It's hard to believe we are already 3 months into 2021. Luckily, the height of the pandemic has passed and hopefully life will start to resemble what we used to love. But for the time being, a lot of people are still out of work and many rideshare drivers as well as passengers are still hesitant to get into an Uber or Lyft. Consequently we are still seeing the uptick of delivery drivers who do not have to welcome a stranger into their car. So, a lot of you may be wondering, what are the best delivery apps to work for in 2021? Luckily, we have you covered with our top 5 delivery apps to work for in 2021. Let's dive in, starting from number 5 down to our number one pick.
Number 5: Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is an Amazon service that hires independent contractor drivers to deliver for Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon restaurant delivery. This service stands out from the rest in that you will deliver packages, not just food. Another difference in this service is that drivers get paid based on the number of orders they complete meaning the more orders delivered, the more pay. This is where having a larger vehicle will benefit the driver because they can complete considerably more orders.
Pros:
-Drivers pick when they work but have to drive for 3-6 hour blocks
-One of the higher hourly pays
-Payouts are twice weekly
Cons:
-Need insulated bags or cooler to keep refrigerated items cool
-limited number of openings
-Have to lift heavy packages
Sign Up Requirements
Drive a 4-door, mid-sized or larger vehicle
Have car insurance
Be at least 21 years old
Have a valid driver’s license
Estimated Average Hourly Pay: $18-25/Hour
Number 4: Uber Eats
Uber Eats is one of the premiere food delivery services in that demand is always high as they partner with over 9,500+ food merchants including restaurants, convenient stores, and even pharmacies (depending on the market). One reason people like driving for Uber Eats is because you can have someone else in the car with you while you're delivering. This is very uncommon among the food delivery industry. Driver's are paid weekly but you can cash out daily with an instant pay feature by connecting a debit card. On the downside, every time you cash out with this feature it is accompanied by a 50 cent service fee.
Pros:
-Can also drive for Uber ride share if you want
-Offers incentives for drivers to earn more such as quest or surge pricing
Cons:
-Lower pay per hour in comparison to other services
Sign Up Requirements:
Eligible vehicle (expect requirements for a 4-door vehicle that is at least a 1998 model or newer)
Provide proof of residency in your city or state
Have vehicle insurance
Meet the minimum age to drive in your city
Have at least one year of licensed driving experience (if you’re under 23 years old, you need 3 years of experience driving)
Valid U.S. driver’s license
Estimated Average Hourly Pay: $10-20/Hour
Number 3: InstaCart
InstaCart launched in 2012 and since then has gained a lot of momentum, becoming the premiere grocery delivery services available. If you decide to work for InstaCart, one thing you may be happy with is that you have 2 work options: full-service shoppers and in-store shoppers.
If you choose to be a full-service shopper, you will take customers orders in the app, shop for them, and deliver the order. This option has the most flexibility as you can choose the days and the times you work as well as how often.
In-store shoppers take orders in the app, shop for them, and then stage them for pick-up. The downside here is you are limited to 29 hours per week which qualifies you as part-time and considered a part-time employee rather than an independent contractor like full-service shoppers.
Pros:
-Full-service shoppers OR in-store shoppers (for in-store shoppers, you don't need a car to work)
-Schedule hours in advance to plan out your week
-See estimated earnings before accepting orders
Cons:
-Having to schedule out your hours means you cannot open the app and start working whenever you want
-Have to carry heavy bags
Sign Up Requirements:
Be eligible to work in the U.S.
Able to lift 50 lbs
Access to a car, valid driver’s license, and car insurance
Be at least 18 years old
Estimated Average Hourly Pay: $12/hour up to $20/hour when busy
Number 2: Postmates
Postmates started in 2011 and has come a long way as they have grown into 350 different markets and contract with over 600,000 merchants. Uber had a massive acquisition of Postmates in 2020 and even though they are now owned by Uber, they still operate under the original brand of Postmates and still operate with the same founding principles.
If you didn't know this already, Postmates company slogan is "anything, anytime, anywhere." They truly do live up to this slogan as the "deliver anything service." Drivers have said to have delivered ping pong balls, a $1,000 In-N-Out order, and even a guitar. This is important to mention because if you decide to sign up with them you might want to keep in mind that you will end up having to deliver more than just food.
Pros:
-You can open up the app and have deliveries immediately, anytime of the day
-Time spent waiting to pick up orders is factored into your pay
-Starter guarantees
-Lots of bonus incentives
Cons:
-Poor driver and customer support
-Because people can order anything on the app, drivers can get low-value orders that don’t pay well, but you have the option to pass on those orders
Sign Up Requirements:
Car insurance if delivering by car
A valid driver’s license if using a vehicle
You must be 18 years old
Access to a reliable vehicle, scooter, or bike
Estimated Average Hourly Pay: $15-20/Hour
Number One: DoorDash
Door Dash launched in 2013 and since then has grown into a giant, servicing over 75 million Americans. They partner with chain and local restaurants to deliver meals and has even begun partnering with drugstores such as cvs and others.
A unique aspect to Door Dash is that "dashers," which is the term given to Door Dash drivers, can schedule their own hours in advance and similar to all the other food delivery apps on this list there are no minimum hours to drive.
In 2019 Door Dash expanded their growth by acquiring, at the time, one of the best food delivery services around in Caviar who tends to a higher-end clientele as well as higher-end restaurant partners. Caviar still exists but operates under Door Dash branding now that the acquisition is complete.
Pros:
-Has several driver incentives
-Default tip amount of 15% to encourage tipping
-Driver can chooses which orders to turn down or accept
Cons:
-Have to schedule hours in advance so you can not just log into the app and start working if you have a couple hours to spare in your downtime
-Driver support only operates via chat
Sign Up Requirements:
A valid driver’s license number
Auto insurance
Must be 18 years old or older
Access to a car, scooter, or bike in some markets
Estimated Average Hourly Pay: $15-20/Hour
Door Dash has a unique pay model which makes your earnings very transparent unlike some other delivery service on this list such as Uber Eats. They call it the "Dasher Pay Model" as seen below:
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