Instacart vs. DoorDash: Which is better for drivers?

How much do Instacart drivers make? What are the pros and cons of DoorDash? If you’ve been wondering about issues like these for Instacart vs. DoorDash, you’re not alone. Whether you’re starting your first driving gig, or considering a switch, knowing what these two popular services have to offer is crucial. In this blog post, we’ll cover the territory, including

Instacart vs. DoorDash: Main differences

The gig economy and the services it offers to consumers and workers are in a state of constant flux. There was a time when stark distinctions could be drawn regarding what the different companies required of drivers, but those days are behind us.

These two companies are a case in point. Instacart is, for the most part, a grocery delivery service, as you can read in this article from Millenial Money Man. There are options to deliver groceries only, shop and deliver groceries, or stay in a store and do the shopping and packing, preparing the items for a driver to deliver. Instacart is diversifying. Read about the company’s foray into prepared food delivery in this Gridwise blog post. You’ll find that the deliveries involve prepared foods found in grocery stores.

DoorDash is mainly a prepared food delivery service. You will most often be called to various restaurants to pick up meals and deliver them to customers. However, there will be times when you’ll be asked to go to stores and pick up items, pay for them with your DoorDash-issued red card, and take them to customers. Yes, that means Dashers may have to do some shopping. Read more about the DoorDash driving gig in this post from EntreCourier.

While the lines between the two companies are somewhat blurred, you’ll find that there’s less shopping when working for DoorDash than with Instacart. This Gridwise post gives you information on how to be a DoorDash delivery driver. Those who choose Instacart have the options that are more oriented toward shopping, but can possibly find gigs that don’t involve anything besides driving and delivery. Learn more about the details of driving for Instacart in this Gridwise blog post.

Now let’s look at each service and what they have to offer.

What you need to know about Instacart delivery driving

How much do Instacart shoppers make? What’s the job really like? How easy is it to earn money with Instacart? Is Instacart worth it?These are just some of the questions you might have about becoming a shopper/driver for this popular grocery delivery service. Here are some answers, plus an easy comparison table that lays out the good and bad points for you.

Instacart full-service shoppers, according to Gridwise data, make around $15–16 per hour. Instacart in-store shoppers, who are part-time employees of the company, make an average of $14 per hour. The total amount you make working for Instacart will depend, obviously, on how many hours you work for them, how many batches are available, and what times of day you decide to schedule your blocks, but it’s a hustle.

What do Instacart Shoppers do?

The job itself, as you might guess, will involve some or all facets of grocery shopping, packing, and/or delivery. You will need to be able to manage the weight of the packages. as well as carry them from the store to your vehicle. Then you’ll need to convey them to the customer’s delivery destination. You will also be asked to find everything on your customer’s list, and if you can’t find an item, you’ll consult with them about possible substitutes.

Instacart earnings

Instacart earnings are consistent, and don’t show signs of declining. People have adopted the habit of shopping online for their groceries with Instacart, and you’re quite likely to notice a steady flow of business at all times of the year. Shoppers average around $16.50 per trip before tips, which is really pretty solid.

Instacart driver tip rates

Tips are pretty good with Instacart, too. The average shopper received about $6.50 in tips per trip. A hidden bonus about getting tips is that it’s an area you can always work on. Get inspiration from this Gridwise post, which tells you how to make $1000 per week with Instacart.

Instacart requires some people skills

Shopping and driving for Instacart is a reliable gig, but it’s best for those who like to hustle, and do it with a smile. Many drivers switch to grocery delivery from rideshare, hoping to get a break from the demands of dealing with their passengers. Shopping for people, or even just driving and delivering, is a little bit less stressful, to be sure. There are situations, though, that can create some frustrations. Finicky customers, grumpy grocery store workers, and difficulties dealing with other drivers create the need to use your customer service skills and take traffic snarls and bad drivers in your stride.

The pros and considerations of Instacart delivery driving

Let’s look at what life as an Instacart shopper is like in a nutshell:

What you need to know about Doordash delivery driving

DoorDash calls its delivery drivers “Dashers,” and for good reason. The job consists of getting requests for deliveries, traveling to food establishments (and sometimes stores) to retrieve them, and delivering them to the customers. The job is fairly simple and doesn’t require much work on the “supply side,” apart from when the shopping part kicks in.

The Dasher job does require customer service savvy and a bit of patience, as you’ll need to deal with occasional delays. Always communicate with your customers to keep them up to date on where you are and how long they might have to wait.

DoorDash is expanding its services to include delivery of convenience items, and this side of the business could continue to expand. Before long, shopping could be as much a part of a Dasher’s job as it is for Instacart workers, which can be exciting and rewarding for Dashers.

How much does Doordash pay?

Dasher gross hourly pay runs between $15 and $16, according to data collected by Gridwise. This includes the basic delivery fee, peak pay, challenges, and promotions for drivers. Your total earnings will depend, of course, on how many hours you drive for DoorDash, how busy you are during the time you’re delivering, and what bonuses might be in effect during your shift.

Because hourly pay for DoorDash can vary to such a great degree, it can be tricky to choose the best times to work. 

How much does Doordash tip?

Tips are the norm rather than the exception for Dashers, averaging around $4.28 per trip. Because a Dasher could make as many as three or four trips per hour, that can add up, which is pretty decent. Dashers need to invest in equipment such as beverage carriers and thermal bags if they expect to keep their customers happy, and earn big tips.

What else should you know about Doordash?

Most Dashers love the flexibility DoorDash offers. It’s possible to schedule blocks of time in advance or to operate under “Dash Now,” which will let you pick up and deliver orders on demand, whenever you wish. Also, Dashers have the option of declining orders that don’t seem to be worth the trouble. 

The DoorDash app does a good job of informing drivers where the most business is and incentivizes them to work in busier areas offering more pay per order. Although this isn’t the most glamorous or high-paying gig, DoorDash drivers who learn how to work the gig to their advantage can easily pull in enough money to make a good living.

The pros and considerations of DoorDash delivery driving

Just like we did for Instacart, let’s look at the pros and cons of DoorDash delivery driving at a glance.

Instacart or DoorDash? Which is your better gig?

There’s no way to ignore the fact that Instacart pay and DoorDash earnings are less than stellar, but if you fit either of these gigs into your work schedule, you’ll have some solid sources of income. Choosing the gig that’s best for you involves being honest about what you’re willing to do, what your preferences are, and how much you need to work.

Both Instacart and DoorDash demand a lot from drivers. If you’re an Instacart full-service shopper, you’re guaranteed to be spending a lot of time navigating your way through grocery stores to select items. Working for DoorDash requires a lot more quick action, and much more running around from place to place.

For now, though, much of the difference between the two companies, and whether you might want to work with them, revolves around how much you like to shop. If you want a more leisurely but less income-intensive and part-time gig, Instacart would probably win out over DoorDash. If you want to make more money in less time and have the option of working exactly when you want, your best bet is to be a Dasher.

You can also try multi-apping

Before you make a decision, though, consider this third option. Multi-apping, as you’ll read in this Gridwise post, is the art of working more than one gig at a time, and it’s a growing trend among gig workers. You could Dash at peak meal times, and do Instacart in the evenings and on weekends, when most people like to place and receive their grocery orders. And, if you really want to mix it up, you could throw some rideshare driving into the mix!

There are so many options in today’s gig economy, but there’s one thing you’ll need no matter how you choose to cobble your gig together—Gridwise!

Gridwise gives you everything you need to put together a great driving gig, including

• a mileage tracker that accounts for every mile you drive on your gig
• traffic and weather alerts that keep you abreast of driving conditions
• seamless earnings tracker lets you sync and let Gridwise do the work
• expense recording to make sure you get all your deductions down
• informative graphs showing earnings and expenses for all the gig apps you use to see where you’re making them most money
• insight into when to drive and where to drive so you can make the most of your gig driving time
• access to affordable insurance to keep you covered
• deals and discounts for drivers, such as the cost-savings of Gridwise Gas
• a community of like-minded gig workers who supply pro tips and support

Find out more about Instacart, DoorDash, and Gridwise in these articles from the Gridwise blog:

• How much do doordashers make? We uncover it.
• Earn by time with DoorDash
• The Ultimate Guide to being an Instacart shopper
• Make $1000 per week with DoorDash
• Make $1000 per week with Instacart

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