13 Best Delivery Apps To Work For In 2024

With so many food delivery apps available, a lot of people are asking: What is the best food delivery service to work for? Working for on-demand food delivery services has become the hottest and most widely available side hustle of 2024.

More people are choosing the convenience of ordering in while they stay home, which means an increased demand for new drivers. But what we love is that food delivery is a flexible and legitimate way supplement your income and make extra money.

Our top pick is DoorDash because it offers extreme flexibility, and DoorDash controls the largest market share. Check out our full list of best delivery apps to work for in 2024 to learn about driver requirements, how drivers are paid, and the pros and cons of each company.

Best Food Delivery Service to Work for in 2024 | 13 Delivery Apps to Try

1. DoorDash

Availability: Nationwide

Since DoorDash was launched in 2013, it’s grown to reach a market of more than 75 million Americans and has become the largest delivery service by market share according to Bloomberg Second Measure. DoorDash delivers meals from chain and local restaurants, and it’s begun delivering from convenience stores and drugstores, like CVS, in some markets.

Dashers — what delivery drivers for DoorDash are called — can schedule their hours in advance. There are no minimum hours to drive, which is the same as the rest of the food delivery services on this list.

DoorDash Driver Requirements 

• Drivers must be 18 years old or older
• Access to a car, scooter, or bike in some markets
• Valid driver’s license number
• Auto insurance

DoorDash has a simple driver pay formula called the Dasher Pay Model where 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. You always see this amount before accepting the order. DoorDash is currently piloting a new pay option called Time Earnings Mode, and drivers have the option to earn a guaranteed hourly rate while delivering plus 100% of tips.

DoorDash acquired another one of the best food delivery services, Caviar, in 2019. Caviar is seen as a high-end service, delivering for a more curated list of restaurants. Caviar is still operational, but it’s begun to operate under DoorDash’s branding. For example, signing up to deliver for Caviar takes you through the Dashers’ sign-up process.

2. Uber Eats

Availability: Nationwide

With more than a dozen food delivery services to work with, Uber Eats is a top choice for flexibility. Picture yourself with no boss, setting your own hours, and driving around town listening to whatever you want.

Drivers who use Uber Eats can deliver by car, scooter, bike, or even foot in some markets. 

Requirements to Drive With Uber Eats:

• Meet the minimum age to drive in your city.
• Have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the US (3 years if you are under 25 years old).
• An in-state license is required.
• Use an eligible 4-door vehicle — you can check eligibility during the sign-up process.

There’s no additional training required to get started, and as soon as you’ve passed the background check and accept the delivery terms, you can immediately start accepting delivery requests.

The flexible part we love about Uber Eats is that you can deliver on your own schedule. Here are some examples:

• Open the Uber Eats apps and pick up a delivery on your way home from work.
• Don’t have weekend plans? Open the app and accept a few late night deliveries.
• While you’re working from home during the day and need to get out of the house, you can open the app and take a quick delivery or two.

As far as Uber Eats pay, each fare is calculated based on time, distance, and any promotional pay, minus a service fee. However, delivery drivers always keep 100% of their tips.

You get paid weekly through the app, and Uber Eats also has an option for drivers to receive Instant Pay to their personal debit card — terms apply. Or you can sign up for the Uber Visa Debit Card and cash out your earnings up to five times per day at no charge.

3. Instacart

Availability: Nationwide

Instacart has become one of the most well-known grocery delivery services since it was launched in 2012. One of the reasons it’s among the best food delivery services to work for is because there are two options when working for Instacart: full-service and in-store shoppers.

• Full-service shoppers take customer orders in the app, shop for them, and deliver the order. These shoppers have the most flexibility because you can pick the days and times you work, plus how often you work.
• In-store shoppers take orders in the app, shop for them, and then stage them for pick-up. These shoppers are limited to 29 hours a week or less and are considered part-time employees, not independent contractors like full-service shoppers.

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.

Instacart Shopper Requirements:

• Drivers must have access to a car, valid driver’s license, and car insurance
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be eligible to work in the U.S.
• Able to lift 50 lbs

Instacart shoppers are paid based on the size and difficulty of the order, plus how busy the app is. Instacart shoppers can now see their estimated earnings before deciding if an order is worth their time.

4. Shipt

Availability: Nationwide

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.

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

Fun fact: The top Shipt shopper recently surpassed 20,000 deliveries!

Shipt Shopper Requirements:

• Drivers must be 18 years old or older
• Have a valid driver’s license and insurance
• Have a reliable vehicle — 1997 model or newer
• Capable of lifting 40 lbs or more
• Have insulated cooler bags

Shipt is one of the best food delivery services to work for because it allows shoppers to accept and shop for more than one order at a time. It can be a more efficient use of your time to earn more money.

Shipt updated its pay model in the fall of 2020, and some drivers have reported slightly lower pay because the new pay model is much more complex and accounts for “dynamic variables” including drive time, total order items, time of day, and road traffic. The app shows you estimated earnings before accepting an order.

Previously, drivers were paid based on a commission, which was $5 plus 7.5% of the order amount.

5. GrubHub

Availability: Nationwide

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.

GrubHub Delivery Driver Requirements:

• Drivers must be at least 19 years old (at least 21 in Chicago and Las Vegas)
• Have a valid driver’s license and car insurance
• Have a cell phone with a data plan (iOS 11 or higher or Android 5.0 or higher)

Grubhub uses what might look like a complicated pay model (below), and while it does vary by market, it clearly explains how your pay is determined.

6. Amazon Flex

Availability: Nationwide

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.

Amazon Flex Delivery Driver Requirements:

• Drivers must be at least 21 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Drive a 4-door, mid-sized or larger vehicle
• Have car insurance

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.

7. Caviar

Availability: Large cities nationwide, but those in smaller cities will be sent to DoorDash

Caviar was originally known as a higher-end food delivery app. But since DoorDash purchased Caviar in 2019, customers can now find a diverse selection of food on Caviar. A quick search of Caviar’s options and you’ll find everything from donuts, fast food, sushi, Indian food, etc.

Caviar couriers are technically employed by DoorDash, and when you sign up, you’re brought through DoorDash’s sign-up process.

Caviar Driver Requirements:

• Must be 18 years old or older
• Access to a car, scooter, or bike in some markets
• A valid driver’s license number
• Auto insurance

Caviar couriers are paid using the same formula DoorDash uses, which is Base Pay + Promotions + Tips = Total Earnings.

Base Pay varies based on where you’re delivering and can range from $2-$10 per order. The promotions are one of the reasons this is one of the best delivery apps to work for. You can earn extra for driving during Peak Pay hours, and you earn extra for Challenges (completing so many orders in a certain time).

8. Favor

Availability: Texas only

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 H-E-B — a popular Texas-based food retailer.

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

Favor Delivery App Requirements:

• Drivers must be at least 18 years old
• Have an Android or iOS device
• Active U.S. driver’s license
• Personal vehicle and insurance
• Bank account to process direct deposit

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. Favor Runners also need to pass a background check before they start delivering.

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.

9. Saucey

Availability: Select cities in the U.S.

Saucey is an alcohol delivery service that operates in only a limited number of cities in the U.S., but it’s expanding. So watch out for this delivery app if it isn’t available in your city yet.

Here are the cities where you can currently sign up to deliver for Saucey: Akron, Albany, Arlington, Atlanta, Austin, Binghamton, Boston, Buffalo, Champaign, Chicago, Cleveland, Connecticut, Dallas, Des Moines, Fort Worth, Fresno, Houston, Inland Empire, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Midland, Minneapolis, New York City, Omaha, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, Rochester, SF East Bay, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Silicon Valley, South Bay LA, St. Louis, Tampa, Toledo, Tucson, Washington DC, & Youngstown. They also offer 2-day and ground shipping in California and New York.

Requirements to Deliver for Saucey:

• Drivers must be at least 21 years old
• Reliable car that’s a 2007 model year or newer
• Smartphone
• Insurance
• Clean driving record

Saucey drivers are expected to check IDs for every order they deliver — probably obvious, but worth noting because it’s a little different than some of the other best delivery apps mentioned on this list.

10. goPuff

Availability: Nationwide

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.

goPuff Driver Requirements:

• Drivers must be at least 21 years old
• Access to an insured vehicle and vehicle registration
• Valid driver’s license
• Smartphone
• Pass a background check

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. 

11. Eaze

Availability: California

Eaze is a cannabis delivery service — yes, you read that correctly! Eaze only operates in California right now, but it’s one of the best delivery apps to work for because drivers make anywhere from $18-$26/hour.

Driver Requirements for Eaze:

• Drivers must be at least 21 years old
• 2004 model year vehicle or newer — and your car must have a working car alarm
• Smartphone
• Vehicle insurance
• Clean driving record
• Pass a criminal background check

The way Eaze works is that licensed cannabis dealers pay Eaze drivers an hourly rate, plus mileage reimbursement of $0.545 for every mile you drive. For example, if you drive 50 miles, that’s $27.25 that you’re reimbursed, which is why you’re paid so much more.

Besides the fact that you’re delivering weed, another difference is that drivers fulfill orders from the supply they carry in their car. So you spend less time driving back and forth between pick-up and delivery locations.

12. Bite Squad

Availability: Select states in the U.S.

Bite Squad is a smaller restaurant delivery service that’s currently available in 14 states, including Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Requirements to Deliver for Bite Squad:

• Drivers must be 18 or older
• Clean driving record
• Valid license and insurance
• iPhone or Android
• Pass a background check

Delivery drivers use the Bite Squad app to schedule blocks of time they want to deliver. When you’re scheduled to work, you open the app to find orders, pick them up from the restaurants, and deliver them to the customer’s house. So, it’s a really similar process to many of the other best delivery apps on this list.

13. Delivery.com

Availability: Select cities nationwide

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 be donated to a variety of charities.

This is actually the oldest delivery services on our list of best delivery apps — it was founded in 1995!

Delivery.com is currently available in over 2,400 cities and works with over 19,000 merchants in the U.S.

Requirements to Deliver for Delivery.com

• Drivers must be 18 or older
• Valid driver’s license
• Proof of auto insurance
• Smart phone
• Pass a background check

When you sign up to delivery for Delivery.com you’ll be asked which hours you prefer to work. It asks this to make sure they don’t get oversaturated with drivers who all want to work the same hours.

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.