If you’re looking for a gig that doesn’t require so many conversations with strangers, driving for a grocery delivery app is a great alternative to driving for a rideshare service. Plus, with grocery delivery, you’ll have more opportunities to pick up sizable tips – grocery orders can get big pretty quickly, which means better tips for you!
We know every driver is different so to help you get started, we’ve broken down some of the most popular grocery delivery apps: Shipt, DoorDash, Instacart, GoPuff and GrubHub, to help you determine the best delivery app for you. Here are some questions to think about:
- How much will you get paid?
- Where do you drive?
- Does it fit your schedule?
How much will you get paid?
Overall, earnings are going to vary day-to-day no matter which app you choose, but how you get paid can have a big impact. Do you want consistency or the highest earning potential? Let’s take a closer look at the 5 most popular delivery apps.
Shipt
Shipt drivers get $5 for every order you accept, a 7.5% commission on the order total, plus 100% of any tips.
According to both Shipt and its drivers, getting $15 per hour is a reasonable starting expectation, while experienced drivers can earn up to $25 per hour. Not bad for a grocery run!
DoorDash
Dashers earn between $2 to $10 per delivery, and keep 100% of their tips. Since over 80% of DoorDash orders come with a tip, that means more earnings for you.
The average driver can expect between $18 to $22 per hour. The DoorDash app also runs frequent bonus programs during peak hours, meaning even more money-making opportunities for you.
Instacart
With Instacart, you can expect to earn a minimum of $7 to 10 per order. That may not sound like much, but there’s always the opportunity to run multiple batches in an hour if you’re in a more densely populated area.
If you play your cards right, you can earn up to $1000 a week using Instacart. That’s over $40k a year! Not bad when you can be your own boss.
GoPuff
GoPuff drivers receive a fee for every delivery, and retain 100% of their tips. GoPuff also provides a guaranteed minimum hourly pay if orders are coming in slowly.
Other rates and incentives tend to vary based on location. For example, In some cities, GoPuff is experimenting with guaranteed hourly rates instead of “per delivery” fees.
It’s worth noting that delivering for GoPuff may be great for consistent pay, but not the highest pay, as reported earnings with GoPuff tend to be lower than other apps.
GrubHub
Drivers who focus primarily on rideshare driving might see some similarity with GrubHub’s payment model. Here’s how it’s broken down:
Mileage + Time + Tips = Your Hourly Rate
With GrubHub, you earn a fixed rate for your mileage and time spent on an order, and you still keep 100% of customer tips. Rates will vary based on demand and location, but GrubHub drivers usually report earning an average of $12 to $20 per hour.
GrubHub offers drivers several ways to boost their earnings. They have frequent bonus opportunities during peak hours, and in some areas, drivers can earn a guaranteed minimum wage while active on the app.
Lastly, here’s a hot tip about well… tips! Make some pre-printed thank you cards to add to your deliveries for a personal touch. It will help you stand out to customers and make you more memorable, making it more likely that you’ll get a bigger tip! Consider it a business deduction that can help you earn more.
For all these apps, remember that driving during peak hours can maximize bonus payouts. It all depends on how you want to earn and when you can drive.
Where do you drive?
Unlike rideshare, which is dominated by two major companies, delivery drivers can have the option to drive for a buffet of local and (mostly) nationwide delivery services, depending on where you reside. In terms of overall market presence, each app is unique. Shipt has a big presence in the Southeast, Texas and Chicago, but not so much in other areas. Meanwhile, Instacart operates comfortably in 40 States and Washington, D.C.
But be careful not to assume that a larger service area means greater profitability. It’s a bit more complicated than that.
Once you’ve identified an app that has a sizeable presence in your area, you’ll want to consider the location of the retailers and grocery chains they serve. For instance, are they concentrated near your home? If not, you could be adding unnecessary miles to the odometer.
GoPuff is unique in that it operates from a warehouse rather than requiring drivers to head to different merchants for each order. Great if the warehouse is nearby, but not so great otherwise.
One potential advantage to delivering versus rideshare is the flexibility to work where you need to. Rideshare apps have lengthy requirements for changing cities, but most delivery apps let you drive anywhere they operate. This is a great option if you want to earn some extra cash while traveling.
Does it fit your schedule?
Now that you know how you’ll get paid and where you’ll be driving, one more critical factor to consider: your time.
This is where payout structures really come into play. A lot of delivery drivers rely heavily on bonus payouts at peak times to bump up their hourly rates. If your schedule doesn’t allow you the flexibility to work during peak hours, then you might be better off working with a grocery delivery app that offers a consistent, hourly rate.
Keep in mind that not every delivery app lets you jump on and off when you want. Shipt and GoPuff require drivers to schedule their shifts ahead of time. This means available hours can be limited, although they still typically offer around 80 potential working hours in a week.
Instacart, GrubHub and DoorDash offer the flexibility to log in and out of work throughout the day, so they are the better choices if you frequently need to change your work times or if you have a fluid schedule.
Choosing the best app for you
Each of the 5 apps we have covered allows you to balance convenience and consistency in a unique way, so there’s something for everyone. When deciding which grocery delivery app to drive for, remember our secret formula to success: how you want to get paid, where to drive and when to schedule deliveries.
With this information and a little in-app research, you’ll be on your way to higher earnings in no time.
Always drive with Gridwise Features in your corner!
Gridwise also makes it easier to make more money for grocery delivery drivers. Gridwise seamlessly records your earnings and mileage by automatically tracking your progress on these apps and any other driving or delivery app you might use.
Simply link your apps to Gridwise and log on before each shift. All the data will be sorted and presented in easy to read graphs like these:
Make the most of your gig driving life with Gridwise; click on the Perks Tab for deals and discounts, and get instant access to our insightful Gridwise blog. Gridwise was conceived and built for drivers by people who used to be, or still are drivers!
You’ll also find our Facebook community to be lively and engaging! When you join, you can get in on regular gas card giveaways. With gas prices on the rise, who doesn’t need some help?
Download the app now, and put Gridwise in your corner!
