Delivering gigs have become increasingly popular and can be a great way to make some extra money. It's no secret that delivering, in general, can be lucrative, with many people in the service industry being able to make upwards of $20 an hour just by using their own cars.
Now, if you're wondering, "can I really make money delivering?" The short answer is yes. However, do your research because every company has different rates and different requirements for their employees. You'll want to know the best delivery service to work for and what delivery service pays the most. You’ll also want to decide which type of delivery job will be best for you.
Why make money delivering?
Delivering is a great opportunity for those who want to make extra money or even make it their full-time job. Driving for delivery apps is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a flexible schedule, such as stay-at-home parents or students. You get to set your hours and provide an important service for others.
If you love the idea of having fun while making money, becoming employed by delivery driver apps may be for you. Also, if you love to make money and don't mind working on holidays, delivering is a great opportunity for you.
Types of delivery hustles
There are tons of companies that offer delivery, including package, food, and people delivery jobs.
Package delivery
People usually make money delivering packages in their cars. However, some companies offer delivery trucks. If you're thinking about becoming a package delivery driver, make sure to check the requirements before applying.
Header | Consumer Rating | App | Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
Fedex | 1.61 | Yes | $19/hour |
UPS | 1.35 | Yes | $20.61/hour |
Amazon Flex | 3.4 | Yes | $17.50 |
Dispatch | Unavailable | Yes | $5-10 per drop-off |
1. Amazon Flex — Top pick
Amazon Flex is a newer delivery job that started in Seattle and is rapidly expanding across the United States. Amazon Flex pays every Friday with automatic deposits into your bank account. Delivery drivers make $18 to $25+ per hour (plus tips!) and have flexible hours.
To drive for Amazon Flex, you must be 21 years or older with a valid driver's license and social security number. Drivers also need to have a reliable, qualifying vehicle and provide proof of insurance as well as a smartphone. Deliver packages with your car in your spare time!
2. FedEx
FedEx offers multiple types of jobs, including full-time delivery employment. Delivery drivers can make anywhere from $17 to $35 based on experience. Qualifying for employment is easy. Just apply on their portal, have a current and valid driver's license, be at least 21 years old, and be able to pass a drug test and background check.
3. UPS
UPS is another delivery option for those looking for full-time work. New drivers undergo an intense 30-day introductory period before becoming a "qualified driver." To deliver packages for UPS, you must be at least 21 years old with a clean driving record, speak fluent English, and pass a drug test and background check. The average UPS delivery driver makes $21 per hour.
4. Dispatch
Delivering for Dispatch is a great way to make money as a college student or make money while you work another job. You make your own schedule and deliver from restaurants, bars, retail stores, and anywhere delivering anything! Pay ranges from $5 to $10 per drop-off.
Food, grocery, and alcohol delivery
Food delivery driver services have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Top food delivery apps provide services from delivering groceries to filling delivery requests from local restaurants. Which food delivery service pays the most, though? Here are my thoughts.
Header | Consumer Rating | App | Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
Grubhub | 1.17 | Yes | $13.89/hour |
Instacart | 1.28 | Yes | $30/hour |
Shipt | 2.38 | Yes | $18.36/hour |
Postmates | 1.13 | Yes | $13.41/hour |
Doordash | 1.4 | Yes | $18/hour |
UberEats | 1.21 | Yes | $19/hour |
Saucey | 3.2 | Yes | $15/hour |
Minibar Delivery | 4.3 | Yes | $12/hour |
Drizly | 1.5 | Yes | $13/hour |
Gopuff | 2 | Yes | $20/hour |
5. Instacart — Top pick
Here’s my top pick for making money delivering food!
You can become an Instacart shopper to delivery groceries to people in your area.
SIGN UP
Instacart is one of the best food delivery apps for drivers. It is a grocery delivery app where customers make their orders online and shoppers/drivers complete their order and deliver it to the customer's home. Instacart makes money by charging a delivery fee, subscription services, commissions, and in-app advertising. Drivers make anywhere from $10-$49 per hour.
Drivers for Instacart must be 18 years or older, have a reliable vehicle, have access to a smartphone iPhone 6s/Android 5.0 or newer, and be able to lift up to 50 pounds independently.
6. Grubhub
Grubhub is one of the most popular food delivery apps with an average hourly rate of $15/hr+ after tips. To make deliveries for Grubhub, you must be at least 18 years old and have a smartphone or tablet with the Grubhub app downloaded. You make money based on tips and hourly pay.
Drivers can make decent money delivering food with Grubhub and make it either a full-time job or part-time hustle.
7. Shipt
Become a Shipt shopper to make money!
I recommend checking out this opportunity to deliver same-day groceries.
LEARN MORE
Shipt is another online grocery delivery service that pays an independent contractor, the driver, to shop for and deliver groceries to customers.
Drivers use the app to pick up same-day grocery delivery jobs and get paid between $16 and $22 per hour. Scheduling is flexible and is great for part-time or even full-time delivery work.
8. Postmates
Postmates is an on-demand delivery service that has over 4000 couriers making deliveries using their smartphone app. Many make deliveries for Postmates while working other jobs or during college classes. Postmates pays out every Thursday. Deliveries are usually what make up most of your wages, however, some make extra money with tips.
Postmates also offers other types of work opportunities. You can make deliveries using your own vehicle, make food deliveries for local restaurants, or make other types of pickups and drop-offs (groceries, packages, etc).
9. DoorDash
Have you ever considered driving for DoorDash?
Deliver food for local restaurants and get a nice payday in return!
START NOW
DoorDash is another popular choice for those looking to make money delivering food. Similar to other on-demand food delivery services, you make your own schedule by signing up with DoorDash as an independent contractor/driver. Then, you use their smartphone app to make deliveries for various restaurants.
Delivering groceries with DoorDash can be a great option for those that have a reliable car and enjoy making deliveries. DoorDash has an average base pay of $10-20/hr, plus tips. The best part about working for DoorDash is the flexible hours and full-time opportunities.
10. UberEats
Signing up to make deliveries for UberEats is a great option for those who already have their own vehicle. You get paid to deliver using the UberEats app. You can make your schedule by choosing when and where to deliver food for restaurants in your area.
Drivers make a base pay of $4 per drop-off and an additional 50% from customer tips. The average pay is around $10/hr after tip, but it can be more or less depending on where you make deliveries for UberEats.
11. Saucey
Saucey is a California-based alcohol delivery service. Drivers make an hourly base pay of $10 to $15 and make additional money with tips.
Drivers must be at least 21 years old, have a smartphone or tablet to make deliveries on, and have a reliable car. Use the Saucey app to make your schedule by choosing when and where you make alcohol delivery for customers.
12. Minibar Delivery
Delivering with Minibar Delivery is a great option for those with a car or motorcycle. Minibar was created in 2014 and services over 90 cities.
Minibar Delivery pays around $12/hr and drivers make deliveries of regular groceries, dry goods, alcohol, wine, and more! Make your schedule by choosing when and where you make deliveries on the Minibar Delivery app.
13. Drizly
Drizly is a popular alcohol delivery service in Boston and New York City. Drivers make an hourly base pay of $15, make additional money with tips, get paid weekly, receive access to additional bonus opportunities, and make deliveries using their own vehicle.
To work for Drizly, apply directly to the participating liquor retail store. Drivers must be at least 21 years old or older and have a reliable car to make deliveries. Use the Drizly app to make your schedule by choosing when and where you make alcohol delivery for customers.
14. Gopuff
Gopuff is a delivery service that caters to over 100 cities and college campuses around the US. Deliveries include food, alcohol, and everyday essentials like pet supplies and cleaning products.
Deliveries make up most of the driver's wages, but they can earn additional tips. Drivers make deliveries using their own car or bike and make an hourly base pay of $10 to $12. Drivers use the Gopuff app to make their schedules by choosing when and where they can make deliveries for customers.
To become a delivery driver with Gopuff you must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver's license and insurance, have your own vehicle, pass a background check, have a smartphone (iPhone 5 iOS 10 or newer or Android 4.4.3 or newer), and complete an alcohol delivery training course.
People delivery
Packages and food aren't the only things independent contractors can deliver. Drivers can also deliver people from one place to another.
Header |  Uber |  Lyft |
|---|---|---|
Consumer Rating | 2.48 | 2.02 |
App | Yes | Yes |
Wage | $18/hour | $27/hour |
15. Lyft — Top pick
Lyft is a ridesharing service that connects riders with drivers in the area. Riders can rate drivers on a scale of 1-5.
Like other delivery services, Lyft drivers must have a valid driver's license and current insurance as well as pass a background check. Drivers don't necessarily need their own vehicle, though. You can rent a car through Lyft's Express Drive Program where Lyft provides insurance and maintenance on the vehicle.
Drivers get paid each week through the Lyft App via direct deposit. Drivers typically make between $12 and $17 per hour.
16. Uber
Uber is a ridesharing service that works by connecting passengers to drivers through their smartphone app.
Drivers make money with Uber as independent contractors and get paid per mile driven or per hour depending on where they make deliveries. Many factors such as tips, price boosts/surge pricing, promotions, and tolls affect a driver's pay.
You must maintain a rating of 4.6 or higher to drive for Uber. You must also have a 4-door car that can fit up to 4 passengers, be 15 model years old or newer, and the car cannot contain any damage, mining parts, or branding. The car also cannot have been modified or reconstructed.
Other up-and-coming delivery apps
Looking for something a little different? Take a look at the following up and coming apps you may not have heard of.
Header | Consumer Rating | App | Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
Roadie | 1.25 | Yes | $23.32/hour |
GoShare | 4 | Yes | $43-$67/hour |
Grabr | 2.6 | Yes | - |
Burro | Unavailable | Yes | $45/hour |
17. Roadie — Top pick
The Roadie app matches people looking for a delivery service with a person already going in that direction. It is a great way to earn cash with little deviation from your already planned travels. A Roadie driver reviews the app and selects jobs that align with their route. This can include anything from picking up local food delivery to picking up a suitcase from the airport.
To drive for Roadie, one must have their own vehicle with a current and valid driver's license and insurance. Drivers also need to maintain a rating of 4 stars or above.
Roadie drivers can make anywhere from a few bucks to a couple of hundred bucks depending on the job. How far you travel, what is being transported, and route all impact pay. Drivers get paid every Tuesday.
GoShare is an on-demand delivery company that offers to make deliveries in moving trucks, vans, and even large containers. Customers make requests for deliveries in their city through the GoShare app. Once a customer requests a pickup, the nearest available driver will be asked to make the delivery.
Delivering using GoShare is a great way to put your truck or van to work. The average driver makes around $18+ per hour plus tips. That's not even the best part, drivers are paid for ALL miles that they drive on deliveries. All you have to do is get gas and make some extra money!
19. Grabr
Grabr is an international delivery service. This one is a little different from others in this article. Customers post what they are looking for on the app. Then, Grabr delivery people who are in that area/country/city can bid on items they will pick up and bring back with them.
For example, a Grabr delivery person can be taking a trip to Europe. A customer living in the same city could post an item on the app that they want that happens to be in the same location to where the delivery person is traveling. The delivery person can bid on the job and, if accepted by the customer, will pick up the item and deliver it upon return.
The Grabr delivery person makes money based on the agreed-upon bid. While not the best option for a full-time gig or making a living wage, Grabr is a great way to make a few extra bucks without going too far out of your way.
20. CitizenShipper
CitizenShipper is an on-demand shipping service that provides people with resources to make their move easier. People use the CitizenShipper app to find a truck or van and make connections for moving services.
A customer logs their items with all details about size/weight, make/model, etc., and where they want it delivered. They also enter the pickup and drop-off locations and an expected time frame of when they want the item to make the journey.
CitizenShipper then matches their client's request with a delivery driver who can make it happen. The customer pays based on mileage, weight, and other factors. Delivery drivers make anywhere from $10 to $30 an hour, depending on how much work the job requires.
21. Burro
Burro is a short-haul trucking service that works with people to make their online shopping deliveries hassle-free. The Burro app allows users to arrange the pickup of items they buy online at any retailer or business and have it delivered by a local Burro driver.
Users pay for the cost of the delivery based on the size of their package and the distance to make the journey. Payments are collected through a credit card or PayPal. Burro drivers can make $45 per hour. You can work as much or as little as you want and only accept jobs that fit your schedule. The more jobs you take, the more you'll earn.
Considerations before trying to make money delivering
Becoming a delivery driver is easy. But, there are some things to consider before jumping into it.
- What is your commitment level?
- Do you have your own vehicle, license, and insurance?
- Is your license in good standing?
- Are you willing to make deliveries in bad weather?
- Can you make long drives?
- If you make deliveries from restaurants, are you ok with touching food items?
These can all affect the types of delivery jobs you apply to and the compensation you expect to receive.
Make money delivering pros
Pros
Make money delivering cons
Cons
How to choose the right delivery job
There are a variety of delivery services out there. While there are many options, you have to make sure the job fits your schedule and expectations.
For example, if you work a 9-5 but want some supplemental income, make sure your job is flexible enough to do on nights and weekends. If you’re looking to make money delivering as a full-time job, it’s imperative that the delivery driver jobs you apply for can sustain you.
When choosing the best delivery app to work for, do your research and ensure it'll be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.
Final thoughts
If you’re considering driving for delivery apps to make money, make sure the job fits your lifestyle, schedule, and Income expectations. Many companies offer delivery services, so comparing which delivery service pays the most with delivery services that are flexible and highly rated will help you find the right fit. If you do this, you can make money delivering in no time!
FAQs
The amount you make as a delivery driver depends on your experience, the app/delivery company, and the region where you make deliveries. Generally speaking, delivery jobs pay anywhere from $15 to $30 an hour but can be more or less.
Yes. The more deliveries you make, the more money you make. Many make delivery driver jobs their sole income source, while others make it a side-hustle. How much you make is up to you!
Remember, though, some delivery companies pay better and are more consistent than others.
The best food delivery app to work for depends on your lifestyle and expectations from the job. Apps like Doordash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats are some of the best and highly rated food delivery apps out there.
On the other hand, Instacart, Shipt, and Postmates are great for making money delivering groceries. Once you narrow down the types of food delivery jobs you’re interested in pursuing, research each gig so that you know what to expect before signing up.
Each delivery driver job has its own requirements. For example, companies like DoorDash require that you be at least 18 years old and have a minimum of three months of driving experience. Other apps like Postmates require that you carry your own insurance and have a four-door vehicle.
In general, most delivery jobs require you to:
Have a newer model vehicle with valid, minimum coverage insurance
Have a current driver’s license with good driving history
Have a newer model smartphone
Be at least 18 or 21 years or older
Pass a background check
About Millennial Money Man
Bobby Hoyt is a former band director who paid off $40,000 of student loan debt in 18 months on his teaching salary and then left his job to run Millennial Money Man full-time. He helps other Millennials earn more through side hustles, save more through budgeting tools and apps, and pay off debt. He is a personal finance expert who has been seen on Forbes, Reuters, MarketWatch, CNBC, International Business Times, Business Insider, US News, Yahoo Finance, and many other personal finance and entrepreneurship media outlets.
