Which Delivery Service Pays The Most? (Based On My Experience)

A question a lot of people have when it comes to delivery apps is which delivery service pays the most. I’ve been doing food delivery and using other delivery apps for over a decade. In the world of gig economy apps, that makes me ancient. It also means I’ve got a lot of real data and experience about which apps pay the most.

At the outset, I think it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t rely on any single app in this business. Apps come and go and different apps will pay more or less at different times. If someone asks which app pays the most, the real answer is that “it depends.” The smartest thing you can do, therefore, is to sign up for all the delivery apps available to you, try them all out, and figure out which ones work best for you. Once you get more experience with these delivery apps, you can start multi-apping, which is when you use multiple delivery apps at the same time.

That being said, in this post, I want to go over my experience with the different delivery apps and tell you which deliveries typically pay the most for me. I want to reiterate that this is based on my experience in a specific market (Minneapolis). The apps that pay best for you may (and likely will) differ depending on where you work.

Which Delivery Service Pays The Most?

There are a few things to consider when we think about which delivery service pays the most. First, we could be considering which delivery services pay the most per delivery. There is no doubt that some apps tend to pay more than others. Second – and what I think is better – is to think about which delivery services keep you busiest and pay you the most for your time working. A delivery that takes a long time and pays well isn’t necessarily better than a delivery service that pays less per delivery, but where you can complete more deliveries in a shorter amount of time.

So, here’s which delivery services pay the most based on my personal experience with them.

1. DoorDash

In general, in my experience, DoorDash tends to pay the most for me. The reason for this isn’t necessarily that it pays the most per delivery, but primarily that it tends to be my busiest delivery app. DoorDash also keeps distances pretty short since they have more delivery zones than other apps. This helps to keep the delivery distances shorter, which allows me to complete more deliveries (and as a result, earn more money).

2. Uber Eats

Of the delivery apps I use, Uber Eats tends to be my second best-paying delivery app. This can vary a lot though with DoorDash, as there are days when DoorDash is very busy, and then days when Uber Eats is very busy. During peak times, Uber Eats can be very busy, so I’m able to earn a decent amount with it. The main downside of Uber Eats is that customers can remove their tip after the delivery, so there’s always the risk of being tip-baited.

3. Grubhub

Grubhub is my third best-paying delivery app, although, for me, it’s far less busy than DoorDash and Uber Eats. That being said, Grubhub is interesting because I often find that it pays the most per delivery of the three main food delivery apps. The issue for me when it comes to Grubhub is that even if the deliveries pay well on a per-delivery basis, the delivery distances are often too far to make it worthwhile for me. This is in contrast to DoorDash and Uber Eats, which tend to pay less per delivery but have shorter delivery distances that make it faster for me to deliver orders.

The other downside with Grubhub is that the volume of deliveries with Grubhub is typically lower than the other delivery apps (at least for me). Again, this isn’t universal and your experience may differ depending on where you work, but that’s what my experience has been like.

4. Roadie

Roadie is a bit of a surprise when it comes to delivery apps that I think pay well. Unlike DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub, Roadie is not a food delivery app, but instead focuses on delivering pharmacy prescriptions, items from big box stores like Home Depot and Best Buy, and lost luggage from the airport. Roadie is also different from the food delivery apps because you aren’t sent orders, but rather available orders are placed on a map and can be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.

I think Roadie often pays well for some of the orders, especially short-distance ones. That being said, not all orders are great and some are too far away to make them worthwhile. The other thing to know about Roadie is that the volume of available orders is too low to make this anything more than a small side hustle. So while individual orders can pay well, you likely cannot rely on Roadie for full-time income.

5. Instacart

Instacart orders can often pay well for individual orders. This is because grocery shopping apps like Instacart typically require you to shop for and deliver the order to customers. The fact that you have to also shop for orders adds additional time, which is why Instacart will typically pay you more for each individual order.

The downside is that Instacart orders take more time to complete, which can be a major downside of delivering for Instacart. Some people are able to be efficient with the shopping aspect, but in all my years of doing Instacart, I’ve never really figured out how to make the shopping process more efficient. Since it takes me a while to shop for orders, I end up earning less, even if the order itself is paying well. This isn’t to say that Instacart won’t work for you, but for me, Instacart has never paid well enough for me.

6. Shipt

Shipt is the same as Instacart, where you’re shopping for and delivering grocery orders to customers. Like with Instacart, orders can pay well, but having to shop for the order often takes me too much time, making it so I don’t end up earning much. Again, this isn’t to say Shipt can’t pay well, but I have never really been able to figure out how to make Shipt profitable for me.

7. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is an interesting delivery app. In the past, Amazon had a food delivery service, but now they only deliver Amazon packages and Whole Foods orders. Deliveries on Amazon Flex are generally a set route with multiple deliveries, so you’ll usually deliver 5 or 10 packages total. These routes will usually take multiple hours and Amazon will pay a set amount that typically comes out to around $20-$25.

Amazon Flex deliveries pay well, but the downside is that it does require you to use a car and the distances are long, which means more wear and tear on your car. I don’t do Amazon Flex deliveries these days because most of the time, the distances they want me to travel are too far.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to the question of which delivery services pay the most, there is no one clear answer that will apply to everyone. For me, the delivery services that pay the most are the ones where I’m able to maintain a high volume of deliveries and complete deliveries quickly. This generally means DoorDash and Uber Eats pay the best. While each order doesn’t necessarily pay the most, those two apps are usually busy enough that I can always stay busy and earn money.

That being said, no matter which delivery service pays the most, the best practice will always be to sign up for multiple delivery apps and use them all. With experience, you’ll find that some delivery apps are better than others. You’ll also find some apps work better at different times. And ideally, with experience, you’ll be able to work on multiple delivery apps at the same time, allowing you to maximize your earnings.

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More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
Himiway Escape Ebike – 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 Ebike – 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.
Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R 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 ($100) – 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 $100 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 just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares 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 shares using Webull.
Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
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.

Upgrade ($200) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $200 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $200 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – 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.
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.
US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
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.
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.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 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.

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 $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
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 $100 for opening an account.
Empower. 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.