DoorDash vs Instacart Pay Comparison for Delivery Drivers

If working as an independent food delivery driver for app-based services sounds like a good side-hustle for you, you might be wondering which is the best service to work for. After all, you don’t want to waste your time working for a business that will not offer steady work or good payout potential, in terms of DoorDash vs Instacart pay. Instacart and DoorDash are two of the more popular such services, and both have great ratings from both clients and drivers. But which pays more?

Comparison

Remember, drivers for both services are contract employees, meaning they are responsible for all operational costs, gas, vehicle maintenance, and withholding their own taxes. They also do not receive benefits. DoorDash vs Instacart pay is comparable as well. Keep this in mind when considering earning potential work for either one.

DoorDash

• Allows delivery in cars, on bikes and scooters, and on foot.
• Base rate for tips is %15
• Must be 18 years old
• Payment issued weekly
• Primarily restaurant takeout delivery
• Average pay per hour is $15-$18

Instacart

• Allows delivery in cars, on bikes and scooters, and on foot
• Base rate for tips is %5
• Must be 18 years old
• Payment issued weekly, and Instant Cashout (same day payments for small fee)
• Primarily grocery delivery
• Average pay per hour is $12- $15 per hour

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Summary

In short, we can see that, due to the base tips for DoorDash starting higher than Instacart’s, DoorDash drivers have greater earning potential, even though the base pay for drivers of both services is roughly the same overall, and the DoorDash vs Instacart pay methods are similar. Much also depends on how often the driver works, whether the driver works during optimal peak times for delivery of lunch (weekdays) or dinner (weekends), and how many orders the driver can fulfill in a shift. DoorDash also has fewer requirements for drivers to get started. On the other hand, Instacart, with its grocery delivery, tends to give better opportunities to work on bigger and more expensive orders, while DoorDash focuses primarily on smaller takeout orders from restaurants, which might not be as lucrative in areas with low demand.

FAQ

1. Do both services allow for bike and on foot delivery?

Yes, both allow it, although grocery delivery is best done in a vehicle rather than on a bike or on foot.

2. Where are these services available?

DoorDash is found in 4,000 cities across North America and Australia. Instacart is available in all 50 states, in multiple cities, and in most major metropolitan areas.