DasherDirect is a prepaid debit card offered by DoorDash. It’s a fairly new offering from DoorDash, allowing eligible Dashers to sign up for a DasherDirect card and have their DoorDash earnings immediately deposited onto their card at the end of each Dash for free.
So what exactly is DasherDirect? It’s a prepaid debit card that’s similar to a bank account. Funds on your card are held in an FDIC-insured bank and you can use the DasherDirect card to store and transfer money. For practical purposes, it’s basically a bank account.
When I first learned about the DasherDirect card, I was skeptical. DoorDash is known for doing things to squeeze out more money from their Dashers and I’ve always been against using services from DoorDash like Fast Pay, which charges you money just to get access to your own money. But with DasherDirect, DoorDash has created a service that can be useful for some people, and importantly, doesn’t come with fees.
In this post, we’ll take a look at what the DasherDirect card is and how it works. We’ll also look at why I don’t use it, but why I wouldn’t be against you using it either if it makes sense for you.
What Is The DasherDirect Card?
As noted in the introduction of this post, the DasherDirect card is a prepaid debit card offered by DoorDash. It’s only available to Dashers, so you’ll have to sign up for DoorDash first to be able to get this card.
It’s important to note that a prepaid debit card isn’t exactly a bank, but for practical purposes, it’s basically a bank account. Funds on your DasherDirect card are held in an FDIC-insured bank (Stride Bank), so your funds are secure.
Using your DasherDirect card is simple – you use it just like any other debit card. To get started, you’ll first need to put funds on your card. The easiest way to do that is to have your DoorDash earnings deposited onto your DasherDirect card. You can also transfer money to the card from a regular bank account or deposit cash to your card at participating merchants.
So why would you want a DasherDirect card? I see two main reasons why you’d want to use it. The biggest benefit is that if you have it, you’ll receive your DoorDash earnings immediately onto your card at the end of each Dash with no fees. If you’re someone that uses Fast Pay, getting the DasherDirect card makes a lot of sense. Instead of paying the Fast Pay fees, you can get your DoorDash earnings on the same day with no fees.
In addition to free immediate cashouts, the other interesting benefit is that the DasherDirect card gives you 2% cash back on gas purchases made at eligible gas stations. You can find the list of eligible gas stations in your Dasher app. If you have a car and buy gas, it can make a lot of sense to use this card for all of your gas purchases, especially if the qualifying gas stations are near you.
Importantly the DasherDirect card has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, so there’s not a lot of downside to getting the card and trying it out. There’s also no impact on your credit score if you get the card, so again, there’s not much downside to getting it.
How To Get The DasherDirect Card
To apply for the DasherDirect card, open your Dasher app, then go to the “Earnings” tab. That’ll bring you to your earnings screen. In the middle of the screen, you’ll see a button to sign up for the DasherDirect Prepaid Account.
On the next screen, you’ll apply for the DasherDirect card. It’s straightforward and should only take you a few minutes.
Note that you will have to provide personal information such as your ID and social security number. This is standard when you’re applying for any banking or prepaid card product. If you aren’t comfortable providing this information, then you won’t be able to get the DasherDirect card.
Once you’ve gone through the sign-up process, you’ll receive a message telling you whether you were approved or not (most people will get approved without issue). You’ll then receive your card in the mail within a few business days. Once you receive the card, you’ll be able to activate it in the Dasher app.
Note that when your account is approved, you’ll have the option of switching your payouts immediately to a virtual card or waiting until your physical card arrives. I personally would wait for the physical card, but there’s no issue with using the virtual card immediately also.
Why I Don’t Use The DasherDirect Card – But Why I’m Not Against It Either
When I first heard about the DasherDirect card, I assumed it was another scheme by DoorDash to get more money out of their Dashers. I’ve been pleasantly surprised though with the DasherDirect product. From what I can tell, it’s actually a fine product and I don’t have a lot of issues with it.
For people that enjoy getting their DoorDash payouts daily, the DasherDirect card makes a lot of sense. Indeed, it seems to make Fast Pay obsolete. After all, why would you pay for Fast Pay when you can get your earnings immediately for free with DasherDirect?
That being said, I don’t personally use DasherDirect. My main reason is that I already have a good system in place for my DoorDash and other gig economy earnings. I use a free fintech banking app called Lili, which I enjoy because it has a good app, automatically sets aside money for taxes, and has no fees or minimum balance requirements (here is a full Lili review post I wrote, if you’re interested in learning more about Lili).
Using DasherDirect would make my system a bit more complicated, as I’d have another financial account I’d have to manage. Weekly DoorDash payouts work out fine for me, so I don’t need the daily cashout benefits of the DasherDirect card. I also do all of my deliveries on an ebike or electric scooter, so the gas benefit isn’t particularly useful for me either.
In short, I’m not against the DasherDirect card and I’m pleasantly surprised that DoorDash made a product that seems actually to benefit its Dashers. If you are willing to change up your banking system, then I think using the DasherDirect card is a good option.
Things To Know About The DasherDirect Card
There are a few random things quirks with the DasherDirect card, so I figured I’d include them in this section. Here are a few things to know:
1. You Can’t Use FastPay If You Have Your Earnings Deposited To Your DasherDirect Card
You can’t use Fast Pay if you’re using the DasherDirect card. And if you’re using Fast Pay, you can’t use the DasherDirect card. DoorDash makes this clear on their FAQ page.
Of course, this makes logical sense. There’s no reason you would use Fast Pay if you have DasherDirect since you’d already get free daily cashouts anyway. If for some reason you wanted to use Fast Pay (which I wouldn’t recommend), you’d have to switch your payout method to your regular bank account.
2. You Can Switch Between The DasherDirect Card And Your Regular Bank Account
If you sign up for the DasherDirect card and decide it’s not for you, you’re not stuck. You don’t have to use it or have your earnings deposited onto the card. Instead, if you don’t want to use DasherDirect, you can switch your payout method to your regular bank account. This will remove the daily payouts, so you’ll have to get your payouts either weekly or via Fast Pay (for a fee).
The main takeaway is that you can try DasherDirect and if you decide it’s not for you, switch back to having your earnings deposited to your regular bank account.
3. The DasherDirect Card Is Not The Same As The DoorDash Red Card
Some people get confused about this, but it’s important to understand that the DoorDash Red Card and the DasherDirect card are not the same things.
The DoorDash Red Card is a debit card from DoorDash that you use to pay for orders that aren’t prepaid. This is a product for DoorDash, not for you. It’s only used for paying for DoorDash orders.
The DoorDashDirect card, by contrast, is a prepaid debit card that you use for your own purchases. Your money goes on the card. You don’t use this card for DoorDash purchases – it’s for your own personal use.
Final Thoughts
The DasherDirect card is a surprisingly good product offered by DoorDash. It’s a prepaid debit card that comes with no fees or minimum balance requirements and has some good benefits too (namely free daily cashouts and 2% cash back on gas).
If I didn’t already have a good system in place, I’d definitely consider using the DasherDirect card. But since I’ve already got a system that works for me, I’ve opted not to use it. But if others wanted to use it, I wouldn’t have any issues with it.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:
- GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
- Himiway Escape Bike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Bike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($10) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $10 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (5 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (5 free stocks) – Webull also gives you 5 free stock valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- Digital Federal Credit Union ($100) – Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $100 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a saving account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000. Check out my in-depth post on how to set this account up.
- Upgrade ($100) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $100 referral bonus if you open an account and complete three debit card transactions. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Importantly, this bonus says that it’s now scheduled to end on January 31, 2023. As long as you get your account opened before January 31st, you should be eligible. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $100 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- SoFi Money ($275) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $250 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- OnJuno ($60) – OnJuno is a fintech/neobank that is currently offering a $10 referral bonus if you open an account using a referral link and make a deposit of $50 or more. You will also get 1000 JCOIN. The 1000 of JCOIN is cryptocurrency. At the time I'm writing this, it'll be worth about $50. Check out my OnJuno referral bonus guide here.
- Varo ($30) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $30 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Albert ($150) – If you can manage to do a real direct deposit, Albert is an easy account you can use to earn a referral bonus. Here’s a review about Albert I wrote. And here’s a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Albert referral bonus.
- Netspend ($20 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $20 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $20 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $250 if you complete a direct deposit.
- DCU. Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) is a free, nationwide credit union that I recommend to readers for two reasons. First, DCU has a $100 referral bonus if you open a free DCU checking account with a referral link. Second, DCU has a savings account that gives you 6.17% interest on your first $1,000.
- Novo Bank. Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. It’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $10 for opening an account.
- Personal Capital. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
My name is Frederick Compton and I have been an active DoorDasher for about one year or so. I have a Dasher Direct card by pay fare. I’ve no problem check my card balance on my phone. Yet, how specifically do I check my Dasher Direct Card balance when I am using my own home PC or Laptop? I should not have to go into another part of my home, retrieve my phone just to check my Dasher Direct pay card balance especially when I am already online on a VPN – protected device I own in my own home. ..