Gig drivers work hard for their money and getting your savings to grow can be even harder. Drivers keep their eyes on the road so much, it’s almost impossible to do the kind of research that’s needed to make sound investments.

Still, investing your earnings is important. As you accumulate savings, it’s crucial to place your money where it can grow and provide you with the funds you need. Fortunately, you no longer have to get an MBA to make solid investment choices.

Magnifi: a simple and smart way to invest

Now there’s a perfect way for drivers to invest their earnings and achieve their financial goals that simplifies the process and saves time. Magnifi  helps you make key investment decisions. This AI-driven app does research faster and better than many advisors or brokers. Now you can plan for a goal, manage your portfolio, and learn while you invest.

The advanced search engines that power Magnifi will analyze existing investments, evaluate stocks, compare ETFs*, and build a highly personalized portfolio for you, based on your investment personality. Magnifi’s AI assistant provides a conversational interface that answers all your questions, from basic investment know-how to guidance on how to reach your financial goals.

How does it work? Magnifi uses AI technology to grab pertinent information from industry-leading sources like Morningstar, Factset, and Fi360. It scans financial and pro-level data, along with business news, to give you data-driven tips that make you confident about your investment choices. You can even trade stocks and funds through Magnifi’s commission free brokerage, and link to your accounts from other brokerage houses, such as E*Trade, Robinhood, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab to view all of your investments in one place.

Why you need Magnifi

Because you work so hard, you deserve to do everything you can to prepare for your future. As an independent contractor, you don’t have the kinds of safety nets many people fall back on when they retire. Without a pension fund set aside for you, you’re going to have to use the money you earn now to create a nest egg you can count on. Let Magnifi ai help you build a more confident financial future with the amazing features you’ll get with your $11 per month membership**:

• powerful conversational AI assistant
• investment search engine
• on-demand data
• external links to your brokerage accounts
• access to Magnifi ai commission-free brokerage, plus a high-yield savings account
• choices based on your investment personality
• financial goal planning
• the ability to find pockets of hidden risk and growth
• up-to-date knowledge based on news, trends, and new investment types
• simple connectivity to your existing bank account

The power of Magnifi gives you all the information you need to be a better investor. You’ll navigate the unwieldy world of investments with intelligent guidance, efficiency, and constant support. Find new investments, research the possibilities, compare stocks and funds, and then build and manage a full portfolio you can call your own.

Act fast and start your free trial. Download the Magnifi app for Apple or Google and start smart investing right away!

*Mutual Funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s) are sold by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from the Fund Company or your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

**based on annual membership

Have your “people skills” been tested to the max by rideshare and food delivery work? If so, Amazon Flex could be an excellent option for you. Flex is Amazon’s platform for drivers who want to deliver “smiles,” the company’s way of describing Amazon packages, to online shoppers. Most of the time, you won’t even see the people at the other end of the delivery, so this gig is likely to give you a break from the pain and angst of dealing with the general public.

That’s not the only good thing about Amazon Flex, though. In this post, we’ll cover more pluses and a few things that aren’t so great, so you can decide if this could be a good gig for you.

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Amazon Flex basics

How does Amazon Flex work? Amazon Flex drivers are independent contractors who use their own vehicles to deliver items ordered from Amazon, including

• packages: picked up at a delivery station and then delivered to customers within a given time frame, usually a 3–6 hour block
• Prime Now and Amazon Fresh: groceries and household items picked up from an Amazon delivery station, then delivered, usually in 2–4 hour blocks
• store orders: pickups of items from local stores, in blocks of 2–4 hours
• instant offers: last-minute restaurant deliveries completed in 15–45 minutes, separate from scheduled blocks, and available only in select areas 

The Amazon Flex app handles all the tasks drivers must complete, which include

• scheduling
• scanning barcodes on packages
• plotting the delivery route 
• re-scanning the package again at the delivery point
• providing photo evidence of the delivery

Drivers for Amazon Flex work on schedule blocks, meaning they must prearrange work times, show up at the delivery station on time, and complete all the deliveries within the scheduled block. This YouTube video from the Side Gig Guy describes how schedule blocks work, and offers general tips about working for Amazon Flex.

This video takes you through the process of driving for Amazon Flex and shows all the steps involved in completing a successful schedule block.

To schedule a block as a Flex driver, start by selecting the warehouse you want to work from. The app will then show you what’s available and how much you’ll be paid; then select the block that works for you.

You must be on time for your scheduled block if you expect to maintain a high driver rating with Amazon Flex. When you arrive at the delivery center, you will need to scan the package codes into your app.

You are expected to get all the goods delivered within the scheduled time block. While that usually isn’t an issue, it can become problematic, depending on the number of items, traffic, and other delays. If you work beyond your scheduled block, you won’t be paid for the extra time it takes to finish all your deliveries. 

You can always get help from Amazon Flex when you run into problems. This Gridwise blog post describes situations when you might need to get in touch with Amazon Flex support and how you can best obtain help.

Knowing all these things, you’ll be ready to go out and complete your deliveries. This is how individual deliveries may appear within the Amazon Flex app:

When you click on the individual deliveries, the app will direct you to the customer’s address.

As you can see, you will depend on your app for almost everything you do as a Flex driver. Fortunately, you’ll get opportunities to learn more about how to use it once you sign up and are accepted as a driver. First, though, you need to meet the Amazon Flex driver standards.

What are the requirements for Amazon Flex drivers?

The requirements for Amazon Flex drivers differ some from those you need to meet to do rideshare or food delivery driving. There are a few things to consider before you even think about signing up. 

• You will have to do some moderate-to-heavy lifting in the course of delivering packages.
• You will need to deal with being outside in extreme weather.
• You must live in a city where Amazon Flex operates. Check the Amazon website to see if it’s possible to drive for Amazon Flex in your city.
• There must be slots available for drivers in your area. To make working for Amazon Flex desirable, the company limits the number of drivers they approve. That way they can guarantee there will be enough work for them. Be prepared to be placed on a waiting list if there are already enough drivers in your town.

Once you get past these considerations, you’ll need to meet these company requirements:

• be 21 years of age or older
• have a SocialSecurity number
• pass a background check (criminal and DMV)
• have a valid U.S. driver’s license

• have a vehicle large enough to carry delivery loads, specifically, a midsize four-door sedan or larger; except for Prime Now, which permits the use of any reliable four-door vehicle
• carry sufficient insurance on your vehicle, beyond the insurance Amazon provides, as shown on the Amazon website 
• own a suitable smartphone, as shown in the table below

AndroidiPhoneAndroid 7.0 or newer
2 GB or higher RAM
Camera with flash
GPS location services
SIM cardiPhone 6s or newer 
iOS 14 or higher

Granted, qualifying to be an Amazon Flex driver, and dealing with the logistics involved in scanning and delivering once you’re on board, can sound daunting. But there’s a really good reason why so many drivers love working for Amazon Flex, and that has to do with the way we can answer this question: How much do Amazon Flex drivers make?

Amazon Flex driver pay

It’s true. Amazon Flex drivers make more than most rideshare and delivery drivers, at least as far as earnings per hour and earnings per delivery are concerned. In 2022, Gridwise data showed that Amazon Flex drivers averaged $23.35 per hour. This exceeds the rates raked in by drivers for just about any other rideshare or delivery app.

Some other factors might give us a bit of a different picture, though. Let’s answer this question:

How much do Amazon Flex drivers make a week?

As it turns out, Amazon Flex drivers are limited to working 40 hours per week. Drivers won’t get assigned more than 8 hours of work per day, and most times it will be less than that. If we take the $23.35 per hour figure and apply it to a full 40-hour week, a very busy Flex driver will earn about $934.00 per week. More common would be a driver working around 30 hours a week, bringing the potential 7-day work figure down to around $700.00.

How much do Amazon Flex drivers make a month?

If we look at the maximum figure again and average four weeks in a month, a very busy (and lucky) Amazon Flex driver could stand to earn $3,736 per month. The more likely figure, however, based on a 30-hour work week, would be $2,800.

These estimates are very high in terms of the average number of hours Amazon Flex drivers actually work. This Gridwise post reveals that the average Flex driver made about $420 for the whole month. That would mean that, on average, most Amazon Flex drivers worked only about 18 hours a month.

That base hourly earnings figure, or $23.35, is derived from actual data collected by Gridwise. Other sources report lower figures. Indeed.com estimates the national average hourly pay for Amazon Flex drivers to be $16.34.

If you want to get granular about analyzing Amazon Flex earnings, read this Gridwise blog post. 

So, it appears that while the average hourly earnings are higher than most other gig driving opportunities, the maximum number of hours most Amazon Flex drivers work is low. There are ways, though, to maximize earnings with Amazon Flex, as shown in this Gridwise blog post. Also, there are some perks available for Flex drivers. This Gridwise post tells you about the extras Amazon has to offer. 

Now that we have a rundown of what it takes to work for Amazon Flex, and how much you’re likely to be paid, let’s lay out the good points and bad points of using this app for your driving gig.

Perks and considerations of driving for Amazon Flex

Like any job in the gig economy, Amazon Flex has its plus points and a few considerations to think about before you sign up. Here are some interesting items to consider on both sides of the equation.

Amazon Flex PerksAmazon Flex ConsiderationsLittle or no interpersonal interaction necessaryYou should expect to practice your logistics skills (e.g. scheduling, scanning)High hourly payYour hours could be limited by available schedule blocksSolid company and reliable businessMust be able to do moderate to heavy lifting Additional offers such as Amazon Fresh and instant offersAmazon Fresh delivery opportunities are not common.Drivers use their own vehiclesDrivers must have vehicles large enough to accommodate packagesDrivers get perks and discounts from AmazonDrivers must carry additional insurance for your own protection Amazon restricts the number of Flex drivers so there is not too much competitionDrivers are independent contractors and do not receive fuel reimbursement or company benefits

Fitting Flex into your driving routine

If you happen to decide that you want to make more money by multi-apping, and Flex is going to be one of them, you’ll need Gridwise.

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Not only is it a free Amazon Flex mileage tracker, Gridwise has its finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your area. Discover profitable times to schedule your blocks so you can earn more on your shifts!

Gridwise also tracks earnings and expenses for the rideshare and food delivery apps you might use in addition to an app such as Flex. Add in the $50/month gas discount, and you’ll start to save a lot.

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Here are some additional resources for you to check out!

• How To Make $1000 A Week With Amazon Flex
• Check out the Gridwise Job Board
• How Much Do Uber Drivers Make?
• How Much Do Lyft Drivers Make?
• How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make?
• Walmart Spark Delivery Driver Pay: How Much Does a Walmart Spark Driver Make?
• How Much Can You Make on Instacart?
• How Much Do Shipt Shoppers Make?
• How Much Do Uber Eats Drivers Make?

If you want to make more money, you have to make the most out of every moment you spend on every shift. You can’t waste time aimlessly riding around or sitting in a parking spot, waiting forever for the next ping to come. You need to drive at times when demand—and pay—will be at their peaks.

How do you know what the best times to drive are, and where would you get this information? This article from Ridelancer.com agrees that it’s good to know the right times to drive, and gives very general ideas about when certain peaks might be. This rough estimate, while somewhat useful, leaves much to be desired. If you want to know the best times to drive, there is a much better way to find out.

In this post, we’ll show you how the When to Drive feature from Gridwise can change your driving gig and make it far more profitable. Here’s what we’ll feature:

• When to Drive: Boost your earnings with real data.
• What special days and events create demand in your area?
• What are the best times to drive for Uber and other rideshare apps?
• What are the best times to drive for Doordash and other delivery apps?
• Additional insight into rideshare and delivery driving from Gridwise.

Let’s get started.

When to drive: Boost your earnings with real data

The When to Drive feature from Gridwise is based on far more than mere guesswork. It lists the best times to drive, specifically in your area, based on the actual experience of real drivers. This data from drivers just like you reflects the unique aspects of your area and lets you see when drivers make the most money.

Here’s how it works.

First, download Gridwise, the app designed for gig drivers by gig drivers.

Sign in, and click on the Insights tab. You’ll see a chart showing the days that yield the most earnings in your town. You can also compare services to get insight into hourly rates across the apps you use.

Insights such as these can really boost your earnings, and you can’t have too many of them! That’s why you need Gridwise Plus, a premium service that offers extended features, benefits, and utility. For just $9.99 per month, you can boost your earnings up to 30% by taking advantage of extended features in When to Drive. Check out just how detailed the data telling when to drive can be:

The Gridwise Plus version of When to Drive gives you

• a history of earnings by time and by service, for at least 4 weeks
• airport departure and arrival patterns 24/7
• real-time flight details, including plane sizes and delays
• custom airport alerts
• unlimited information about local events

This insight is, obviously, like gold when it comes to knowing when to drive, but there is even more you need to be aware of.

What special days and events create demand in your area?

You can always count on When to Drive from Gridwise to show you the peak times to drive in your area. The app will clue you in on huge events such as pro sports games and major concerts. Don’t miss out, though, on smaller, more localized happenings that are bound to bring in the pings. Here are some to consider.

College comings and goings 

Stay aware of academic calendars that govern life at the colleges and universities around you. There are bound to be surges when the studious ones are ready to take a break. This can happen at the beginning of terms, in the middle, and certainly at winter and spring breaks. In addition to airport runs, there are bound to be plenty of parties and school events surrounding these important dates. Move-in time is sure to bring you business when students are stocking their living spaces with creature comforts and junk food staples.

High school sports and events 

Savvy parents are sick of trying to park at school sporting events and other auditorium-worthy presentations. It’s far easier for them to watch their favorite player, dancer, or budding violinist without the worries of dealing with their own vehicles. Delivery drivers can make out, too, with the after parties that are sure to take place. Check for signs around schools, local postings, and the school district website for dates and times of events. Be cautious about carrying under age kids, though. This article from Gridwise covers services that are best suited for those not yet enjoying adulthood.

Taco Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays

Most drivers think of midweek evenings as “dead,” but they might not be! Cruise your local neighborhoods to check advertisements outside of bars and restaurants, and keep a close eye on When to Drive and Where to Drive on the Gridwise app. They will tip you off on where people will be looking for gig drivers after indulging in the deals to be had. The conversations that go on in your back seat could make these “off” nights some of the best times to drive for Lyft. 

Community events

Beyond games, shows, and other gatherings related to schools in your area, crowds gather for many events sponsored by the community at large. From Fourth of July fireworks and Pride parades to Santa’s arrival and solemn religious holidays, you’ll find activities and events that draw people who need your services. Check out your community calendars and stay on top of all local happenings.

“Smaller” holidays

You may not want to give up your own “big” holiday traditions so you can work, but what about a less major celebration such as Halloween? It can be one of the best times to drive for Uber. Not only can it be lucrative, it offers a bit of fun too. Check out this Gridwise post to get ideas for driving during the halloween. Then think about other “smaller” holidays that inspire you to dress up your driving to join in on the fun. Hearts on your car for Valentine’s passengers or Easter bunny ears, anybody?

Always check the Events Feature in Gridwise to pinpoint times and places for events Now that we know where to go to get real data on when to drive, and have some other ideas to go on, let’s look at how you can capitalize on different peak times, depending on your driving gig.

What are the best times to drive for Uber and other rideshare apps?

Gridwise data show us that the best times to drive can vary from one place and one season to another. However, time windows that are open to rideshare drivers everywhere can pay off in big ways.

Early morning airport runs

 If you like to stay up all night or get up very, very early, you’ll find plenty of customers pinging for rides to the airport. With scheduling options now available for Uber and Lyft, you could even get the advance notice you need to plan for a little shut-eye before or after your trips. And always remember to check Gridwise for up-to-the-minute airport info!

Before and after work hours

 For starters, there’s a rule of thumb, according toFast Track Leasing LLC, that cites early mornings as the best time for rideshare drivers. With the price of parking in numerous cities, many workers prefer to let you do the driving. It’s true that not all office buildings are back to pre-pandemic numbers in terms of rides, but this is still fertile ground for harvesting plenty of pay.

Weekends and party hours

So many passengers enjoy the freedom rideshare offers in terms of staying away from driving after they’ve had a few, and certainly after a few too many. The lack of parking fees and the hassle of worrying about one’s car add to the incentives people have for calling an Uber or Lyft when they have plans to party hard.

Big events

Concerts, sporting events, festivals, and all types of crowded gatherings are likely occasions for passengers to call Uber, Lyft, or their other favorite rideshare services. Be careful here, though. Try to drive around the big event, say for tailgating or pre-stage play or concert meals. That way, you won’t spend your entire shift hoping the traffic jam you’re sitting in, at or near the event venue, will clear.

What are the best times to drive for Doordash and other delivery apps?

You’ll find out the details from When to Drive from Gridwise, but we also want to give you some general ideas to keep in mind for grabbing ping-rich delivery shifts. Don’t miss out on the best times to drive for Uber Eats, Grubhub, or Instacart. Here are a few.

Nighttime noshing

 Never underestimate the ability of college students or late night bar hoppers to devour entire pizzas or burgers piled high with gooey extras during the wee hours. Most delivery drivers focus their efforts on “customary” meal times, but the late night can be a great time to scoop up big orders. Hang around the eateries that attract this crowd, and you’ll be heaving bags full of comfort food, and possibly collect bonus money and big tips for hanging out long after dark. Don’t believe us? Teecycle.com has more about evolving late-night eating habits.

Pre- and post-game parties

The majority of people dig making their own munching material at tailgate parties, but some will probably want to have you bring their favorite restaurant wings instead. As for those who are watching big games at home, you’ll be their favorite person when you deliver the cheesy nachos and bottomless barrels of salsa. Stay alert to game times, including halftime and final whistles. If you deliver beer, you could be bringing it for a celebration or for something your customers can cry into. Either way, you get to keep your profits high!

Pre-holiday prep time

When people are in the throes of putting together gigantic feasts for upcoming holidays, the first thing they’ll want is today’s dinner delivered…now. You can bet on more than a few orders coming your way on holiday eves. And if your app involves delivering groceries, there’s a lot of last-minute order potential for forgotten, and drastically needed, items too.

Bad weather

It pays to have your delivery vehicle ready for service in rain, snow, sleet, and even blazing sun. When the weather gets disagreeable, customers just might flock to their delivery apps to order comforting grub without having to leave the welcoming heat of their homes. When are the best times to deliver for Uber Eats? you ask. Even with a keen eye on the weather, it can be hard to tell.

You need solid knowledge and personalised data from When to Drive from Gridwise. Then you’ll know for sure when you can make more money, any time of the day or night, and in any weather!

Download the Gridwise App

Additional insight into rideshare and delivery driving from Gridwise:

• Gridwise Guide to Rideshare Driving
• Gridwise Guide to Delivery Driving
• Uber Eats Earnings Report
• How holidays impact airport travel
• Holiday gig driving tips and tricks

Gig mobility data may be one of the most valuable business tools in the last few years. In the post-pandemic shift to hybrid work and working from home, traffic patterns in downtown areas have changed. Major residential communities are springing up in the suburbs, seemingly fully developed, as the commuter base around metropolitan areas creeps further from the interstate. For instance, what was once an hour’s drive from downtown Los Angeles to the outer suburbs during evening rush hour now often exceeds two hours. 

What does this mean for mobility-related businesses? How do rideshare companies determine surge policies and driver incentives in these quickly growing and continually changing areas? How does the competitive food delivery business determine market penetration strategies in a constantly expanding and changing environment? How do services like Amazon Flex and Roadie look at logistics analytics to determine their scheduling? 

Equally important, how does the investment community evaluate mobility-related opportunities powered by new technology and new ideas, especially in a business sector where change is the only constant?   

The secret is knowledge. Who’s driving where? When do they drive? What route do they take? Gig mobility data answers many of these questions.

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Gridwise Analytics gathers vehicle trip data across all significant gig service platforms, receiving information from over 500,000 gig drivers who have downloaded the Gridwise app. This input allows Gridwise to aggregate gig mobility data and translate it into transportation analytics. The result is the ground truth: What’s happening on our streets and freeways? This information helps businesses in all sectors operate more efficiently. 

What are mobility data, gig mobility data, and transportation analytics?

Before discussing the opportunities within mobility data, gig mobility data, and transportation analytics, it is crucial to understand the definitions and the differences between the applications of these terms. 

Mobility Data

This is the broader of the two terms, referring to any data related to the movement of people or goods across different transportation modes. It can encompass public transportation, private vehicle usage, pedestrian traffic, and more. It also encompasses shuttles, scooters, and rideshare. 

Gig Mobility Data

Gig mobility data is more specific and indicates that the data is related to the gig economy segment of mobility, such as rideshare and delivery services (including prepared food, groceries, and parcels). This would be particularly relevant to gig drivers and companies interested in understanding patterns, demand, and operational efficiencies within the gig sector.

Transportation Analytics

Transportation analytics is the interpretation of the related data. As Harvard Business School Online explains, “Data analytics refers to the process and practice of analyzing data [in this case, gig mobility data] to answer questions, extract insights, and identify trends.”

For instance, rap star Snoop Dogg appeared at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, this past July 2023. An analysis of gig mobility data surrounding that event can reveal

• where concert attendees came from (the geographic reach of a rap performer in the Denver metropolitan area) 
• what route they took (how will traffic be affected?)
• how far in advance of the event they arrived (what’s the potential impact on restaurants in the area pre-event?)
• how long attendees remained afterward (rideshare companies can use this input to determine the time and length of surge periods)

In each case, data from different times and different places tells a different story, of interest to a different entity.

Gig mobility data refers to the individual points of information. Transportation analytics refers to interpreting that information to develop a story and its potential effect on a business. 

What can gig mobility data show us?

Gig mobility data can help us see the overall picture

The image above is a bird’s-eye view of San Francisco and the surrounding suburbs. Red and gold heat map points indicate rideshare pickup locations. Heavily populated areas turn almost solid gold with activity, centralized in the San Francisco city area on the left of the image, with the next most active area across the bridge to the right (east) in Oakland. 

This map highlights other sites that may be less popular but still show significant activity. If a new entrant wants to enter this market but is still determining where they want to focus, this gig mobility data information can help answer that question. 

Incumbents can also use this data to identify where their competitors’ are active. By understanding where competitor activity happens, rideshare companies can position their businesses to capitalize on their unique advantages in ways that competitors can’t, leading to more profitable market share. Maybe rural markets are underserved, presenting an opportunity. 

Gig mobility data can help us see the activity of different gig platforms

Gridwise Analytics can overlay gig mobility data from two companies, as we have done here again with San Francisco, providing a view of rideshare market domination. 

The orange points represent areas of activity for Company A, while the blue points represent activity for Company B. If you were a new industry entrant, you could see where your competitors are focused.

Gig mobility data can identify points of activity

Gridwise can help companies visualize this data by adding a three-dimensional element to represent more trips occurring in the same area. Both clusters of columns (in the lower center-right and the far center-right), represent rides at airports, showing the popularity of those locations for rideshare drivers. 

Different colored points represent the different rideshare services. This type of transportation analysis can also be done for grocery and food delivery services, showing clusters of restaurants and even individual establishments that generate substantial orders. These merchant insights are key in developing strategies based on ground truth data. 

How does gig mobility data identify and leverage hotspots?

Residential development

Construction is near completion on a hypothetical new community of 350 homes in a suburb 30 miles from a major metropolitan area. Rideshare companies want to know the kind of traffic the community will generate at key times, both from commuters and for trips to regional airports, among other destinations. 

In advance of that community opening, analytics companies can locate similar communities in the area (similar income and demographics), procure transportation data analytics for commuter rideshare, and predict what the new community will generate. Based on this information, rideshare companies can determine driver incentive programs to service this community, such as surge pricing and other promotions. 

Origin and destination data can optimize route efficiency, reducing fuel costs and travel time. Grocery delivery platforms will also be interested in the information and what it means for the demand for their services. 

Retail establishments, like supermarkets and restaurants, and services like health clubs can also procure gig mobility data to determine the feasibility of new locations to serve the community.

New entertainment and sports venues

A recent AP article predicts that by 2028, Major League Baseball will likely add two new franchises, meaning new teams in new cities. Cities running for the new franchises include Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; Portland, OR; and Montreal. According to AP, Salt Lake City, UT, and Austin, TX, have also expressed an interest. The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing plans for a new ballpark in St. Petersburg, FL, and the Athletics are leaving Oakland, CA, to head for Las Vegas. 

This means those cities and the rideshare companies that serve them will seek gig mobility data to predict the volume of passengers on game days. One tactic will be to examine game day transportation data analytics from stadiums in similar cities. At a minimum, the gig mobility data will again help rideshare companies determine how many new drivers they need to attract to their platforms and what kinds of promotions they will need to draw those drivers out. 

These facilities will no doubt host other events, including concerts and other sporting events. Member companies in the transportation network will be interested in gig mobility data so they know how to serve attendees best. 

Gig mobility data has value for the investment community and hedge fund managers

Investment companies, hedge fund managers, and venture capitalists have also found opportunities to use gig mobility data and transportation data analytics to solidify their investment strategies. The increasing integration of technology and data analytics has opened new avenues for investors to gain insights into various industries, and the mobility sector is no exception. Here are just a few examples.

• Opportunities in the gig industry. First, it was rideshare, then food and grocery delivery, followed by parcel delivery. Airbnb and Vrbo rent out vacation homes, and Outdoorsy helps RV owners justify the expense of their rigs by renting them out when they’re not in use. All these industries and their investors will benefit from gig mobility data. 
• Infrastructure investments. Investment firms often seek opportunities related to infrastructure development. Transportation analytics can identify locations where there is a need for improved transportation infrastructure. Cities can use gig mobility data and transportation analytics to structure bond offerings to finance infrastructure projects. Cities are also now considering broadband as part of the infrastructure, which will put more focus on this sector. 
• Regulatory impact. Regulations and policy decisions heavily influence the gig driver industry. Gig mobility data and predictive analytics can help investors determine how proposed regulations may impact companies in this sector. Anticipating these regulatory shifts allows investors to evaluate investment opportunities better. Industry principals can use predictive analytics to mount campaigns that ensure legislators consider all options and ramifications of potential regulations. 
• Insurance. Automobile insurance companies base their rates on the zip code of where the insured lives. Gig mobility data can contribute to risk management strategies by providing a more accurate view of risks and challenges in a zip-code area. This includes traffic congestion, supply chain disruptions, and environmental considerations. 
• Impact of technological advances. The mobility sector is undergoing rapid technological advancements, including the development of autonomous vehicles, electric transportation, and smart city solutions. Investment companies and hedge fund managers can use gig mobility data for predictive analytics, evaluating investment opportunities in companies involved in this technology. Companies in the autonomous vehicle and electric vehicle charging industry have used Gridwise gig mobility data to make decisions that have had considerable financial impact. 
• Economic indicators. Changes in gig mobility data often reflect broader economic trends, providing investors with early signals about economic downturns or upswings. A decrease in regional commuting activity could indicate layoffs, while an increase in vacation travel could indicate economic growth.

Gig mobility data does not exist in a vacuum

Much of the decision-making regarding transportation and related projects relies on online research, observations, and unscientific studies. Often this information presents a conflicting picture of what’s happening. 

Gig mobility data and transportation analytics provide a more definitive answer. Gridwise Analytics has encountered several companies that were stymied by conflicting perspectives. Once they added gig mobility data from Gridwise, the picture became clearer.  

“We always knew we needed TNC data, but before Gridwise Analytics, there were only limited sources out there,” said one company official. 

Gig mobility data from Gridwise Analytics 

Gig mobility data from Gridwise Analytics offers unique insights for companies involved in and serving the transportation infrastructure, showing how people and goods move from one location to another. The granular data shows where trips originate, where they end, and the major travel corridors. Gridwise Analytics is the who, what, where, when, why, and how of gig mobility data.

Data teams can sort this information to reflect daily, monthly, and annual patterns. Gridwise data comes in a clean format, with little or no need to manipulate it to fit into the model you might be using. Models can be quickly updated with new information, too. 

For a demonstration of how Gridwise Analytics vehicle trip data can sharpen your transportation analytics, contact us below. 

Are you looking for more articles about Gridwise Analytics? 

• Learn more about Gridwise Analytics. Start exploring today! 
• Read about the assurances Gridwise makes to drivers concerning the use of their data. 
• Why we launched Gridwise Analytics
• Replica: Enhancing mobility insights with Gridwise TNC data

Mixing it up is a sound strategy for gig drivers. For rideshare drivers, this means working for Uber and Lyft simultaneously. For food delivery drivers, this is working for several companies in the same way. And then some drivers mix rideshare and food delivery. 

Other gig drivers add to the mix when they get involved in micromobility, sometimes referred to as the last mile. We’re talking specifically about Lime scooters. As most of us know, the opportunity is to get involved as a Lime scooter charger, or as Lime refers to it, a Lime Juicer. 

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What is Lime and how does it work?

Lime is one of the two big players in the rentable electric scooter market, part of the larger micromobility arena. Bird was the first company to launch rentable electric scooters in 2017. Lime, which was actually founded before Bird, has been giving them a run for their money ever since. Who’s on top in market shares switches back and forth, with the other players back in the pack. Those other players include Uber, Lyft, Spin, and Skip. 

Lime scooters and their competitors are electric scooters, also known as e-scooters. They are rented through an app and typically used in congested city areas for short trips. Lime and Bird scooters have a top speed of about 15 miles an hour, and a range of about 15 miles before the scooter needs to be recharged. Both companies also have e-bikes, but that market is not part of this article. 

Where will you find Lime scooters?

Like all scooter companies, Lime is looking for target-rich environments where the scooters get a lot of use and are easy to find and harvest. This means large downtown areas, the beach, and some resort areas. The Lime website lists 53 cities in the US, although this number is constantly growing. Users skew toward millennials and Gen Z, especially the hipster and bougie crowd. 

You will also find Lime, as well as the other electric scooter companies, around the world. Europe is a big market, larger than the US in terms of cities. If you live in the US, then there is a city near you that offers Lime scooters and its competitors. 

Some cities have banned e-scooters

From the very start, there have been problems with this emerging mode of micromobility. Many cities banned them, citing accidents caused by reckless scooter users, scooters abandoned in the middle of streets, and other issues. Many of these were legitimate concerns. 

Other cities later invited them back, often in trial programs. A city might invite Lime to be part of the program, along with a few others, but exclude Bird. It’s all dependent on which company made a good proposal. E-scooters are a very fluid market.  

How to reserve a Lime scooter

If you want to use a Lime scooter, download the Lime app and link it to your debit card. The app will then show you available scooters in your area. When you select a scooter, it is reserved (usually for about ten minutes), and the app gives you the scooter number and the address of its location. 

Once you locate the scooter, you scan the QR code on it, which unlocks the scooter. You give it a push, crank the electric accelerator, and off you go. Charges can vary slightly from one city to another, but unlocking the scooter is generally $1, and then there’s a per-mile cost of 15 cents, although it goes as high as 30 cents. When you arrive at your destination, Lime asks you to leave the scooter someplace safe (which doesn’t always happen). Deactivate the scooter on your app, and you’re done. 

Becoming a Lime scooter charger 

Charging Lime scooters is where the gig work comes in. Lime calls them Lime Juicers. At a designated time, usually 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. (it can vary by market), the Juicer portion of the Lime app will start displaying scooters that need a charge. The Lime Juicers reserve their scooters and hit the street to find them. Lime calls this harvesting. 

You get three or four Lime charger cords when you sign up as a Lime Juicer. If you were one of the early ones to sign on, there is a good chance you received them free from Lime. You are more apt to pay for a Lime charger now though. Figure about $15 or $20 for each charger from Lime. You can also find them on Amazon and eBay (both new and used) for lower prices. Also, look on OfferUp and similar sites. 

Once a Juicer has completed their harvesting activities for the night, it is back to their home to charge the scooters. This process takes about five hours and probably involves a power strip or two or three (Amazon has some chargers that will juice up to six scooters at a time). According to various reports by Lime Juicers, it costs less than 20 cents in electricity to charge a scooter. Other Juicers say they don’t notice a change in their electricity bill. 

Once the scooters are charged, Lime requires that they be back on the street, generally starting at about 4:00 a.m. for the early rush hour users, and no later than 7:00 a.m. (these times may vary from city to city). Lime says it will not compensate Juicers for scooters dropped off after 7:00 a.m., although some Juicers claim they have been paid for late drop-offs. 

How much do Lime Juicers make?

When a Lime Juicer looks at the app, they see how much Lime is paying to juice each scooter. Rates are based on how much of a charge the scooter needs and how easy the scooter is to find. A scooter on a major street in a downtown area might get the Juicer $3 to $7, depending on the charge needed. If the scooter is on a side street and it’s drained, the pay might go as high as $12. 

Then you have the scooters that are abandoned in difficult-to-find locations: a residential neighborhood, an alley on the outskirts of downtown, or some other strange location. The app may even be reading a scooter that someone is keeping on the porch or garage, intending to ride it to work the next morning. These are probably better left alone. 

How do these rates translate hourly?

Lime Juicers can easily make $15 or $20 an hour once they figure out how to harvest scooters and be efficient about it. Some claim to make as much as $30 an hour. How well you do really comes down to how well you hone your strategy, and everyone has their own strategy on how to do it. 

The big takeaway to remember is that Lime Juicers have limited hours. The earliest you can go to work is 9:00 p.m., and the scooters get picked up quickly.

Lime can also be very seasonal. The business drops off during the rainy months. Does it snow in your area? Not much scooter business then, either. 

Winning strategies: How much do Lime Juicers make a month?

This depends on your strategy. Everyone has a different approach, but there are three main categories:

Full-time Juicers 

These are Juicers with a truck or van and a good number of chargers. They hit it hard, are constantly looking on the app for new scooters, and might charge 30 or 40 scooters a night, maybe more. They claim they make $4,000 a month minimum. Check out this Reddit thread about a Juicer who claims $400 a night.   

Part-time Juicers

Some Lime Juicers have shared their strategy for maximizing part time earnings. One Juicer harvests a scooter with a charge on his way home from work and then uses it as his Lime Juicer scooter to locate others, which he then stacks on the first scooter. Then he rides the stack home. Their reported record is seven scooters stacked at once while driving down the street, but this Juicer is most comfortable with four scooters at once. In the morning they stack the charged scooters and checks the app for the nearest drop-off location indicated on the app. Working part-time, this Juicer says he once made $1,000 in one month as a Juicer. Other Juicers on Reddit claimed this strategy, too. 

Hoarders

This is the type of activity that will get you kicked off the Lime app or any other scooter app. Still, it happens a lot. Hoarders go out before the appointed 9:00 p.m. hour and corral as many scooters as they can, ideally hiding them in a truck or van. At 9:00 p.m., they start scanning the scooters to see which ones require a charge. When the honest Juicers come out, all the easy-to-find scooters are gone. As you can guess, hoarders who don't get caught bring in good money. 

Another strategy regards the easy-to-find scooters vs. the hard-to-find ones which command a bigger price. Wise Juicers will disregard the hard-to-find scooters, knowing they can pick up five easy-to-find scooters in the same amount of time and make more money. 

Lime vs. Bird

In markets where both Lime and Bird are active, it’s a toss-up as to whether it is better to be a Lime Juicer or a Bird Charger. Rates are different in every market and they tend to fluctuate. According to Kevin Ha from FinancialPanther.com, the same chargers work for both Lime and Bird scooters (that is, at least some generations of the scooters), so it is easy to work for both companies. 

Also, remember that there are markets where Lime or Bird are excluded. Obviously, that limits your choices. 

Bird is also going through some changes that affect the gig charger community. Read on to find out about those changes. 

How to sign up to be a Lime Juicer

The steps to being a Lime Juicer are about as straightforward as the other app-based jobs in transportation and micromobility. Here are the qualifications. You must

• be at least 18 years old
• be in possession of a valid US driver’s license (despite Juicers who claim they don’t use a car)
• be in possession of a Social Security number
• own a vehicle that can store at least one scooter (again, even though some Juicers don’t use their car)
• own a smartphone, iPhone or Android 

As far as the actual sign-up process, it is easiest to download the app and navigate to the Juicer section. Fill out the online form, send it in, and wait for Lime to contact you. 

This is where it gets frustrating in some markets

Lime’s latest innovation is their Gen 4 scooters. These models have a rechargeable battery pack. As of this writing, they are not being used in all markets, but according to an article in TechCrunch, that’s where the company is headed. In markets with the Gen 4 scooters, Juicers are out of business. 

Lime has created a new gig position called movers, using contract workers to pick up scooters in outlying areas and bring them into the city, but most of the Juicers are complaining loudly. You can read about a Juicer on Reddit and their Lime experience in Denver.

Lime is purportedly paying movers around $3.50 per scooter they relocate. Most people don’t like change, but there are former Juicers and others who will undoubtedly embrace the model and figure out a strategy to make it work. 

Changes to the Bird charger program

Bird instituted a program in which they created fleet managers. See this Gridwise report from a few months ago. The managers purchase Bird scooters, which Bird finances. Bird also retains ownership of the scooters (it’s strange, but the contracts are hard to come by and the fleet managers sign a non-disclosure agreement). The managers are in business for themselves. They get a bigger share of the profits but are responsible for warehousing, maintenance, and repair of the scooters in addition to charging. Again, in markets where Bird fleet managers are active, gig chargers are out of a job. 

The arrangement has worked well for some, not so well for others, according to an article by SmartCitiesDive.com. 

What’s the future for gig workers in the scooter sector?

If there is one constant in the micromobility and rideshare/delivery business for gig workers, it is that things will change. Who knows? Lime’s Gen 4 scooters may have a manufacturer recall, or they may encounter some other kink. According to the TechCrunch article, Lime would have rolled out the Gen 4 program earlier but there were supply chain issues.  

Scooters seem to be here to stay, so if you're looking for an extra gig, it's worth checking out.

Whether you're already working as a charger or you're considering it, make sure you download the free Gridwise app to track your miles as a Lime Juicer.

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More resources you might enjoy

• Make $1,000 a week with DoorDash
• 10 Ways To Stay Safe As A Delivery Or Rideshare Driver
• How to make $1000 a week with Amazon Flex
• Here's how to make $1000 with Uber Eats a week
• Maximize earnings with Gridwise features
• Check out the Gridwise Job Board

Is Uber Eats worth it? What does Uber Eats driver pay look like? For many drivers, Uber Eats is a staple of their gig business. Others use Eats as part of a multi-apping system, where they toggle back and forth with other rideshare or delivery apps. 

There are many factors that make driving for Uber Eats worth the effort. The earnings for 2022 show that there is definitely money to be made by delivering food for Uber. In this blog post we’ll do some delivering, too.

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How much do Uber Eats drivers make?

How much does Uber Eats pay? Like all answers to questions about driver earnings, it depends on a few different things. Gridwise data show us that while Uber Eats isn’t the highest paying delivery service, it is still very stable and very convenient. 

How much can you make with Uber Eats? The fairest way to answer that is to look at actual earnings, directly from the results of Uber Eats drivers who use Gridwise. The first thing worth noting is that total hourly earnings (basic pay + tips) have remained stable for the first three quarters of 2022, at around $13.50. Then, in Q4, the median gross hourly earnings came in at $14.01. That means Uber Eats is sustaining its popularity, holding on to its market share, and paying well for drivers.

How much do Uber Eats drivers make a week? This answer rides on how many hours a week a person drives for Uber Eats. It’s not easy for drivers to put in a full 30 or 40 hours delivering meals, but it isn’t impossible. You’d have to be willing to dig into the demographics in your area and find out where the chow orders are coming from, even when it isn’t peak meal time.

If a driver were to deliver for 30 hours a week, they’d pull in around $405. Keep in mind, though, that many Uber Eats drivers don’t use Eats as their only gig. Drivers, if they’re qualified, can switch back and forth between Eats and rideshare, depending on how busy they might be with each type of driving at different times of day.

That could be part of the explanation for Uber Eats monthly earnings coming in between $200 and $260 per month. This is on par with other delivery apps, such as Instacart and Grubhub, where drivers appear to work only part time.

Tips are very high with Uber Eats, around $6.50 per hour. Customers tend to tip delivery drivers more. Could it be because they’re hungry? Maybe so. As an Uber Eats driver, you’ll want to encourage customers to notice the careful and efficient way you bring them what they want. We’ll say more about that in a later section.

Uber Eats driver pay is just one good reason to work with the Uber Eats app.The flexibility of going between Uber rideshare driving and delivering for Uber Eats is unique, and a good feature for Uber drivers. 

What does it take to drive for Uber Eats?

If you choose to do Uber Eats delivery only (that is, unless you’re already a rideshare driver for Uber) there are some requirements. To do delivery by car, you will need to

• be at least 19 years old
• drive a 2-door or 4-door car
• have a valid driver’s license in your name
• submit your Social Security number so Uber can run a background screening

You can also deliver, in some areas, on a scooter or bicycle, and even on foot. See the Uber website for specific requirements for these modes of transportation, and check what the site has to say about your city for any special considerations there might be. 

Read this Gridwise blog post for more about what it takes to drive for Uber Eats.

Want to deliver with Uber Eats as an Uber driver?

If you’re an Uber driver, you already qualify to deliver for Uber Eats. All you need to do is turn on the option to receive delivery requests in the Uber driver app. This is extremely convenient if you want to mix up your driving activity and capitalize on the opportunity to make more money when delivery is in demand. Then you can switch back to rideshare when more people need you to take them from one place to another.

The requirements for rideshare drivers are a bit harder to meet than the ones for Uber Eats delivery only, but not by much. See the Uber website if you’re not yet an Uber rideshare driver, and want to learn more about the requirements in your city.

What are the perks and considerations of delivering for Uber Eats?

What reasons might you have for choosing to drive for Uber Eats, or not? If you’re looking for delivery only, Uber Eats is a very easy gig to work. It’s popular and can be found in most locations. If you’re thinking of mixing Eats with Uber rideshare, you’ll find food delivery to be a pleasant diversion from your usual work, and it can also be a lucrative one. 

This table lists some pros and cons you can consider, in either case.

Uber Eats PerksUber Eats ConsiderationsApp is easy to use and toggle back and forth from rideshare to deliveryFor rideshare drivers, the mix of rideshare and delivery requests can be distractingGood pay for food deliveryMight not be as lucrative as rideshareEasy to qualifyYou may need to clock in a lot of mileage to make good money No scheduling necessary, drive anytimeYou may have lots of competition from other drivers

There are many factors you need to take into account when you choose which service or services to drive for. Uber Eats is very popular among drivers, so it seems the pros must outweigh the cons. Of course, you can always increase your chances of making more money when you learn how to strategize wisely.

What’s the best Uber Eats driver advice for maximizing earnings?

This Gridwise post tells you how it’s possible to earn $1000 a week with Uber Eats, and it contains a lot of wise advice. The core point of the article is that you have to treat your Uber Eats gig like the serious business that it is. That means you need to

• track your earnings. To properly manage your business, you need to know how much you’re making. Sync your Uber Eats activity to Gridwise, and the earnings data will seamlessly be tabulated and displayed in easy to read and useful graphs.
• track your mileage. Your tax-deductible mileage is recorded for each app you sync with Gridwise, making it easy to find at tax crunch time.
• record your expenses. Gridwise makes it easy to keep track of your expenses, tax-deductible and otherwise. Just enter them as they come in.
• cut your operating expenses. Once you record your expenses, and see how high they are, you might want to look for ways to cut them down. Check out the amazing deals and discounts from Gridwise on everything from gas and car maintenance to life insurance and healthcare.
• know when and where the best deliveries will take place. Gridwise driver data informs the features Where to Drive and When to Drive, so you can avoid playing “trial and error” with your driving patterns. 
• get familiar with the areas and patterns in your town. You can learn a lot about your area when you do gig driving. Know where offices, universities, hospitals, and high-delivery neighborhoods are, and be alert to what’s happening, when shifts change and people get home from work.
• set up a schedule and stick to it. Making a good living as a gig driver requires you to drive at times when you might not really feel like it. You are your own boss, so apply the necessary discipline and get your job done. A schedule is a huge help.
• use multi-apping: You can go from one app to another, within the rules, of course, and bring more earning opportunities your way. Read this Gridwise post on multi-apping to get more ideas that will increase your income.
• be aware of events, weather, and traffic. You can always know what’s going on in your town with Gridwise event alerts, weather advisories, and traffic information. 

These are just a few of the things you need to do to make the maximum as an Uber Eats driver. And, as you can see, Gridwise can be a big part of your success..

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Here are some more Uber Eats articles we think you will enjoy:

• How to make $1000 a week with Uber Eats
• Uber Eats Pro: What Drivers Need to Know
• Uber Eats vs. DoorDash Pay: How Much Are Drivers Earning?

Money is the main reason why Lyft drivers go out on the road, so it’s crucial they know how much the average driver makes and how it’s possible to earn more. So, how much do Lyft drivers make?This article will describe exactly what 2023 Lyft driver earnings show. In addition to this insider’s view of actual driver earnings, we’ll offer tips and tricks that supercharge your earning abilities, and make being a Lyft driver well worth the effort.

Let’s start by showing you the money. Keep in mind, as you look at these numbers, that they represent the average amount of money Lyft drivers earned nationwide. Depending on location, time spent driving, and local minimum earnings regulations, drivers might have made more or less.

The figures for gross earnings include base pay along with bonus, incentive, and tip earnings. We’ll break down the amounts for these various categories when we address them later in this post.

What did Lyft drivers earn in 2023?

The first six months of 2023 were rather good to Lyft drivers. After a slight decline in earnings in 2022 over 2021, gross earnings rebounded to totals of $2,270 in Q1 and $2,865 in Q2. Trends show that earnings tend to pick up in the third and fourth quarters of each year, so it’s apparent that Lyft drivers have a good running start on a successful finish to 2023.

How much can you make with Lyft? Use Gridwise to get insights on where and when drivers are earning more with the Where to Drive and When to Drive features. Historical data can show you peak times and busy places with a few taps on the Gridwise app.

How much do Lyft drivers earn per hour?

For Q1 2023, Lyft drivers averaged $20.92 in gross pay for each hour worked. Q2 reflected an upward swing, to $21.44. These numbers indicate that Lyft driver earnings are coming back to the levels found at the end of 2021. Q4 of that year showed that drivers’ gross hourly pay amounted to $21.40. After that, there was a decline that dipped as low as $17.21 in Q3 2022. 

It’s encouraging to see Lyft earnings coming back to pre-2022 levels. If you want to ensure that you do your part to keep them soaring, rely on Gridwise to give you real-time airport arrival and departure information. Once you see how many passengers need rides, you can decide whether it’s worth it to hang in the cell phone lot or designated rideshare queue, or head off to greener pastures.

How much do Lyft drivers earn per week?

Gridwise reports that the average Lyft driver made about $356 per week in gross earnings. If drivers make about $21 per hour, this figure shows that drivers put in a little under 17 hours a week on Lyft. With multi-apping being so popular, it’s clear that drivers like to mix up their gigs. This could explain the limited number of hours Lyft drivers are tracking with Gridwise. Read this blog post to learn more about multi-apping, and why it’s such a smart move.

How much do Lyft drivers earn monthly?

Average gross monthly ratings for Lyft drivers using Gridwise come in at $1,137. That number tells us that Lyft drivers average about 56 hours per month. Again, this doesn’t reflect what a full-time Lyft driver would make. Individual drivers pick their own mix of gigs. Many choose to do delivery in addition to rideshare. Check out this Gridwise guide to delivery driving to find out more about delivery earnings, requirements, and more.

What are average tips like for Lyft drivers?

Rideshare passengers are showing Lyft drivers the love. At least that’s what the Lyft data for tip earnings tell us! In Q1 2023, average Lyft driver earnings from tips came in at $215, and rose to $265 in Q2. The generosity of passengers varies with trends in the economy. Sympathetic customers might respond to rising prices with a little extra something for their drivers. Or they might be tightening their belts, depending on their own economic conditions and time of year.

What can you do to increase your Lyft driver pay from tips? Drivers get tips when they see their job as more than just driving. Consider your customers, and give them what you would want if you were in their position. You can also check out this Gridwise blog post for tricks and tips for getting more tips! 

Does Lyft offer bonuses?

Much like tipping, bonuses from the people who bring you the Lyft driver app fluctuate, depending on market-driven circumstances. Lyft earnings from bonus pay averaged $218 for Q1 2023, and $213 for Q2. 

While this isn’t terrible, it’s considerably less than what Lyft was doling out for bonus pay when they were making every effort to get drivers back to work after the pandemic. For example, in Q2 2022, average bonus earnings for Lyft drivers was $335! Now that drivers have returned to the road, Lyft doesn’t need to award as much in bonus payouts.

Lyft does still offer bonuses, as well as incentives, to drivers. They include everything from earnings guarantee promotions, extra pay for ride streaks, challenges, and bonus zones to new driver referral programs and a tiered rewards program. 

Learn everything you need to know about Lyft driving bonuses from their website.

While it never hurts to participate in the bonus and incentive programs run by companies like Lyft, you can get many of the same benefits, and more—without having to hustle to rack up points—when you download Gridwise and check out Gridwise Benefits. Click on “marketplace” in the app, then tap around for offers, benefits, and instant access to the always informative Gridwise blog.

How does Lyft calculate driver pay?

There are three main components to Lyft driver pay. 

1. Base pay. Lyft calls this “Upfront Pay” because you can see what you will earn for each ride before you decide to accept it. Keep in mind that Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Lyft and other rideshare and delivery companies create their own algorithms and don’t divulge each and every detail involved in them. 

The result of the calculations within the algorithm produce your base pay and reflect items such as the estimated time and distance of the ride, your travel to the pickup point, and demand for rides where you are located. 

There are other factors, but the algorithm makers don’t completely reveal what those might be. Subtracted from the fee your passenger pays is the company’s “take,” or the amount they charge you for using the Lyft app. You can get some of the more detailed information from in-app trip manifests, but again, you won’t ever know everything about the algorithm that drives your earnings.

2. Tips. Drivers get to keep 100% of customer tips. This is only fair, but believe it or not, things haven’t always worked that way! Fortunately, companies such as Lyft have responded to drivers’ remarks regarding to whom tips really belong, and companies generally have this 100% policy. To make it easier for customers to tip, Lyft has built opportunities into the customer experience to award the driver with something extra.

3. Bonuses and incentives. For the most part, bonuses and incentives are offered when there are more customers in need of rides than there are drivers available. That supply and demand thing has everything to do with how much you’ll get in bonuses. Some bonuses will appear in the app while you’re driving, while others will be indicated on the “heat map” within the app, which shows where demand is high, and helps you to earn more pay.

To learn more about how Lyft calculates pay, visit this page on their website.

How can you boost your earnings?

Driving for Lyft is comparatively simple, and can be quite pleasant, but it isn’t always easy to reach your earning potential if all you do is go through the motions. There are several tactics you can deploy if you want to maximize your earnings and minimize the amount of time you need to spend driving. Here are some of them.

Be the best driver possible

Drivers with high ratings get more customers and better assignments. Read these Gridwise posts about how Lyft ratings work and how you can improve your Lyft driver ratings.

Go that extra mile

When you do that thing about giving your passengers what you would want if you were on a rideshare trip, you’ll instinctively score points and get more tips. You’ll also improve your ratings, which as we’ve seen, is a good way to boost your earnings.

Ride with insight and intel

Use Gridwise to boost your knowledge of your market and how you can make the most money in it. With the right information, you can create driving strategies that make your job easier and more profitable too.

Minimize your taxes

As independent contractors, drivers have to figure out how to pay their own taxes. That means it’s very important for you to know what items you can deduct from your taxes, and to keep track of these expenses! Gridwise can help here, as well. By accurately tracking your Lyft mileage and expenses, you can lower your tax deductible income. Here's a look at what some of these dashboards look like:

Download Gridwise for free now!

Read this blog post about what you can deduct, and learn how to capture the information you need to maximize your tax savings!

Have fun with your driving business. When you like what you do, it will show in the way you succeed in your business! You’ll be good to your customers, be on top of the bonuses and incentives at your disposal, and be conscientious about taking advantage of the ways you can save money.

As we’ve said, money is the main reason you would drive for Lyft, or any company for that matter! We hope you’ll take advantage of all you learned about Lyft earnings in this post, and go out there and get all the earnings you deserve.

Want to know more about increasing your earnings? Check out these Gridwise articles.

• Keep track of what you’re earning
• The Gridwise Guide to maximum gig driver earnings
• How Lyft driver payments work
• How Lyft driver ratings work
• How to improve your Lyft driver rating

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

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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:

Instacart ProsInstacart ConsiderationsWork is consistent; hours are flexible.Pay can be lower in comparison.Ability to choose blocks of time to work.Requirement to work a minimum of two consecutive hours; scheduling is required ahead of time.Job offers variety.Potentially too many tasks associated with each order.Lots of short-lived contact with other humans—and possibilities for big tips!Challenging interactions can stem from contact with surly people in the store, traffic madness, and nasty customers.Company innovating with food delivery and nano-fulfillment.New company practices could create more demands on shoppers and drivers.Bonuses offered for high performance, sign-on and referrals; some extra pay for peak orders.Fee for instant cashout.Company constantly improving its app and method of payment. Recently increased minimum earnings per batch.Complicated (and not very transparent) payment algorithm.

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.

The pros of being a DasherThe considerations of being a DasherFlexible hours; can choose whether to accept orders.Variable demand. Weekly pay; high fee for instant cash out.More focus on delivery and less on shopping means more trips per hour and potentially more money.Lots of driving from one place to the next could lead to higher gas costs and more vehicle wear and tear.The “thrill of the chase” can arise from knowing where to go and when to make the most money.Requires some hustle, particularly in areas that don’t have restaurants with big money orders.No passengers and only limited interaction with others.Waiting at restaurants and constantly communicating with customers, so they don’t get impatient or blame you for delays.Company diversifying with delivery of non-prepared food items.Possible need to learn the art of speedily shopping for convenience and grocery items.Bonuses and incentives for peak pay, challenges, and promotions.Comparatively low pay for a lot of intense, fast-paced work.Well-established, popular company.The popularity of DoorDash leads  to competition with other Dashers for delivery business..

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

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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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