Grubhub vs DoorDash (2024) – What’s Best For Delivery Drivers?
Some of the most flexible, high-paying side hustle ideas revolve around gig economy apps.
And, out of all gig apps, massive food delivery companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats or grocery delivery jobs like Instacart are incredibly popular.
After all, these gigs let you set your own schedule and can pay decent money depending on your city and experience. Plus, there aren't many requirements to start working.
But, like any gig job, it's important to consider your options and to find the highest-paying job to make things worth your while.
So today, we're comparing Grubhub vs DoorDash pay to help you decide which food delivery app is the best choice for you.
If you're wondering does Grubhub or DoorDash pay better and what life on the job is like, this is absolutely the post for you.
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About Grubhub
Founded in 2004, Grubhub is a food delivery service app that connects customers with local restaurants. The company began in Chicago, Illinois and has since reached a total company value of nearly $2 billion!
One difference between Grubhub and DoorDash is what markets each company is most popular in. According to Second Measure, Grubhub is less popular than DoorDash in many major North American markets:
Now, Grubhub still has thousands of restaurant partners and competitive fees, so it's still an in-demand platform that lets food delivery couriers make extra money.
Number of cities: Grubhub currently operates in over 4,000 cities in the United States.
About DoorDash
Founded in 2013, DoorDash is an online food ordering and delivery platform that offers competitive delivery fees.
It was started in San Francisco, California and currently owns over 50% of the food delivery market share!
DoorDash has referred to themselves as a data company more than a food service company because of their precise operations and calculated prices.
Number of cities: DoorDash currently operates in over 5,000 cities across North America, making it more accessible than Grubhub.
GrubHub vs DoorDash Pay – What Company Pays More?
So, does Grubhub or DoorDash pay better?
This is undeniably one of the most important questions in the DoorDash driver vs Grubhub driver debate since your hourly earnings determine if a gig job is worth it or not.
It's also important to understand how each company pays drivers.
In other words, what exactly is being calculated into your payment? Is it hourly, per delivery, are there any fees, etc.?
Let's dive into how payment works for Grubhub drivers and DoorDash drivers.
How Grubhub Pays Drivers
According to their website, Grubhub pay uses the following formula:
Total Pay = Mileage Per Order + Time Spent On the Road + Tips + Special Offers
Grubhub drivers earn around $0.22 per mile driven and around $0.13 per minute. Drivers also keep 100% of the tips they earn.
Special offers include things like sweepstakes, bonuses, and challenges that you can enter to earn a bit more than your delivery pay.
Grubhub also lets drivers stack orders, so if you have multiple orders for one delivery, your mileage and time will be calculated for the entirety of the delivery.
You also know exactly how much you're getting paid per mile and minute before you accept a delivery request through the Grubhub driver app.
You can also accept a new delivery while you’re finishing up a current one. However, your pay for the new delivery will only begin calculating once you’ve finished the previous delivery.
Overall, Grubhub pay is transparent, and it's nice you know your approximate rate-per-mile and can also earn more with special offers.
How DoorDash Pays Drivers
According to their website, DoorDash pays their drivers based on this formula:
Total Pay = Base Pay + Promotions + Tips
Base pay is the sum of time, distance, and desirability for every order. You also earn base pay no matter what (usually between $2 – $10).
Promotions include peak pay hours and various challenges that are occasionally offered on the app.
Peak pay is essentially an extra bonus per order when you are delivering during the best DoorDash times when order demand is highest.
Like Grubhub, DoorDash drivers also keep 100% of their tips. Just note, tips and promotions aren't guaranteed.
Similar to Grubhub, you also know exactly how much you’ll be earning (aside from tips) before hitting “accept” on the order screen.
Overall, both DoorDash and Grubhub are very similar in terms of how driver pay works.
I will say that DoorDash has an edge because it offers peak pay during busy times whereas Grubhub just sticks with promotions.
As you can see in this Reddit thread, this driver prefers DoorDash vs Grubhub because he gets more delivery requests and can earn more through peak pay and tips as a result.
In any case, look for sign up promotion opportunities with both companies like the 400 delivery challenge right when you create a DoorDash account. These can earn you some serious cash!
Winner: Both companies are similar but DoorDash's peak pay is better than Grubhub promotions.
Extra Reading – DoorDash Driver Tips & Tricks.
Does Grubhub or DoorDash Pay Better?
If you’re like most drivers, you’re probably just curious about which company pays more so you can make the most money.
A lot of information online may be different from your potential earnings because of location, personal experience, and how often you deliver.
However, by comparing earning reports from multiple sources, we can figure out if working for Grubhub vs DoorDash is better for your hourly pay.
Grubhub vs DoorDash Salary Data
One quick way to find out which company potentially pays more is to look at salary data from popular websites like Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
Here are some reputable salary sources that share Grubhub vs DoorDash pay:
Grubhub Driver Pay:
- Indeed = $14/hr
- ZipRecruiter = $12/hr
- Glassdoor = $12/hr
DoorDash Driver Pay:
- Indeed = $16.50/hr
- ZipRecruiter = $18/hr
- Glassdoor = $16/hr
It's clear that salary data shows that DoorDash pays more than Grubhub on average.
DoorDash also states drivers earn $23 per hour on average based on all of the data it has, so it's clear that DoorDash pays more than Grubhub based on all the numbers.
However, I suggest looking at the salaries and hourly wages in your state. Every market is different and you could be making more or less than the average.
For example, a driver in California might make less than the nationwide average because of location and competition.
And, both DoorDash and Grubhub had a similar average annual salary between $25k – $50k.
Again, the amount you earn is really based on how much you work per week.
Try shooting for weekends where deliveries are busiest and work during peak hours. The best times to drive are usually between 11am – 2pm and 5pm – 8pm.
Extra Reading – The Best Apps That Pay You Money Instantly.
What Real Couriers Say
This is by far my favorite way to find out accurate numbers.
Having insight from real delivery drivers who are actually driving for Grubhub and DoorDash is exactly the type of information you need to learn if Grubhub pays more than DoorDash or not.
For starters, Reddit is a great place to find information like this, since people are usually super honest and love to share all the fine details.
Here’s what real couriers on Reddit say about driving for Grubhub:
- $400 in a week casually delivering in Wichita, Kansas
- $220 in a day working from 11am – 7pm in the midwest
- User worked 12.5 hours in a week and earned $563
- One driver earns $550 to $600 per week by driving for both Grubhub and DoorDash (more on double-apping later!)
Here are some of the numbers from DoorDash drivers:
- $120 in a week from about 5 hours of random DoorDashing.
- $300-$400 working 7 days a week in a lower paying area. That was from working around 42 hours per week!
- A user from Toronto, Canada was working 50 hour work weeks with DoorDash and made a solid $1000 after hustling downtown.
As you can see, it’s not so simple to take an average from the internet and run with it. Everyone has different numbers!
There was a lot of conversation between Reddit users about where people lived. Many users were driving the same amount of hours, but had a $300 difference in earnings!
At the end of the day, the amount you make is partially in your hands while the rest falls into your location and competitive market.
What Each Company States
Although I’m not a fan of taking numbers from the companies’ websites and basing earnings off that, it’s still useful to hear what they say.
Unfortunately, both companies are quite secretive about how much you can earn as a delivery driver. This is probably because their numbers are exaggerated or because it really does vary by location.
However, we can use screenshots that are provided on their websites to help gauge an appropriate estimate…
According to the first screenshot from DoorDash, this delivery takes 40 minutes and pays $12.35. If we convert that money into an hourly wage, it comes out to around $18.50.
This is a bit higher than the averages we’ve been seeing so far. It makes sense that the company would exaggerate the earnings to make it look more appealing.
This next screenshot by Grubhub highlights a delivery that totalled $17 with tip and only took 15 minutes to complete.
If this driver made this much every delivery, they would make $68 an hour. That’s way too high compared to other numbers we’ve seen so far so I would discount it entirely.
If you ask me, you’re probably better off ignoring this data, but use it as a motivation if you think you’re in a high earning location.
Overall, it's hard to pin a winner in the Grubhub vs DoorDash pay debate since it varies greatly by market.
But, based on salary data and sheer availability, it seems like DoorDash has a slight edge over Grubhub in terms of how much drivers earn on average.
Extra Reading – The Best Places To DoorDash.
Grubhub vs DoorDash – Which Company is Better To Work For?
Aside from pay, there are plenty of other factors to consider when driving for a food delivery service.
Here are five different factors to consider:
- Driver Requirements
- Sign Up Process
- Availability
- Driver Payments
- Scheduling
Let’s go over each one and see where they match up with each company…
1. Driver Requirements
In most gig economy jobs, there are certain requirements and regulations that you need to meet to be eligible to work.
This is especially true for driving apps that pay since companies have to consider driving age, insurance, and a myriad of other factors.
Grubhub and DoorDash aren't exceptions, and each company has requirements for starting to work.
Grubhub
Here are the Grubhub driver requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old (19 if driving car)
- Own an iPhone (IOS 11 or higher) or Android (5.0 or higher)
- Have a data plan on your mobile device
- Have a checking account for direct deposit
- Must have a valid license (driving with car)
- Must have a valid state ID (driving with bicycle)
- Consent to a background check
You should also make sure that you have auto insurance if you’re using a car to make your deliveries.
DoorDash
Here are the Doordash driver requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must own a car, scooter, or bicycle (some cities only allow cars)
- Have a valid driver's license number
- Have a data plan on your mobile device
- Have a valid social security number (only in the U.S.)
- Consent to a background check
Like Grubhub, you also need car insurance if you're delivering with a vehicle.
The requirements don’t take long to submit. Most new drivers are up and running in just a few days.
Winner: Both Grubhub and DoorDash are the same, more or less, in terms of driver requirements so there isn't a clear winner.
Sign Up Process
If you’re thinking about signing up with either of these companies, this is how you can get started.
Grubhub
Head over to driver.grubhub.com and fill out the information box in the middle of the screen.
Grubhub asks for some basic information such as your name and email address in the first step.
After that, you fill out more detailed information and provide your driver’s license. You will have to do a background check (and pass it) to be eligible as a driver.
You might end up on the Grubhub waitlist, at which point you have to wait for an opening in your market so you can start making deliveries.
Just follow all necessary steps from there (getting the app, tutorials, and more)!
DoorDash
Head over to doordash.com/dasher/signup/ and enter your email in the box in the middle of the screen.
You then input a phone number and zip code to continue signing up. You also submit the info like your social security number, license, etc. and get your background check done.
The background check will be on you and your driving history. It takes around 5-7 days to complete.
After that, you can get started with the app and begin delivering!
Winner: Again, both DoorDash and Grubhub are very similar for signing up to drive.
Availability
If you’re not sure what countries and cities are available for each company, this will give you a better idea…
Grubhub
Grubhub is available in over 4,000 cities in all 50 states of the U.S. It's also available in the U.K., Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Check online for your specific city to see if it’s available near you.
DoorDash
DoorDash is available in over 4,000 cities in all 50 states of the U.S. It is also available in Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, and the U.K.
North American market coverage isn't much different between DoorDash and Grubhub.
However, Grubhub has a slight edge in Europe while DoorDash is branching out into Australia.
Winner: This one depends on where you live, but in North America, it's hard to pick a winner for DoorDash vs Grubhub in terms of market coverage.
Driver Payments
Another factor to consider before deciding to drive for Grubhub or DoorDash is when exactly you get paid.
After all, you want to ensure you get paid quickly for your deliveries and aren't waiting for weeks on end before money hits your bank account.
Grubhub and Doordash differ based on when and how you get paid. Take a look…
Grubhub
Grubhub pays drivers every Thursday via direct deposit. Most banks take about 3-5 days to process the payment until you see it in your account.
You also have the option to use Instant Cash Out for a $0.50 fee. This allows you to transfer the money to your bank account immediately.
Other gigs apps like Uber Eats and Instacart also let you cash out instantly for $0.50, so this is fairly competitive.
DoorDash
DoorDash pays out every Monday via direct deposit. Most banks take about 2-3 days to process the payment.
Many DoorDash drivers claim to see the money in their account by Wednesday night.
Like Grubhub, DoorDash drivers can cash out instantly through Fast Pay. But, Fast Pay costs $1.99.
Winner: Both companies pay via direct deposit and pay quickly, but Grubhub has cheaper instant payouts.
App Scheduling
One way to potentially increase your earnings as a delivery driver is to schedule yourself into certain shifts.
This is because scheduling helps limit how many drivers are on the road at one time, increasing how many order requests you get, ultimately letting you make more money.
Thankfully, Grubhub and DoorDash both let drivers schedule shifts, which is awesome news.
But, there are still some differences drivers should know.
Grubhub
Grubhub has schedule blocks which allow you to schedule in a certain time slot to work in advance.
This can potentially increase your earnings by giving you priority on orders.
There is also smart scheduling which gives you the opportunity to provide your availability to Grubhub and they schedule in work for you.
Just note: block availability is a first-come, first-serve basis.
Additionally, Grubhub drivers also have a program level. This falls under the Driver Recognition Program which lets drivers unlock certain perks for delivering more consistently.
Keep in mind, you shouldn't blindly accept orders just to maintain a higher acceptance rate to try and get better scheduling.
This is one common mistake many delivery drivers make, but think about it: what's the point of accepting deliveries if they don't pay enough to even be worth it?
A common rule of thumb is to aim for $1 per delivery you drive, so don't just accept orders to try and increase your Grubhub level!
DoorDash
Doordash has a very similar scheduling process as Grubhub. Simply go to the “schedule” page within the app and check for available time slots.
It’s common for the competitive hours to be taken quickly, leaving you with the quieter hours to choose from.
But, like Gruhub, highly rated DoorDash drivers can qualify for early schedule access in two ways:
- Having a customer rating of at least 4.6 and completion rate of at least 95%, over at least five deliveries, within the previous week
- Have 500 lifetime DoorDash deliveries with an average customer rating of 4.6 and completion rate of at least 95%
What's more interesting is if you can qualify for the Top Dasher program.
This program lets you start driving for DoorDash at anytime, even if you don't schedule yourself and the zone you're in is too busy to just Dash normally.
This is pretty cool since it means regular DoorDash drivers can work whenever they want and use scheduling to their advantage.
To qualify for the Top Dasher Program, you must have:
- Customer rating of at least 4.7
- Acceptance rate of at least 70%
- Completion rate of at least 95%
- 100 completed deliveries during the last month
- At least 200 lifetime deliveries completed
Again, like Grubhub's Driver Recognition Program, be cautious with anything that forces you to have a certain acceptance rate.
It isn't worth accepting orders if they don't pay well! Never forget this!
Winner: DoorDash has slightly more scheduling flexibility/a better rewards system, but this isn't a massive selling point because you need to maintain a certain acceptance rate.
Extra Reading – How Much Can You Make A Week Doing DoorDash?
Pros & Cons
Still wondering if working for Grubhub vs DoorDash is the right choice or not?
Well, consider the following pros and cons of each company to help your decision making!
Grubhub Pros:
- Easy sign up process
- Great market coverage
- Cheap instant payout fee of $0.50
- Transparent payment structure
- Can schedule shifts
Grubhub Cons:
- Slightly lower pay than DoorDash according to salary review websites
- Less popular in most American markets versus DoorDash, although there are exceptions like New York
DoorDash Pros:
- Best North American market coverage out of any food delivery app
- Better driver rewards program through Top Dasher than Grubhub's Driver Recognition Program
- Higher paying than Grubhub on average
DoorDash Cons:
- More expensive instant payments than Grubhub and Uber Eats
- Less European market coverage than Grubhub
Overall, DoorDash seems like a better first choice to drive for if you live in North America.
But, as mentioned, it's always worthwhile testing what works in your market!
Extra Reading – Does DoorDash Pay You For Gas?
Driving For Grubhub Vs DoorDash? – Picking The Right Job
If you're still deciding between each gig company, here's a final list of criteria you can consider to help make your decision!
Drive For Grubhub If
Grubhub isn't as popular as DoorDash in most American cities, but there are still some pros for this company and reasons you might choose to drive for Grubhub over DoorDash:
- You live in certain European countries
- You've tried DoorDash but can never schedule shifts in your area
- You want cheap instant payouts
Drive For DoorDash If
There's no denying that DoorDash is the leading food delivery company in North America, and this has some inherent advantages.
In short, you should drive for DoorDash instead of Grubhub if:
- You want slightly higher hourly pay on average
- You don't care about instant payouts
- You can leverage scheduling or the Top Dasher program to get more orders, provided they are worth it
Both Companies Are Great If
The reality of the Grubhub vs DoorDash debate is that there isn't a right answer for every market.
And, many couriers actually drive for both companies, and even drive simultaneously! This is known as double-apping, and it's a great way to increase how many order requests you get so you can cherry-pick the highest paying ones.
So, start driving for DoorDash if you want to work with the leading food delivery app in North America.
But, don't brush Grubhub aside completely; you can still make great money driving for Grubhub, and it's worth testing in your market.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, Grubhub vs Doordash pay varies since Doordash is the larger company and has had somewhat higher earnings throughout the data research.
If you have it in your area, it’s an excellent gig economy app to make a few hundred bucks.
But, Grubhub is also a great choice. It really boils down to preference at that point.
Just remember to track your expenses and earnings so you can accurately report income and expenses at tax time.
You should also use mileage tracking apps like Hurdlr to track the miles you drive for both companies.
Finally, once you try working for DoorDash or Grubhub, don't be afraid to try other gig jobs like working for Shipt or Amazon Flex.
There are so many side hustle ideas out there, and if you want to boost your monthly income, you have a lot of options at your disposal!
Thanks for reading our Grubhub vs DoorDash debate! Best of luck in choosing the right delivery app for you.
You can also check out our post on Instacart shopper tips and tricks if you want to learn how to maximize your earnings with Insacart, a leading grocery delivery app!
