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Who Pays More Instacart or DoorDash?

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Grocery Delivery & Pickup

Instacart and DoorDash are two of the most popular food delivery companies. Since it’s natural to want to earn as much as possible, many workers of the so-called GIG economy have wondered who pays more Instacart or DoorDash?

DoorDash pays more than Instacart. Though the average earning per hour for both is similar, DoorDash’s base rate for tips is higher, and this is what constitutes about 50% of shopper earnings.

Because it’s an independent contractor position, what you’ll earn depends on how hard you work and the quality of the service you’re providing.

There’s no guaranteed income because you won’t be an employee.

So, if you’re offering excellent service, you’ll probably earn a lot of tips, which could translate to earning what’d make you happy.

In this article, we’ll explore which company pays better, which is rated the better one to work for, how you can earn $200 a day with DoorDash, and even the best food delivery company that pays the most.

Let’s dive right in…

Ready to get started as a Shopper with Instacart?

Just CLICK HERE to sign up now right on their website.

Businessman with boxing gloves

Should I work for DoorDash or Instacart?

DoorDash has two major advantages over Instacart for workers. The potential earnings with DoorDash are better, and Shoppers do not need a car before they can start working, as the company allows other modes of transportation.

So for many, DoorDash is a better choice.

Both companies have some requirements you’ll have to meet before you can work for them. One of these is the mode of transportation you’ll use to make deliveries.

If you’re thinking of shopping and delivering for Instacart, you need to have access to a car. You can’t use any other vehicle. This could be a challenge for some folks.

DoorDash, on the other hand, allows you to use a car, bike, scooter, or even walk, depending on your local market. So, if you can’t have access to a car and you’re keen to get started, you know you’ve got an option.

Another key issue is the pay.

DoorDash pays better, and the base rate for tips is a lot higher. Instacart’s base rate is 5%, while DoorDash’s is 15%. So, I suggest you get started with DoorDash (later, you could add Instacart, too). DoorDash doesn’t mind shoppers who shop and deliver for more than one food delivery company.

Finally, there are the reviews and scores on the employment site Glass Door.

On Glass Door, Instacart has a 3.6 rating with a 66% approval rating for the CEO. By comparison, on Glass Door, DoorDash rates a 4.0 with an 87% approval rating.

Interesting. But are they the same company?

It’s funny you should say that because that’s what I explored in a recent article. Are they the same company, or are they owned by the same company? To find out…

Just click the link to read it on my site.

What food delivery service pays the most?

Shipt is the food delivery service that pays the most. The average earning for delivery drivers is $65,213 per year. The company offers financial aid in some locations and an option for instant pay. Ubereats comes second at $62,339.

(source)

Shipt is a food delivery service that is owned by Target.

Shoppers deliver groceries in the areas covered by Shipt. Shoppers are independent contractors who earn an average of $22 per hour.

Of course, what you’ll end up earning could be lower than or higher than the $65,213 I mentioned above.

You’ll be your boss and can work when you want. You’ll have to file your tax returns and pay for gas, repairs, and maintenance for your car.

It is a partner to many stores, and its shoppers can buy from these stores in the areas they want to work from.

The stores include:

  • HEB
  • Meijer
  • Target
  • Winn Dixie
  • Costco
  • Lowes Foods
  • Piggly Wiggly
  • ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
  • CVS
  • Office Depot
  • Petco
  • Publix
  • Safeway

and many more.

You’ll need to meet some basic requirements before you can become a shopper for Shipt.

They are:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have access to reliable transportation (the car year of 1997 or newer) and car insurance coverage
  • Have a current U.S. driver’s license
  • Know about hand-picking fresh produce
  • Provide your insulated cooler bag
  • Be able to lift 25+ pounds
  • Be familiar with using an Android or iPhone

Is it risky being a delivery driver, and would you be allowed to pack a gun?

That’s the subject of a recent article of mine. In it, I shared the truth about whether you can carry a gun or not while making deliveries and which companies have policies against it (hint: not all do).

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Can you make $500 a week with Instacart?

It is possible to make $500 a week with Instacart. And some Shoppers make much more. Instacart once claimed that its shoppers could earn an average of $25 per order. Therefore, 4 or 5 orders each day would be adequate to achieve the projected earnings of $500 per week.

Say you’re providing excellent service as you deliver each order.

Customers would most likely give you high ratings, which would prompt the Instacart algorithm to offer you higher-value orders. From those orders, you’ll most likely even earn more than the average $25 per order because such orders would often come with generous tips.

You’ll only need 4 or 5 of such orders each day, and you’re golden.

At $500 per week, you’ll gross $24,000 per year. Now, consider a survey by indeed.com, which shows that the average earnings by Instacart shoppers are $48,219 per year.

That’s twice the projected earnings at $500 per week. So, you can make $500 a week and even more.

You just have to ensure you get good ratings all the time because customer ratings are the most vital variable the Instacart algorithm uses for allocating high-value orders.

Ready to make more money than with Instacart or Shipt? Consider DoorDash!

DoorDash is a great alternative to working for Instacart, and generally speaking, they pay better!

See how much you could be earning. Available in over 4,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. All you need is a mode of transportation and a smartphone to start making money.

CLICK HERE to learn more about working for DoorDash!

Can you make 200 a day with DoorDash?

It is possible to make $200 a day with DoorDash, which translates to about $48,000 per year. The average earnings by DoorDashers are $45,555, which is close to the rate at $200 per day. Some Dashers can earn that in just 6 hours of work.

Therefore $200 a day is a realistic figure to aim for.

The reality of being an independent contractor is that one could make, say, $300 and on some days maybe half of that. Earnings are based on performance and may also depend on the location.

In some locations, you can access orders 24/7, while in some, it’s only from 8 am to 10 pm.

If it’s feasible, you may want to be in a place where you’ll get orders 24/7. But, even when you don’t, you’ll get access to an average of about 10 orders per day.

The most vital thing is simple (not necessarily easy): make sure you offer excellent service to all customers so that you’ll have high scores. The best orders are offered to dashers with high scores.

Based on DoorDash’s figures, you can earn $15-$20 an hour.

This is a realistic figure if you work hard, and it excludes tips, which means you can earn more. And truth be told, DoorDash’s base rate for tips isn’t shabby at all. 15%.

So, you make $200 a day.

But can you make a full-time income with Instacart?

That’s the theme of a recent article of mine, where I showed that while you can work anytime you want, the pay is not exactly a fortune.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Who is better rated to work for, Instacart or DoorDash?

In reviews, DoorDash has a 26% better overall rating from current and former employees compared to Instacart.

DoorDash is rated better, according to both Glass Door and Indeed.

Glassdoor’s review looked at 8 criteria, and DoorDash scored higher in all. Indeed looked at 6 factors, and DoorDash scored higher in all. This shows an interesting consistency which gives the surveys some weight.

The following are the factors both companies used for the reviews:

  • Career opportunities
  • Compensation and benefits
  • Work/ Life balance
  • Senior management
  • Culture and values
  • CEO approval
  • Willingness to recommend 
  • Positive business outlook
  • Job security and advancement

I bet you’d like to know how quickly you can get paid, right?

That’s the subject of a recent article of mine, where I showed how fast you can get paid if you opt for Instacart. They do technically offer instant cash out, but it isn’t always instant, especially in the case of tips.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Conclusion

We looked at who pays better: Instacart or DoorDash. In the article, I also advised on which food delivery company to work for.

I shared info on which one pays the most. And, we looked at how feasible it is to make $500 a week from Instacart and $200 a day from DoorDash.

Lastly, we looked at which one is rated better and why that is. It turns out DoorDash pays better and is also rated better as a place to work. And unlike Instacart, DoorDash allows you to have passengers in your car while working.

Ready to get started as a Shopper with Instacart?

Just CLICK HERE to sign up now right on their website.

The Grocery Store Guy, part of the Middle Class Dad family of websites, is reader-supported and when you make a purchase through some of my links, I  may earn a small commission from the sale, which in no way increases the cost to you. Learn more HERE.

Jeff Campbell
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