With the cost of living increasing these days, picking up some extra cash in your spare time could be a sensible decision. One of the easiest side hustles is food delivery. If you have the vehicle and the time, you could make a couple of hundred dollars per month or, according to Gridwise, as much as $16.50 per hour in gross earnings.
Maximizing the money you earn during your spare time depends on the platform you choose to work with and the popularity/demand in your area. This guide of the best food delivery service to work for breaks down 15 of the best options out there.
Best Food Delivery Services to Work For
The following companies are among the best food delivery services to work for. Although many have similar processes, you’ll find variations that could work for your unique needs. The good news is, all of the best food delivery services to work for in this guide come with a user-friendly mobile app that can guide you through all the aspects of delivery as well as payments, customer service and more.
1. Uber Eats
Earnings Potential: $15-$24 an hour on average, depending on location and demand
Uber took the world by storm as a rideshare service. Uber Eats was introduced to provide food deliveries to customers using a similar platform. With over 6,000 service cities across the world, it’s likely you’ll find enough work to make some cash. Best of all, any tips earned are fully yours to keep.
Uber Eats is straightforward. Local deliveries will pop up on the app when you’re “on”. You can choose to accept or decline the job. If you choose to accept a delivery, follow the app’s prompts and instructions to get you through deliveries.
Requirements
Getting started is fairly simple. Download the app and set up an account. Be sure you meet the following requirements first:
- Be 19 for scooter or car deliveries or 18 for bike deliveries
- Drive a car or ride a bike or scooter
- Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance
Uber Eats is straightforward. Local deliveries will pop up on the app when you’re “on”. You can choose to accept or decline the job. If you choose to accept a delivery, follow the app’s prompts and instructions to get you through deliveries.
2. DoorDash
Earnings Potential: $15-$25 an hour
DoorDash is one of the top food delivery apps. It’s widespread, available in most major U.S. cities. The key to making money fast on DoorDash is timing your schedule to match the peak hours that pay the most.
Most orders are pick-up only, although sometimes you have the option to pay for orders with the Dasher Red Credit Card provided after signup. You don’t have to accept such orders if you prefer and can stick to strictly pick up and drop off orders that don’t involve payments.
Requirements
DoorDash is one of the more flexible food delivery apps since you can use a car, bike, scooter or walk to deliver orders in select metro areas. The requirements to become a DoorDasher are:
- Be 18 or older
- Have a driver’s license and insurance if you plan on using a vehicle for deliveries
- Complete an online orientation and receive an activation kit
- Pass a background check
3. Postmates
Earnings Potential: $15-$21 an hour
Postmates is similar to DoorDash. Besides restaurant and food deliveries, you can also deliver groceries, alcohol, drugstore items, retail store goods and more. Postmates may be a better option if you’re worried about the background check DoorDash requires — Postmates doesn’t ask for one. The trade off is the limited availability. Postmates isn’t as widespread as UberEats or DoorDash.
Some changes may be underfoot. Postmates was recently purchased by Uber. However, the two delivery apps currently operate independently.
Requirements
As with most delivery services, you’ll need to be at least 18 years of age, have a vehicle and provide insurance information to start earning money.
4. Grubhub
Earnings Potential: $17-$23 an hour
Grubhub is another well-known name when it comes to food delivery services. Plus, it’s available in all 50 states and over 4,000 cities.
Requirements
While it’s more widespread, delivery drivers will need to have a history of driving experience under their belt to get started. To become a Grubhub delivery driver, you’ll need to:
- Be 18 or older — and at least 21 years old in Las Vegas
- Have a valid license and auto insurance
- Have at least two years of driving experience
5. Cornershop
Earnings Potential: $16-$25 an hour
If you’re looking to break up the monotony of delivering restaurant orders, Cornershop is a grocery-based delivery service. It’s a division of Uber, so you can expect a similar level of functionality. However, you’ll spend more of your time shopping for orders instead of driving around.
Unfortunately, Cornershop isn’t as widespread yet. It’s currently available in only 17 states. Residents of California, Texas, Florida and Washington will see the most availability.
Requirements
The requirements to work with Cornershop are:
- A valid driver’s license for drivers or a photo ID for non-drivers
- Valid vehicle registration for the delivery vehicle
- A signed W-9
6. Bite Squad
Earnings Potential: $14-$19 an hour
Bite Squad is a smaller version of the best food delivery services to work for such as UberEats, Postmates or DoorDash. It’s currently only available in 200 cities, but could be a great addition to your side hustle experience.
A big plus to working with Bite Squad is the payment setup — you can cash out right after a delivery. However, bonuses are paid every two weeks via direct deposit.
Requirements
As with the majority of delivery services, to deliver for Bite Squad, you’ll need your own vehicle and insurance.
7. Gopuff
Earnings Potential: $15-$19 an hour
Gopuff delivery drivers can have the opportunity to deliver more than just to-go orders. Besides meals from restaurants, customers can order groceries, alcohol and more.
However, working with Gopuff can cause more pressure than average. That’s because Gopuff promises customers they’ll receive deliveries in 30 minutes or less. The good news is, the 30-minute promise is achievable. Food, drink and grocery orders are picked up from a central facility.
Customers pay a flat fee of $2.95 per delivery. The delivery fee of $2.95 is yours — plus whatever tip the customer gives you. If you’re interested in taking on a side gig with Gopuff, you’ll need to work speedily to make sure you meet the app’s promise of fast delivery.
Requirements
To qualify to be a driver, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old with a U.S. driver’s license and an insured vehicle in your name. You’ll need to also pass an alcohol-related delivery training course.
8. Drizly
Earnings Potential: $17-$26 an hour
The Drizly app makes it simple to connect with liquor stores near you to search for delivery work. Input your location to find what liquor stores near you are in search of drivers. You can then contact the business directly and sign up as a delivery driver for Drizly.
Another way to find delivery work is through the online driver job board. Post your details and local retailers could contact you for deliveries.
Requirements
Because Drizly does not hire delivery drivers directly, the requirements will depend on the store you work with. It is likely, though, that you’ll need to have an insured vehicle and alcohol-related delivery and safety certification.
9. Shipt
Earnings Potential: $15-$21 an hour
The best food delivery services to work for in 2022 often involve restaurant orders. If you prefer gigs like Instacart, Shipt might be a good option for you. The work is more involved than other services, since you’ll need to shop for groceries and choose items, check out, pay and deliver the orders.
The biggest difference between Shipt and Instacart is that you’ll need to schedule your delivery shifts with Shipt through the app — Instacart can be a more spontaneous experience, in which you can open the app and get to work.
Requirements
To work with Shipt, you’ll need to apply and interview for the position after you meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have a valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance
- Have access to a reliable vehicle, from model year 1997 or newer for deliveries
- Have knowledge of a grocery store’s produce selection
- Be able to lift 40 pounds
10. Deliver That
Earnings Potential: $16-$22 an hour
Deliver That is a smaller service specializing in last-mile restaurant catering deliveries. The service is limited at this time to 39 states in the U.S and British Columbia. You’ll be picking up completed meals from restaurants and caterers and dropping them off.
If you’re in search of a different side hustle to break up your schedule of shopping and delivering fast food orders, Deliver That may be an interesting option.
Requirements
To deliver for Deliver That, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Pass a driver screening through Deliver That
- Provide your own bags to use for deliveries
11. AmazonFresh
Earnings Potential: $16-$23 an hour
Amazon’s same-day grocery delivery business is known as AmazonFresh. The work is similar to Instacart, involving shopping for groceries. Depending on what you’re looking for, it’s important to keep in mind that AmazonFresh could be more physical than other jobs.
The biggest drawback could be having to schedule shifts in advance. Instacart is more spontaneous — simply open the app and start accepting jobs.
Requirements
Amazon’s requirements include:
- Having to lift as much as 49 pounds
- Working in the coolers with temperatures as low as -10°F for extended periods
- Standing, walking, pushing, pulling, squatting, bending and reaching
- Potentially handling alcohol and meat
12. Amazon Flex
Earnings Potential: $16-$23 an hour
Amazon Flex could break up the monotony of restaurant deliveries. Amazon Flex workers make package deliveries as well as occasional AmazonFresh grocery orders.
Once you’re in the Amazon Flex system, a delivery block or area is assigned, along with a time frame to complete deliveries. You can set your own schedule to bring in extra cash.
Requirements
Amazon’s requirements for Amazon Flex drivers are similar to most delivery services. You’ll need to:
- Download the app onto your phone
- Be at least 21
- Have a vehicle for deliveries
- Provide Amazon with your driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance
13. Spark: Walmart Delivery
Earnings Potential: $16-$23 an hour
Walmart’s delivery driver division is known as Spark. Not as widely available as other delivery services yet, it’s an option in over 600 cities. Spark will send you online Walmart and retail store orders to shop for and deliver.
Everything is handled through the Branch Wallet app, including payment. Earnings for the previous Monday through Sunday’s work are available every Tuesday by 5:00 p.m., although you could rush payment and cash out sooner for an additional fee.
Requirements
To deliver with Spark, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a car and valid insurance — you cannot deliver for Spark with a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle, but you can drive someone else’s car as long as you are listed on the insurance policy
- Complete the online application
- Pass a background check
14. Burpy
Earnings Potential: $15-$25 an hour
Burpy is limited to certain areas in Texas, Louisiana, New York, Massachusetts and Georgia. All you’ll need to do is pick orders up and deliver them.
Requirements
As with nearly all of the best food delivery services to work for, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and have a driver’s license and an insured vehicle. Plus, you’ll need to be able to lift orders of at least 30 pounds.
15. Point Pickup
Earnings Potential: $15-$21 an hour
As with some of the other smaller food delivery services, Point Pickup is an option if you’re based in the East Coast. Focused on grocery store orders, all you need to do is pick up the bagged order and deliver the items to the customer.
Point Pickup drivers get paid fast — 48 hours after the order was delivered.
Requirements
As long as you’re 18 years of age or older, have a valid driver’s license and pass a background check, you’re ready to go.
Takeaway
The best food delivery service to work for can be a great option to make some extra money on the side. Most require a vehicle and downloading a phone app where you can manage orders and track your pay. It’s worth trying a couple to determine which app suits your needs best and offers the most work when you’re available.
FAQ
- Which food delivery service is the best one to work for?
- With so many food delivery apps available, it all depends on your city's availability and your personal preferences of the type of work you'd like to do. This guide presents options including grocery shopping and deliveries, driving restaurant orders and more.
- What food delivery service pays the best?
- Deciding which food delivery service pays the best depends on your area's availability. If a service doesn't have enough orders to fulfill, it may be difficult to make significant money.
- Is it better to work for DoorDash or UberEats?
- Both delivery services are excellent options when you need to make some extra cash. If you're already an Uber driver, UberEats is an easy transition. However, it may be worth signing up for both to decide which is best for you.
- Is it better to work for DoorDash or Grubhub?
- Working with Grubhub and/or DoorDash is a great way to make extra money. However, you may make more cash with DoorDash if you time your hours with the promotional bonuses that occasionally pop up.
Information is accurate as of Oct. 19, 2022. All earnings information is net pay, sourced from Glassdoor and varies by location, demand and hours worked.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.