Which Delivery Gig Is Right for You? We Compare 9 Popular Apps
Delivery jobs are no longer limited to the UPS and FedEx drivers.
Thousands of delivery gigs, which stem from a plethora of on-demand delivery apps, are available nationwide. Delivery services started booming during the pandemic, creating a surge in demand for delivery workers that’s kept growing ever since. The vast majority of delivery app jobs are categorized as 1099, which means the workers are independent contractors.
Requirements are overall very low. In many cases, all you need to start earning is a valid driver’s license, a functioning car and auto insurance.
But the reality of delivery work is tough. In addition to the work itself, apps glitch, customers may not tip, and the only one paying for the wear and tear on your car is you. Pay varies based on where you live, and who you deliver for.
Despite the challenges, plenty of folks love the work and find delivery apps a flexible source of extra money. Each app works a little differently. We analyzed the most popular ones, looking at wages, frequency of pay, job and vehicle requirements, dress code, driver reviews and more to help you choose the best delivery app for your next side gig.
Food Delivery App Jobs
Many well-known delivery apps specialize in food delivery. Here’s how they work.
DoorDash
Overall, Dasher requirements are low. The minimum age is 18 in most states, 19 in 13 others and 21 for new applicants in California, you need a driver’s license for auto deliveries and you can deliver with any mode of transportation — a properly insured vehicle, a scooter or a bicycle. There’s no dress code, and the company provides a hot bag for free. Payment is on a weekly basis, or you can access your funds early through Fast Pay for a fee.
DoorDash is available in all 50 states.
As of September 2019, all Dashers (DoorDash drivers) receive 100% of their tips, plus an increase in their base-pay per order. DoorDash also acquired food-delivery company Caviar and has been combining the services. Through the DoorDash app, drivers can choose orders through either Caviar or DoorDash. The driver app for Caviar no longer exists and is now channeled through the Dasher app.
In August 2020, DoorDash announced it would start offering grocery-delivery services in a handful of major cities in the Midwest and along the West Coast — adding to the ways Dashers can earn.
Glassdoor review: 3.6 out of 5.
Grubhub
Grubhub operates in more than 4,000 cities. Depending on the location, the company guarantees hourly wages. Drivers tend to earn around $17 to $24 an hour, and they get to keep 100% of their tips. Grubhub pays weekly.
Wages can be accessed early through Grubhub Instant Cash Out and a partnership with Chase Bank. If you have a Chase bank account, the early cash-out service is free, otherwise it’s 50 cents per transaction. Open a Chase account and get a bonus.
Auto insurance and a reliable vehicle are required, and drivers must be 18 or older. There’s no dress code. While the company recommends its drivers use a hot bag for deliveries, it doesn’t provide one.
Glassdoor reviews: 3.2 out of 5.
Uber Eats
You must be at least 19 for car delivery, or 18 for delivery by bike or foot to deliver for Uber Eats.A two- or four-door vehicle is required, as is auto insurance.. You’ll earn around $18 to $24 an hour and get to keep all of your tips. Payment comes automatically every week, or you can pay a fee to access your earnings early with Instant Pay. You’ll need a hot bag for deliveries, but the company doesn’t provide one.
A notable perk: Drivers can switch between Uber and Uber Eats on the same app.
Uber Eats operates in all 50 states.
Glassdoor reviews: 3.7 out of 5.
Delivery App Jobs
Here are the top contenders for package-delivery gigs. Generally speaking, these delivery jobs require larger vehicles because of the potential size of some orders. Some heavy lifting may be required.
Amazon Flex
Package delivery is the latest in a long list of industries the e-commerce giant has upended. Currently, delivery gigs with Amazon Flex are among the highest paying, as the company says hourly wages range between $18 and $25 depending on your area. Through efficiency and good tips, it’s possible to earn more.
Flex requires you to sign up for shifts, aka “blocks,” for most deliveries. Blocks typically run three to six hours at a time, and grocery blocks picked up from Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market run two to four. Amazon Now blocks, which cover local deliveries of daily essentials, are less than an hour.
Insured four-door, midsize sedans or larger vehicles, such as SUVs, vans and trucks with covered beds, are required for Flex packages. Smaller cars, trucks with open beds, motorcycles and motorized scooters do not qualify. To apply, you must be at least 21 years old. No dress code or special materials are required to start delivering, but you must wear a safety vest and closed heel-and-toe shoes.
Glassdoor reviews: 3.4 out of 5.
Walmart
To start delivering with Walmart, you’ll want to download the Spark Driver app. You’ll need to be 18 or older (21 in some states) with a valid driver’s license and auto insurance. There’s no vehicle year requirement, but scooters and bikes are out because Walmart orders can tend to include larger items like cases of water and bags of dog food. Depending on the trip, you’ll either pick up the order curbside or shop it yourself in the store. Pay is per trip rather than hourly, with the payout shown upfront before you accept, and you keep 100% of your tips.
Spark pays weekly by direct deposit, with drivers reporting earnings between $19 and $26 per hour. Spark operates in all 50 states, though busy markets run waitlists when they’re at driver capacity.
Glassdoor reviews: 3.7 out of 5.
Dispatch
Dispatch is an on-demand package delivery app marketed toward businesses. The service is available in more than 80 major cities and metropolitan areas.
According to Glassdoor reviews, drivers report earning between $18 to $23 an hour. Dispatch pays weekly through an app called Stripe, provides supplemental auto insurance and reimburses tolls along the delivery route.
You must be at least 23 years old to qualify. Your vehicle just needs to be in “fair condition.” Once accepted, Dispatch will send you a branded badge that is required during deliveries.
Glassdoor reviews: 4.2 out of 5.
Grocery Delivery App Jobs
Delivering groceries can be a little more time consuming and laborious than delivering food or packages. Typically, these gigs involve an extra step: shopping for the items. You’ll also need to be able to lift and carry heavy loads.
But the extra effort could pay off through better tips.
Instacart
Instacart offers part-time W-2 jobs as well as independent delivery gigs.
The part-time positions don’t have a delivery component, they’re in-store only. In-store shoppers work in partner grocery stores, readying orders for delivery.
Full-service shoppers are independent contractors who, depending on the order, shop as well. Full-service shoppers report earning between $20 to $30 an hour and keep all their tips. Instacart pays weekly.
To become a full-service shopper, you’ll need a reliable vehicle with auto insurance. Unlike most delivery platforms, Instacart carries no commercial auto liability coverage — your own policy is all that protects you on the road, and personal policies often exclude delivery work. You may be required to wear a lanyard or company-branded shirt
Gigs are available in all 50 states.
Glassdoor reviews: 3.6 out of 5.
Shipt
To start delivering with Shipt, which is owned by Target, you’ll need to be 18 or older and drive an insured vehicle from 1997 or later. Shipt says shoppers earn an average of $22 an hour, depending on location, and you’ll pocket all of your tips.
Shipt pays every week via direct deposit, and you can cash out up to three times a day for a small fee once you’ve received at least one weekly payout. A branded Shipt shirt is the only uniform requirement, which the company provides for free. Reusable grocery and insulated bags are on you, though.
Glassdoor reviews: 3.2 out of 5.
GoPuff
GoPuff is a general-store delivery service founded in 2013 that currently operates in more than 1000 cities in the U.S. and U.K. In most locations, services are available 24/7, which means the delivery gigs are too.
There’s no shopping involved because site staff pick and stage each order, and you simply select your own delivery shifts in the app, usually booked in advance.You must be at least 21 years old and have an insured vehicle (any model) to deliver for GoPuff. Drivers typically earn $16 to $23 an hour and keep 100% of their tips. Note that Gopuff classifies delivery drivers as W-2 employees in some markets and independent contractors in others, which affects your taxes and benefits, so be sure to check which applies where you’d be working.
A paid alcohol-delivery training course is required in some areas.
Glassdoor reviews: 2.7 out of 5.
Adam Hardy is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
