If you want to start a side hustle, the gig economy is ripe with opportunity. Specifically, delivery gigs let you set your own schedule, and you don’t need special skills to make good money.
Two dominant food delivery jobs are DoorDashand Grubhub. But which one is superior for drivers, and how can you make the most money possible?
Our DoorDash vs. Grubhub review covers everything you need to know about these two delivery services so you can choose the right one for you.
- Grubhub vs. DoorDash: Which Is Better For Drivers?
- What is Grubhub?
- What is DoorDash?
- Requirements and Availability
- How the Apps Work
- DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Scheduling
- How and When You’re Paid
- Does Grubhub or DoorDash Pay More?
- Is Delivering For Grubhub Worth It?
- Is Delivering For DoorDash Worth It?
- Driver Ratings
- Can You Work for DoorDash and Grubhub at the Same Time?
- Pros and Cons
- Which One is Better: DoorDash or Grubhub?
- Bottom Line
Both delivery gigs are effective ways to boost your monthly income. However, differences in pay, scheduling, and market availability can make one company superior to the other.
Here is a quick overview of both services.
Grubhub and DoorDash are good ways to make extra money, but it’s essential to research each platform before deciding which one you should choose.
What is Grubhub?
Grubhub began in 2004 and is one of the leading food delivery platforms in North America. Currently, Grubhub is available in over 4,000 cities across the U.S. and Canada.
Like many food delivery apps, the company specializes in delivering fast food and restaurant meals.
Just Eat Takeaway.com acquired Grubhub in 2021, but you still register independently as a Grubhub driver.
What is DoorDash?
DoorDash began in 2013 and is the leading food delivery company in North America, operating in over 7,000 cities.
Like Grubhub, DoorDash offers on-demand delivery options for customers to get food from their favorite restaurants.
However, DoorDash drivers also work with retailers like Walmart to deliver groceries and household essentials, much like being an Instacart Shopper.
Requirements and Availability
Choosing the right food delivery job often depends on the requirements and market availability.
Ultimately, you want a speedy onboarding process and wide market coverage. This helps you make money fast and never run out of orders as a delivery person.
Thankfully, delivering for DoorDash or Grubhub as an independent contractor is straightforward.
Grubhub’s driver requirements include:
- Being 18 or older if you deliver with a bike or scooter and 19 or older if you deliver with your car
- Having a checking account for payouts
- Owning a current smartphone with a data plan
If you deliver with your car, you need at least two years of driving experience with a valid driver’s license. However, there aren’t specific vehicle requirements.
If you don’t have a car, you can make money biking in some cities.
When you sign up, you provide your name, phone number, email, driver’s license, and proof of insurance. Grubhub also runs a background check to verify your driving and criminal record.
You complete your delivery driver application through Grubhub’s driver app. When you sign up, you choose one market to deliver in.
Once Grubhub approves you, you receive an insulated food delivery bag and your Grubhub Driver Card. This card lets you pay for orders you accept through the app.
DoorDash has similar driver requirements, and signing up requires:
- Being 18 or older
- Owning a smartphone and data plan
- Having a bike, car, or scooter
Like Grubhub, DoorDash requires proof of insurance and a valid driver’s license. There aren’t any vehicle requirements.
DoorDash also runs a background check on your driving and criminal record.
Once you are approved, DoorDash sends an activation kit that includes an insulated food delivery bag and a Red Card that you use to pay for orders.
Grubhub and DoorDash have almost identical sign-up processes. However, DoorDash drivers, known as Dashers, can deliver in any market, while Grubhub restricts you to one market.
This is a significant perk for DoorDash since you have more flexibility when making food deliveries.
Winner: DoorDash wins since the platform lets you deliver in multiple markets.
How the Apps Work
With Grubhub’s driver app, there are two ways to start working. The first is to schedule shifts, which are known as “blocks.”
Grubhub also lets you set your availability to “online,” which makes you eligible to receive order requests.
When an order request appears, it outlines:
- The restaurant
- The pickup address
- Driver pay
Grubhub displays the pickup and dropoff location within its in-app map. Frustratingly, the app doesn’t outline the total delivery distance.
This makes it difficult to tell if an order is worth it or not. As a result, you have to guess or double-check how far you’re driving by manually searching for the addresses.
You have 90 seconds to accept an order. If you accept, the Grubhub driver app helps you navigate to the restaurant.
Once you arrive at the restaurant, you tap “Arrived” within the app. You then tap “Got Order” when the pickup is complete.
Next, Grubhub helps you navigate to the dropoff location. The app outlines any delivery instructions, like leaving food at the door or texting the customer to meet them at the door.
Finally, you swipe a “Delivered” bar to confirm the delivery is complete. This is when Grubhub displays how much money you made, which includes Grubhub driver pay and any tips.
The DoorDash app works similarly. When you open the driver app, a map highlights red zones that are busy enough to start driving in and grey zones that aren’t busy enough to work in.
You can tap on a red zone and begin dashing immediately. Alternatively, you can schedule shifts in advance.
Once you’re online, order requests pop up like with Grubhub. Order information includes:
- Restaurant name
- Pickup location
- Total items in the order
- Delivery distance
- Driver pay
- A delivery time goal
The DoorDash driver app makes it easier than Grubhub to decide if an order is worth it because it includes the delivery distance.
Knowing how many items are in an order is also useful to avoid orders with dozens of items for little pay.
You have 45 seconds to accept an order. After accepting, DoorDash helps you navigate to the pickup location. You verify the items are correct in the order before leaving the restaurant.
DoorDash then helps you navigate to the dropoff location and lists any specific delivery instructions, like leaving the food at the door or contacting the customer.
Once you confirm the delivery, DoorDash shows you your total payment. This includes your driver pay and any tips from the customer.
Winner: DoorDash gives more order information than Grubhub, making it easier to reject orders that aren’t worth it.
DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Scheduling
Grubhub drivers can work anytime by going online. Alternatively, drivers can schedule blocks they want to work. Blocks are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Scheduling blocks help you make more money since Grubhub prioritizes giving order requests to scheduled drivers.
You can also qualify for the Driver Recognition Program by maintaining certain attendance rates, acceptance rates, and not canceling many blocks.
When you’re in the program, you also get earlier access to blocks.
DoorDash scheduling is similar to Grubhub. You schedule the delivery shifts you want to drive under the “Schedule” tab.
Qualifying DoorDash drivers can schedule delivery shifts with Early Access Scheduling.
To access this scheduling, you need:
- A driver rating of at least 4.6
- A completion rate of at least 95 percent
- To have made either five deliveries within the last week or 500 lifetime deliveries
Winner: Scheduling works similarly for both apps, although it’s easier to qualify for DoorDash’s Early Access Scheduling than it is to qualify for Grubhub’s Driver Recognition Program.
How and When You’re Paid
Both Grubhub and DoorDash have formulas that influence how much you make per order.
With Grubhub, factors that influence driver pay include:
- Mileage per order: $0.22 per mile
- Time spent waiting on orders: $0.13 per minute
- Tips
- Potential delivery bonuses for completing a certain amount of orders
You get paid every Thursday through direct deposit for deliveries completed the previous Monday through Sunday.
There’s also an Instant Cash Out option that lets you withdraw earnings immediately for a $0.50 fee.
DoorDash’s pay model is similar, and the total pay per order is made up:
- Base pay
- Tips
- Potential promotional pay
Base pay includes delivery mileage, total distance, and how desirable an order is. You also keep 100 percent of your tips.
DoorDash pays drivers weekly via direct deposit for completed deliveries between Monday and Sunday of the previous week.
Alternatively, DoorDash Fast Pay lets you cash out instantly for $1.99. Read our guide on the best DoorDash times to learn ways to increase earnings.
Winner: Both payment models are similar, but Grubhub has cheaper instant payouts.
Does Grubhub or DoorDash Pay More?
According to Indeed, Grubhub drivers earn $13.88 per hour while DoorDash drivers can get paid $23 per hour while on a delivery.
However, if you check ZipRecruiter’s salary information, it states Grubhub drivers earn $19 per hour, whereas DoorDash drivers earn $18 per hour.
The bottom line is that both DoorDash and Grubhub typically pay above minimum wage. If you get lucky with tips or work during peak hours, you can earn $20+ per hour.
Winner: DoorDash likely has higher hourly pay than Grubhub since you can work in multiple markets, so there’s more opportunity. Both companies pay couriers similarly and are terrific ways to get paid for driving your car.
Is Delivering For Grubhub Worth It?
Grubhub is a flexible side hustle that typically lets you earn above minimum wage.
If you want to make extra cash without having to learn a new skill, delivering for Grubhub is worth it.
Is Delivering For DoorDash Worth It?
Like Grubhub, DoorDash is worth delivering for if you want a straightforward, flexible way to increase your monthly income. Read our review to learn how to maximize your earnings delivering for the platform.
Driver Ratings
On Grubhub, customers rate the restaurant, driver, and their general experience after ordering. As a driver, you don’t see customer feedback.
You also don’t have an overall driver rating.
In contrast, your DoorDash driver rating is a rolling average of your previous 100 ratings.
Customers rate drivers between one to five stars, and you need a 4.2 average customer rating with an 80 percent completion rate to remain an active DoorDash driver.
Winner: Grubhub has more lenient rating policies for drivers.
Can You Work for DoorDash and Grubhub at the Same Time?
Double-apping is when you work for two or more food delivery app jobs simultaneously. This helps you make more money per hour because you can cherry-pick the highest-paying orders.
If both food delivery services are in your city, you can deliver for DoorDash and Grubhub simultaneously.
When you go online with DoorDash and Grubhub at the same time, you can accept orders with both gig apps.
Just don’t accept two orders at once if the restaurants or dropoff locations are far apart since one customer will receive cold food. In turn, this could impact your rating.
Pros and Cons
Working for delivery apps like Grubhub and DoorDash is an effective way to make money on the side.
However, there are several pros and cons you should consider before picking a delivery platform to work for.
Grubhub Pros:
- Earn above minimum wage on average
- Driver ratings don’t impact your eligibility to deliver
- Cheap instant payouts
Grubhub Cons:
- You have to deliver in the market you sign up for
- Order requests don’t include much information
DoorDash Pros:
- Earn above minimum wage on average
- Deliver in multiple markets
- Order requests are comprehensive so you can decline bad orders
DoorDash Cons:
- Low driver ratings can lead to deactivation
- DoorDash Fast Pay costs $1.99 per transaction
The two main differences between DoorDash and Grubhub are the driver rating systems and how many markets you can deliver in.
Which One is Better: DoorDash or Grubhub?
DoorDash is better than Grubhub because you can deliver in multiple markets. Additionally, order requests include more information, like total mileage.
These might sound like small differences, but delivering in multiple markets lets you get more orders by working in busier areas.
Plus, having more information about orders helps you decline orders that aren’t worth your time. This lets you make more money per hour.
Bottom Line
Picking a winner in the Grubhub vs. DoorDash comparison is tricky since both apps pay similar hourly wages and have similar driving requirements.
Furthermore, every market is different. One delivery app might be more popular and lucrative in your area than the other.
Ultimately, you should sign up for DoorDash and Grubhub if you want to start earning money on your own schedule.
Plus, you can always run both apps simultaneously to maximize how much money you make per hour.
What’s important to you when choosing a side hustle?
*Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.