Postmates vs Grubhub is a fair question for a courier, as long as you compare the right things. Postmates delivery requests moved to the Uber app as of June 7, 2021, according to Uber’s help page, so a courier choosing Postmates is choosing Uber’s delivery system.[1] Grubhub runs its own driver program. This guide compares the two by criteria that official pages document: who can sign up, how orders reach you, how pay is built and how you cash out. It picks no winner, because neither company publishes an average that would support one.
Who can sign up for Postmates and Grubhub?
Uber’s US delivery page sets the age by vehicle. A bike or on foot needs 18, a motorbike, scooter or car needs 19, and a footnote on the car row sets 21 in California and New York State.[2] Documents are a government-issued ID for bikes, or a valid license in your name for motor vehicles, plus a Social Security number for a background screening. For the Postmates side, see Postmates driver age and requirements.
Grubhub’s driver page says all delivery partners must be 18 years old, or 21 in Las Vegas.[3] Its FAQ lists the requirements as a valid license, a car or bike, an iPhone or Android phone with a data plan and a checking account for direct deposit.[4] The same page says applying takes a few minutes, followed by identity verification and a background check.
The practical difference is that Uber’s ladder depends on how you travel, while Grubhub states one age with a local exception. Grubhub also says it sometimes pauses new drivers in a market and offers a waitlist.
How do orders reach you?
On Uber, you go online in the Driver app and receive requests. Uber’s delivery basics page says that in most cities a request shows a fare estimate, the type of delivery and the trip duration, and that it times out if you do not respond. An old Postmates login does not carry over: Uber’s FAQ says accounts can no longer be linked after August 9, 2021, and you need an Uber driver account in good standing.
Grubhub works in two ways. Delivery partners can reserve blocks of time in the Driver app, or toggle on Taking Offers to deliver without a scheduled block, depending on the market.[5] The scheduling page says scheduled drivers are considered for nearby offers ahead of unscheduled drivers, and that blocks start at 30 minutes in length. Access to blocks depends on your driver level, which Grubhub updates every Monday. For the full Grubhub process, see how Grubhub works for drivers.
How is pay built at each?
| Criterion | Postmates (via Uber) | Grubhub |
|---|---|---|
| Pay shown | Upfront fare before you accept, including base fare and any upfront tip | Delivery pay, tips, Grubhub contribution, missions |
| Base pay inputs | Not itemized on Uber’s pages | Mileage, delivery type, time spent, local market |
| Tips | 100% kept | 100% kept from completed deliveries |
| Extras | Weekly promotions, shown in the app | Missions and special offers |
| Minimum on slow days | Not described | Grubhub contribution, for scheduled blocks that meet criteria |
Grubhub’s pay page says the amount per delivery combines base pay and any bonuses, and that it states a Grubhub contribution to reach a minimum guaranteed rate for the local market when a courier works a scheduled block and meets offer commitment criteria.[6] It adds that delivery partners are responsible for gas, vehicle maintenance and insurance. Uber’s pages describe the fare you see before accepting, but they do not itemize how the base is calculated.
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How do you cash out?
Both offer a weekly schedule and a faster option. Uber’s Postmates FAQ says pay periods run from Monday at 4 a.m. to Monday at 4 a.m., with a deposit around Thursday, and Uber’s delivery page says Instant Pay allows up to 6 cash-outs a day for a fee. Grubhub’s pay page describes direct deposit every Thursday and Instant Cash Out of up to $500 a day, free for Chase Bank customers and $0.50 each for other bank customers, with the speed depending on whether your bank supports real-time payments.
Which differences matter most?
The official pages show differences in structure, not in quality:
- Uber requires a screening and an Uber account; Grubhub requires its own application and, in some markets, a wait.
- Uber shows a fare per trip; Grubhub itemizes its components and ties its minimum to scheduled blocks.
- Grubhub’s scheduling system ties access to blocks to a driver level; Uber describes ratings that can unlock rewards or limit opportunities.
Is Grubhub a Postmates alternative for customers too?
Customers face a similar choice, though this guide centers on couriers. Postmates cost, meaning how much does Postmates cost for an order, is not a fixed number: the fees and tip appear at checkout before you pay, and the same is true in the Grubhub app. When you look for a Postmates alternative as a customer, the dependable test is to build one identical order in both apps at your address and compare the totals.
How can you decide for your own city?
- Check age and vehicle rules against both pages.
- Look at whether your market is open or waitlisted at Grubhub.
- Compare offers in each app over the same weeks and subtract your own costs.
- Choose the cash-out route and check its fee.
Pages from both companies are informational and can change, so the apps themselves hold the current numbers.
