DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Which is Best for Drivers in 2023

Grubhub vs. DoorDash Pay: Which Drivers Make More Money?

Driver pay is one of the biggest factors because if you want to make extra money, you don’t want to waste your time. Both companies have made changes to their pay structure over the years and include numerous factors. Let's check out how each delivery service pays and how pay is currently calculated in 2023.

DoorDash Driver Pay

DoorDash pays drivers a base pay of $2 to $10 per order, but once bonuses, tips, and other fees are added in, DoorDash drivers can realistically expect to make $15-$25/hour while on delivery. Like most services, you are paid per order, not a flat hourly rate.

In August of 2022, DoorDash rolled out Time Earnings Mode in select markets. This optional feature allows drivers to earn a guaranteed hourly amount instead of per order pay. We've dug into what drivers make in Time Earnings Mode vs normal DoorDash pay, and here's what drivers report:

• One driver said they average $20/hour in Time Earnings Mode versus $24/hour normally
• Other drivers pointed out that this is for active drive time only, meaning from when you accept an order until when you drop it off. It does not account for the time you're waiting for orders to come through the app.

Learn more in How Much Can You Make From DoorDash in A Day?

DoorDash Pay Model

The newest DoorDash pay model rolled out in 2019, and the biggest changes are that all drivers now have a guaranteed base pay amount and keep 100% of their tips. Prior to that, tips were used to subsidize pay for drivers who made under a certain amount.

 Here’s how DoorDash currently calculates pay:

• Base pay is the guaranteed minimum drivers are paid per order. It varies by order and ranges from $2-$10. Drivers see this amount in the Dasher app before accepting an order, and you always keep 100% of this amount.
• Promotions give you opportunities to increase your earnings. There are Peak Pay times when certain delivery areas in the Dasher app light up red with a plus dollar amount, which is the additional amount you’ll earn on top of the base pay. This is typically between $1-$4 extra per delivery.
• Challenges are things like “Complete X number of deliveries in a set amount of time”. If you complete the challenge, you’ll receive bonus pay. Dashers can earn challenge bonuses on top of Peak Pay. 
• Tips are added when the customer checks out, and you keep 100% of your DoorDash tips.

Because of a demand, the DoorDash drivers we’ve talked to say they consistently make around $15 to $25/hour. 

Learn more in DoorDash Driver Review 2023 and How Much Can You Make in DoorDash in 2023?

Grubhub Driver Pay

Based on driver reviews, Grubhub drivers average $10-$23/hour. Grubhub also pays per order instead of hourly, and there are a bunch of factors used to calculate pay. Let's take a look:

Grubhub Pay Model

Until recently, Grubhub was clear that drivers were paid approximately $0.22/mile and $0.13/minute. They’ve switched to a more ambiguous pay structure that has four parts: delivery amount, Grubhub contribution, tips, and incentives. 

Here’s what goes into each of those factors:

• Delivery pay includes base pay plus any applicable bonuses, but they’re not clear on what those bonuses are. Base pay accounts for mileage, delivery type, time spent delivering, and your local market.
• Grubhub contribution is a newer component, and it’s designed to help drivers earn a minimum guaranteed rate for their local market. You’re only eligible for the contribution if you drive during a scheduled blog and meet Grubhub’s Acceptance Rate criteria.
• Tips belong 100% to the driver. 
• Missions & Special offers are designed to boost your pay. They include participating in sweepstakes and reaching driver goals in a set amount of time.

Learn more in Grubhub Driver Review | How to Make More Than Average.

DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Driver Requirements

These companies have similar requirements for drivers, and many people sign up to drive for both because of that. But let’s take a look at the specific requirements for Grubhub and DoorDash drivers.

DoorDash Driver Requirements:

• 18 or older
• Have an iPhone or Android smartphone
• Any car, scooter, or bicycle (in select cities)
• Valid driver’s license
• Auto insurance if driving
• Social Security number if delivering in the U.S.
• Consent to a DoorDash background check

Learn more in How to Become a DoorDash Driver | Requirements & Application.

Grubhub Driver Requirements:

• Must be at least 19 years old (or 21 in Chicago or Las Vegas)
• Own an iPhone with iOS 11 or higher OR an Android with 5.0 or higher
• Any car, scooter, or bicycle (in select cities)
• Valid driver’s license
• Auto insurance if driving
• Social Security number if delivering in the U.S.
• Consent to a background check

It's worth mentioning that these are virtually the same requirements for other delivery services like Instacart and Shipt.

Requirements to Deliver Alcohol

You can be as young as 18 or 19 to deliver for DoorDash and Grubhub, but you’ll need to be 21+ to accept orders for alcohol. Because you must present your ID when picking up alcohol, you won't be able to fulfill orders if you are underage. The age restrictions for accepting orders with alcohol may limit your earnings.

DoorDash and Grubhub Background Checks

Another food delivery standard is the criminal background check that all drivers must submit to when applying to drive. The background check considers any criminal convictions that have happened in the past seven years and looks into your driving record.

Any of the following issues will be flagged and disqualify you:

• More than three moving violations
• Criminal history
• Drug and alcohol offenses
• Sexual offenses
• A DUI on your driving record

DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Getting Paid

DoorDash pays Dashers every week on Friday using direct deposit. Most drivers report that money hits their bank account on Wednesdays. If you want your cash ASAP, you can use Fast Pay for $1.99 to cash out for same day pay.

You can also sign up for the free DasherDirect card, DoorDash's prepaid business Visa card, and get no-fee instant deposits that automatically show up in your account right after every delivery. Applicants are subject to approval.

Grubhub uses a similar payment process, with payments sent out on Thursday via direct deposit, and arriving in driver’s accounts 3 to 5 days later. Or you can use Instant Cash Out for $0.50 to get paid immediately.

DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Availability and Market Share

Both DoorDash and Grubhub have experienced significant growth over the past few years, especially after the start of the 2020 pandemic. So let’s take a look at where you can find DoorDash and Grubhub now.

• DoorDash Availability: DoorDash now operates in more than 7,000 cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. It’s available in all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Overall, DoorDash holds the largest market share for food delivery services, and they’ve held that standing since about 2019. They hit 65% of total U.S sales in April 2023 according to Bloomberg Second Measure, with Grubhub at only 13%.
• Grubhub Availability: Grubhub is available in more than 4,000 cities throughout the U.S. serving over 300,000 local restaurants and nationwide chains. It’s also available in the U.K., Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Compared to DoorDash, it's market share is 9% according to the same report.

DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Scheduling Your Hours

The best side jobs put you in control of your schedule, and that’s one benefit of both DoorDash and Grubhub. While some delivery apps don’t let you schedule your hours in advance, both Grubhub and DoorDash do, but you can also drive when you have extra time. This is a nice option for people who have a predictable work schedule or for those who want a seasonal job.

Here’s what you need to know about each company’s scheduling policy:

• DoorDash: DoorDash lets you schedule time anywhere from a week in advance to an hour beforehand, and mealtimes are the busiest in the app. For unscheduled delivery hours, you can use the Dash Now option. The in-app map will light up in red for places with a high enough need for additional drivers, which ensures that there are enough orders to go around.
• Grubhub: You’re asked to schedule blocks of time, and you have to drop blocks as soon as you know you can’t work them. The app reserves the right to restrict your scheduling access to regularly drop blocks within 72 hours in advance. Drivers who schedule in advance priority access to deliveries, which can help you plan your week and make more cash. But you can also log in if you have any free time, and see if there are deliveries in your area.

Learn more in When Are the Best Times to DoorDash?

DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Accepting and Rejecting Orders

One debate among the food delivery community is whether to accept all orders or reject ones that don’t pay well. The thinking is that why would you accept orders that aren’t worth your time?

However, food delivery services have a history of penalizing drivers who don’t accept every single order. Neither company has official policies on the percentage of orders you need to accept, but both DoorDash and Grubhub offer incentives to keep your acceptance rating high.

Here's how DoorDash and Grubhub handle this issue:

• DoorDash doesn’t have a minimum acceptance rate, but you’ll need to have an acceptance rate of at least 70% if you want to qualify for its Top Dasher program. The benefit is that you can “dash anytime,” regardless of whether it’s busy or not.
• Grubhub offers a tiered program that has three levels: Partner, Pro, and Premier. The main perk of moving up is access to scheduling and high-dollar orders. All drivers start as Partners, which means you have third-ranked access to when you schedule your hours in the app. You’ll need an acceptance rate of at least 90% to reach Pro and 95% to reach Premier. Your rating is based on your delivery stats over the past 30 days, and new drivers must complete 20 deliveries to receive a level.

DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Driver Support

In the past couple of years, DoorDash, Grubhub, and other services have started finding ways to better support their drivers as they navigate crises. Below is what you can expect from Grubhub and DoorDash.

DoorDash Driver Support:

• There is a temporary weekly gas bonus aimed at Dashers who drive the most. It pays a $5, $10, or $15 bonus if you drive at least 100-225 miles per week.
• For DoorDash drivers who sign up and use the free DasherDirect prepaid business Visa debit card, they can earn 10% cash back on all gas purchases. All Dashers qualify for the card, and there's no credit check.
• DoorDash temporarily offered "sick leave" pay during the height of the pandemic.
• Drivers can request contactless deliveries.

Grubhub Driver Support:

• Grubhub temporarily increased driver pay by an unspecified amount to offset rising fuel costs.
• New driver kits include face masks and hand sanitizer, which are available for reorder every 30 days.
• Drivers can request contact-free deliveries.

Grubhub also offers an affordable health services plan through UnderWing health. It’s $20/month for drivers and includes board-certified doctor visits via phone or video, no-cost prescription coverage for common ailments, and mental health services.

You can learn more about how companies are helping with fuel pries in How DoorDash, Instacart, & More are Helping With Surging Gas Prices.

Alternatives to DoorDash and Grubhub

If neither Grubhub or DoorDash sounds like your thing, there are a two other on-demand food delivery services that we highly recommend, and the reality is that you can drive for more than one service at a time:

• Instacart is a popular delivery service that’s primarily for grocery delivery. You can work as an in-store shopper or full-service shopper who shops and delivers. Instacart shoppers earn around $20/hour when you factor in tips.
• Shipt is a membership-based grocery delivery service that's owned by Target. Shoppers make between $15-$20/hour.

The Final Word: Is DoorDash or Grubhub Pay Better For Drivers?

Both companies give you a flexible and easy way to make extra cash in your spare time. That’s great if you're looking for a side hustle to pay down your consumer debt, supplement your income, save up for a downpayment on a house, plan for retirement, and more.

Of the two, Doordash is the obvious winner for us when we compare pay, availability, and driver requirements. There’s also the fact that DoorDash holds a much larger market share suggesting that they’re the more popular choice for customers.

DoorDash Disclaimer: Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.