I’ve recently started doing delivery work to make some extra money. Can anyone recommend delivery apps that offer the best pay? Looking for advice from experienced drivers. Thanks!
It kinda depends on your area, but from my personal experience, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart are the ones where you can make the most. DoorDash has been good for me because they offer peak pay bonuses during busy times. So, if you can work during those peak hours, you can earn a decent amount.
Uber Eats is another one that pays pretty well, especially if you get tips. They also have quests where you can earn extra by completing a certain number of deliveries in a set time frame. It’s useful to keep an eye on those and plan your shifts accordingly.
Instacart can be a bit hit or miss, but when it hits, it hits big. On a good day, grocery delivery pays more than food delivery, especially with tips. It can take longer because of the shopping, but the payout is usually worth it.
A lot of experienced drivers will tell you that multi-apping is the way to go. That means using multiple apps at once and picking the best orders from each one. It’s more work but you can maximize your earnings this way. Just be careful not to overcommit yourself.
Don’t overlook local or regional apps either. Sometimes smaller, local delivery services can pay better because they’re trying to compete with the big guys.
Also, factor in the cost of gas and maintenance. Some apps have programs that can help with that too. For example, DasherDirect from DoorDash offers a prepaid business Visa card where you can get cash back on gas, which is a nice perk.
At the end of the day, it’s a hustle. You gotta stay on top of your game and be smart about accepting gigs. Track your miles and expenses to make sure it’s all worth it. Good luck!
Depending on timing and strategy, you might wanna consider other options too. Not everyone might think about Postmates since it’s kinda wrapped into Uber Eats now, but previously it’s offered decent pay and flexibility. And TaskRabbit, while not a traditional delivery app, sometimes has delivery tasks that pay well. Depending on your skill set, you can switch between types of tasks to optimize earnings.
Grubhub can be another solid choice, esp if you’re in an area where it’s popular. They have a tiered driver program that can affect your priority for offers—high tier drivers getting the first crack at higher-paying deliveries.
Multi-apping is definitely popular but beware it can also backfire. Juggling too many apps can lead to stress and sometimes missed deliveries if they end up overlapping or you misjudge delivery times. Always good to have solid time management skills before going that route.
One thing I didn’t see mentioned is scheduling strategy. Some apps let you schedule shifts in advance, offering guaranteed hourly minimums, which helps if you end up with fewer deliveries during your shift. This can be less risky than just relying on peak pay and trying to time your work for those hours, which might not always pan out.
Local apps, like Drizly for alcohol delivery, or dumpling for personal shopping, can be goldmines in certain areas and provide solid pay without the competitiveness of the bigger apps.
You also can’t ignore the cost of wear and tear on your car. Always consider whether the extra mileage and potential maintenance issues are worth it. Some people end up switchin’ to bike or scooter deliveries if their city’s layout and weather make it feasible; helps save on gas and car expenses.
Experimenting with different apps and monitoring which ones pay consistently well in your area will give you the best idea of where to focus your efforts. Most importantly, the hustle can be a grind, so balance your efforts and avoid burnout! 
Happy delivering!