What Food Delivery App Pays the Most? Comparing Earnings Across Platforms

What food delivery app pays the most? The answer isn’t quite straightforward. 

There’s a lot at play when it comes to the earnings of delivery drivers working for food delivery apps. 

The good thing is that there are plenty of choices. So, you can easily find a platform that pays well. 

Working as a delivery driver for food delivery apps can be rewarding, but food delivery app pays the most. Many of these platforms offer incentives and bonuses on top of the base pay. 

And, don’t forget tips – those go directly into your pocket. 

But, before we discuss the actual figures, let’s first discuss what factors determine your earnings on these food delivery apps. 

Factors That Affect Food Delivery App Earnings

• Base Pay: Each platform calculates base pay differently, usually depending on distance, time, and order complexity. The app will tell you how much you will earn as base pay from a delivery. 
• Tips: Tipping is a major part of earnings from food delivery. While tipping isn’t mandatory, most customers do tip some value of the order amount. Usually, it’s a percentage of the order, so the bigger the order, the higher your tip may be. 
• Promotions and Bonuses: Many apps offer incentives like surge pricing or bonuses during peak hours. These incentives and bonuses usually target delivery drivers who frequently use the apps. For example, you may get a bonus for delivering more orders in a day or week. Similarly, you may be rewarded for working during peak hours. 
• Expenses: You won’t necessarily take home whatever you make delivering food. After all, there are expenses to cover as well. Drivers must account for costs like gas, vehicle maintenance, and insurance. What you make after paying these is essentially your actual income. 
• Work Hours: Your availability and willingness to work peak hours directly impact your earning potential. The more hours you put in, the bigger the payout. This is a volume-based work. But it’s also flexible. 

Food Delivery App Earnings

Let’s look at the potential earnings from food delivery apps in the US. These are estimates only based on information from online resources and drivers who work on these apps. 

DoorDash

• Average Pay: Drivers earn between $15 and $25 per hour, including tips.
• Promotions: DoorDash offers “Peak Pay” bonuses during busy times and “Challenges” for completing a set number of deliveries.

DoorDash is the market leader in the food delivery apps market. It’s available nationwide and is the most popular choice. The platform’s base pay ranges from $2 to $10 per delivery. Then, there are the tips. If you manage to make multiple deliveries in under an hour, you can make well over $20 for that hour. 

Of course, there are variations. Depending on your location, the number of deliveries may be low or high. The good thing is that they offer bonuses frequently which can be used to increase your earnings. 

Uber Eats

• Average Pay: Earnings, including tips, range from $15 to $20 per hour.
• Promotions: Drivers can earn extra with “Quest Bonuses” for completing multiple deliveries in a set time.

After Door Dash, Uber Eats is the most frequently used food delivery app. It calculates the pay in real time based on factors like estimated distance, number of pickups, and demand in that area. Sometimes, the pay can be high, especially if there are more orders than drivers in an area. 

Besides that, you can increase your earnings with bonuses and tips. 

Grubhub

• Average Pay: Drivers report earning $12 to $18 per hour.
• Promotions: Grubhub offers “Blocks” that allow drivers to schedule shifts for better pay guarantees.

Grubhub is another fast-growing player in the food delivery app business. It’s not as common as DoorDash and UberEats. 

The pay is slightly less than those two platforms. That said, there are opportunities to catch up with bonuses. 

What sets Grubhub apart is that it does offer certain hourly earning guarantees for specific periods. These are typically lunch and dinner shifts, which see the most orders placed on the platform. You already know how much you’ll make if you work these shifts. There’s a commitment rate criteria, depending on how many orders you accept and complete. 

Postmates

• Average Pay: Earnings per hour range from $10 to $20. 
• Promotions: Postmates offers guaranteed earnings for delivery of a certain number of orders in a specific timeframe. 

Postmates is now a subsidiary of Uber Eats. It’s gradually being merged with that platform. Still, drivers can sign up with it where it’s available and make deliveries with the Postmates app. 

Like other apps, the base pay depends on distance, order value, and duration. Some deliveries may be more lucrative than others. 

Instacart

• Average Pay: Shoppers earn $15 to $25 per hour, with tips being a significant factor.
• Promotions: Instacart doesn’t offer many promotions for drivers. However, it focuses on grocery delivery, which often includes larger tips for bulk orders.

Instacart isn’t exactly a food delivery app, but it’s similar. Instead of food from restaurants, Instacart delivers groceries from stores. Drivers have to buy stuff and deliver it to the customer’s door. 

The rates vary by region, with some areas offering a higher payout. Usually, these are big cities with higher wages. 

What Food Delivery App Pays the Most?

DoorDash has the highest earning potential when you combine its base pay, bonuses, and tips. While it’s common for food delivery app drivers to make up to $15 an hour, Dashers can sometimes make upwards of $20 an hour. 

Again, the pay rate isn’t the same for all delivery drivers. There are several factors involved. 

The location also matters a lot. Dashers working in a city like New York may be able to make more than someone making deliveries in a suburb in the South. 

Tips to Increase Earnings as Food Delivery Driver

You can earn decent earnings as a food delivery driver on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and other platforms. Just follow these tips:

• Schedule Smartly: Work during peak hours, such as lunch and dinner times, when demand and tips are highest.
• Multi-App Strategy: Use multiple platforms simultaneously to increase opportunities and avoid downtime.
• Optimize Routes: Plan deliveries to minimize driving time and maximize efficiency.
• Leverage Promotions: Take advantage of bonuses, such as peak pay and challenges, offered by platforms.
• Deliver in High-Demand Areas: Focus on areas with many restaurants and customers to increase order volume.
• Track Expenses: Use apps or spreadsheets to monitor gas, maintenance, and other costs to calculate your true earnings.
• Maintain a High Rating: Providing excellent customer service can lead to higher tips and more order opportunities.
• Use a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle: Reduce gas costs by using a vehicle with good mileage or consider a bicycle for shorter deliveries.
• Stay Updated on App Features: Regularly check for updates and new incentives on your chosen platforms.
• Bundle Deliveries: When possible, accept multiple orders going in the same direction to maximize earnings per trip.

FAQs

What is the most used food delivery app?

DoorDash is the most used food delivery app in the US, with a market share of over 67%. It’s available in all regions of the country. 

Which delivery jobs pay the most?

According to ZipRecruiter, local delivery drivers pay the most. Their annual pay ranges from $39,000 to $195,000. These delivery drivers commonly deliver food and parcels. 

Do food delivery apps offer benefits?

Unfortunately, food delivery apps don’t offer any benefits or perks to their drivers. 

Delivery drivers are considered independent contractors and not employees. So, they’re not entitled to paid leave or health insurance benefits. 

However, there are monetary benefits like bonuses. Those may help increase your earnings, especially if you work full-time on food delivery platforms. 

What is the most expensive food delivery app?

Uber Eats is considered the most expensive food delivery app, as its delivery fee is the highest. Its charges vary by restaurant and location but are comparatively higher than those of other apps. 

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