Uber Eats Vs. DoorDash: Who’s Better To Work For In 2024?

Uber Eats Vs. DoorDash is next on my side gig list! Are you wondering what food delivery apps are better to work for?

People are often looking to make extra cash with a side hustle job, and Uber Eats and DoorDash are two of the most popular ways to do it.

Which food delivery service offers better pay? Who has better support or delivery opportunities?

This article will cover what it’s like as a delivery driver and go over who pays more between Uber Eats Vs. DoorDash.

TL;DR: Uber Eats Vs. DoorDash

People can make upwards of $40,000 per year working in the food delivery market. But out of all the food delivery services, how do Uber Eats and DoorDash rank?

Signing up for DoorDash and Uber Eats is both easy, and they have similar requirements I’ve seen in the food delivery industry.

But I think that the clear winner for a steady food delivery side hustle is Uber Eats based on orders and average pay.

But if you want to know more, read on to learn the key differences between Uber Eats Vs. DoorDash. 

Base Pay & Tips

Pay is probably the most important factor when comparing food delivery platforms- you want to know who has better pay right off the bat!

When looking at which food delivery service to work for as a side hustle, you want to look at the base pay and tips.

Here’s how Uber Eats compares to DoorDash when it comes to Base Pay & Tips:

Uber Eats

Uber Eats uses a formula to calculate the driver’s pay for delivery. Here’s the formula they use:

• Base fare + Trip supplement + Promotions + Customer Tips = Total

They use the formula to calculate how much the Uber Eats driver will make on each delivery. You can see how much each delivery trip will pay before accepting the delivery.

Base Fare: This is the pay for picking up the order, dropping it off, the time it takes to deliver the food, the distance traveled delivering it, and delivery fees. 

Trip Supplement: Trip supplements are given if the delivery trip takes longer than expected. 

Promotions: Uber Eats offers promotions that can include a higher base fare or a bonus for completing a certain number of deliveries in a row.

Tips: Drivers get 100% of the tips put on orders. But fees charged to customers don’t cover a tip (not even the service fee!)- tips are a separate part of the payment for customers. 

DoorDash

DoorDash uses a simple formula also to calculate the Dasher’s total pay:

• Base Pay + Promotions + Tips = Total Earnings

Dasher’s total pay is made up of the base pay, any promotions the DoorDash driver may qualify for, and 100% of the tips they earn.

Base Pay: This is the amount of money the DoorDash driver will earn for each delivery as a standard. It’s typically $2 – $10 per order, depending on service fees to the customer.

Promotions: DoorDash offers promotions, like Challenge Bonuses, that can include a higher base pay or a bonus for completing a certain number of deliveries in a row.

Tips: DoorDash drivers keep 100% of their tips, but tips aren’t guaranteed.

Dashers can see the estimated earnings for an order before accepting the delivery, so they’ll know the pay and delivery fees.

Doordash vs. Uber Eats: Pay Verdict

Each food delivery app offers a similar base pay and tip amount, but DoorDah may edge out Uber Eats with base rates alone.

I did notice that the service fee can affect customer tips on both- sometimes, people get stingy on orders with a high service fee and skip tipping to “save money.”

Deliveries

Scheduling deliveries is one of the most important aspects of delivering food. You need to make sure that you can meet the customer’s needs while still delivering on time.

This section will look at how DoorDash and Uber Eats compare with deliveries.

Uber Eats

Delivering for Uber Eats is a great way to make money on your own schedule.

Uber Eats drivers don’t have to make a schedule with the company; they work when they want to. They can set up their app to receive delivery requests.

When a driver wants to work, they open the driver’s app and take the available orders. There is no need to call in or check in; the app will notify drivers when they have an order.

Drivers can choose the restaurants they want to work with, and they don’t have to work at a particular time. This gives drivers a lot of flexibility regarding their work schedule.

In addition, Uber Eats does partner with more restaurants (maybe your favorite restaurants, very tempting!)

DoorDash

Working as a driver for DoorDash is different than working for other services, and the DoorDash shifts stand out to me.

For one, DoorDash drivers can schedule the available time to make deliveries by going into the driver’s portal on the DoorDash website and creating a weekly shift.

If the Dashers are available during busier hours, they can also use the “Dash Now” feature to take real-time orders.

One thing that does stick out: DoorDash drivers who work full-time could get peak shifts if they meet a few requirements:

• Rating system: Complete 5 or more deliveries since the previous Friday, complete 95% of your deliveries, have a Customer Rating of at least 4.6
• Have 500+ completed deliveries, a completion rating of 95%, and a Customer Rating of at least 4.6

DoorDash vs. Uber Eats: Delivery Verdict

Overall, both are great options for those looking to join the food delivery market.

However, if I had to choose one, I would recommend Uber Eats because of the freedom it offers drivers to choose their restaurants and their more extensive restaurant options for deliveries.

Driver Support

Uber Eats

Being an Uber Eats driver comes with easy-to-access online support on their Help page.

In addition, some cities have Uber Eats offices, called Greenlight Hubs, where you can go in person.

DoorDash

Many DoorDash drivers contact driver support on Twitter or simply the DoorDah Support page.

DoorDash Vs. Uber Eats: Driver Support Verdict

While both companies have good customer service, we’re going to give the Win to Uber Eats.

The Help page has a lot of prepared options that you can choose from to help you with what’s wrong or happening.

DoorDash has a few, plus a pop-up Chat for quick responses from customer services reps, but Uber’s page is just more put together and driver-friendly.

Getting Paid

So the main point of working for a food delivery business? Getting paid!

Let’s talk about how much you’ll earn between these two apps:

Uber Eats

Uber Eats drivers have the option of being paid in two different ways.

The first way is through weekly direct deposit into your bank account, with no additional fees. You will need to provide your account information to Uber Eats, and they will deposit the money you earn into that account.

The second way is through an Instant Pay option. It allows drivers to get paid immediately after completing a delivery. Uber Eats drivers can cash out to their debit card instantly 5 times a day. There is a $0.50 charge for each transaction.

There is another way to use the Instant Pay option without being charged. Drivers can get an Uber Debit Card from GoBank and cash out up to 5 times a day without being charged a fee.

DoorDash

Dashers can pick between two payment options to receive their pay from Doordash.

The first option is a direct deposit into your bank account, similar to Uber Eats, again with no additional fees.

You will need to provide your account information to DoorDash, and they will deposit the money you earn into that account.

Earnings are usually processed on Sunday night for the prior week and are usually in the driver’s account by Wednesday night.

The second option is Fast Pay. With this option, you’ll get your money deposited into your DoorDash account on the same day you complete deliveries.

Drivers need to have a debit card added to Fast Pay to use this option. There is a $1.99 charge for each transaction.

DoorDash vs. Uber Eats: Payments Verdict

Overall, it seems that Uber Eats offers a better payment option than DoorDash. You have the option of getting paid to your Uber Debit Card from GoBank without being charged.

Driver Requirements & Signing Up

Now you can find all sorts of great side hustles using Steady or just search around online for high-paying jobs, but let’s go over signing up as delivery drivers.

Delivering food for a living is an excellent way to make some extra money on the side. You can sign up and start the same day and make money fast whenever you need it.

You can work as much or as little as you want, and you get to set your own hours. Plus, it’s a great way to get out and meet new people.

But before you can start making deliveries, you need to sign up with one of the food delivery services. Here’s a look at how to sign up for Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Uber Eats

The qualifications are broken down by the type of vehicle you will use to deliver.

Delivering by car

• You need to meet the minimum age to drive in your city.
• You need to have a 2-door or 4-door car.
• A valid driver’s license in your name is required.
• A social security number is needed so they can run a background check.

Delivering by scooter

• You must be at least 19 years old.
• You need to have a motorized scooter under 50cc.
• A valid driver’s license in your name is required.
• A social security number is needed so they can run background screening.
• Make sure to choose “Delivery by scooter” in the transportation method on the application.

Delivery by bicycle or on foot

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You need to have a government-issued ID.
• A social security number is needed so they can run background screening.
• Make sure to choose “Delivery by bicycle (and in certain cities, Delivery by bicycle or foot)” in the transportation method on the application.

To sign up for Uber Eats, you first need to create an account on the Uber Eats website or user-friendly app.

Once you have submitted your application, Uber Eats will review it. If you are approved, you will need to attend an orientation session and complete a training program.

Read my Uber Eats Review to see why it’s worth it to get started with Uber Eats.

DoorDash

There are some qualifications to join the DoorDash food delivery market:

• You must be at least 18 years old and pass a background check.
• You must have an iPhone or Android smartphone.
• You must complete the sign-up process. 
• Car insurance is required.
• Any car can be used to deliver for DoorDash.
• Motorcycles, scooters, bikes, or even walking in some markets are allowed.

To sign up to work for DoorDash as a driver, you first need to create an account on the DoorDash website. Once you have created an account, you can apply to become a driver.

If you’re approved, you’ll need to attend an orientation session and complete a training program. If you aren’t, you may be on the DoorDash Waitlist.

Final Winner: DoorDash vs. Uber Eats

Now, DoorDash vs. Uber Eats- who is better to work for, and in which food delivery market can you make more money?

Both companies are great to work for, but I would have to say that Uber Eats is the better food delivery app to work for as a gig economy job.

They offer more flexibility with your schedule, and they also allow you to receive tips through the app.

Doordash is a close second and has a larger market share in the U.S. market, but I think Uber Eats takes the cake when it comes to being a great company to work for as a driver.

I do think DoorDash is worth it if it’s more available in your area, and you can actually deliver for both companies, so I recommend trying out both to see what works better for you.

Tips For Drivers

Making food deliveries can be a great way to make some extra money, but there are a few things to consider if you want to make the most of your time and earnings.

Here are my tips for drivers that will help you get the most out of your job:

Peak Hours

Plan your shift to get peak pay. Delivery work can be unpredictable, but you can adjust your schedule to make peak pay if you know when the busiest times are.

You want busy times for food orders, but you have to account for rush hour adding more time to your trip.

Be prepared for a lot of orders. Have your supplies ready and be in close communication with the restaurant to fulfill orders quickly.

Stay calm and focused during busy times. It can be easy to get overwhelmed during busy periods, but it’s essential to stay organized and efficient so that you can get the orders out as quickly as possible.

Be Picky

Plan your route in advance. Be choosy about which restaurants to accept orders from. Also, check the total delivery total or at least the delivery fee or service fee- this could give you an idea if people are willing to tip.

Accept deliveries from restaurants with a high rating. Try to accept deliveries from restaurants with a high rating on food delivery platforms to ensure that you’re delivering from reputable restaurants and fast food establishments.

Avoid small orders. If you’re delivering for small orders, it’s not worth your time to travel to the restaurant. Remember, Doordash does not have a minimum order. So you will get a small order sometime. Wait until you have an order that’s worth your time.

Take Multiple Orders At Once

Maximize your Time. When waiting for an order, always be on the lookout for another order, especially from the same restaurant. This way, you can maximize your time and avoid spending long periods between deliveries.

Accept stacked orders: A stacked order is an order where two or more items are ordered at the same time.

This is an excellent opportunity to make more money in delivery fees, even $100 extra per day. You’ll also be more likely to get tips from more than one person.

Be careful when accepting stacked orders. Ensure that you can complete the orders in the given timeframe and have all of the necessary supplies. Remember, with DoorDash you may get a small order since they don’t have a minimum order.

Final Thoughts

Overall, both Doordash and Uber Eats are great food delivery apps to work for.

You should even consider Uber as a rideshare driver as well if you want to make more money driving your car.

They offer a flexible work schedule, and you can earn a good income. However, there are some differences between the two companies.

It’s ultimately up to you to decide which company is right for you. But, we hope that this article has helped you make a more informed decision.

Don’t forget to check out some other great side hustles and even check out what job offerings are on the Steady App to broaden your side income options.