Grubhub vs Uber Eats (2024) – What’s Best For Drivers?
Are you wondering whether Grubhub vs Uber Eats is better for you as a side hustle?
Both food delivery gigs are incredibly possible and easy to sign up for. But since they're so similar, it's hard to know which app pays more and is better for drivers.
In this Grubhub and Uber Eats comparison, we're covering average pay, driver requirements, pros and cons, and more to help you make the right decision for you.
About Grubhub
Grubhub is a popular food delivery app that features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.
As a Grubhub driver, you get paid for delivering fast food and restaurant meals to people. It's a flexible delivery side hustle, and if you're 18 or older and have a bike or car, you can likely apply.
About Uber Eats
Uber is one of the leading rideshare companies in the world. And with its food delivery branch Uber Eats, you can also get paid to deliver fast food, restaurant meals, and groceries to people in your city.
Uber Eats is currently operating in over 6,000 cities across 45 countries, and the platform continues to expand. Like Grubhub, Uber Eats is a popular side hustle because it's flexible, so you can deliver as much or as little as you want to.
Uber Eats vs Grubhub Pay
According to salary review data, Uber Eats pays drivers slightly more than Grubhub on average. However, your pay varies greatly depending on your market, tips, weather, and numerous other factors.
Here's what some other couriers have to say about their experience with Grubhub and Uber Eats:
- erin209158 says: “It really depends on your area. I ditched Doordash for the most part and use only GH and UE mostly. UE has better payouts but not so often, so GH orders help fill the gaps. GH sends out order requests to the restaurant super late so I've found I've had to wait a lot for their orders.”
- bsharp1981 says: “It’s depends on your market…Try both out you will see which one is the better option once you hit the 100 deliveries mark. When or if you multi app when you get a order turn the other one off and don’t take a order from both at the same time.”
- trebete says: “I'm in the Chicago Western Burbs, Grubhub last year paid better in terms of tips, but that has change since the buyout by JET(Just Eats)! I get better tips on UE v's GH!”
Some drivers report Uber Eats pays more and has higher tips. However, I found a few drivers on forums stating Grubhub pays more than Uber Eats where they live.
Extra Reading – The 10+ Best Uber Eats Driver Tips And Tricks.
Grubhub vs UberEats – Which Job Is Better?
If you're looking for a new side hustle, Grubhub or Uber Eats are both flexible, high-paying options.
But there are some differences in diver requirements, pay, and life on the job you should know before picking between these gigs.
Driver Requirements
The requirements to drive or deliver for food delivery services do vary slightly between services. Typically to deliver by car you need a valid driver's license. Here are the driver requirements for Uber Eats vs Grubhub.
Grubhub Driver Requirements
To deliver for Grubhub you need to be at least 18 years or older (Age 21+ in Las Vegas).
Drivers also need an iPhone with iOS 11 or higher OR an Android with 5.0 or higher and must have a data plan. A checking account is also required for direct deposit payments.
Here's how Grubhub driver requirements vary depending on vehicle type:
- Deliver By Car: You need a valid driver's license. For drivers who are 18 years old, your driver's licence must have been valid for at least one year. For drivers 19 years or older, your driver's license must have been valid for 2 years. You also need auto insurance.
- Deliver By Bike: To deliver for Grubhub by bicycle, you need a valid state ID, a valid state driver's license, or a valid passport (can be United States or global). Only one of these forms of ID are required.
Uber Eats Driver Requirements
Uber Eats lets you deliver via car, bike, or scooter. Some markets even let you deliver on foot, which isn't something Grubhub offers.
But overall, the requirements are similar to Grubhub, although Uber's requirements can vary slightly depending on your city.
- Deliver By Car: You need to meet the minimum age required to drive in your city. You also need a valid driver's license, as well as a 2-door or 4-door car.
- Deliver By Scooter: You need to be at least 19 years of age. You also need a motorized scooter under 50cc and must have a valid driver's license. Be sure to select Delivery by scooter under transportation method when signing up.
- Deliver By Foot Or Bike: You need to be at least 18 years old. Applicants also provide government issued ID. Also keep in mind that these options are not available in all areas.
Winner: Both Grubhub and Uber Eats have very simple driver requirements, although Uber Eats is slightly more flexible.
Grubhub vs Uber Eats Driver Pay
Because income is the reason you're considering driving for a delivery service, knowing how much drivers make is important. When considering Grubhub's vs Uber Eats pay, here are a few things you'll want to know.
Grubhub Driver Pay
The Grubhub pay model is very transparent and pays you using the following factors:
- Mileage Per Order: You get paid more for longer Grubhub orders, although the exact pay-per-mile varies on market and other factors.
- Time Spent On Road: Because sometimes mileage doesn't always accurately represent how long an order takes, drivers are also compensated for the total time on the road.
- Tips: Grubhub drivers keep 100% of tips in addition to their total pay.
- Special Offers: Delivery partners for Grubhub can increase their pay by completing missions, earning bonuses and participating in sweepstakes. Be sure to note that these offers are only available in specific markets and during certain time periods.
According to Indeed salary reviews, Grubhub drivers earn $13.82 per hour on average.
This is on the lower-end of food delivery gigs, and it's one of the more common complaints you hear about Grubhub.
However, your Grubhub earnings depends on your market, promotions, tips, luck, and a ton of different factors. So, some markets may pay more on average than others.
Overall, it's nice that Grubhub has a transparent pay model. You also know how much a Grubhub order pays before you accept, which is a must these days for any delivery gig.
Uber Eats Driver Pay
Uber Eats has a similar pay model to Grubhub. Factors that influence how much you earn include:
- Distance And Delivery Fees: Payment per delivery trip includes the distance of the delivery and the fees that the customer pay.
- Tips: Like Grubhub, Uber Eats drivers keep 100% of tips.
- Surge Zones: These special “hot” delivery areas offer extra money during particularly busy times. This is one advantage of driving for Uber Eats versus Grubhub.
- Income Guarantee: In select markets, Uber Eats may offer an income guarantee for new drivers to encourage them to try their service in exchange for making a minimum dollar amount. This is another massive perk since it means new drivers know how much money they can make in their first few weeks.
According to Indeed salary reviews, Uber Eats pays drivers $14.97 per hour on average.
This is over $1 more on average than Grubhub, and from the drivers I have interviewed, most drivers say Uber Eats pay more than most driving gigs.
Uber Eats still doesn't pay as much as DoorDash oftentimes, but it pays more than Grubhub on average.
Just remember that factors like your market, weather, promotions, tips, and driving at the best Uber Eats times all influence how much you make.
Available Cities
Availability is another important factor to consider when choosing between Grubhub o Uber Eats. After all, you want to actually be able to drive in your city for either food delivery gig.
Grubhub Cities
Grubhub is available in over 4,000 cities across the United States. The company has also expanded to Canada with a focus on Ontario.
U.S. drivers shouldn't have trouble signing up for Grubhub in most markets. However, one downside of Grubhub versus jobs like DoorDash and Uber Eats is that you're basically locked into delivering in the market you sign up in.
In other words, you can't deliver in a bunch of nearby cities like you can with DoorDash or Uber Eats.
Uber Eats Cities
Uber Eats is one of the most globally-friendly side hustles since it's available in 6,000+ cities and 45 countries.
Plus, Uber Eats lets you deliver in multiple markets. This lets drivers test new cities and areas to see if they make more money.
Verdict: Uber Eats has better market coverage than Grubhub.
What Deliveries Are Like
Knowing what a delivery looks like is important when deciding between Uber Eats or Grubhub.
Granted, both food delivery apps are fairly similar. But there are some differences with scheduling you should know about.
Grubhub Deliveries
Grubhub lets you work if it's busy enough or schedule shifts in advance. Shift availability is done on a first-come, first-serve basis, but it's nice you can snag shifts in advance to make quick money.
As for what deliveries are like, Grubhub is pretty simple.
Order requests pop up on your phone that outline delivery distance, restaurant, and pay.
You can accept or decline orders and there isn't a minimum acceptance rate. If you accept an order, Grubhub's driver app helps you navigate to the pick-up location and then the drop-off location.
Uber Eats Deliveries
Uber Eats deliveries look very similar to Grubhub. But the main difference is that Uber Eats drivers don't schedule shifts and can go online at any time.
The upside is you can work whenever. However, you compete with more drivers, which is tough if Uber Eats is having a slow day.
This is why many food delivery couriers multi-app between DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart to get as many orders as possible.
Anyway, the actual in-app process is very similar to Grubhub.
You accept orders, know how much you're getting paid and how far you're driving, and use the driver app to navigate everywhere you have to go.
Like Grubhub, your acceptance rate doesn't matter either, so you don't have to take low-paying orders that aren't worth your time or mileage.
Winner: Grubhub's scheduling option gives it a slight edge over Uber Eats, but both apps function very similarly.
How You Get Paid
One final factor to consider in the Grubhub vs Uber Eats debate is when you actually get paid.
Gig economy jobs are great because they let you make quick cash. And both Grubhub and Uber Eats have some options that let you get paid even faster.
Grubhub Payments
Grubhub pays drivers every Thursday via direct deposit. It usually takes about 3-5 days to process the payment.
You can also use Instant Cash Out for a $0.50 fee. This allows you to transfer the money to your bank account immediately.
This is similar to DoorDash Fast Pay and Instacart Instant Pay, and it's nice you can get paid the same day if you're in a pinch.
Uber Eats Payments
Like Grubhub, Uber Eats pays drivers weekly through direct deposit. It also takes a few days for payments to actually process and reach your bank account.
Uber Eats also has an instant pay feature that costs $0.50.
Winner: Grubhub and Uber Eats are basically identical when it comes to processing driver payments.
Pros & Cons
Wondering about the pros & cons of Grubhub vs Uber Eats. Here's a breakdown of each service so you can pick the right driving gig for you.
Grubhub Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Easy sign-up process
- You can schedule shifts in advance
- Decent hourly pay
- Cheap instant cash out fee
Cons:
- Pays slightly less on average than Uber Eats
- You can't deliver by scooter
- Available in fewer cities and countries than Uber Eats
Uber Eats Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Uber Eats is available in thousands of cities and 45+ countries
- Uber Eats pays slightly more than Grubhub on average
- You can also drive for Uber if you get approved for more earning opportunities
- New Uber Eats driver promotions can be very lucrative
Cons:
- Uber Eats doesn't let you schedule shifts
- Competition with other Uber Eats drivers can mean orders are very slow
Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make $5,000 Dollars Fast.
Verdict: Is Working For Grubhub or Uber Eats Better?
It can be tricky to decide between Grubhub or Uber Eats since both delivery gigs are so similar.
However, here are some things to consider when making your decision.
Work For Grubhub If:
- If this service is more popular in your area and has more delivery opportunities.
- You want to schedule shifts in advance.
- You want a secondary food delivery app alongside apps like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats.
Work For Uber Eats If:
- If you live outside the United States.
- You don't care about scheduling shifts.
- You're already driving for Uber and are looking to expand your income. (Many Uber drivers drive for Uber Eats as well.)
Work For Both Food Delivery Apps If:
The truth is that you don't necessarily need to decide between one app or the other.
For maximum earning potential, you can actually do both! This is a very common strategy, and many gig workers use several apps to get as many orders as possible.
So, try making money with Instacart, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.
After some experience, you may find that one service versus the other is more lucrative or just happens to work better for your schedule. You may also find out that the combination of the two apps is the best fit of all.
Extra Reading – How Much Do DoorDash Drivers Make Per Week?
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it's hard to pick a winner in the Uber Eats vs Grubhub debate since both apps are so similar.
Many gig drivers use both apps and apps like Instacart, DoorDash, and Cornershop to great effect.
And some drivers take things a step further and go outside food delivery, using rideshare apps or jobs like Amazon Flex to get even more deliveries.
My suggestion is to test out one gig app to see how much it pays. Then, move on to another to compare earnings in your market against each other.
And remember: you have to track expenses like vehicle repairs, gas, and other expenses so you know how much profit you're actually making!
Looking for even more money-making ideas? Checkout:
- The Best Ways To Make $400 A Day.
- How To DoorDash For The First Time.
- Uber Eats vs Instacart – Which Gig Is Best?
