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Which of the two popular food delivery platforms is the better employer for you? Here’s what you need to know.
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Uber Eats and DoorDash are the two largest food delivery platforms in the United States by a wide margin. But if you have extra time and need a side hustle or a flexible full-time job, which is the better choice for you?
To be clear, the income that drivers make with either Uber Eats or DoorDash can vary considerably based on location, the hours the driver chooses to work, and several other factors. With that in mind, here are some statistics from reliable sources.
How much do Uber Eats drivers make?
Uber Eats Drivers earn a base fare that ranges from $2 to $4 per delivery, as well as pick-up and drop-off fees for the time and effort involved with driving to the restaurant and traveling to the customer. They also get a trip supplement designed to compensate for longer trips, and there may be surge pricing at certain times or other incentives designed to encourage drivers to work during busy times. Finally, Uber Eats drivers receive tips from customers, and this averages $2 to $5 per delivery, according to Entrepreneur magazine.
All together, drivers average $19 per hour, which translates to a $39,448 annual income based on a standard 40-hour work week, according to ZipRecruiter. The platform finds that a driver in the 25th percentile makes $15.87 per hour and the 75th percentile is $20.43.
According to Indeed, the average Uber Eats income is a bit lower, at $17.31 per hour. And it’s important to note that these figures are before expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance.
How much do DoorDash drivers make?
DoorDash has a similar pay structure to Uber Eats. It offers base pay that generally runs from $2 to $10 per ride, and this includes any distance- or time-related additions. There can be surge pricing (which DoorDash calls Peak Pay) as well as other promotions and incentives, and DoorDash drivers receive tips.
According to SmallBizTrends, most DoorDash drivers earn between $15 and $25 per hour. ZipRecruiter found that the average earnings on DoorDash is $19 per hour, the same as it found for Uber Eats.
Differences to know
Beyond any pay differences (which don’t appear to be much), there are a few other things to keep in mind.
For one thing, DoorDash is the larger of the two platforms, with roughly 65% of the U.S. food delivery market. And DoorDash makes it easier to schedule working hours up to a week in advance or at the last minute if you have extra time, whereas Uber Eats doesn’t offer the ability to schedule in advance. Plus, DoorDash continually adds opportunities beyond food — it started Package Pickup in early 2023, where its drivers pick up pre-paid packages from customers to drop off at FedEx, UPS, or USPS, and the company also partners with Tractor Supply to deliver products to customers’ homes.
Uber Eats is more exclusively focused on restaurant delivery and has about one-fourth of the U.S. food delivery market. (Note: If you do the math, you can see how these two companies combine for a dominant market share.)
Both platforms have similar driver requirements and allow their drivers to keep 100% of the tips they receive. One major difference is that DoorDash has a minimum age of 18 to deliver, while Uber Eats requires those who deliver by car or scooter to be at least 19. And both platforms pay their drivers via direct deposit to their checking account once a week, and also offer instant-pay features (for a fee).
The bottom line
The question of who pays more between Uber Eats and DoorDash is a more difficult one to answer than you might think, simply because there are so many variables that go into the earnings potential from either platform. There’s no definitive evidence that drivers on one platform make significantly more than drivers on the other, so you may need to look beyond pay, or try both platforms before deciding which is the best fit for you.
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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Matthew Frankel, CFP® has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends DoorDash and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
