Food delivery apps are a slam-dunk side hustle in 2025, offering flexible hours and solid earnings without needing a degree or upfront cash. Whether you’re grinding for a new gadget, tackling bills, or just want extra spending money, driving for the right app can keep your wallet happy. From restaurant orders to groceries and more, these gigs let you set your schedule and hit the road. Here’s my list of the top 10 food delivery apps to drive for, with pay ranges, perks, and tips to start fast.

1. DoorDash

Why It’s Great: DoorDash leads with a massive restaurant network, ensuring steady orders. Fast payouts keep your cash flow smooth.
Pay: $10–$20/hour (base $2–$10/order + tips).
How to Start: Sign up with a car, bike, or scooter (select cities), a driver’s license, and a smartphone. Pass a background check and go.
Perk: High order volume, especially in urban areas.
Tip: Work dinner rushes (5–8 PM) for max tips and deliveries.

2. Uber Eats

Why It’s Great: Uber Eats taps thousands of eateries, keeping you busy. You can switch to ridesharing later for variety.
Pay: $10–$18/hour (base + tips, varies by market).
How to Start: Need a vehicle, license, and insurance. Apply via the Uber app—no interviews.
Perk: Batch orders mean multiple deliveries in one trip, saving time.
Tip: Cities like Seattle or Dallas offer high order density.

3. Instacart

Why It’s Great: Instacart’s grocery delivery lets you shop and drop off—no restaurant chaos.
Pay: $12–$25/hour (per-order commission + tips).
How to Start: Register as a full-service shopper (car needed). Accept orders from stores like Kroger via the app.
Perk: Large orders often bring bigger tips.
Tip: Sundays are prime for family grocery hauls—stack those shifts.

4. Grubhub

Why It’s Great: A delivery pioneer, Grubhub offers minimum pay guarantees in some areas, softening slow shifts.
Pay: $12–$20/hour (base + tips; some markets guarantee $10–$15/hour).
How to Start: Apply with a car or bike, license, and smartphone. Schedule blocks for better pay.
Perk: Work unscheduled if blocks fill up.
Tip: Lock in lunch and dinner slots for peak demand.

5. Amazon Flex

Why It’s Great: Amazon Flex delivers groceries (Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh) and packages, with predictable block scheduling for steady work.
Pay: $18–$25/hour (flat rate, no tips for most orders).
How to Start: Sign up with a car, license, and smartphone via the Flex app. Choose 2–4 hour blocks from Amazon hubs.
Perk: Higher base pay than most apps, no tip reliance.
Tip: Grab early morning grocery blocks for less traffic and quicker routes.

6. Shipt

Why It’s Great: Shipt’s grocery delivery shows tips upfront, so you know your earnings. It’s simple and reliable.
Pay: $10–$20/hour (order-based + tips).
How to Start: Car, license, and app required. Shop at stores like Publix after signing up.
Perk: Repeat customers often tip well for good service.
Tip: Morning shifts snag early shoppers with big orders.

7. Favor

Why It’s Great: Texas-based Favor delivers food and random items (like pharmacy goods), with hourly guarantees for scheduled drivers.
Pay: $10–$18/hour (base $2.10/order + tips; $9–$10/hour minimum sometimes).
How to Start: Join in Austin, Houston, or Dallas with a vehicle. Quick online onboarding.
Perk: Local focus means tighter delivery zones, less driving.
Tip: Pair with another app in Texas to stay busy.

8. GoPuff

Why It’s Great: GoPuff runs from warehouses, so you pick up pre-packed orders—no store runs or restaurant waits.
Pay: $10–$15/hour (commission + tips).
How to Start: Apply with a car; grab orders from GoPuff’s local hubs.
Perk: 24/7 hours fit night owls or odd schedules.
Tip: Late-night shifts mean less traffic and faster drops.

9. Walmart Spark

Why It’s Great: Walmart Spark delivers groceries and household items from Walmart stores, with high volume from the retail giant’s reach.
Pay: $12–$22/hour (base per order + tips).
How to Start: Sign up with a car, license, and smartphone via the Spark Driver app. Take grocery or merchandise orders.
Perk: Bulk orders (like weekly shops) can score solid tips.
Tip: Work near Supercenters on weekends for back-to-back orders.

10. Delivery.com

Why It’s Great: Delivery.com covers food, groceries, and even laundry, with a less frantic pace than bigger apps.
Pay: $10–$16/hour (order-based + tips).
How to Start: Apply with a vehicle; set hours after approval.
Perk: Smaller platform can mean less driver competition.
Tip: Alcohol deliveries often come with higher tips.

Picking the Right App

• Max Orders: DoorDash and Uber Eats shine in cities for constant work.
• Grocery Vibes: Instacart, Shipt, or Walmart Spark suit structured shopping tasks.
• High Base Pay: Amazon Flex offers predictable earnings without tip chasing.

Jump In Today

1. Pick an app that fits your area—DoorDash for volume, Amazon Flex for steady pay.
2. Apply and clear the background check (takes 1–3 days usually).
3. Try a busy shift, like Friday night or Sunday morning, to get the hang of it.
4. Track earnings and miles in a free app like Stride to stay organized.