In the fast-paced world of today, food delivery services are an essential part of everyday life, providing convenience and opportunity for both consumers and job seekers. This enlightening article navigates you through the diverse landscape of the top 15 food delivery services to work for and tells the tale of how companies like DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, and Shipt have risen to prominence. You'll traverse their varying pay scales, the delightfully flexible hours they offer, and the numerous opportunities that make them attractive options for self-employment. However, it's not all smooth sailing as you'll also hear about the challenges that include vehicle expenses and, in some cases, limited support. By the end, you'll have an in-depth understanding of the experiences and offerings these services bring to the table.
Table of Contents
Overview of Top Ranked Food Delivery Services
Are you considering a gig in the food delivery industry? It's important to consider various factors including pay, flexibility, and overall reputation. Among the top-ranked food delivery services are DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, and Shipt. Each has its unique benefits, challenges, and payment structure; we'll delve into all these aspects for each company. Let's begin!
DoorDash
DoorDash is a well-known food delivery service that allows customers to order food online from a wide array of restaurants and have it delivered to their doorstep. If you're considering working for DoorDash, know that they have a good reputation among delivery drivers and offer the potential to earn up to $25 per hour.
Postmates
Postmates is a robust delivery platform that caters not just to food, but a variety of everyday goods, ranging from grocery items to personal care products. What sets Postmates apart is their guarantee that all deliveries are made within an hour. This can translate to more deliveries per shift, increasing your earning potential.
Instacart
As an Instacart driver, your focus is primarily on grocery delivery. The service offers two types of positions that you can consider based on your preferences – full-service shopper or an in-store shopper. The variety of options available allows you to select the work style most suitable for you.
Shipt
Similar to Instacart, Shipt is also a grocery delivery service. With Shipt, you help customers by shopping for them and subsequently delivering their orders. If you love shopping, this could be a perfect way to earn some extra income.
Pros and Cons of DoorDash
Before deciding to work for DoorDash, you should consider the pros and cons.
Benefits of working for DoorDash
High hourly rates and keeping all customer tips make DoorDash an attractive option for drivers. The job offers flexible hours and the freedom to choose when and where you want to make deliveries.
Challenges of working for DoorDash
Whilst the benefits are enticing, you'll also face some challenges. Being responsible for vehicle expenses such as gas, repairs, and maintenance can significantly impact your take-home pay. Furthermore, schedules can fill up other workers quickly, so you may need to schedule your hours in advance.
Pros and Cons of Postmates
Next, consider the pros and cons of working with Postmates.
Benefits of working for Postmates
The biggest advantage with Postmates is its variety of delivery options which keeps your job interesting, coupled with speedy deliveries to help you increase your earnings. You are also allowed to keep 100% of your tips.
Challenges of working for Postmates
However, provisions for expensive vehicle expenses fall wholly on you, which could affect your earnings. Also, Postmates doesn't offer a minimum hourly guarantee, which means it might be harder to predict your earnings per week.
Pros and Cons of Instacart
Instacart has its upsides and downsides as well.
Benefits of working for Instacart
Working for Instacart provides you an opportunity to pick between two job types according to your preference. The pay is competitive, and they pay weekly which can be convenient for managing your budget.
Challenges of working for Instacart
One of the noticeable cons is that peak hours can be crowded, making it challenging to secure enough deliveries. Instacart doesn't also cover vehicle expenses, which could cut into your earnings.
Pros and Cons of Shipt
Lastly, consider if Shipt is a viable job option.
Benefits of working for Shipt
Aside from the payment per delivery, Shipt offers in-app tips and a membership program, providing avenues for more income. The company allows you to make your schedule, giving you the flexibility to work when you can.
Challenges of working for Shipt
The downside with Shipt is that they don't provide any reimbursement for vehicle maintenance or injuries that happen on the job. Not all hours also guarantee a high number of orders, restricting the possibility to maximize your earnings.
Comparison of Pay Structure
Aside from the work details, knowing the payment structure of these delivery services is crucial. Let's get into it!
DoorDash Payment System
With DoorDash, you get a base pay for each delivery you make plus 100% of your tips. The company also sometimes runs promotions or peak pay incentives during busy times.
Postmates Payment System
Postmates offers a slightly more complex payment system. They factor in the time spent waiting at pick-up, the distance from the pick-up to the drop-off location, and the time it takes to complete the delivery.
Instacart Payment System
Instacart’s payment structure is more straightforward – it’s based on the number of items, the type of items, and the distance of the delivery. The company pays a minimum amount per batch you make.
Shipt Payment System
Shipt pays based on the size of the order. Larger orders result in higher pay. Also, Shipt allows customers to tip drivers, which can significantly increase your earnings.
Employment Status with the Delivery Services
One common feature of these delivery services is they treat you as independent contractors. Even though this status provides flexibility, it also implies certain responsibilities.
Status as Independent Contractors
As an independent contractor, you’re self-employed. This means you have the freedom to set your schedule. However, it also means you are responsible for handling your tax deductions and filing.
Implications and Responsibilities of being an Independent Contractor
Being an independent contractor also means you’re responsible for your vehicle expenses. Since this can directly affect your revenue, it’s essential to keep your maintenance costs as low as possible while maintaining safety.
Qualifications Required by the Delivery Services
Each delivery service has specific qualifications for their drivers.
DoorDash Qualification Requirements
To become a dasher, you need to be 18 or older, own a vehicle, have a valid driver's license, pass a background check, and have auto insurance.
Postmates Qualification Requirements
Much like DoorDash, Postmates requires you to be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, pass a background check, and have insurance.
Instacart Qualification Requirements
For Instacart, you need to be 21 or older, be able to lift 50lbs, have a newer model smartphone, and pass a background check.
Shipt Qualification Requirements
Shipt has requirements similar to Instacart, but you need to be 18 or older, have a reliable vehicle and proper insurance, and be capable of lifting 45 lbs.
Customer Service and Support Comparison
Let’s compare the robustness of the support provided by these services for drivers.
Support provided by DoorDash
DoorDash has a dedicated support team available 24/7 for immediate assistance and also provides DasherDirect, a platform for dashers that offers useful resources and financial services.
Support provided by Postmates
Postmates provides live support for drivers as well, aside from disseminating educational resources to help drivers understand their delivery process inside and out.
Support provided by Instacart
Instacart also offers a 24/7 support hotline for drivers and dedicated online resources for guidance and assistance.
Support provided by Shipt
Shipt provides both phone and email support for all its drivers and maintains a community of drivers who can exchange tips and advice.
Overview of Other Notable Delivery Services
There are several other delivery service options on the market that might be worth your consideration.
Grubhub
As one of the pioneers in the delivery industry, Grubhub has a vast network of restaurant partners across the country. They offer competitive earnings and mileage reimbursements.
Uber Eats
As a subsidiary of Uber, Uber Eats provides its drivers the unique opportunity to do both rideshare and food delivery operations. The pay structure is transparent, and drivers are paid weekly.
Caviar
Caviar focuses on delivering food from premium restaurants. This may translate to higher order costs and potentially bigger tips.
Saucey
Saucey specializes in alcohol delivery within 30 minutes. This potentially means fast deliveries and repeated orders on weekends.
Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex offers delivery of Amazon packages or groceries from Amazon Fresh. It provides flexibility around your schedule and claims to pay between $18-25/hr.
Favor Delivery
Favor Delivery specializes in on-demand delivery from local restaurants and stores within Texas. They claim to offer high earning potential with daily payout.
Bite Squad
Bite Squad offers uniformed, reliable delivery from local and chain restaurants. They claim to provide consistent daily earnings.
GoPuff
GoPuff focuses on delivering convenience store items and snacks to their customers.
Point Pickup
Point Pickup specializes in scheduled, same-day deliveries of big box and grocery items.
Roadie
Roadie offers delivery for items of all sizes, across the U.S. They claim that drivers can use Roadie deliveries to cover their travel costs.
Eaze
Eaze specializes in cannabis delivery in select markets, which definitely sets it apart.
In conclusion, the wide range of delivery services and opportunities means you can pick something that truly aligns with your income needs, schedule, and type of work you want to do. Happy delivering!
