15 Best Apps & Jobs Like Instacart (High-Paying!)
As a side hustle idea, delivering groceries with Instacart is definitely one of the higher-paying side gig jobs you can try.
However, Instacart has been removing scheduling from the Instacart shopper app, making it more competitive between shoppers to secure batches.
So, if you're struggling to make enough money with Instacart, it's a good idea to have a few other delivery app jobs on the side. Today, I'm covering 10+ jobs like Instacart you can use to boost your monthly income while working a flexible schedule.
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The Best Jobs Like Instacart
I've been making money in the gig economy or writing about it for years at this point. And when it comes to grocery delivery gigs, Instacart is one of the most popular options.
However, there are lots of other apps like Instacart to make money that can pay more and help you work consistently.
1. Uber Eats
Out of all the side hustles like Instacart, Uber Eats is without a doubt the most accessible.
Currently, Uber Eats, the food delivery branch of Uber, operates in over 6,000 cities in 45 countries. Plus, if you already drive for Uber, you're already eligible to start making money with Uber Eats in your spare time!
Now, unlike Instacart, Uber Eats is mostly for delivering fast food and restaurant meals, so it's similar to DoorDash in this regard.
You can sign up if you're 18 to 21 or older in most cities. And Uber Eats lets you deliver with a car, bike, scooter, or even on foot in some markets unlike Instacart.
Once you're eligible to drive for Uber Eats, you can start making money just by going online and accepting deliveries.
In my post on DoorDash vs Uber Eats, I interviewed my friend, who delivers for both companies with his bike in Toronto.
My friend is able to earn around $15 to $20+ per hour, and if you drive at the best Uber Eats times, you can likely score more tips and boosted pay.
Start making money with Uber Eats!
2. Shipt
Out of all the jobs like Instacart, Shipt is probably the most similar.
Like Instacart, Shipt is an on-demand grocery delivery service that lets people order groceries right to their door.
As a Shipt shopper, you're responsible for shopping for groceries, checking out, and delivering to customers, just like Instacart. Currently, Shipt is available in over 5,000 U.S. cities, so it's fairly comparable in terms of market size.
The main difference between Shipt and Instacart is that with Shipt, you have to schedule your delivery shifts; you can't just open the app and begin working whenever you want.
As for Shipt's requirements, you need to be 18 or older, have a license and insurance, be able to lift at least 40 pounds, and have a vehicle that's 1997 or newer.
The vehicle requirement is one small downside. That being said, Shipt shoppers earn $22 per hour on average according to Shipt, which is very comparable to Instacart.
Ultimately, this hourly rate plus the fact that you keep 100% of tips makes Shipt one of the highest-paying delivery side hustles like Instacart on the market.
3. Amazon Flex
When it comes to ways to make money on Amazon, driving for Amazon Flex is probably one of the most lucrative.
This gig pays you to deliver packages just like Instacart. Except you're delivering Amazon.com packages and Amazon Fresh groceries.
Amazon Flex states drivers earn between $18 to $25 per hour on average. Amazon also guarantees $15 to $19 per scheduled hour, which is a significant difference to Instacart, which doesn't guarantee an hourly wage.
You keep 100% of tips with Amazon Flex, although most types of deliveries don't have a tip option for the customer. Just note that you have to be 21 or older and have a mid-sized or larger vehicle for most orders.
Once you're a driver, you choose Amazon Flex delivery blocks to work and create a schedule for yourself. Unlike Instacart, you can't just open the app and start working immediately.
Amazon Flex is available in all U.S. states, Canada, and parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. However, Amazon Flex doesn't hire consistently, so it's one of the tougher jobs like Instacart to get into.
4. DoorDash
DoorDash is the leading food delivery service in North America, and currently operates in over 5,000 cities.
As a DoorDash driver, you deliver fast food and restaurant meals to people in your city. In this sense, it's easier than Instacart since you just pick up food rather than shop for entire grocery orders.
DoorDash lets you deliver via car, bike, scooter, or even on foot in some markets. Other driver requirements include:
- Being 18 or older
- Having a driver's license and insurance
- Passing a background check
- Complete an orientation and get your activation kit
There aren't vehicle requirements unlike driving for ridesharing apps like Uber or Lyft, which is a plus.
Now, in terms of DoorDash pay, it uses a similar model to Instacart, and calculates earnings using base pay, promotions, and tips.
All in all, DoorDash drivers can make decent money. But like any other side gig, practice and learning some DoorDash driver tips and tricks goes a long way in boosting your earnings.
Extra Reading – Best Time To Deliver For DoorDash.
5. Postmates
Postmates is another delivery side hustle where you deliver everything from food to everyday essentials to people in your city.
Now, if you're looking for a picture-perfect side job like Instacart, Postmates is a bit different…this app is probably a closer match to DoorDash than anything else.
That being said, Postmates is available in over 3,000 U.S. cities, and becoming a Postmates courier is quite simple.
You can sign up if you're 18 or older and have a vehicle, driver's license, and insurance. Like Instacart, Postmates doesn't have specific vehicle requirements, so it's a bit more lenient than companies like Uber Eats and Shipt.
According to ZipRecruiter, Postmates couriers earn $18 per hour on average. And if you want a delivery job like Instacart that doesn't just focus on groceries, driving for Postmates could be worth it!
6. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is an on-demand gig marketplace where people can hire local help for tasks like cleaning, running errands, furniture assembly, yard work, and more.
Errand running and grocery shopping are also gigs you can offer as a Tasker. So, this side gig can be similar to Instacart but is way more versatile overall.
I like apps like TaskRabbit since you set your hourly pay and availability. And it's one of the best real money apps if you want to branch into starting your own service-based business.
The fact that you can set your own hourly rate is a major difference between TaskRabbit and Instacart. If you offer complex tasks, like tech support or handyman work, it's definitely worth checking out.
But, in any case, there's no harm in becoming a Tasker and seeing if you can make some quick cash helping out your community!
7. Gopuff
If you like the idea of Amazon Flex as an Instacart alternative, you're going to love Gopuff.
Gopuff is currently available in over 500 U.S. cities and lets customers order goods like food, groceries, alcohol, and everyday essentials.
As a Gopuff driver, you pick up packages from a specific Gopuff fulfillment center and then go out to make deliveries. In this sense, it's similar to picking up multiple orders from an Amazon warehouse like you would with Amazon Flex.
You have to be 21 or older to sign up. Gopuff also runs a background check for new drivers.
Unlike Instacart, Gopuff drivers also have a guaranteed hourly minimum that depends on how many packages they're delivering that day. According to Glassdoor, Gopuff drivers earn $14 per hour on average but can earn up to $16 per hour.
Ultimately, Gopuff is one of the lesser-known Instacart shopper alternatives out there. But if you like jobs like Amazon Flex and want to pick up packages from a central location, it's another worthwhile side hustle.
8. Grubhub
Another popular independent contractor job like Instacart is Grubhub, an on-demand food delivery app.
In over 4,000 U.S. cities, Grubhub is another way to make fast cash by delivering food to people in your city. Grubhub mostly partners with local fast food joints and restaurants, so no groceries unlike Instacart.
But, becoming a Grubhub driver is fairly easy, and requirements include being 19 ov older, having a vehicle and at least two years of driving experience, and passing a background check.
As for pay, Grubhub driver earnings are calculated using a model that's similar to Postmates. Earnings factor in total mileage, delivery time, tips, and any ongoing driver promotions.
Now, according to Indeed, Grubhub drivers earn $11.72 per hour on average. This makes Grubhub a lower-paying job like Instacart, but hey, it's still an accessible way to start making money by making deliveries.
I'd probably try out other companies like Instacart first, like DoorDash or Shipt, but make your best judgment call and don't be afraid to experiment!
Extra Reading – How To Make $50 A Day.
9. Cornershop
If you're still looking for apps like Instacart to make money, one more option you can try is Cornershop.
This grocery delivery service is owned by Uber and is almost identical to Instacart. You have to be 19 or older to become a Cornershop shopper, and the service is available in dozens of U.S. cities.
As for pay, you make $16 per hour on average, which is lower than Instacart Shopper pay. However, if you're not getting enough Instacart batches, you can try using Cornershop to supplement that income.
The delivery process is basically identical, and you have to shop for groceries and then make deliveries. So if you like getting paid to shop, this job like Instacart is definitely worth signing up for.
10. ParaWorks
One final job like DoorDash and Instacart that you can try out is ParaWorks, a package delivery gig from Para, a gig-worker focused app.
With ParaWorks, you can find one-time and short package delivery gigs in your area. Once you claim those gigs, you get paid upon completing them, and ParaWorks pays its drivers weekly right to their bank account.
What's nice about ParaWorks is that it partners with dozens of partners. Once you're accepted as a driver, you can claim and complete available gigs; there's no need for background checks or interviews with each company you're delivering for.
This is a similar concept apps like Wonolo use, and it ultimately helps drivers get more work if apps like Instacart and DoorDash are slow.
Plus, ParaWorks pays around $25 per hour on average, making it one of the highest paying apps and side hustles like Instacart.
Extra Reading – How To Make $1,000 In 24 Hours.
Other Apps Like Instacart To Make Extra Money
The gigs I listed above are your best place to start because they're widely accessible and pay a decent hourly wage. However, if you search for local grocery delivery jobs, you might also find some more niche companies like Instacart operating in your area.
Here's a few examples:
- Favor. This Texas-based delivery service lets you earn around $12 to $18 per hour delivering food and essentials to people.
- Burpy. Deliver groceries and earn up to $25 per hour with this Texas-based grocery delivery company.
- Bite Squad. Become a Bite Squad driver and make money delivering food to people in your city. Bite Squad is available in several U.S. states and pays around $10 to $15 per hour on average.
- Drizly. Deliver alcohol to people by working with local alcohol stores and Drizly, a fast-growing alcohol delivery service in the United States.
- Deliver That. According to Deliver That, drivers earn over $25 per hour on average. You mostly deliver food and groceries, and Deliver That is available in over a dozen U.S. states and British Columbia.
Again, these companies aren't as widely available as the other apps jobs like Instacart I mentioned above. But, if you can't find work in your area with the main alternatives, perhaps these companies can fill the gap!
Extra Reading – The Best Apps That Pay You To Drive.
Tips For Making More Money
Now that you know the best Instacart like jobs, here are a few extra tips to keep in mind so you make as much money as possible:
- Track Your Expenses: With jobs like Instacart, you're an independent contractor. This means you are responsible for all your expenses like gas and vehicle repairs, so track these costs! I suggest using mileage tracking apps like Everlance to stay on top of all your income and expenses.
- Try Multiple Apps: Trying several apps similar to Instacart maximizes the orders you get. So don't be afraid to try out gigs like Amazon Flex or DoorDash or apps like Uber Eats, to maximize opportunities.
- Set An Income Goal: How much money do you want to make? Set weekly and monthly goals that are realistic so you have something to track and work towards.
Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make $5,000 Fast.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it: over 10 jobs like Instacart you can use to make some quick money on the side.
The final piece of advice I want to give is to always track your earnings and fuel expenses so you get a true picture of your pay. You should also factor in vehicle depreciation since over time, any delivery gig puts some serious mileage on your car (unless you deliver by bike, of course).
The bottom line is that delivery jobs like Instacart are ideal for supplementing your income, which is handy if you want to get out of debt quickly or start investing more.
Thanks so much for reading, and best of luck!
Extra Reading:
- Instacart Tips & Tricks To Make More Money!
- How To Make $1K A Week With Uber Eats.
- The Best Jobs Like Uber Eats.
