The Best Paying Delivery Apps to Work For

The best delivery apps to work for make it easy for you to earn money. Delivery app revenue has almost doubled since 2017, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many opportunities available to make some extra money in the food delivery industry, so keep reading to learn about the best paying delivery apps.

It is easy to get started in the delivery business as your side career to earn extra cash or even to turn it into your main gig. In this article, we’ll explain what it’s like to work for the best delivery apps and some of the pros and cons of working for these different apps.

What Is a Delivery App?

A delivery app is a software program used to connect delivery companies to customers. Customers use delivery apps to order goods and services like food, alcohol, groceries, and office supplies. Delivery apps charge a delivery fee to the consumer and pay a delivery driver for making deliveries to customers using a car, motorcycle, or bicycle.

How Do I Become Eligible to Work for a Delivery App?

Most delivery apps don’t require special skills or work experience for a delivery job, but they do have a number of driver requirements that you need to meet, including a background screening. Most delivery apps have a minimum age of 18 or older and require a valid driver’s license or government-issued ID, social security number, reliable vehicle, and valid insurance for your delivery vehicle.

How Much Can I Make Working for a Delivery App?

Delivery app driver income varies among different delivery app jobs and from city to city. Doordash drivers earn an average income of $36,565 per year, and drivers for Uber Eats earn an average income of $40,176 per year. Hourly wages don’t translate directly into actual earnings since you will need to pay for auto insurance, gas, and maintenance for your delivery vehicle.

How the Best Delivery Apps Can Help You Make Money

The best delivery apps help you make money by giving you a high delivery volume during the hours you are available to work. Delivery app gigs are a great side hustle for college students or a part-time or full-time job for someone looking for a flexible schedule. For some delivery apps, you will be a full-service shopper and deliver food to people.

Per Hour Pay

Some delivery app drivers earn money through per hour pay. You are paid a flat hourly wage rate for the hours you work. The pay range for delivery drivers is usually well over minimum wage, depending on the company.

Delivery Rated Pay

Other delivery app jobs offer delivery rated pay, where you are paid based on the number of deliveries you complete. Many drivers prefer delivery rated pay, especially in places with shorter drive times.

Tips and Wait Time

Some delivery driver apps pay drivers for time spent waiting at delivery pick up locations. You can also earn tips from customers. Customer tips can be variable, and tips for deliveries from expensive restaurants are usually higher.

The 10 Best Delivery Apps to Work For: Overview

App	Pay Rate*	Pros	Cons
Instacart	$29/hour	You can schedule work in advance	You will have to carry heavy bags of groceries
Eaze	$22/hour	Pay is by hourly rate plus mileage reimbursements	Hiring process takes weeks with strict driver requirements
Amazon Flex	$19/hour	Flexible delivery schedule, multiple delivery points	Must commit to full delivery block
Grubhub	$19/hour	Drivers receive 100% of tips	It can be hard to get enough work if there are a lot of drivers in your area
UberEats	$19/hour	Available nationwide, can also work as a rideshare driver	Confusing pay system
DoorDash	$18/hour	Drivers start with a 15% default tip rate	Paid less for small orders
Caviar	$16/hour	Information about delivery gigs available before committing	Some positions require two years of driving experience
Shipt Shopper	$15/hour	You can build a loyal customer base for good tips	Difficult deliveries can lower your rating and make it harder to get more jobs
Saucey	$15/hour	Late night delivery window	You must be over 21 years old
Favor Delivery	$13/hour	Drivers get 100% of tips, referral program with driver incentives	Only available in Texas

*National average

The Best Paying Delivery Apps to Work For

Below are 10 of the best paying delivery apps you can work for. Some specialize in food delivery, groceries, alcoholic beverages, or cannabis. A few popular food delivery apps also allow drivers to double as rideshare drivers. Consider the pros and cons of each app to choose the best one for you.

Instacart | $29/hour

• Pros: Available all over the US, you can schedule work hours in advance
• Cons: Delivery requires a car, you may have to carry heavy bags of groceries

Grocery shopping and delivery are other ways you can earn money. Customers use the Instacart app to get grocery deliveries at home. As an Instacart shopper, you can earn money as a full-service Instacart shopper or as an in-store shopper only. You will be paid based on the number and size of orders. Check at your local grocery stores to see if any are participating merchants with this popular food delivery app.

Eaze | $22/hour

• Pros: Pay is by hourly rate plus mileage reimbursements
• Cons: Hiring process takes weeks with strict driver requirements

Eaze is a delivery company that offers cannabis delivery services in select cities in California, delivering cannabis products from licensed retailers to customers. You’ll need to show a clean record through a criminal background check, which may take several weeks to get approved.

Amazon Flex | $19/hour

• Pros: Flexible delivery schedule, multiple delivery locations
• Cons: Must commit to full delivery block

One of the many delivery options Amazon offers is restaurant and food delivery services through the Amazon Flex app. To work for this app, you need to be at least 21 years old, and you have to pass the background test. Besides delivering food packages, you can also deliver packages for Amazon’s other delivery services.

Grubhub | $19/hour

• Pros: Drivers receive 100% of tips, lots of work available at night
• Cons: Must have auto insurance, can be hard to get enough work if there are a lot of other drivers in your area

Grubhub is one of the leading apps in the delivery gig economy and was one of the first food delivery service apps. Grubhub pays delivery drivers based on mileage and time, and drivers get to keep 100 percent of their tips. Payments are made weekly through direct deposit.

Uber Eats | $19/hour

• Pros: You can work both rideshare and delivery service, available across the United States
• Cons: Pay can be late and confusing

UberEats is based in San Francisco, California, and is one of the best paying delivery app jobs. It operates in over 500 cities across the United States. You can work as a delivery driver, rideshare driver, or both. You must be at least 18 years old, have proof of residency, and have a driver’s license.

DoorDash | $18/hour

• Pros: Driver incentives and challenges to increase your earnings, 15% default tip rate
• Cons: Drivers are paid less for smaller orders, driver support is only accessible via chats

DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps. Their drivers, called Dashers, deliver meals from restaurants to customers at home or work. You must be 18 years or older and agree to a background check. Their app is available in over 6,000 cities worldwide.

Caviar | $16/hour

• Pros: Information about delivery gigs available before committing
• Cons: Some positions require two years of driving experience

Caviar delivery app offers its couriers an average of $16 per hour for food delivery services. The company was recently bought out by DoorDash. Your earnings through the app are managed by CashApp. You can view all the information about an order before you commit to it, allowing you to pick delivery opportunities that work for you.

Shipt Shopper | $15/hour

• Pros: Can build a loyal customer base for good tips
• Cons: Difficult deliveries can lower your rating and make it harder to get more jobs

With Shipt Shopper, you shop for and deliver groceries. This grocery delivery service app is available in every state except Alaska and West Virginia. You must have a vehicle and be at least 18 years of age. Shipt Shopper requires you to have vehicle insurance to be eligible. As you take more delivery gigs, you’ll learn how to shop more quickly, which improves your delivery time and increases your earnings.

Saucey | $15/hour

• Pros: Late night delivery window
• Cons: You must be over 21 years old

Saucey is an alcoholic beverage delivery company offering delivery options in a growing list of major cities. Their delivery service is available almost any time of day, between 8am and 2am. Because Saucey is an alcohol delivery service, Saucey driver requirements are more strict than most food delivery jobs, and valid drivers must meet the 21-year-old minimum driver age.

Favor Delivery | $13/hour

• Pros: Drivers get 100% of tips, referral program with driver incentives
• Cons: Only available in Texas

Favor Delivery is an on-demand delivery service for food, dry cleaning, and office supplies in Texas. Drivers or “runners” for Favor Delivery commit to scheduled hours with a minimum hourly rate. Runners get to keep 100 percent of their tips, and there is a cash bonus if you successfully refer a new runner.

What Is the Best Delivery App to Work For?

There are many different delivery apps to work for as a delivery person. You can deliver groceries, meals, dry cleaning, office supplies, and alcohol. You need to be able to manage your time well and keep track of your income and expenses for taxes. Choose any of the above delivery app services that are available in your area and fit your schedule.

Best Delivery Apps to Work For FAQ