15 Best Delivery Apps to Make Money in 2026 (Earn $25

If you are looking for a way to make extra money without a boss breathing down your neck, you are not alone. The world of work has changed completely in the last few years. Gone are the days when a “side hustle” meant just mowing lawns or selling lemonade. Today, all you need is a smartphone, a mode of transport (even a bike or scooter works!), and the right app to start earning cash almost immediately.

The delivery app market has exploded. In 2024 alone, the gig economy market size was valued at over $428 billion, and experts predict it will keep growing by nearly 16% annually through 2026. Recent reports show that over 60 million Americans have performed some freelance work in the past year, with delivery services being one of the most popular choices because of how easy they are to start. Whether you are saving for a vacation, paying off debt, or just want some extra spending money, Delivery Apps to Make Money offer a real solution.

This guide is written to help you navigate this massive market. We will break down exactly which Delivery Apps pay the best, how to get started, and the secrets to maximizing your earnings in 2026.

Rise of Gig Economy Delivery Jobs in 2024–2025

The last two years have been a golden era for delivery drivers. We have seen a shift where convenience isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.

The “Instant Gratification” Shift

People want everything now. It started with pizza, then moved to burgers, and now includes groceries, alcohol, electronics, and even furniture. In 2024 and 2025, delivery apps to make money expanded their services massively. You aren’t just delivering dinner anymore; you might be delivering a week’s worth of groceries from Walmart or a last-minute birthday gift from Sephora. This variety means more work opportunities for drivers.

Technology Making It Easier

The apps themselves have gotten smarter. In the past, drivers often wasted time sitting in parking lots waiting for orders. New algorithms in 2025 have improved “batching” (giving you two orders at once) and predicting where demand will be, helping drivers earn more per hour than they did five years ago.

Economic Independence

More people are realizing that trading time for money on a flexible schedule is better than a rigid 9-to-5 for secondary income. The ability to turn an app on when you are free and off when you are tired is a freedom that traditional part-time jobs simply cannot match.

Why Delivery Apps Are One of the Most Flexible Ways to Earn Extra Income

The number one reason people choose delivery apps over other part-time jobs is flexibility. If you work a retail job, you have a schedule. If you are sick or your child has a school event, you have to ask for permission to miss work. With delivery apps, you are the boss.

No Fixed Hours: You can work for 30 minutes on your way home from your main job, or you can work 10 hours on a Sunday. It is entirely up to you.
Low Barrier to Entry: You don’t need a fancy degree or a perfect resume. If you have a clean background check and a vehicle, you are usually hired.
Instant Pay Options: Many apps now offer “instant pay,” meaning you can do a delivery at 5:00 PM and have that money in your bank account to buy dinner by 7:00 PM.

How Delivery Apps Help You Make Money

The concept is simple but powerful. These apps act as a bridge connecting three parties:

The Customer: Someone who wants food, groceries, or items delivered.
The Merchant: The restaurant or store selling the item.
The Driver (You): The person who moves the item from point A to point B.

You make money in three ways on almost every app:

Base Pay: A guaranteed amount for the delivery based on distance and time.
Promotions: Bonuses for working during busy times (like Friday nights) or completing a certain number of deliveries.
Tips: This is often where the real money is. Customers tip you for your service, and you usually keep 100% of these tips.

Comparison Table: Top Delivery Apps for 2026

Delivery App	Average Earnings (Per Hour)	Type of Deliveries	Best For	Requirements
Uber Eats	$17 – $26+	Restaurant food	City drivers, bikers, scooter users	Age 18–19+, ID, background check
DoorDash	$15 – $25+	Restaurants, convenience stores, pharmacy, pets	Beginners & high-order volume	Age 18+, driver’s license, insurance
Instacart	$16 – $30+	Groceries	People who enjoy shopping	Age 18+, vehicle, ability to lift 30–40 lbs
Grubhub	$15 – $24	Food deliveries	Drivers in large metro cities	Age 19+, insurance, smartphone
Amazon Flex	$18 – $25 (guaranteed)	Amazon packages, Fresh, Whole Foods	People wanting fixed income	Age 21+, mid-size vehicle
Shipt	$16 – $25+	Groceries, retail	Friendly shoppers building repeat clients	Age 18+, vehicle (1997+), insulated bag
Walmart Spark	$18 – $28	Groceries, general Walmart orders	Suburban & rural drivers	Age 18+, vehicle, insurance
Gopuff	$14 – $22	Snacks, drinks, essentials	Drivers wanting no restaurant wait times	Age 21+, car insurance
Roadie	$12–$15 local / up to $650 long-haul	Packages, luggage, retail items	Road-trippers, non-food drivers	Age 18+, license, SSN
Favor	$12 – $18	Anything (Texas only)	Texas residents	Age 18+, vehicle, bank account
Postmates	$15 – $25	Food + varied retail	West Coast & urban drivers	Age 19+, background check
GoShare	$40 – $80+	Furniture, appliances, heavy items	Truck/van owners	Age 18+, inspected vehicle
Caviar	$18 – $28+	Premium restaurants	Drivers wanting high tips	Age 18+, vehicle
Dolly	$30 – $50+	Moving, lifting, hauling	Strong individuals	Age 21+, vehicle (for Helpers)
TaskRabbit	$20 – $40+ (you set rate)	Errands, deliveries, personal tasks	People wanting total control	Age 18+, background check

15 Best Delivery Apps to Make Money (2026 Ranked List)

1. Uber Eats

If you already use Uber for ridesharing, Uber Eats is a natural addition because you can often use the same app to switch between driving passengers and delivering food. Uber Eats remains one of the most popular delivery apps to make money, especially because of its famous “Surge” pricing, which lights up the map in red or orange when demand is high, offering you extra money for every delivery you complete in that zone. It is a fantastic option for city dwellers because they are very bike and scooter-friendly in urban areas. The signup process is generally very fast, often allowing you to get on the road within a few days of applying.

Earning Potential: $17 – $26+ per hour (highly dependent on surge zones).
Requirements: Age 19+ (car) or 18+ (bike), valid ID, background check.
Best For: Drivers who want instant payout options and surge bonuses.
App Download: www.uber.com/deliver

2. DoorDash

DoorDash remains the undisputed king of food delivery in North America, holding the largest market share. This means that as a driver, you will likely see the highest volume of order requests compared to other platforms. The app is incredibly user-friendly and allows you to “Dash Now” in busy areas or schedule your shifts in advance. They have also expanded beyond just restaurants to include deliveries from convenience stores, pet shops, and pharmacies, giving you more opportunities to earn throughout the day, not just at meal times. Among all delivery gig apps, the “Dasher” community is huge, meaning there is plenty of support and tips available online.

Earning Potential: $15 – $25+ per hour (varies by location and tips).
Requirements: Age 18+, valid driver’s license, insurance, smartphone.
Best For: Beginners who want the most consistent stream of orders.
App Download: www.doordash.com/dasher

3. Instacart

Instacart is different from food delivery because it involves grocery shopping. You act as a personal shopper: you go to the store, walk the aisles, pick out the fresh produce and items the customer ordered, and then deliver them to their door. Because this takes more effort and time than just picking up a bag of burgers, the base pay per order is generally higher. Instacart is one of the most reliable delivery apps to make money, especially for people who enjoy shopping and want to get their steps in while working. Plus, customers who order large grocery hauls tend to tip significantly better than fast-food customers.

Earning Potential: $16 – $30+ per hour (can be higher with large tips).
Requirements: Age 18+, reliable vehicle, ability to lift 30-40 lbs.
Best For: People who enjoy shopping and want higher pay-per-order.
App Download: shoppers.instacart.com

4. Grubhub

Grubhub is one of the original food delivery giants and still holds a very loyal customer base, especially in major US cities like New York and Chicago. One of the standout features of Grubhub is that they often show you the full payout (including the tip) before you accept the order, so there is no guessing game. They also have a guaranteed minimum hourly rate in some markets if you schedule a block and don’t receive enough orders, which provides a nice safety net. The dispatching system is efficient, often sending you to the restaurant right as the food is ready—making it one of the more reliable apps that pay for delivery for consistent earners.

Earning Potential: $15 – $24 per hour.
Requirements: Age 19+, valid license, auto insurance, smartphone.
Best For: Drivers in major metropolitan cities looking for steady work.
App Download: driver.grubhub.com

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5. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is often considered the “gold standard” for base pay. Instead of hoping for tips, you sign up for “blocks” of time (usually 2 to 4 hours) and get paid a guaranteed amount for that block, regardless of how quickly you finish. You are delivering Amazon packages, usually Prime deliveries, Fresh groceries, or Whole Foods orders. The work is very predictable: you pick up packages at a warehouse and follow a route. Among all delivery apps to make money, Amazon Flex stands out because of its guaranteed earnings structure. It can be competitive to grab blocks, but once you have one, you know exactly how much you will make before you even start your car engine.

Earning Potential: $18 – $25 per hour (guaranteed base pay).
Requirements: Age 21+, valid license, mid-sized sedan or larger vehicle.
Best For: Drivers who want guaranteed income without relying on tips.
App Download: flex.amazon.com

6. Shipt

Owned by Target, Shipt is very similar to Instacart but focuses heavily on the customer service experience. Shipt refers to its drivers as “Shoppers” and encourages them to build relationships with members. In fact, if a member likes your service, they can request you as a “Preferred Shopper” for future orders, which is a unique feature that builds steady, reliable income over time. While you will shop at various stores, a lot of orders come from Target. The community of Shipt shoppers is known for being very friendly and helpful to newcomers, making it one of the most trusted on-demand delivery apps to earn money for those who enjoy personal shopping and repeat customers.

Earning Potential: $16 – $25+ per hour.
Requirements: Age 18+, reliable vehicle (1997 or newer), insulated bag.
Best For: Friendly people who want to build a regular client base.
App Download: www.shipt.com/be-a-shopper

7. Walmart Spark

Walmart Spark is the delivery service specifically for Walmart orders. With Walmart’s massive reach across America, this app is growing incredibly fast. You typically pick up groceries that Walmart employees have already shopped and packed for you (Curbside Pickup), meaning you just load your car and drive. Occasionally, you might do “Shop and Deliver” orders which pay more. Since Walmart stores are everywhere, even in smaller rural towns where DoorDash might be slow, Spark is often the best option for drivers living outside of big cities.

Earning Potential: $18 – $28 per hour (varies by zone).
Requirements: Age 18+, reliable vehicle, proof of insurance.
Best For: Drivers in suburban or rural areas near a Walmart.
App Download: drive4spark.walmart.com

8. Gopuff

Gopuff is unique because it doesn’t work with restaurants. Instead, Gopuff has its own warehouses (micro-fulfillment centers) stocked with snacks, drinks, and household items. As a driver, you go to one central warehouse, pick up multiple orders at once, and go deliver them. This eliminates the headache of dealing with angry restaurant staff or waiting for food to be cooked. You just drive to the warehouse, load up, and go. It is highly efficient, and because the delivery radius is usually small, you can complete many deliveries in a single hour.

Earning Potential: $14 – $22 per hour (due to high volume of stops).
Requirements: Age 21+, valid license, vehicle insurance.
Best For: Drivers who hate waiting at restaurants and want efficient routes.
App Download: www.gopuff.com/go/drive

9. Roadie

Roadie is a “UPS-style” app but crowdsourced. It’s owned by UPS and focuses on delivering things that aren’t food—think luggage lost by airlines, prescription meds, Home Depot orders, or even pets. The cool thing about Roadie is that it specializes in “on-the-way” delivery. If you are already driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you can check Roadie to see if there is a package that needs to go there too. You can get paid for a road trip you were already taking. As one of the more unique delivery apps to make money, it’s less about frantic short trips and more about longer, planned routes.

Earning Potential: $12 – $15 per local trip; up to $650 for long-haul gigs.
Requirements: Age 18+, valid license, social security number.
Best For: People planning road trips or who want to deliver packages, not food.
App Download: www.roadie.com/drivers

10. Favor

Favor calls itself “Texas’ personal delivery assistant.” It is available exclusively in Texas. Favor Runners (drivers) deliver anything from tacos to dry cleaning. Because it is a regional app, the support feels more local and the community is tighter. Runners wear blue tuxedo t-shirts (optional but iconic) and are encouraged to communicate a lot with customers (“Texting implies ‘Texas’!” is their motto). If you live in a major Texas city like Austin, Houston, or Dallas, Favor often guarantees hourly earnings that can beat the national giants during slow times.

Earning Potential: $12 – $18 per hour (Guaranteed hourly rates available).
Requirements: Age 18+, reliable vehicle, bank account.
Best For: Residents of Texas who want a community-focused app.
App Download: apply.favordelivery.com

11. Postmates

Postmates was acquired by Uber a few years ago, so the backend is now powered by Uber, but the brand still exists in many markets. Postmates was the pioneer of “deliver anything,” and you can still find orders for things like office supplies or convenience items. In many cities, the Postmates fleet is merged with Uber Eats, meaning signing up for one often gives you access to orders from both. It is particularly popular in Los Angeles and the West Coast. The “Party” feature (batching orders) can help increase efficiency for drivers during peak hours, making Postmates one of the more flexible delivery apps to make money for people who want a mix of food, retail, and convenience deliveries.

Earning Potential: Similar to Uber Eats ($15 – $25/hr).
Requirements: Age 19+, valid license, background check.
Best For: West Coast drivers and night owls.
App Download: fleet.postmates.com

12. GoShare

If you own a pickup truck, cargo van, or box truck, GoShare is the app for you. This is “delivery with muscle.” You help people move furniture, deliver large items from stores like Costco or Home Depot, or haul junk. Because you are using a specialized vehicle and often doing heavy lifting, the pay is significantly higher than food delivery. Even if you only have a standard car, you can still sign up as a “Helper” to assist the driver with lifting, though the pay is lower than if you bring the truck. Among all delivery gig apps, GoShare stands out for offering some of the highest-paying heavy-duty delivery opportunities.

Earning Potential: $40 – $80+ per hour (depending on vehicle size).
Requirements: Age 18+, vehicle year 2000+, pass vehicle inspection.
Best For: Owners of trucks and vans who don’t mind heavy lifting.
App Download: www.goshare.co/drivers

13. Caviar

Caviar is a premium food delivery platform owned by DoorDash. It focuses specifically on high-end, upscale restaurants that generally don’t offer their own delivery. Because the food is more expensive (think sushi platters and steak dinners rather than fast food), the order values are higher. Higher order values usually translate to significantly higher percentage-based tips. The clientele is often wealthier and expects a higher level of professional service. If you have a clean car and a polite demeanor, you can make excellent tip money here, making Caviar one of the top delivery apps to make money for drivers who prefer premium orders and high-tipping customers.

Earning Potential: $18 – $28+ per hour (Higher tips on average).
Requirements: Age 18+, vehicle, smartphone.
Best For: Drivers who want to target high-tipping, upscale orders.
App Download: www.trycaviar.com/dasher

14. Dolly

Dolly is very similar to GoShare but focuses heavily on moving help. It connects “Helpers” (people with trucks) and “Hands” (people without trucks who can lift) with locals who need to move apartments or pick up Craigslist furniture finds. It is like being a mover on demand. The jobs are usually scheduled in advance, so you aren’t constantly refreshing an app. If you are strong and fit, this is a great way to turn a workout into a paycheck. The payouts are very transparent, and you keep 100% of customer tips.

Earning Potential: $30 – $50+ per hour for truck owners.
Requirements: Age 21+, valid license, auto insurance, physical strength.
Best For: Strong individuals who want high hourly pay for manual labor.
App Download: dolly.com/helpers

15. TaskRabbit

While not strictly just a “delivery” app, TaskRabbit includes a huge category for delivery and running errands. People hire “Taskers” to drop off packages, pick up prescriptions, or even wait in line for them. You set your own hourly rate, which is a massive advantage. If you are reliable and get good reviews, you can raise your rates. Beyond delivery, if you are handy, you can also pick up furniture assembly jobs (like IKEA furniture) which pay very well. It offers the most control over what you charge compared to any other apps that pay for delivery on this list.

Earning Potential: You set your rate (Avg. $20 – $40/hr).
Requirements: Age 18+, background check, checking account.
Best For: People who want total control over their hourly rate.
App Download: www.taskrabbit.com/become-a-tasker

Tips to Maximize Earnings Across All Delivery Apps

To truly make good money, you can’t just turn on one app and hope for the best. You need a strategy.

1. The Art of “Multi-Apping”

This is the pro driver’s secret weapon. Sign up for DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub all at once. Turn them all on. When you get a good order on one, pause the others. This minimizes your downtime. Instead of waiting 15 minutes for an order, you might only wait 2 minutes because you have three fishing lines in the water.

2. Work the Peak Hours

Timing is everything.

Lunch Rush: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Dinner Rush: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Weekends: Friday nights and all day Sunday are usually the busiest.

Working outside these hours is often a waste of gas unless you are in a massive city.

3. Be Picky with Orders

You are an independent contractor, not an employee. You do not have to accept every order. A good rule of thumb is to look for orders that pay at least $1.50 to $2.00 per mile. If an order pays $3.00 but requires you to drive 10 miles, you are actually losing money after gas and wear on your car. Decline it and wait for a better one.

4. Track Your Miles

Every mile you drive for work is a tax deduction. Use an app like Stride or Everlance to track your mileage automatically. This can save you thousands of dollars when tax season comes around.

Safety, Legal & Tax Considerations

Before you hit the road, there are three boring but essential things you must know.

1. Insurance:

Your personal auto insurance policy likely does not cover you while you are doing commercial deliveries. If you get into an accident while delivering a pizza, your insurance company might deny the claim.

Solution: Call your insurer and ask for a “Rideshare/Delivery Add-on.” It is usually cheap ($10-$20/month) and protects you.

2. Taxes (The 1099 Form)

None of these apps take taxes out of your paycheck. You get 100% of the money now, but you owe taxes later.

Rule: Set aside 25-30% of your earnings in a savings account so you aren’t surprised by a tax bill in April.
Deductions: You can deduct mileage, parking fees, hot bags, and a portion of your phone bill to lower your taxes.

3. Safety First

Never compromise your safety for a $5 tip.

If you feel unsafe in a dark area, call the customer and ask them to meet you at the car.
Wear reflective gear if you are on a bike.
Most apps have an in-app “Emergency Button”—know where it is.

Conclusion

The gig economy in 2026 offers more opportunities than ever before. Whether you want to deliver burritos with DoorDash, groceries with Instacart, or move couches with Dolly, there is an app that fits your vehicle and your lifestyle.

The “best” Delivery Apps to Make Money isn’t the same for everyone. It depends on your city, your vehicle, and what kind of work you enjoy. The beauty of this industry is that you don’t have to choose just one. Download a few, try them out, and see which one puts the most money in your pocket.

Would you like me to help you create a personalized daily schedule to help you hit your first $1000 week based on your free hours?

FAQs

Which delivery app pays the most?

Amazon Flex typically offers the highest guaranteed hourly base pay ($18-$25/hr), while Instacart or Shipt can pay more if you are fast at shopping and get good tips.

Do I have to pay for gas?

Yes. As an independent contractor, you pay for your own gas and vehicle maintenance. This is why tracking your mileage for tax deductions is crucial.

Can I do this with someone else in the car?

Most food delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats) allow passengers as long as they don’t handle the food. However, rideshare apps (Uber/Lyft) and Amazon Flex generally do not allow passengers.

How fast can I get paid?

Most apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub) offer “Instant Pay” where you can cash out your daily earnings to a debit card immediately for a small fee (usually ~$0.50 – $2.00).