

Making a living isn't always glamorous. Lots of people are afraid of getting stuck in unfulfilling jobs.

In an unpredictable job market, you don't have to go it alone. As part of our series on gig work and employment, CreditDonkey asked a panel of industry experts to answer some of readers' most pressing questions:

What are the pros and cons of starting your own delivery business over using a delivery driver app?
How do you find your purpose and do what you love?
Could gig work put an end to traditional employment?
How is the gig economy changing the workforce?
What does the future of food delivery look like?
What skills will always be in demand?
What will the future of work look like?

Here's what they said:

How to Make More Money as a Delivery Driver

Here are some skills every delivery driver should have in order to be successful:

Driving
Navigation
Customer service
Time management
Problem solving

These traits are valuable when making deliveries. Here are a few additional recommendations to maximize your earnings:

Accept large orders whenever possible
Be professional and friendly with every delivery
Work during the lunch/dinner rush and on weekends for more orders
Drive near business offices where tips are given more often
Work near a college town for more orders (though tips are usually worse)

Which delivery app pays the best?
Get the highest pay with these top delivery app jobs:

DoorDashers connect restaurants to hungry customers
Caviar Couriers bring in the tips from high-end diners
Deliv Drivers help local businesses with deliveries
Instacart Shoppers get paid to do groceries

Bottom Line

There's a lot of opportunity for you to make money as a delivery driver. With all the different money making apps available, it's important you research which option works best for your location and preference.

Remember, you don't need to limit yourself to only one delivery service. If you have an open schedule, maximize your potential earnings by working with multiple platforms.

DoorDash

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