DoorDash vs. Uber Eats

Should you work for DoorDash or UberEats as your side hustle? Which will bring the most income to you? Here's the ultimate comparison to help you pick.

Food delivery applications are in huge demand right now all across the world.

Think about it:

We’ve become accustomed to having all of our meals and groceries brought directly to our door in recent years, and the demand for these applications has only risen with the spread of the worldwide epidemic.

The rise of delivery applications has resulted in the creation of a new pool of job opportunities.

Working as a delivery driver for DoorDash or UberEats nowadays might pay well if you’re searching for a hassle-free side business.

We’ve gathered all the information you’ll need before taking the leap in one job.

Related:DoorDash Driver ReviewUber Eats Driver Review

What Do They Offer

DoorDash

DoorDash was launched in 2013 and has over 300,000 small and chain restaurants in the United States, Canada, and Australia as partners.

Dashers are the people that deliver for DoorDash, and they can do it by vehicle, bike, scooter, or motorbike.

This meal-delivery business is unusual among Dashers in that it allows you to arrange working hours up to a week in advance while still allowing you to deliver on the spot if you have a few extra hours.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats is the company’s meal delivery service, which debuted in 2014. The app began in Los Angeles and has expanded to virtually every place where Uber’s parent business operates.

Since its inception, they’ve made many adjustments, with one of the most significant for customers being the move away from flat-rate shipping pricing.

Uber Eats made ripples in the meal delivery service business when it bought Postmates, another popular service, in July of 2020.

Signing Up

DoorDash

To become a DoorDash driver, simply download the app and complete the registration procedure. There are, however, many restrictions and requirements to be aware of.

Requirements

  • DoorDash drivers must be 18 years old or older in most countries/states. However, some areas may need drivers to be 21 years old or older. Check the criteria for your region when registering.
  • DoorDash also demands that you have an active DoorDash account.
  • You need to pass a background check (no cases of DUI, assaults, reckless driving, driving with a suspended or expired license, or a few other infractions in the last seven years).
  • You must be legally permitted to work in the nation for which you are applying.
  • You must have had at least three minor traffic offenses (such as speeding).
  • You must provide evidence of insurance and a valid driver’s license.
  • At least one year of driving experience is required.

It’s worth noting that DoorDash is a lot more liberal when it comes to which cars or motorcycles are permitted; provided it runs, you’re good to go.

But wait, let me tell you something:

If your application is approved, you may be required to attend an in-person orientation meeting at a DoorDash store near you.

The purpose of the orientation is to acquaint new drivers with the app and delivery system and prepare them to begin earning.

Note that at the DoorDash orientation, you will be required to fill out tax papers and other information. Bring the following items:

  • Your driver’s license and identification card.
  • Your mobile phone (Be sure to download the app and charge your phone).
  • A credit or debit card.

Depending on their location, some DoorDash drivers do all their training online, which may be the case for you.

Uber Eats

If you currently drive for Uber, becoming an Uber Eats driver is pretty straightforward; all you have to do is accept the Uber Eats delivery conditions to take food delivery orders.

If you’re not already an Uber driver, you’ll need to create a free Uber account and then start filling out your application to finish the process.

Requirements For Vehicles

If you wish to drive for Uber Eats, you need to be aware of a few essential conditions, including:

  • Being at least 19 years old.
  • Having a valid driver’s license.
  • Car insurance and at least a year of driving experience are required.
  • You must drive a two-door or four-door car.
  • Your car must be newer than 1998.

These are basic standards that apply to most countries/states, although there may be exceptions.

For example, to drive Uber in Canada, you must be 21 years old or older, so keep that in mind and consult the Uber website for a country-specific list of criteria.

Requirements For Bikes And Scooters

The criteria for delivering food on a bike or scooter with Uber Eats are slightly different. You must do the following as a bike or scooter courier:

  • Only drive a two-wheeled vehicle.
  • Have a car that does not exceed 30 miles per hour.

In the United States, you must be 18 years old to deliver food by bike with Uber Eats, but you must still present official identification.

It’s also worth noting that Uber Eats bike delivery isn’t accessible everywhere.

Possible Earnings

Both DoorDash and Uber Eats compensate their delivery drivers in a somewhat different way. It’s hard to determine which app pays more because there is no fixed charge for each delivery.

Several factors influence the payment for each delivery, including your location, the time you accept the order, and the distance you must drive to make the delivery.

DoorDash

Drivers at DoorDash make an average of $20 per hour. The app has a one-of-a-kind payment concept that combines three elements:

1. Base Pay

It usually ranges from $2 to $10, and it is determined by criteria such as the time it takes to fulfill each order, and the distance traveled to deliver it.

Base pay also considers an order’s ‘desirability,’ determined by how popular that specific order was with other dashers.

2. Promotions

Peak pay and challenges are the two types of promotions available.

Peak pay refers to busy times when dashers can earn more per delivery, while challenges allow dashers to make extra money by completing a set number of deliveries in a set amount of time.

3. Tips

Finally, the app sums up any tips you receive while making the delivery, allowing you to keep 100% of the money you earn.

Getting Paid

Dashers can collect their money in one of two ways through DoorDash. They may set up a direct deposit, with profits processed by Wednesday and received by Thursday every week.

On the other hand:

Dashers can also choose for Fast Pay to cash out early if they need money right away. This service, on the other hand, charges $1.99 for each transaction.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats, like DoorDash, sums up the base salary and any incentives and tips for the drivers. The basic compensation is based on the time spent on each delivery and the distance traveled.

Bonuses are derived from any additional money earned by working during peak hours, referred to as “surge zones.”

Finally, Uber Eats allows its drivers to keep 100% of the tips they get for each delivery.

Getting Paid

Direct deposit is also used to pay Uber Eats drivers for their services. They can pick the Instant Pay option up to 5 times each day to payout sooner.

They are, however, charged $0.50 for each cash-out.

Driver Ratings

DoorDash

The DoorDash 5-star rating system has four components:

1. Customer Rating

The customer rating is based on how many points out of five dashers each delivery received from the client during the past 100 deliveries.

To continue working with DoorDash, Dashers must maintain a minimum score of 2.

2. Acceptance Rate

When a dasher rejects a delivery, it lowers their acceptance rate.

While there is no requirement for a minimum acceptance rate to continue delivering on the app, a low acceptance rate might hurt your chances of ever being accepted into the ‘Top Dasher Program.’

3. On-Time Rate

This scale looks at the time dashers take to finish each delivery based on the past 100 deliveries.

4. Completion Rate

This scale calculates how many deliveries a Dasher has completed over the previous 100 deliveries.

Orders that consumers cancel are not counted and have no impact on your completion rate. To keep working with DoorDash, dashers must maintain a minimum score of 80.

Uber Eats

Customers and restaurant employees both provide ratings to Uber Eats drivers. The rating is based on a simple thumbs-up or-down method and the driver’s most recent 100 orders.

Customers can also provide comprehensive comments on your website.

Turns out:

A few bad ratings may not have an impact on your work, but a persistently low score might result in you being dismissed from Uber Eats.

Comparison Table

DoorDash Uber Eats
RequirementsGoodExcellent
Possible EarningsExcellentGood
CompatibilityExcellentExcellent
Ideal ForFood deliveryFood delivery

Conclusion

There is no obvious winner when it comes to deciding between DoorDash and Uber Eats. DoorDash is ideal for those who want to plan a few additional hours of work each week systematically.

Uber Eats is ideal for those who have sporadic free time throughout the week and seek immediate income during those hours, but it is not suitable for everyone.

Both apps pay around the same and are an excellent way to earn some additional cash to help you build your savings or pay off any debt you may have.

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Matt Castillo Bennet is a former banker and restaurant worker. After paying off $30K of student loan debt and saving up for a couple of years, he left his job to manage Cash Math full-time and help others achieve financial freedom.