Get Paid to Deliver: 25 Best-Paying Apps to Try

What if your car, bike, or even just a good pair of walking shoes could start earning you money this week?

That’s the reality behind the delivery gig economy. As of 2026, the U.S. delivery gig economy has grown into a market worth more than $100 billion a year, with millions of people delivering food, groceries, and packages on their own schedule.

If you want to get paid to deliver, you don’t need a resume, an interview, or special training. You need a phone, a way to get around, and the ability to pass a background check. In this guide, you’ll find 25 real apps that pay for delivery work, exactly how each one pays, what vehicle and requirements you need, and which app fits your situation best.

Let’s break down your options.

Delivery Apps: The 5 Main Categories

Delivery apps generally fall into five categories, and knowing the difference helps you pick the right one for your vehicle, schedule, and income goals.

1. Food Delivery

Food delivery apps pay you to pick up meals from restaurants and drop them off to customers. This is the most common entry point because requirements are low and sign-up is fast.

2. Grocery Delivery

Grocery delivery apps pay you to shop for and deliver groceries, often from a specific retailer’s stores. These typically pay more per order than food delivery because they take more time and effort.

3. Package Delivery

Package delivery apps pay you to deliver parcels, often in scheduled blocks or routes rather than one-off orders. These generally require larger vehicles and pay a flat rate per block or route.

4. Retail Delivery

Retail delivery apps connect you with big-box stores to deliver everything from electronics to home goods. Pay is usually per order or per route, similar to package delivery.

5. Local Courier Services

Local courier apps handle same-day, point-to-point deliveries for individuals and small businesses. These jobs are often faster-paced and reward drivers who complete more stops per hour.

How It Works

How Delivery Apps Pay

Most delivery apps use one of three pay structures: per-order/per-delivery pay plus tips, per-block or per-route flat pay, or hourly guarantees during scheduled shifts.

Per-order apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats show you the estimated payout before you accept, so you can decide whether it’s worth your time. Block-based apps like Amazon Flex and Veho show a flat rate for completing an entire scheduled window or route, regardless of exactly how long it takes.

Driver Requirements

While specifics vary by platform, most delivery apps share a common baseline:

• Minimum age of 18–21 (package delivery apps tend to require 21+, food delivery apps often accept 18+)
• A valid driver’s license (or, for bike/on-foot delivery, valid ID)
• A reliable vehicle appropriate to the delivery type, a car, e-bike, scooter, or bike depending on the app
• A smartphone with a data plan
• Passing a background check, typically run through a third-party screening company

Sign-Up Process

Signing up usually takes under 30 minutes: download the app, enter your personal and vehicle information, upload your driver’s license and insurance, and submit to a background check. Approval timelines range from same-day to a couple of weeks, and some platforms, especially Amazon Flex, maintain waitlists in high-demand markets.

Payment Methods

Nearly all delivery apps pay through direct deposit into a linked bank account, with weekly or twice-weekly payout schedules. Many also offer instant cash-out features (often for a small fee) that let you access earnings within minutes of finishing a shift.

Taxes & Expenses

Delivery drivers are almost always classified as 1099 independent contractors, not employees. This means:

• No taxes are withheld from your pay
• You owe 15.3% in self-employment tax on top of regular income tax
• You can deduct business mileage at the IRS standard rate ($0.725/mile for the first half of 2026, rising to $0.76/mile from July 1, 2026)
• You’re expected to pay quarterly estimated taxes if you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year

25 Apps That Pay You to Deliver

1. DoorDash

DoorDash is the largest food delivery platform in the U.S., connecting drivers (“Dashers”) with restaurant delivery orders.

• Delivery Type: Food delivery
• How You Get Paid: Base pay per order plus 100% of tips, shown before you accept
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit, or instant cash-out via Fast Pay for a small fee
• Vehicle: Car, bike, scooter, or on-foot in dense urban areas
• Requirements: 18+ (19+ in some states, 21+ in California), valid ID, background check
• Key Insight: DoorDash’s massive order volume makes it the easiest app to stay consistently busy, especially during lunch and dinner rushes.

2. Uber Eats

Uber Eats lets you deliver restaurant orders using the same driver network as Uber’s rideshare platform.

• Delivery Type: Food delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery fare plus tips, calculated by time and distance
• Payment Frequency: Weekly, with instant cash-out available
• Vehicle: Car, scooter, bike, or on foot depending on your city
• Requirements: 19+ for car delivery, valid license or ID, background check
• Key Insight: Uber Eats is one of the few major apps that genuinely supports bike and walking delivery in dense cities, making it accessible without a car.

3. Grubhub

Grubhub is a longtime food delivery platform known for showing full order details, including tips, before you accept.

• Delivery Type: Food delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-order pay plus 100% of tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit, with an instant cash-out option
• Vehicle: Car, bike, or scooter depending on market
• Requirements: 19+, valid driver’s license, background check, insurance
• Key Insight: Because Grubhub shows the full payout upfront, it rewards drivers who are selective and only accept orders that meet their per-mile pay threshold.

4. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex lets you deliver Amazon packages in scheduled blocks using your own vehicle.

• Delivery Type: Package delivery
• How You Get Paid: Flat rate per scheduled block (typically 3–4 hours), shown before you accept
• Payment Frequency: Twice weekly direct deposit
• Vehicle: Midsize sedan or larger (no 2-door coupes or hatchbacks)
• Requirements: 21+, valid license, current vehicle registration, background check
• Key Insight: Amazon advertises $18–$25/hour, but that figure is pre-tax and pre-expenses, factoring in gas and mileage, many drivers report realistic take-home pay closer to $12–$15/hour.

5. Walmart Spark Driver

Spark Driver lets you pick up and deliver Walmart grocery and retail orders to customers’ homes.

• Delivery Type: Grocery and retail delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-order pay plus tips, with batch orders (multiple stops) paying more
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit
• Vehicle: Any car, SUV, truck, or van (no motorcycles, scooters, or bikes)
• Requirements: 18+, valid U.S. driver’s license, proof of insurance, background check
• Key Insight: Spark has no vehicle age or model restrictions, making it one of the most accessible package/grocery apps for drivers with older cars.

6. Instacart

Instacart pays shoppers to pick, pack, and deliver grocery orders from local stores.

• Delivery Type: Grocery delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-batch pay plus 100% of customer tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly, with an optional instant cash-out for a fee
• Vehicle: Car required in most markets (some urban markets allow bike delivery for in-store-only shopping)
• Requirements: 18+ (in most states), background check, valid ID
• Key Insight: Experienced Instacart shoppers who cherry-pick high-value batches consistently report $20–$30/hour, well above average food-delivery pay.

7. Shipt

Shipt, owned by Target, pairs shoppers with grocery and household delivery orders from a shared order pool.

• Delivery Type: Grocery delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-order payout plus tips, visible before you accept
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit
• Vehicle: Reliable car required
• Requirements: 18+, valid driver’s license, background check, in-app shopper evaluation
• Key Insight: Shipt requires delivery within about an hour of accepting an order, so it rewards drivers who work in tight, familiar delivery zones.

8. Veho

Veho is a fast-growing last-mile package delivery platform partnering with major e-commerce and retail brands.

• Delivery Type: Package delivery
• How You Get Paid: Flat route pay (typically $60–$150+ per route of 20–40+ packages)
• Payment Frequency: Twice weekly
• Vehicle: Midsize sedan or larger, with hardcover required for pickup truck beds
• Requirements: 25+ (higher minimum than most platforms), valid license and insurance
• Key Insight: Veho’s 25+ age minimum is notably stricter than competitors, but drivers who claim efficient routes report earning $16–$25/hour or more.

9. Roadie

Roadie is a crowdsourced local delivery network (owned by UPS) that connects drivers with same-day delivery gigs.

• Delivery Type: Local courier / package delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery (“gig”) pay, up to around $12 per local trip, plus tips
• Payment Frequency: Fast direct deposit, often within a day or two
• Vehicle: Any vehicle, Roadie has no minimum vehicle requirements
• Requirements: 18+, valid license, background check
• Key Insight: Roadie’s lack of vehicle restrictions makes it one of the most accessible package-delivery options for drivers with smaller cars.

10. Gopuff

Gopuff delivers convenience store items, snacks, drinks, and household essentials, from local micro-fulfillment hubs.

• Delivery Type: Retail / convenience delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery pay plus tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit
• Vehicle: Car, e-bike, or moped depending on market; no car required in some dense cities
• Requirements: 21+ (18+ in some markets without alcohol delivery), background check, alcohol delivery certification in many areas
• Key Insight: Gopuff’s median driver pay of roughly $15/hour gross tends to outperform food-delivery averages because orders are shorter, hub-based trips.

11. Getir

Getir is an ultra-fast grocery delivery service known for completing orders in as little as 10 minutes.

• Delivery Type: Grocery delivery
• How You Get Paid: Guaranteed hourly wage (not per-order), plus benefits in some markets
• Payment Frequency: Regular payroll-style schedule (Getir riders are often classified as employees, not contractors)
• Vehicle: Company-provided e-bike
• Requirements: 18+, eligible to work in your country, e-bike riding experience
• Key Insight: Getir is one of the few delivery platforms that provides the e-bike and phone, removing the biggest upfront cost barrier for new couriers.

12. Dolly

Dolly connects drivers with larger hauling and moving-style deliveries, like furniture and appliances.

• Delivery Type: Retail / large-item delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-job pay, higher than standard delivery due to lifting and vehicle size requirements
• Payment Frequency: Fast direct deposit after job completion
• Vehicle: Pickup truck, cargo van, or box truck
• Requirements: 18+, valid license, ability to lift heavy items (often with a helper)
• Key Insight: Because Dolly pay scales with vehicle size, drivers with a truck or van typically out-earn standard car-based delivery drivers on a per-hour basis.

13. Lugg

Lugg is an on-demand moving app pairing drivers (and helpers without vehicles) with furniture and large-item moving jobs.

• Delivery Type: Retail / large-item delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-job pay plus tips, typically $28–$47/hour depending on vehicle
• Payment Frequency: Fast payouts after each completed job
• Vehicle: Pickup truck or cargo van (helpers can join without a vehicle)
• Requirements: 18+, background check, physical ability to move furniture
• Key Insight: Lugg allows people without any vehicle to earn as a “helper” riding along with a driver, making it one of the only delivery-adjacent apps open to non-vehicle owners.

14. GoShare

GoShare connects drivers with trucks or vans to local hauling, moving, and delivery jobs for individuals and businesses.

• Delivery Type: Retail / large-item delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-job pay based on vehicle size, distance, and labor required
• Payment Frequency: Direct deposit after job completion
• Vehicle: Pickup truck, cargo van, or box truck
• Requirements: 18+, valid license, insurance on your vehicle
• Key Insight: GoShare works well alongside Dolly and Lugg for drivers who own larger vehicles and want to fill gaps between moving jobs.

15. Curri

Curri specializes in delivering construction materials and industrial supplies for contractors and suppliers.

• Delivery Type: Local courier / specialized freight
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery pay, generally higher than food or grocery delivery due to cargo size and urgency
• Payment Frequency: Regular direct deposit
• Vehicle: Pickup truck, cargo van, or box truck (vehicle type affects available jobs)
• Requirements: 18+, valid license, proper commercial auto insurance for larger vehicles
• Key Insight: Curri’s niche in construction and industrial delivery means less driver competition than mainstream food apps, but it also requires understanding specific insurance rules before starting.

16. Postmates (via Uber)

Postmates now operates under the Uber umbrella, giving its drivers access to the combined Uber Eats delivery network.

• Delivery Type: Food and retail delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery pay plus 100% of tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly, with instant cash-out available
• Vehicle: Car, scooter, or bike depending on market
• Requirements: 19+, valid ID, background check
• Key Insight: Because Postmates and Uber Eats share a driver pool in most markets, signing up for one typically gives you access to both networks’ order volume.

17. Cornershop (by Uber)

Cornershop is Uber’s grocery delivery service, operating primarily in select international and U.S. markets.

• Delivery Type: Grocery delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-order pay plus tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit through the Uber platform
• Vehicle: Car in most markets; bike in some dense urban zones
• Requirements: 18+ (varies by region), valid ID, background check
• Key Insight: Cornershop is a solid option for drivers already in the Uber ecosystem who want to add grocery orders to their delivery rotation.

18. Caviar

Caviar is a premium food delivery service operating in select major metro markets, known for higher-end restaurant partnerships.

• Delivery Type: Food delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery pay plus tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly direct deposit
• Vehicle: Bike, scooter, or car depending on city
• Requirements: 18+, valid ID, background check
• Key Insight: Caviar’s focus on upscale restaurants in dense cities makes it a strong bike- and scooter-friendly option for urban couriers.

19. DoorDash Drive

DoorDash Drive is DoorDash’s white-label delivery service, fulfilling deliveries for retailers and restaurants outside the main consumer app.

• Delivery Type: Retail delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery pay, similar structure to standard DoorDash orders
• Payment Frequency: Weekly, with Fast Pay available
• Vehicle: Car (some markets allow bike/scooter)
• Requirements: Same as standard DoorDash: 18+ (19+/21+ in some states), background check
• Key Insight: Drive orders often come from retail and grocery partners rather than restaurants, giving active Dashers an extra order stream during slow food-delivery hours.

20. UPS (Package Delivery Jobs)

UPS hires both full-time drivers and seasonal package handlers, offering a more traditional employment path into delivery.

• Delivery Type: Package delivery
• How You Get Paid: Hourly wage as a W-2 employee, not gig pay
• Payment Frequency: Standard biweekly payroll
• Vehicle: Company-provided delivery van/truck
• Requirements: 21+ for driving positions, valid license, ability to lift up to 70 lbs, clean driving record
• Key Insight: Union UPS drivers can eventually earn $75,000–$110,000+ per year with full benefits, making this the strongest long-term career path on this list, though it starts as a warehouse role.

21. FedEx (Ground/Delivery Driver Jobs)

FedEx hires drivers directly and through independent Service Provider contractors to deliver packages on set routes.

• Delivery Type: Package delivery
• How You Get Paid: Hourly or per-route pay depending on employment type (direct employee vs. contracted route)
• Payment Frequency: Biweekly payroll for employees; varies for contracted routes
• Vehicle: Company-provided van for most roles
• Requirements: 21+, valid license, clean driving record, ability to lift packages
• Key Insight: Like UPS, FedEx offers more income stability than app-based gig work, but with less scheduling flexibility.

22. Uber (Rideshare + Delivery Hybrid)

While primarily a rideshare platform, Uber lets drivers toggle between passenger rides and Uber Eats deliveries in the same shift.

• Delivery Type: Food delivery (with rideshare hybrid option)
• How You Get Paid: Per-trip/per-delivery fare plus tips
• Payment Frequency: Weekly, with Instant Pay available
• Vehicle: Car (rideshare-eligible for passenger trips; bike/scooter for delivery-only)
• Requirements: 19+ for delivery, 21+ for rideshare in most markets, background check
• Key Insight: Toggling between rides and deliveries lets you chase whichever pays better in real time, which can smooth out slow periods in either mode.

23. Wonolo

Wonolo connects workers with short-term local shifts, including warehouse, retail, and last-mile delivery work.

• Delivery Type: Retail / on-demand shift delivery
• How You Get Paid: Hourly pay for scheduled shifts, paid directly by the business you’re placed with
• Payment Frequency: Weekly or per-shift, depending on employer
• Vehicle: Depends on the shift (some require a vehicle, others are warehouse-based)
• Requirements: 18+, valid ID, background check for most placements
• Key Insight: Wonolo works well as a supplement to app-based delivery gigs, since some shifts involve loading or staging delivery vehicles rather than driving them.

24. Citizen Shipper

Citizen Shipper is a marketplace connecting independent drivers with people who need items, pets, or vehicles transported over longer distances.

• Delivery Type: Local courier / long-distance delivery
• How You Get Paid: You bid on listed jobs; payment is the agreed price for the completed delivery
• Payment Frequency: Paid per completed job, typically through the platform
• Vehicle: Varies by job, car, van, or truck depending on cargo
• Requirements: 18+, valid license, ability to complete the specific transport safely
• Key Insight: Because you bid on jobs rather than accepting fixed offers, Citizen Shipper rewards drivers who can bundle multiple deliveries along one long route.

25. Grubhub for Restaurants / Local Courier Networks

Many regional and city-specific courier networks (often white-labeled through platforms like Grubhub’s restaurant delivery partnerships) hire local drivers for restaurant-to-door delivery.

• Delivery Type: Local courier / food delivery
• How You Get Paid: Per-delivery pay plus tips, similar to major food apps
• Payment Frequency: Weekly, varies by regional operator
• Vehicle: Car, bike, or scooter depending on city density
• Requirements: 18+, valid ID, background check
• Key Insight: Smaller regional courier networks often have less driver competition than national apps, which can mean shorter wait times between orders in your specific city.

Comparisons: Which Delivery App Is Right for You?

Best Overall: DoorDash, the largest order volume nationwide, fast approval, and support for cars, bikes, and scooters make it the most reliable all-around choice.

Best for Beginners: Walmart Spark Driver, no vehicle age restrictions, straightforward 18+ requirements, and a simple sign-up process make this one of the most accessible starting points.

Best for Flexible Schedules: Uber Eats, instant on/off scheduling with no minimum hours, plus the ability to toggle into rideshare mode for more earning options.

Best for High Earnings: Instacart, selective shoppers cherry-picking high-value batches consistently report $20–$30/hour, among the highest realistic rates on this list.

Best for Short-Distance Deliveries: Gopuff, hub-based orders mean shorter trips and faster turnaround per delivery, which adds up over a shift.

Practical Guides

How to Maximize Delivery Income

Multi-apping, running two or three delivery apps at once, is the single biggest lever for increasing your hourly pay. Drivers who multi-app across platforms report earning 20–35% more per hour than single-app drivers because they can switch to whichever app is paying best at any moment.

Beyond multi-apping, decline low-paying orders below your personal per-mile threshold (many experienced drivers use $1.50+ per mile as a rough cutoff), and work peak hours like lunch, dinner, and weekend evenings when demand, and pay, is highest.

How to Reduce Fuel Costs

Switching to a fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle can save delivery drivers an estimated $1,560–$1,800 per year in gas costs.

Beyond your vehicle choice, batch your errands and deliveries to minimize dead mileage (driving without an active order), and use in-app heat maps to position yourself in high-demand zones instead of driving randomly between orders.

How to Choose an App

Match the app to your vehicle and schedule first, then optimize for pay. If you don’t own a car, prioritize apps like Uber Eats, Gopuff, or Getir that support bike or e-bike delivery.

If you own a truck or van, apps like Dolly, Lugg, or Curri will pay significantly more per hour than standard food delivery. If you want maximum flexibility with no minimum commitment, food delivery apps beat block-based platforms like Amazon Flex or Veho.

Delivery Driver Tax Guide

As an independent contractor, you’re responsible for tracking your own mileage and expenses, the IRS doesn’t do this for you, and most delivery apps don’t provide detailed mileage logs.

Use a mileage-tracking app to log every delivery mile, since this deduction (at $0.725–$0.76 per mile in 2026) is typically a driver’s largest tax write-off. Set aside roughly 25–30% of your gross earnings for taxes, and pay quarterly estimated taxes if you expect to owe more than $1,000 for the year.

Delivery Driver Safety

Trust your instincts on any delivery that feels unsafe, and don’t hesitate to cancel or contact support. Keep your phone charged and mounted, avoid entering customers’ homes, and use contactless drop-off whenever possible.

For package and grocery delivery involving heavier items, use proper lifting form and a hand cart when available to avoid injury, since gig platforms don’t provide workers’ comp coverage for contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to get paid to deliver?
Getting paid to deliver means earning money through a delivery app or company by transporting food, groceries, or packages from a business to a customer. Most delivery work is done through gig apps that pay per order, per block, or per route, with tips included.

How much can you realistically earn delivering for apps?
Most delivery drivers earn between $15 and $25 per hour gross, depending on the app, market, and time of day. Selective shoppers on apps like Instacart report $20–$30/hour, while package block-based apps like Amazon Flex advertise $18–$25/hour before expenses.

How does Amazon Flex compare to DoorDash for pay?
Amazon Flex generally advertises higher hourly rates ($18–$25) than DoorDash ($15–$25), with guaranteed pay per scheduled block. DoorDash offers more flexibility with no vehicle size requirement and instant on-demand order acceptance, while Flex requires larger vehicles and scheduled blocks.

What’s trending in the delivery gig economy for 2026?
As of 2026, order stacking (accepting two overlapping orders at once) and multi-apping have become standard strategies as drivers seek higher effective hourly pay. Ultra-fast grocery delivery platforms like Getir, which guarantee hourly wages instead of per-order pay, are also gaining traction as an alternative to traditional gig pay structures.

Final Thoughts

Getting started to get paid to deliver comes down to three things: matching the right app to your vehicle and schedule, understanding exactly how each platform pays before you accept your first order, and tracking your mileage from day one to protect your tax deductions.

Start by signing up for two apps that fit your vehicle today, most approvals take less than a week, and try a few shifts during peak hours to see which platform actually pays best in your area.

From there, multi-app your way to higher effective pay and let the data guide which platform becomes your primary earner.