I’m trying to make extra income and thinking of working for delivery apps. I’m not sure which ones are worth joining in terms of pay, flexibility, and support. Can anyone share their experiences or recommendations? Looking for the best options out there.
It’s wild out there in delivery app land, my dude. Everyone hypes them up, but let’s be real—your experience will totally depend on your area. Anyway, here’s the breakdown:
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DoorDash: Probably the most popular. They have lots of orders, especially during peak times like dinner. Pay’s alright, but don’t expect to get rich. The base pay is meh, so you’re banking on tips. Flexibility is prime though—work whenever.
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Uber Eats: Similar vibes to DoorDash but feels a bit more chaotic. Payouts depend on your city. Some people get killer tips while others barely scrape minimum wage. The app’s user-friendly, I’ll give them that.
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Grubhub: Heard this one’s got better base pay in some areas, but getting on their platform can feel like applying for an elite club—you might wait weeks. Schedules can also be a headache since it’s less flexible than others.
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Instacart/Shipt: Grocery delivery gangs. It can pay better but you’re shopping for Karen’s 45-item list with 15 substitutions. I’d only do it if you enjoy grocery stores and can handle rage-inducing customer requests.
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Amazon Flex: Decent if you’re chill with delivering packages instead of food. Blocks pay well if you can grab them fast enough. Downside? You might become one with your car—mileage is a killer.
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Postmates: RIP. They merged with Uber Eats but still technically operate. People say orders are sparse these days. Meh.
Personally, I’d start with DoorDash or Uber because they’re the easiest to jump onto, then see which vibes better. Track mileage for tax write-offs and cram food between trips because starvation while dashing isn’t cute.
Okay, so here’s the deal: chasing delivery app gigs is basically rolling dice with your time and gas money. While @chasseurdetoiles gave a solid rundown, I will say this—there’s no one-size-fits-all. It comes down to where you are and what you’re willing to tolerate. Here’s my take:
DoorDash? Sure, it’s flexible and all, but some orders pay like $3 to drive five miles. Not worth getting out of bed for unless tips save you. And people don’t tip as much as you think. Uber Eats, same song, different dance. Their “earnings estimate” is like a slot machine. Some days you’ll crush it, others? Lol, not so much.
Amazon Flex gets hyped, but you almost have to snipe those delivery blocks like concert tickets. Ever tried refreshing an app 200 times just to get a gig? Exhausting. Speaking of exhausting… Instacart. You’re not just delivering—you’re doing a full scavenger hunt for milk and bananas. Ever seen someone ask for one random lemon and 12 packs of Gatorade? Wild.
Also, can we talk about taxes for a sec? Self-employed gig work means Uncle Sam is coming for his cut. Factor that in when you’re calculating what you think you’re earning. Plus car wear and tear? Oof.
Personally, I think if you need quick cash and don’t mind hustling, start with DoorDash or Uber Eats like the other poster said. They’re entry-level friendly. But keep expectations grounded—this is side-hustle money, not “I’m retiring at 40” money.
Alright, let’s map this out in a pros and cons style to fill in a few gaps the other responses missed.
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DoorDash
Pros:- Extremely flexible; you can pause or stop anytime.
- Usually good restaurant variety and demand.
- Base pay + tips system.
Cons:
- Base pay is low; often, the effort only pays off with tips added.
- Disjointed, long-distance orders (watch your gas gauge).
- Some areas = order deserts.
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Uber Eats
Pros:- Uber brand means lots of demand and easy sign-up.
- Driver interface is beginner-friendly.
- Payments can include sweet surge bonuses.
Cons:
- Drastic city-dependent pay differences.
- More wear/tear on your car compared to delivering packages.
- High competition for decent order grabs.
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Grubhub
Pros:- Perceived better base pay in certain markets.
- Customer base feels more “local diner” friendly—less chasing fast-food chains.
- Intermediate gig workers appreciate it.
Cons:
- Waitlist to join can be eternal.
- Scheduling slots make flexibility trickier.
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Instacart/Shipt
Pros:- Higher payouts per batch if you’re efficient.
- Bigger customer base with increasing grocery needs.
Cons:
- It’s not “delivery-only”; it’s shopping + customer service drama.
- Larger orders can stretch you out for hours.
- Crowd levels of customers + store staff clogging aisles = mental stress.
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Amazon Flex
Pros:- Blocks offer fixed payouts (no guessing games).
- Low customer interaction.
- Delivering packages feels less time-pressured overall.
Cons:
- App refresh battle to claim shifts is time-consuming.
- Package-heavy blocks can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s interior & suspension.
- Delivery parking situations downtown = chaos.
Things Other Posters Missed:
- Taxes aside, consider insurance upgrades—gig driving technically demands commercial liability coverage. Many don’t realize their personal policy might not cover accidents on the clock. This could level out any profits made.
- Decide how much wear & tear your car can take before choosing gigs where short trips > long open-road drives.
- If multi-apping (e.g., doing DoorDash + Uber Eats), beware of app conflicts! Apps closing or “stealing” GPS routes mid-order—huge headache.
Not to beat the dead horse on mileage tracking, but apps like Stride or Everlance save lives around tax filing. Pay scales vary by city, customer mood, and luck. Adapt, experiment (without burning out). Gig work isn’t perfect, but test a few platforms and go with what aligns with your patience level—and gas budget.