9 Jobs Like DoorDash That May Be a Better Option

The gig economy offers numerous ways to make money as a side hustle, including delivering food for companies like DoorDash.

But DoorDash delivery isn’t the only way to get paid for driving. Other delivery gigs like DoorDash can help you make money on your own schedule. We recommend Uber Eats and Grubhub if you're looking for other side hustles delivering food, but Shipt and Instacart are great options for getting paid to shop and drop groceries. Other paid delivery apps we like are Amazon Flex and Roadie, but there are even more choices on this list.

Uber Eats is Uber’s version of DoorDash. It's one of the best food delivery apps like DoorDash because it's more flexible than other platforms. If you’re already approved to drive with Uber, they automatically approve you to deliver food for them too. This is a great way to double dip on your time on the road. To maximize your potential earnings with this side hustle, we suggest switching on either app, seeing which is the busiest, and taking advantage of the chance to earn money. If you aren’t already an approved driver, you can still sign up exclusively for Uber Eats.

Uber Eats requirements:

• The requirements to deliver for Uber Eats are less strict than for some food delivery apps because they don’t require a specific year or type of car; it just needs two or four doors. In some areas, you can even deliver on a bike or scooter, which is a great option if you don’t have a car.

Uber Eats offers direct deposits, or you can use Instant Pay, which allows you to access your funds immediately for a small fee.

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Grubhub is also a food delivery app that requires drivers to pick up orders from restaurants and deliver them to customers. Drivers can deliver using a car or bike. Like most apps, Grubhub offers a pay structure with base pay, bonuses, and tips. However, it also offers the Grubhub contribution, which offers a guaranteed rate even on slow days when you meet the Offer Commitment Rate criteria. This could be our delivery hustle pick for you if you plan to accept pretty much any offer that comes your way because accepting and following through on jobs can help you earn more.

Grubhub requirements:

• It’s relatively easy to qualify as a Grubhub driver as long as you're at least 18 years old (21+ in Las Vegas), own a car (or scooter/bike in select areas), have a valid driver's license and auto insurance for drivers (or state I.D. for bikers), and own a smartphone (with a data plan).

Like most gig apps, you can cash out daily (for a small fee) and, as with similar apps, keep 100% of the tips you earn.

Postmates is a food delivery app that isn't quite as big as DoorDash or Uber Eats, but it's been steadily increasing in popularity in recent years. The platform used to be concentrated in California and is still most prominent there, but it's extended its reach to all 50 states. Postmates has been owned by Uber since 2020, but it's still technically a separate platform. That is to say, a person can place an order with Uber Eats or Postmates the same way they could with DoorDash or Postmates.

Postmates is hottest in big cities like Chicago and San Francisco, so we'd recommend at least checking this delivery gig out if you live near a place where it's commonly used. If you ask us, it's a good idea to plug yourself into at least a couple of different platforms to earn more money delivering food in general since this will increase the number of jobs you can choose from, and delivery opportunities can be snagged quickly. Plus, you might prefer one platform over another based on your experience using the app to find gigs.

Postmates eligibility requirements: 

• To deliver with Postmates, you must be at least 18 years old, have a reliable and insured vehicle (bicycles, motorcycles, and scooters may be accepted in addition to cars in some areas), and pass a background check.

If you don’t feel like dealing with restaurants and their delays, you can make money shopping for groceries with Instacart. Rather than picking up orders already packaged and ready to deliver, you shop for a customer’s order and deliver it to their location. We can see this delivery hustle being a better fit than DoorDash for anyone who'd rather spend more time in a store than in restaurant pickup areas.

Instacart eligibility requirements: 

• To work as an Instacart shopper, you must be 18 and have access to a smartphone capable of running the Instacart Shopper app, reliable access to a vehicle, legal authorization to work in the U.S., and the ability to lift up to 40 lbs (18kg) without accommodation

Like DoorDash, you work when you want and can choose which orders to accept based on pay, location, distance, or any other factors. Instacart bases its pay on the store, delivery distance, complexity of the order, and any available boosts. They also run promotions periodically, and drivers keep 100% of the customer tips.

Shipt offers two ways to earn money. One is a service similar to Instacart, where you shop and deliver items to customers who order from certain stores. Shoppers earn pay per order, and Shipt guarantees a minimum of $16 an hour nationwide, plus shoppers keep 100% of tips earned.

In certain cities, Shipt also offers the option to deliver packages from Target without the shopping requirement. It's a simple process — you reserve a route with pre-planned stops and pay. You pick up the packages at the designated Target store and drop them off at the correct locations. Because of this option, Shipt can be a little more convenient than some of the other delivery apps on this list.

Shipt eligibility requirements:

• To work with Shipt, you need a valid driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, valid auto insurance, knowledge of produce (for shoppers), and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Amazon Flex is another job like DoorDash that doesn’t focus on food but instead on package delivery. However, instead of picking up individual orders, you reserve a block of pre-determined deliveries you must complete within your shift.

Amazon offers the option to pre-schedule your blocks or be available for Instant Offers. Either way, you know the route and number of deliveries before you start. We'd generally recommend Amazon Flex for you if you're confident you'll be able to work efficiently since you'll sign up for blocks instead of individual deliveries, and you may be able to earn a higher effective hourly rate if you can manage to finish early. (And if you're really good at packing items in Tetris-like puzzles, you'll probably enjoy this one, too.)

Amazon eligibility requirements:

• To drive for Amazon Flex, you need reliable access to a mid-size or larger vehicle and a valid driver’s license. You must be 21 years old or older, have valid auto insurance and a smartphone to accept orders. You must also have a valid bank account for direct deposit.

You decide how frequently you get paid with Amazon Flex, whether weekly, daily, or any other increment. You will receive the payments via direct deposit.

Roadie is a UPS company that offers a crowdsourced delivery program. It partners with businesses of all sizes to provide same-day and next-day delivery.

Roadie is transparent about all details of orders, so you know beforehand if you want to accept them. According to their website, they pay up to $12 per trip, but your pay can increase if you choose multi-stop deliveries.

They also have exclusive offers for drivers with larger vehicles and don't have minimum vehicle requirements, so we like this one for delivery drivers with unique cars.

Drivers receive direct deposit, or after five deliveries and signing up at least seven days ago, you can opt for Instant Pay, for a $1.99 fee per withdrawal.

Roadie eligibility requirements:

• To drive for Roadie, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, driver's license, and insured vehicle.

Favor hires personal assistants, not drivers, even though you deliver restaurant orders, groceries, or anything else customers need to their doorstep. Their nickname for drivers is runners. You might want to become a runner if you gravitate toward odd jobs or get bored doing one thing.

Favor eligibility requirements:

• To drive for Favor, you must be at least 18, have a smartphone, reliable transportation and be able to pass a background check. Of course, you must also live in Texas, since that’s the only state they operate.

Eaze drivers deliver cannabis from licensed retailers in California. The retailers and drivers use the Eaze platform to connect, but if you drive for Eaze, you work directly for the retailer. Eaze drivers have guaranteed earnings with an hourly rate and mileage reimbursement. This delivery app is more specialized than others on this list, but we think you'd prefer it over apps like DoorDash if you'd rather work for one company than multiple stores or restaurants.

Eaze eligibility requirements:

• Since retailers hire drivers individually, the requirements may vary, but in general, you must be at least 21 and have a valid driver's license and auto insurance.

To increase your chances of landing delivery driver gigs, check out these tips.

• Know the vehicle requirements. Some apps have specific vehicle requirements, such as age or number of doors. Some areas allow delivery by bike or scooter, but it depends on the location.
• Have an up-to-date phone. An updated phone capable of running the latest version of iOS or Android is crucial for any delivery app to guarantee you can run the service's app and snag orders.
• Understand the insurance requirements. Most delivery apps require drivers to carry insurance. Check the requirements with the app, and contact your insurance company to ensure you have proper coverage while using your vehicle for business purposes.
• Know how you get paid. Understand the payment structure, whether you know the pay upfront, and if you can earn tips. Also, consider the payment frequency and whether they offer instant access to your earnings.
• Track your mileage. The IRS allows a specific deduction per mile when driving for business purposes. In 2024, you could claim a deduction of 67 cents per mile for business tasks. In 2025, you can claim 70 cents per mile. So, keep track of your mileage on each trip you take.
• Sign up for more than one app. Don't limit yourself to just one app. You can sign up for multiple apps, increasing the chances of making money. Be careful, though. You might need to turn off the other apps or set yourself as unavailable when fulfilling an order for a different app.
• Pay attention to high-demand times. Get to know the area's demand and when it's highest. Pay attention to major events or regular busy times and schedule yourself during those times to increase your earnings.
• Make sure it's worth it. Calculate your per-hour rate and ensure you are making enough money, accounting for the downtime you must spend between orders.

How much do DoorDash drivers make?

How much you make as a Dasher depends on how many deliveries you take, the demand while you work, and the number of tips you receive. A good goal could be to make $100 a day.

Which apps pay better than DoorDash?

Each delivery app offers a different pay structure and has different levels of demand. Choosing the app with the highest demand in your area and working when demand is highest will help you make the highest possible earnings for your area and situation.

Do jobs like DoorDash pay for gas?

You work as an independent contractor for most of the gig delivery apps. You're responsible for all expenses, including gas, car maintenance, and taxes. However, you may be eligible to claim mileage on your taxes, which can offset a portion of the gas, auto insurance, and maintenance costs for using your car.

What delivery side hustle pays the most?

The delivery side hustle that pays the most depends on your location, efficiency, tip earning, and more. However, based on our research of delivery gigs, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Amazon Flex, Instacart, Shipt, and Postmates offer some of the highest potential payouts. The better you get at taking advantage of promotional offers, if available, and delivering food or items efficiently, the more you're likely to earn. We also recommend doubling up on delivery apps and signing up for multiple to reduce your downtime and maximize your earning opportunities.

Starting a side gig as a delivery driver could be a good way to earn extra cash that helps you meet other financial goals. These gigs are flexible because you can set your own hours and work part-time or full-time.

Carefully research different opportunities to see what’s likely to work best for you and whether signing up for multiple apps makes sense.

If delivery apps aren't your cup of tea, check out our other side gig ideas on making some extra cash.