Last Updated on April 28, 2023 by Roger Brown
Food delivery has been a remarkable side-hustle for many people as of late. With the flexibility it offers, it’s no surprise why so many are turning to food delivery app jobs. If you’re interested in easy work, this could be the gig for you. Here, you’ll discover the best food delivery apps to work for as of 2022.
One of the major perks regarding food delivery services is that you can run multiple apps simultaneously. If one app is lagging, another app or several can pick up the pace. Food delivery isn’t a trend nor is it seasonal. As long as people are ordering in or needing groceries delivered, drivers will stay in high demand.
Applying to become a food delivery driver is a very simple process. If you’re at least 18 years old, have a vehicle, a driver’s license, car insurance, and a smartphone, then you’re good to go. The registration process for most food delivery apps takes a day or two. At most, not more than a week.
How much you can earn depends on several factors including your location and schedule. If you’re working during peak lunch hours and/or dinner hours, you’ll receive more orders as opposed to off-peak hours. Most notably, customer tips make up a significant part of a driver’s wages.
Best Food Delivery Apps to Work For In 2022
Almost every app has a series of unique features. And once you’re on the road taking orders, you’ll soon realize which app takes your fancy. You’ll want to be mindful of a few things such as your car depreciation and gas expenses. But most importantly, you’ll want to ensure you’re making the best use of your time.
Not all services on this list will be available in your area. But most of them will. Once you’re familiar with your town and hotspots and have gotten used to delivering, you’ll find the whole process a breeze. It will ultimately be your choice on where and when you want to deliver to earn the most amount of money.
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DoorDash: Online Food Ordering & Delivery Company
DoorDash enjoys the largest market share in the food-delivery industry to date. Available all across the U.S. and Canada and recently expanding into Australia and Japan, the food-delivery giant has shown no signs of slowing down as it continues to provide more and more people with the opportunity to earn.
How much can I make driving for DoorDash?
As a delivery driver for DoorDash aka dasher, your base pay for each order is based on distance, time, and desirability. On top of the base pay is peak pay. Whenever a mad rush of orders is coming through in busy times, DoorDash offers additional incentives to dashers. This can be up to $4.00 per order.
Adding to your base pay and peak pay are tips that are yours to keep. What makes the DoorDash app particularly appealing is that nothing is hidden when you’re accepting an order. You’ll always know your payment upfront. And If you don’t feel like accepting an order, you can hit the decline button without penalty.
Another major perk that makes DoorDash one of the best food delivery apps to work for is hidden tips. This is when a customer adds an even bigger tip which is revealed once you’ve completed the order. Some of these hidden tips can be significant. Oftentimes, the bigger the order, the bigger the tip.
Your goal as a delivery driver should always to be accept the biggest orders while covering the least amount of distance. While not every order you receive will be huge, many do come with great tips. At the end of the day, it’s about making as much money as possible. Take the orders that make sense for you.
Much of your success with DoorDash will depend on the areas that you work in. If you’re located in a busy part of town where a lot of people are ordering food online, you can expect to earn in the range of $15 to $25 from completing 2-3 deliveries per hour. Rates can vary since some days will be busier than others.
Fridays to Sundays for example might be busier than Mondays to Thursdays. And the number of dashers out on the road on a particular day might also affect the number of good orders you receive. Overall, you likely will not earn less than $15 per hour as long as your area is generally busy during peak hours.
Food orders aren’t the only types of deliveries you can expect as a dasher. DoorDash has partnered with other major retailers including Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and others. This means you can expect to receive larger orders requiring you to shop at any of these major brands.
How do I become a DoorDash driver?
If you’re 18 and have a smartphone, you’ll be ready to dash within hours after the DoorDash signup process. You’ll simply submit your profile info including your vehicle details and insurance (if you’re using a motorized vehicle). You’ll then need your social insurance number to complete a background check.
Once cleared, you can go ahead and add your bank account information. The official Welcome Kit will then be sent to you once you’ve completed your first dash. The kit includes a small hot bag along with a red card. The card acts as a credit card that you’ll sometimes use to pay for items on the customer’s behalf.
Normally most items are paid for and you simply pick up the order without the need for a red card. But in some cases, you’ll need to use the red card to pick up items at certain stores or restaurants which are not in the DoorDash system. The card is only meant to be used for DoorDash orders and nothing else.
The small hot bag that you’ll receive as part of your Welcome Kit will only be suitable for smaller items. Larger items like pizza or family-sized orders will require the use of larger insulation bags to ensure that food stays warm when it reaches the customer. Plus, customers will genuinely appreciate your efforts.
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Uber Eats: Food Ordering & Delivery Platform
Launched in 2014 by rideshare giant Uber, Uber Eats has grown to become one of the best food delivery apps to work for over the past few years for drivers all over the world. The company is partnered with over 500,000 restaurants and is available in over 45 countries to date.
The appeal of the Uber Eats app is that you’re not assigned to any single location. Once you hit ‘Go’, you can pick up and deliver food no matter where you are. Uber Eats allows anyone with a bike, scooter, motorcycle, or vehicle to deliver. Further, you can cancel any order anytime without penalty.
How much can I make doing Uber Eats?
Your upfront pay as an Uber Eats delivery driver is based on several factors including distance, time, and order size. On top of your base pay, you can earn extra through surge pay and promotional pay, also known as boost pay. This is normally during busy times when there’s a large lot of orders coming in.
Uber Eats encourages tipping and makes the tipping process seamless on the app for customers who are ordering food. Customers have up to an hour to adjust the tipping amount on the app after receiving their order. Regardless of order size, you can receive some hefty tips when delivering with Uber Eats.
One of the major differences between DoorDash and Uber Eats is that you will know beforehand what the actual tipping amount is likely to be with a DoorDash order. Uber Eats on the other hand doesn’t reveal all tips until an hour after delivery. So it’s important to be aware of that when accepting orders.
Uber Eats often allows drivers the opportunity to earn bonus money for completing a set amount of deliveries known as ‘Quests’. For example, the app might run a promotion where you can earn $20 extra from completing 15 deliveries over a weekend. Additional bonuses are unlocked as you complete each quest.
Much like DoorDash, your earnings will depend on where you’re delivering for the most part. On a normal day and without tips factored in, you can earn anywhere from $12 to $20 per hour in base pay and surge/boost bonuses. With tips factored in, that amount can go well up to $25 to $30 per hour or higher.
How do I become an Uber Eats driver?
Once you hit the ‘Go’ button on the Uber Eats app, you’re ready to start earning money from anywhere. And when you’re not in the mood to work, you can hit, “Go Offline”. As long as you’re able to deliver orders, you are fit to join Uber Eats.
The registration process is straightforward. Like DoorDash, you can deliver using a car, scooter, or bike. To deliver by car, you’ll need to be at least 21 and show proof of car insurance and registration. If delivering by other means, the cut-off age is 18. A background check will be conducted once approved.
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Grubhub: Online Food Ordering & Delivery Service
When you’re delivering with both DoorDash and Uber Eats, you’ll want to add the Grubhub app to ensure that you have more orders coming your way. Much like DoorDash, you can schedule your blocks beforehand or simply turn the app on whenever you’re ready to deliver.
Grubhub is the oldest and one of the best food delivery apps today. The company is partnered with more than 200,000 restaurants across over 4,000 cities in the U.S. The popularity of Grubhub hasn’t waned even despite increasing competition over the years. And as a driver, you’re sure to get some hefty orders.
How much do Grubhub drivers get paid?
The pay model for Grubhub is no different from DoorDash and Uber Eats. You’ll always receive 100% of tips for each delivery. Tips are included in the overall pay when you accept the order. The base pay for every order is based on time and distance. And with special bonuses added in depending on the time of day.
If you’re delivering only for Grubhub, you can expect to earn in the range of $12 to $15 per hour. On a busier day, you can earn around $18 to $23 per hour. It’s recommended that you keep multiple apps running to maximize your earnings. You’ll also spend less time waiting for orders.
The Grubhub app doesn’t offer anything particularly unique as compared to other food delivery apps. But often there are ‘Missions’ which allow you to earn bonus cash for completing a certain amount of orders over a period of time. Or you can earn bonuses for accepting a high percentage of orders.
How do I become a Grubhub driver?
If you’re 19 years of age, have a bike or vehicle, a driver’s license, car insurance, and a smartphone, then you’re ready to start delivering with Grubhub. You’ll need at least an iOS 11 or Android 5.0. Deposits are made to your checking account every week. You can also cash out early for a small fee.
As a Grubhub driver, you’ll also receive a Driver Card in the mail which you’ll need to use to pay for certain orders at various stores and restaurants. You can also use your hot bag or purchase one directly from the online Grubhub Driver Shop.
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Instacart: Grocery Delivery & Pick-Up Service
The revolutionary grocery-delivery app, Instacart, is changing the way people shop for groceries. Launched in 2012, the app allows customers all across the U.S. and Canada to purchase their groceries online through the Instacart app and have them delivered to their door within a couple of hours.
While consumer spending is still significantly higher with food delivery than grocery delivery, Instacart alongside its competitors is seeing substantial growth as more and more people opt to shop online. And even better, that means more opportunities for drivers and gig workers to make easy money.
If you don’t have a vehicle, not a problem. With Instacart, you can work as an in-store shopper. That means you’ll receive a salary as an Instacart employee, with the opportunity to work up to 29 hours weekly by shopping for customers’ orders through the Instacart app and staging them for delivery.
If you do have a vehicle, you can work as a full-service shopper. In this case, you would be shopping and then delivering the order to the customer. This allows you more flexibility since you don’t need to schedule any shifts beforehand. And you are free to accept the orders aka batches that appeal to you.
How much do Instacart shoppers get paid?
As a full-service shopper, your earnings for the batches that you accept are based on distance, the items you’re shopping for, and the overall effort of getting the shopping to the customer. Your pay can range anywhere from $10 to $30 per hour or more, depending on the tips that you receive.
As an in-store shopper, you can expect to receive closer to minimum wage depending on where you live. That can be anywhere up to $15 per hour with some bonuses on top. You also would be saving on gas expenses since you would only be working in the store and not going out and delivering orders.
How do I become an Instacart shopper?
Whether you’re interested in being a full-service shopper or an in-store shopper, Instacart is always looking for new applicants. To qualify for either, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, eligible to work in your country, able to do some physical lifting unaided (up to 50 Lbs), and have a newer smartphone.
A car will be required if you’re applying for the full-service shopper position. Once a background check has cleared, you’ll receive a welcome kit which will include an Instacart credit card for paying for orders. You’ll also receive a lanyard which you’ll wear when shopping and/or delivering orders to customers.
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Shipt: American Delivery Company
While not yet as well known as Instacart, Shipt is gaining traction as a great online grocery delivery service. Launched in 2014, the app, while very similar to Instacart, thrives more on a community feel where customers and shoppers can become more acquainted, leading to more repeat orders for shoppers.
The app is super easy to use. You are provided a list of regions/areas or stores for you to choose from and will then be offered a list of orders. You can select the ones you like most and then carry out the shopping and delivery. And if you do a great job, you can even become favorited by your customer.
That means that whenever you’re looking for orders, a past customer can select you personally as their shopper if they’re needing an order done on that same day. The in-app messenger system is extremely useful in that you can communicate with the customer while you shop for their items.
How much does a Shipt shopper get paid?
Customers have a lengthy window to get their tips in after receiving their groceries. The customer-shopper relationship is a key factor in getting high ratings. And as a shopper, courtesy and friendliness can help get you some nice tips on top of your base pay. Treat customers well and it will pay off big.
Shipt is partnered with numerous stores including Target, Costco, Meijer, and Winn Dixie to name a few. When you become familiar with the app and are comfortable with shopping and delivering customers’ orders, you can make great money. Your hourly earnings can range anywhere from $20 to $30 per hour.
One of the perks with Shipt is that you’re not restricted to just a single order. You can accept multiple orders if they’re all in the same location. And over time as you continue receiving high customer ratings, the tips you receive can even surpass your base pay. Some shoppers earn over $200 per day after tips.
When you know your way around your local stores, you’ll naturally become quicker when shopping for your customer’s items. Time is money. And the faster you work, the more orders you can accept. In the gig economy, many are going full-time. And whether it’s full-time or part-time, you can make real money.
How do I become a Shipt shopper?
Getting accepted as a Shipt shopper shouldn’t take more than a few days. You’ll need your own vehicle, a smartphone, a driver’s license, and car insurance. You’ll also need to be at least 18 to apply. Since you’ll be shopping for groceries and carrying grocery bags a short distance, some stamina will be necessary.
Once you’re accepted, you’ll receive a welcome kit in the mail which will include an official Shipt shopper shirt along with a debit card. The card will be needed for paying for certain orders. The shirt itself isn’t required since there is no actual dress code. But it helps for easy identification when you’re shopping and delivering items.
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Best Food Delivery Apps FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The gig economy has provided fruitful opportunities to people everywhere these past few years. Losing a job or being unable to find full-time employment isn’t always a negative. There are many avenues available for you to earn an income. Food delivery is one and it can certainly pay off well.
What food delivery app pays the most?
What you can earn is determined based on several factors: the time of day, the zone you’re in, and how many other delivery drivers are on the road at the same time. Normally if you’re delivering during peak hours (breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner), then you can earn more than during off-peak hours.
There will be times when DoorDash might be slow on a specific day while other apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub might be super busy. And sometimes you might be met with smaller or lower-paying orders from Grubhub while receiving higher-paying orders from DoorDash. It depends on the day.
By running multiple apps, chances are good that you will receive a high volume of orders during your shift. While every app has its perks, DoorDash beats out its competitors by a very slight margin. On a good day, you should be able to earn around $15 to $20 per hour on average just from DoorDash alone.
What’s the best food delivery app to work for?
When it comes to a pure volume of orders, Uber Eats takes the top spot. You’ll see more orders being offered from Uber Eats as compared to DoorDash and GrubHub no matter the time of day. The slight drawback with Uber Eats is that you won’t see your tips until an hour after delivery completion.
With DoorDash and GrubHub, you’ll know your full base pay and tips upfront. The best thing about this is that you then can decide if the order is worth the number of miles you’re willing to cover or if it’s worth leaving your area. If you don’t mind an extra bit of physical labor, Instacart and Shipt are also viable.
Overall, you’re in the game to make as much money as possible in the shortest amount of time. And so having numerous options at your fingertips is the best way to go about it. Signing up with all the best food delivery apps and shopping apps above will ensure your chances of succeeding. And the best thing is that you’re your own boss.
Additional Resources and Recommendations
While food delivery is a great way to earn money, there are many additional opportunities available thanks to the gig economy. If you have a car, you can get paid through car wrap advertising. Combine that with food delivery and you can increase your earnings considerably. Of course, food can leave a mess so it’s ideal to give your backseat a run through with a car vacuum from time to time.
If you’re under 18 and don’t qualify yet for food delivery or don’t have a driver’s license, you can apply to any number of places that hire at 15 or even 14. Or you can consider one of many online jobs for teens to spur your growth as a future entrepreneur and one day launch your own business.
If you’re still unsure about doing DoorDash or Uber Eats, there are a good lot of work from home jobs out there that you can look at. Many companies and business owners are always searching for virtual assistants, freelance writers, content creators, social media marketers, customer service reps, etc.
Food delivery isn’t necessarily intended to be a career although it can provide you with a solid income. Rather, you can balance it as a side hustle with many other income opportunities like filling out paid online surveys or selling used clothes to name a few.
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