Are you thinking about making extra money as a delivery driver? Many people wonder which app pays the most, DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Amazon Flex. The answer isn't as simple as you might think. This detailed guide breaks down what you need to know to make the most money in the gig delivery world. We'll look at real earnings data, examine the hidden costs that eat into your profits, and share strategies from experienced drivers to help you maximize your income.
| Pay Component | DoorDash | Uber Eats | Amazon Flex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Hourly Rate | $15-$25 | $15-$25 | $18-$25 |
| Base Pay | $2-$10 per delivery Based on time, distance, and desirability |
$2-$4 per delivery Based on pickup fee, drop-off fee, and distance |
$18-$25 per hour for scheduled blocks |
| Tips | 100% goes to driver Average: $2-$5 per delivery |
100% goes to driver Average: $2-$5 per delivery |
100% goes to driver Only on grocery deliveries (not regular packages) |
| Bonus Types | • Peak Pay: $1-$5 extra per delivery during busy times • Challenges: Complete X deliveries for bonus $Y • Streaks: Complete consecutive deliveries for bonus |
• Surge: Higher rates during high demand • Boost: Multipliers in certain areas/times • Quests: Bonuses for completing X deliveries in a time period |
• Surge pricing for blocks during high demand • Higher rates during holidays and bad weather |
| Scheduling | • "Dash Now" anytime if area is busy • Schedule shifts up to a week in advance |
• Log on/off anytime • No advance scheduling required |
• Reserve blocks 3-7 days in advance • Blocks are typically 2-6 hours |
| Minimum Pay Guarantee | No guaranteed minimum | No guaranteed minimum | Yes - guaranteed payment for entire block even if you finish early |
| Payment Frequency | Weekly or daily with DasherDirect card | Weekly or instant cashout for fee | Weekly |
| Average % of Advertised Pay Actually Kept | 35% | 40% | 30% |
| Actual Take-Home | $5.91/hour | $7.38/hour | $5.67/hour |
Before we dive into the numbers, let's understand what it means to be a gig delivery driver.
Gig delivery drivers are "independent contractors," not employees. This means:
This flexibility is appealing, but it comes with costs that many new drivers don't fully understand.
Each delivery platform has its own way of calculating pay, but they all include these basic elements:
This is the minimum amount you receive for each delivery or block of time. It's usually based on:
Money that customers give you directly. On all three platforms, you keep 100% of your tips.
Extra money you can earn during busy times or for completing a certain number of deliveries.
Let's look more closely at how each platform calculates your pay.
DoorDash uses this formula: Total Earnings = Base Pay + Promotions + Tips
Order #1:
Base pay: $4.50
Peak pay: $3.00
Customer tip: $5.00
Total: $12.50
Order #2:
Base pay: $3.00
Peak pay: $3.00
Customer tip: $4.00
Total: $10.00
Two deliveries in one hour = $22.50 gross hourly payUber Eats calculates pay as: Total Earnings = Base Fare + Surge/Boost + Promotions + Tips
Order #1:
Base fare: $3.25
Surge (1.8x): $2.60
Customer tip: $6.00
Total: $11.85
Order #2:
Base fare: $3.50
Surge (1.8x): $2.80
Customer tip: $4.00
Total: $10.30
Two deliveries in one hour = $22.15 gross hourly payAmazon Flex pays differently: Total Earnings = Block Rate + Tips (if eligible)
3-hour block at base rate of $18/hour: $54
If delivering Amazon Fresh (with tips): +$36 in tips
Total for 3-hour block: $90 ($30/hour gross pay)
OR
3-hour block at base rate of $18/hour: $54
If delivering regular packages (no tips): +$0 in tips
Total for 3-hour block: $54 ($18/hour gross pay)