11 Best Delivery Apps to Work For in 2024 (Make $200/Day?)

As more people are choosing the convenience of ordering in, it means there’s an increased demand for new food delivery drivers. This is a great if you’re looking for a flexible and legitimate side hustle.

We’ve reviewed the best delivery apps to work and talked to drivers to help you decide which one is right for you. The following apps are convenient, are widely available, and easy to sign up for.

It’s worth noting that all food delivery services have some requirements for drivers. These vary by company, but you will need a valid driver’s license, pass a criminal background check, and have a reliable vehicle.

Best Food Delivery Service to Work for in 2024 | 11 Delivery Apps to Try

1. DoorDash

Since DoorDash  was launched in 2013, it’s grown to reach a market of more than 75 million Americans. According to Bloomberg Second Measure, DoorDash controls 65% of the market share.

With DoorDash, you can set your own hours and be your own boss. Dashers also benefit from DasherDirect, which allows for instant payment upon approval, and Fast Pay, which lets you cash out daily (fees apply).

Key Features:

• Flexible schedule: Work when you want, around your own schedule.
• Be your own boss: Enjoy the independence of managing your own work.
• DasherDirect: Get paid instantly (subject to approval).
• Fast Pay: Cash out daily (fees apply).
• Dasher Pay Model: You’ll always earn Base Pay for any offer accepted on DoorDash. Base Pay is calculated based on the estimated time, distance, and desirability of the offer.
• Time Earnings Mode: Pilot option to earn a guaranteed hourly rate while delivering, plus 100% of tips.
• Caviar is now part of the DoorDash family and drivers can deliver for both.

Learn more about DoorDash below:

2. Uber Eats

With more than a dozen food delivery services to work with, Uber Eats is a top choice for flexibility. Drivers who use Uber Eats can deliver by car, scooter, bike, or even foot in some markets. Uber Eats delivers for grocery stores and restaurants nationwide, and it’s the second most popular service next to DoorDash.

Key Features:

• Flexible work hours.
• Competitive pay.
• Wide availability in many cities.
• No additional training, and you can start as soon as you’ve passed the background check.
• Get paid weekly through the Uber Eats app or sign up for the Uber Visa Debit card and cash out up to 5 times per day.
• Good for anyone who is already driving for Uber.
• Postmates is now part of the Uber Eats family.

Learn more in our Uber Eats Driver Review.

3. Instacart

Instacart has become one of the most well-known grocery delivery services since it was launched in 2012. This food delivery app is primarily used for grocery delivery and not restaurant delivery. This makes it a good choice if you prefer grocery only, but the hours aren’t as flexible because you’re not able to deliver from restaurants. I am always seeing Instacart shoppers when I’m grocery shopping!

Key features:

• Instacart shoppers are paid based on the size and difficulty of the order, plus how busy the app is.
• Early in 2023, Instacart began rolling out a new feature called Scan & Pay. Shoppers can use the feature to avoid the checkout line and save time on orders.
• Shoppers can now see their estimated earnings before deciding if an order is worth their time.
• Instacart shoppers have two options for work: full-service and in-store shoppers (who don’t need a car to work).

Learn more in our full Instacart Shopper Review.

4. Shipt

Shipt was founded in 2014 as an on-demand grocery delivery service. It was purchased by Target in 2017, and it’s since expanded to over 5,000 cities nationwide. Shipt started as a membership-based platform, and while that’s still an option, you no longer need to be a member to order from Shipt. This opens it up to more users, meaning more work for Shipt shoppers.

You can spot Shipt shoppers because they are expected to wear a Shipt shirt when they work so that store employees can identify shoppers.

Key features:

• Shipt is a growing on-demand grocery delivery service that delivers for top retailers like Target, Costco, HEB, Meijer, and more.
• Comes with a free Shipt membership.
• Drivers can cash out once per day.
• Prior to 2020, drivers were paid based on a commission, which was $5 plus 7.5% of the order amount. The new pay model is more complex and accounts for “dynamic variables” including drive time, total order items, time of day, and road traffic. Some drivers have reported a lower average pay.

5. GrubHub

GrubHub is considered the OG among these food delivery services — it was founded in 2004. It now serves more than 4,000 U.S. cities and partners with more than 225,000 restaurants.

This on-demand delivery service mainly delivers for restaurants, but it’s expanded to include convenience stores in some markets.

Grubhub drivers are encouraged to schedule their shifts in advance, but you can also open the app and drive whenever you have extra time.

Key features:

• You see very detailed information about orders in the app before taking orders, including total payout (minus tip), pickup location, and drop off location.
• GrubHub has live phone-based support for delivery drivers in the U.S.
• Customers are encouraged to tip generously — default tips are set at 15%.

Learn more in our Grubhub Driver Review.

6. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is an Amazon service that outsources drivers for Prime Now, AmazonFresh, and Amazon Restaurant Delivery. Because you can deliver packages too, that makes it pretty different from the rest of the best food delivery services on this list.

Drivers can pick when they work, but you will need to drive for 3-6 hour-long blocks. You’ll also need insulated bags or coolers to keep refrigerated or freezer items cool.

Key features:

• As of August 2024, Amazon Flex operates in over 100 major cities in the U.S.
• Drivers can use their own vehicles to pick up packages from Amazon Facilities and deliver them to customers.
• Amazon Flex drivers are paid based on the number of orders the complete: more orders = more pay.
• Having a larger vehicle means you can complete considerably more orders.
• Drivers choose the days they’re paid, whether it’s once a week or daily.
• There are a limited number of openings available.

Learn more in our full Amazon Flex Driver Review.

7. Favor

Favor is a Texas-based food delivery service that operates for restaurants in major markets like Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and a bunch of cities like Odessa, Amarillo, Temple, San Antonio, and more. Favor is actually owned by HEB — a popular Texas-based food retailer.

Favor calls its delivery drivers Runners, and you can deliver in a car, truck, motorcycle, and scooter.

Key features:

• Complete deliveries for Texas favorites, like HEB and Whataburger.
• Runners in Austin can deliver via bicycle, and you don’t need a driver’s license or vehicle insurance to deliver by bike, but you will need an official ID.
• Drivers earn 35% of the delivery fee plus 100% of your tips. This is one of the best food delivery apps to work for in Texas because Favor offers hourly guarantees of $9-$10/hour as incentives for delivery drivers who schedule your hours in advance.

8. goPuff

goPuff is one of the best delivery apps for essentials, groceries, snacks, cleaning supplies, drinks, over-the-counter medicine, and even electronics. goPuff is currently in 1,000 cities in the U.S. and Europe and is rapidly expanding.

What’s unique about goPuff is that when customers place orders, the goods come from one of goPuff’s 200+ warehouses, so it’s not delivery drivers shopping at stores for each order. Drivers need to schedule orders in advance, and all deliveries are within a 30-minute radius of the warehouses.

Key features:

• Drivers for goPuff are paid a commission for each order plus 100% of their tips. You’re also guaranteed an hourly minimum pay, and this varies by market.
• You’re not driving all over to pick up deliveries — they all come from one central delivery hub.
• goPuff isn’t as well known, so there may be fewer openings for new drivers.

9. Delivery.com

Delivery.com is a New York City based delivery app that specializes in delivering food, laundry services, alcohol, and groceries. What’s unique for customers is that they can earn points for every dollar spent, and the points can be redeemed for cash or donated to a variety of charities.

Key Features:

• Delivery.com is currently available in over 2,400 cities and works with over 19,000 merchants in the U.S.
• Founded in 1995, this one of the oldest food delivery services in the U.S.
• Delivery options include grocery, takeout, alcohol, and laundry.

10. Saucey

Saucey is a an alcohol delivery service available in select cities across the U.S. You have to be at least 21 to deliver for Saucey, and drivers make a little over $10/hour according to Indeed.

Reviews from Saucey drivers say it’s a “chill job” where you get to do your own thing, and that’s the case for most food delivery apps. You can work on your own schedule and cash out when you want.

11. Chowbus

I had never hear of Chowbus until I started researching this article, but it’s actually a pretty cool food delivery service. They specialize in Asian food delivery, but they also make a point of sale system for restaurants.

This service is based on Chicago and have limited availability in the U.S. The pay and requirements are similar to the other services I’ve covered. This is a good one if it’s available in your area and you want have more than a couple of options.

How to Choose Which Delivery App to Work For

There are more than a dozen options on this list, but which one should you deliver for? Here’s how to decide:

• Where the app delivers: This is one is obvious — if the service isn’t available locally, then it would make much sense for you. DoorDash and Instacart have the widest reach out of the options on this list and make sense for more people.
• Hours available to deliver: Apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats need couriers all hours of the day, but Instacart and Shipt, for example, only deliver when grocery stores are open. Additionally, some apps require you schedule your hours in advance, but some people may want the freedom to log on and drive whenever they have a little extra time.
• If you meet the requirements: Some apps require you to be at least 21 years old, and that doesn’t work for everyone. Carefully read through the requirements of each before signing up for one.

The reality is that you can deliver for multiple services at once, so there’s no harm in trying a couple out to see which is best for you. Some drivers even use that strategy to optimize they earnings.

How to Make the Most Money Possible When Delivering

We’ve had the opportunity to talk to real food delivery drivers to learn how to make the most tips, which hours pay the most, and more. Here’s how to make as much as possible when delivering:

• Be friendly and courteous. Never underestimate the power a smile and “have a nice day” have on your tips. Being nice goes a long way these days.
• Check each order carefully. Look over your customer’s order before delivering to make sure you’re delivering exactly what they asked for. If it’s restaurant delivery, pay attention to things like sauces, napkins, and cutlery too.
• Communicate with your customers. If you’re running late for some reason, if the store was out of an item, etc. — communicate that to the customer. It takes just a few extra seconds, but they will appreciate the heads up more than you might realize. This is the kind of thing that can really increase your tips!
• Drive during busy periods. There are optimal times to deliver for each app. For example, DoorDash has a busy lunch and dinner rush, but it’s also busy late at night and during major televised events. Grocery delivery apps get busy during the holidays and typically around 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most apps increase pay during those periods to encourage drivers to hop on the app and deliver.
• Take a delivery on your way to or from places. One of the most interesting driver tips we heard was from someone who took a single delivery order on their way home from work. They earned about $20 for each delivery, and over the course of a month, they would net an extra $400! The point is to fit in deliveries when you’re already in your car and driving.
• Try the delivery service. To really understand what makes for a good delivery, order one for yourself. See what goes into the process from the customer side and pay attention to what would make the experience better or worse for you.

Which is The Best Food Delivery Service to Work For? The Final Word

These companies are all incredibly similar, and that’s a great thing for anyone who wants to make money fast. There are fewer and fewer surprises, and it means no matter which one you sign up for, you know you’ve chosen a solid company.

One tip you’ll get from seasoned drivers is to sign up for more than one company at a time. Being an independent contractor means you can work for multiple companies, and many even encourage it. We’ve mentioned that already, but it’s seriously worth doing.

To decide who to start with, we highly recommend checking out DoorDash. They recently contacted me about a higher-than-average need for drivers.