Food delivery driver apps look alike from the outside: you accept an offer, pick up an order and drop it off. The rules behind them differ in ways that decide whether an app is open to you at all. This guide compares the main apps by criteria you can check yourself, so you can decide which sign-up page to open first. It names no winner and makes no earnings claim, because no official page publishes an average that holds across cities.
What do all food delivery apps ask for?
The basics repeat across the apps covered here: a minimum age, a smartphone, a valid driver’s license for car delivery, insurance and a background check. Grubhub says every partner must be at least 18, or 21 in Las Vegas, and needs a smartphone with a data plan and a checking account for direct deposit.[1] The differences start with age and vehicle.
Which apps fit your age?
Minimum age is the first filter, and it varies by app and sometimes by state. DoorDash lists 18 in most states, 19 in a group of states including Florida, Texas and New Jersey, and 21 for new applicants in California.[2] Gopuff lists 21 for the United States.[3] Grubhub lists 18, with 21 in Las Vegas. On Uber’s delivery page the age depends on how you travel: 18 on foot or by bike, 19 for a motorbike, scooter or car, with a footnote on the car row of 21 in California and New York State.[4] If you are 18, that rules in apps that accept it, but confirm with the page for your state.
What vehicle and insurance do you need?
DoorDash says there are no specific vehicle requirements beyond a valid license and valid personal auto insurance for a car, and that motorcycles, scooters, bikes and e-bikes may be allowed depending on your location. DoorDash also says Dashers must keep their own insurance and that its commercial policy may not apply without it. Gopuff asks for a vehicle insured in your name. Grubhub asks for a license and auto insurance for drivers, and a license or state ID for bikers. Uber’s page lists a 2-door or 4-door vehicle and a valid driver’s license in your name for a car, and its bike and on-foot options need a government-issued ID.
Among DoorDash, Grubhub and Gopuff, no car option is open without insurance, so delivery apps that don’t require insurance for a car do not appear among them. Bike or on-foot delivery is the way around it where an app allows it, and availability depends on the city. The same goes for a license: delivery apps that don’t require a license are the bike and on-foot routes, where Grubhub asks for a license or state ID and Uber asks for a government-issued ID. If you do not own a car, that is a vehicle question to settle before comparing pay.
| App | Minimum age (US) | Vehicle and insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Grubhub | 18 (21 in Las Vegas) | Car, bike or scooter; license and auto insurance for drivers, license or state ID for bikers |
| DoorDash | 18 in most states; 19 or 21 in some | Car with license and personal auto insurance; bike or scooter in some places |
| Gopuff | 21 | Vehicle with insurance in your name |
| Uber Eats | 18 on foot or by bike; 19 for a motorbike, scooter or car (car footnote: 21 in California and New York State) | 2-door or 4-door car with a license in your name; scooter, motorbike, bike or on foot |
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How do you get orders and set your hours?
Apps give you orders in different ways. DoorDash lets Dashers earn per offer, and in select cities in the U.S. offers an Earn by Time mode with a minimum guaranteed active hourly rate.[5] Grubhub encourages reserving scheduled blocks and says blocks put you ahead for nearby offers, though you can also take offers on the fly in some markets.[6] Gopuff describes a centralized pickup location that you return to after each delivery, with small delivery zones, which suits you best if you live close to one.
Ask yourself which pattern fits your week. If you want fixed hours, a block system helps. If you want to open the app when you have a spare hour, an on-demand app is closer to that. For a closer pairing, see Grubhub and DoorDash compared for drivers.
Which order types suit you?
Restaurant apps bring waiting at the restaurant and rush-hour peaks. Convenience and grocery apps move packaged goods from a single hub. Some apps add alcohol deliveries, which usually need a minimum age of 21 in the places that allow them. Think about whether you are comfortable carrying large orders and climbing stairs.
How fast can you cash out?
DoorDash pays weekly by direct deposit, usually by Wednesday night, with a daily Fast Pay option for a fee in the US.[7] Grubhub pays direct deposit on Thursdays and offers Instant Cash Out, up to $500 a day, which Grubhub says costs nothing with Chase Bank and $0.50 per transfer with others.[8] Gopuff’s sign-up page says it pays a transparent fee for every order and lets you keep 100% of tips, but does not set out a payout schedule. When you need cash quickly, the cash-out rules count as much as base pay. For pay structure by service, see which food delivery service pays the most.
Remember that vehicle costs fall on you. Grubhub says partners are responsible for driving costs such as gas, maintenance and insurance, so a higher payout rate does not tell you what you keep.
Is there one best app for every driver?
No, because each criterion above points to a different app for different people. If you are 18, the apps that accept 18-year-olds in your state are the only ones in play. If you have no car, an app that runs bike or on-foot delivery in your city is the one to look at first. If you want fixed hours, scheduling matters most, and if you need cash fast, payout options do. So the best food delivery service to drive for is the one that passes your own filters on age, vehicle, schedule and payout, and you decide the order of those filters.
How should you decide?
- List the apps open to your age in your state.
- Cross out any that need a vehicle or insurance you do not have.
- Check which apps operate in your city; some markets are waitlisted.
- Pick the scheduling style you prefer.
- Compare payout options and fees.
- Install the two best fits, and judge them by your own earnings screen after a few weeks.
Pay differs by city and time of day, so no article can settle this for you. Your own numbers, after your expenses, are the comparison that counts.
