Uber Eats, the food delivery branch of rideshare company Uber, is one of the most popular food delivery gigs out there.
While the app is a flexible way to make money on the side, it’s not your only option. Other courier jobs often have more lenient driver requirements and can even pay more per hour.
If you are looking for other gig economy jobs to maximize your earnings, trying other jobs like Uber Eats is a smart move.
What Jobs Are Like Uber Eats?
From delivering food to packages and more, these alternatives to Uber Eats let you earn decent money by making deliveries in your city.
1. DoorDash
DoorDash is the most popular web-based delivery service in North America. It even beats Uber Eats, which offers more international coverage.
Like the Uber Eats app, DoorDash drivers deliver meals from people’s favorite restaurants and fast food joints.
With DoorDash, you accept incoming orders through an app. After making a delivery, DoorDash shows you how much you made.
The main difference between DoorDash and Uber Eats is that DoorDash doesn’t have vehicle requirements, whereas Uber Eats has varying vehicle age requirements depending on your city.
However, both food delivery gigs let you deliver via car, bike, or scooter.
Dasher compensation is based on numerous factors such as tips and delivery time.
Both companies pay drivers weekly for the previous week of deliveries. Payouts are sent through direct deposit.
If you just want to deliver food and have a flexible schedule, DoorDash is the better choice.
Read our DoorDash driver review to learn more.
2. Instacart Shopper
Instacart is one of the most popular grocery delivery services and currently operates in over 6,000 cities across North America.
Unlike Uber Eats, Instacart Shoppers only deliver groceries, not fast food. Additionally, as an Instacart Shopper, you actually shop in grocery or drug stores and then complete deliveries.
This shopping step means your average Instacart delivery is longer.
Overall, Instacart pays more because orders are often more expensive, and the potential for generous tips is also higher than most delivery jobs like Uber Eats.
In terms of requirements, you have to be 18 years of age or older. This is similar to Uber Eats.
The main difference in eligibility is that you need to be capable of lifting 50 pounds without assistance since some deliveries include heavy items.
Instacart Shoppers also get paid weekly for the previous week of deliveries. Shoppers who need their payouts sooner can cash out instantly for a $0.50 fee.
If you want to make money delivering food with your bike or scooter or don’t like grocery shopping, Uber Eats is superior.
But if you don’t mind grocery shopping and want potentially lucrative tips, Instacart is a better choice.
Read our Instacart Shopper review to learn more.
3. HopSkipDrive
Are you a stay-at-home parent that’s looking to make money on the side? HopSkipDrive could be one of the tops driving apps to make money.
As a CareDriver, you use the carpooling app to drive school kids to their various activities. If you’re already doing the same for your children, why not earn some cash while at it?
HopSkipDrive does have some pretty extensive requirements, including a background and driving check. You must also be at least 23 years old and have a minimum of five years of caregiving experience.
Furthermore, your care must be no more than ten years old.
The company claims drivers can earn up to $50 per ride. HopSkipDrive pays out instantly via the Cash App.
4. Shipt Shopper
As the fastest-growing grocery delivery service in the United States, Shipt is a promising delivery side hustle.
It’s one of Instacart’s main competitors and lets you make money with your car by delivering groceries.
Shipt has similar requirements to Uber Eats, including:
- Being 18 or older
- Having a valid driver’s license and insurance
- Owning a smartphone that can run the Shipt Shopper app
Other than delivering groceries versus takeout meals, the main difference between Shipt and Uber Eats is that Shipt doesn’t have vehicle age requirements.
The in-app order screens are even similar, and Shipt orders include estimated pay, delivery distance, store, and how many items are in an order.
Shipt helps you navigate to the pickup address when you accept an order, just like Uber Eats or DoorDash.
You can read our analysis of DoorDash vs. Shipt Shopper to learn more about how the two delivery gigs compare.
The Shipt website states that grocery delivery drivers can earn up to $22 per hour. However, like other driving apps pay does vary.
Like Uber Eats, Shipt Shoppers are independent contractors and get paid weekly through direct deposit. If you don’t like grocery shopping you can still work for Shipt via its Shipt Driver program.
Shipt Driver works similarly to Amazon Flex. You deliver packages to people around town in your free time.
Read our review of Shipt Shopper review to learn more.
5. Grubhub
Out of all the jobs like Uber Eats, Grubhub is one of the most similar options. As a Grubhub driver, you deliver fast food and restaurant meals to people.
You can also complete orders via car or bike.
You need a valid driver’s license and insurance to drive for Grubhub. Like most delivery gigs, the company runs criminal and driving background checks on new drivers.
One main difference between Uber Eats and Grubhub is how payment works. With Grubhub, the factors that influence how much you make per delivery include:
- Mileage driven
- Time spent on the road
- Any promotional bonuses
Grubhub shows you how much you’ll make before accepting an order, which is like Uber Eats. However, Uber Eats’ payment model is similar to jobs like DoorDash and includes:
- Base fare (which includes time spent on the road, time spent waiting, and total distance)
- Trip supplement pay to account for longer-than-expected wait times
- Tips
- Any promotional bonuses
Drivers keep 100 percent of tips with both companies, but Uber Eats’ supplement pay is a perk. Plus, they also offer more ongoing driver bonuses.
It’s important to note that Grubhub drivers must deliver in the market they sign up in, whereas Uber Eats drivers can deliver in any market.
This is the main downside to Grubhub since it limits delivery flexibility, making Uber Eats the better side gig.
6. Taskrabbit
Taskrabbit is an on-demand marketplace where Taskers help people in their city with a variety of odd jobs.
You have to be 18 or older and pass a background check to work with Taskrabbit. As a Tasker, you choose the gigs you offer, your availability, and your hourly rate.
This gives you more control over your hourly pay than Uber Eats. Many Taskrabbit gigs pay at least $25 per hour, and goes up to $50 hourly in some cases.
Examples of popular Taskrabbit gigs include:
- Assembling furniture
- Errand running
- Food and other delivery jobs
- Handyman work
- Landscaping
- Painting
- Tech help
Taskrabbit also pays slightly faster than Uber Eats. Once you complete a gig, Taskrabbit pays you through Stripe within a few days. However, Taskrabbit takes 15 percent of your earnings.
Ultimately, apps like Taskrabbit have more flexible driving gigs and variety than Uber Eats. This also gives you more autonomy as a driver.
Make sure to remember that you’re competing with other Taskers in your market for jobs, so you have to price your services competitively.
7. Roadie
Roadie is a package delivery service that lets you make money by delivering packages to people and businesses in your area.
The service lets you find work in your neighborhood or along your regular commute. Examples of products you can deliver as a Roadie driver include:
- Artwork
- Appliances
- Flowers
- Furniture
- Groceries
- Home moves
- Parcels
You have to be 18 or older to apply to Roadie, and you need a pickup truck or cargo van for larger deliveries.
Delivery requests show what you’re delivering, the item weight and dimensions, mileage, dropoff address, and your total pay.
Roadie pays delivery drivers weekly through direct deposit. According to the company, you earn an average of $15 per local delivery.
However, Roadie also has long-distance deliveries that can pay hundreds of dollars, so the earning potential is higher than food delivery jobs like Uber Eats.
8. Lyft
If you prefer transporting people to delivering food, Lyft is one of the best Uber alternatives around.
This popular way to get paid to drive has also been competing with Uber drivers since its inception in 2012.
Like Uber and Uber Eats, Lyft driver requirements include:
- Being 18 or older
- Having a valid license and insurance
- Passing a background check
- Meeting vehicle requirements for your city and state
Typically, vehicles must be newer than 2003 and have four doors.
Additionally, some areas have stricter age requirements than Uber Eats. For example, in Orlando, you need to be 25 or older to drive for Lyft.
According to Salary.com, Lyft drivers earn $18 per hour. Similar to Uber, you’re responsible for paying for your gas and vehicle repairs since you’re an independent contractor.
Lyft pays you weekly through direct deposit. If you want to make money with ridesharing jobs, test out Uber and Lyft in your market to see which app pays more.
9. Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex drivers deliver packages from Amazon warehouses to Amazon customers.
While Amazon Flex isn’t always hiring like Uber Eats, it’s a high-paying delivery gig. Drivers can make $18 to $25 per scheduled hour.
If you can get hired, the pay alone makes this option one of the best delivery side hustle jobs available.
Driver requirements include:
- Being 21 or older
- Having a valid driver’s license and insurance
- Owning a mid-sized or larger vehicle
Delivery shifts also have more structure than Uber Eats, which lets you go online whenever you feel like it.
With Amazon delivery jobs, you schedule time blocks with the driver app for times you want to work.
On delivery day, you show up at a designated pickup warehouse, collect the packages, and complete your deliveries.
Some deliveries are for Prime Now or Amazon Fresh, so you can deliver groceries and food items like Uber Eats. However, most deliveries are Amazon.com orders.
Amazon processes payments on Tuesdays and Fridays. Payments are sent through direct deposit.
Ultimately, jobs like Amazon Flex aren’t as easy to land as Uber Eats. But if you want to earn more per hour, they are worth applying to.
10. goPuff
GoPuff is one of the best app jobs. It is similar to Amazon Flex because drivers pick up everyday essentials from goPuff warehouses and deliver them to customers.
It’s also one of the jobs similar to Uber Eats since you often deliver food, groceries, and alcohol.
However, goPuff only delivers to about 1,000 U.S. cities. The platform is expanding, but there’s no competition compared to Uber Eats’ international and widespread American coverage.
GoPuff pays drivers a base hourly rate plus a fee per delivery. But, since it’s a smaller company, slow delivery days mean you’re not earning much and are only making the base rate.
Overall, expect to earn anywhere from $8 to $15 per hour with goPuff.
GoPuff also requires you to be 21 or older and pass a background check.
You get weekly through direct deposit, but jobs like Uber Eats and DoorDash have higher order volume and opportunity.
How to Increase Earnings With Driver Jobs
Partnering with driver apps is one of the best ways to make money on the side. However, there are several things to do to increase your earnings.
Those include:
Don’t stick with only one app: Even if you drive with the highest-paying delivery app jobs you don’t want to limit yourself to one platform. Not all apps have the same peak times, and not every platform offers instant pay. Combining several apps allows you to maximize earning potential.
Provide great customer service: As a delivery app driver, you’re in the customer service business. Going the extra mile may result in a higher-paying tip. Communicate with the customer to let them know the status of their order. Have common condiments and napkins on hand. Things like that will often result in a happier customer, resulting in a better tip.
Deliver at peak times: Busy times means more orders, which means an increased income potential. Determine the peak times for the apps you’re driving for and aim to be available at those times.
Take advantage of promotions: Some driver apps offer promos when it’s busy. These vary by platform. If you’re able, claim one to help boost earnings.
Don’t forget that as an independent contractor that you’re responsible for everything, including gas and wear on your car. Increasing your earnings is the best way to offset those expenses.
Bottom Line
Uber Eats helped pave the way for on-demand delivery apps, but it’s not your only option. Usually, it’s worth trying alternatives to test which app pays the most in your area.
If you are looking for the best delivery service to work for, DoorDash and Instacart are the two food delivery apps that pay the most while letting you make money on your own schedule.
But if you want to branch away from food, you can always try apps like Taskrabbit or driving for Amazon Flex.
Ultimately, delivery jobs like Uber Eats help you make more money. Just remember to track your expenses and deliver during busy times to make as much as possible.
What’s your favorite way to make money on the side?
*Earning more on certain types of orders (ex. alcohol): Earn more per order as compared to restaurant orders. Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries you accept and complete, time of day, location, and any costs. 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 tips, peak pay, and other incentives.
*Get paid instantly (DasherDirect): Subject to approval
*Cash out daily (Fast Pay): Fees apply
*Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability
*Dash anytime: Subject to availability
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