Looking for Instacart alternatives to make more money on the side?
You’re probably an Instacart shopper already and wondering if there are any other jobs like Instacart because you don’t get as many orders as you would like. No wonder, since Instacart seems to be a competitive app, but there are many other gig economy apps you can use to earn a decent income.
I will cover the main Instacart competitors that are worth considering.
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DoorDash
With its operations spread across 5,000 cities in the country, DoorDash counts as one of the leading food delivery services today.
Whenever someone places an order at a fast food joint or a restaurant in your vicinity, the platform alerts you of the job opportunity. If you accept the job, you must deliver the customer’s meal to the designated address.
To work as a DoorDash driver, you must be at least 18 years or older. While there are no specific requirements about the vehicle kind, you must have a valid driver’s license and insurance. DoorDash also runs a background check before taking you on as a driver.
Once you fulfill the requirements and pass the background check, DoorDash gives you an orientation to set you up. After completing your orientation, you get an activation kit, after which you are ready to take orders and make money!
While the money you make through DoorDash depends on your market, it can easily help you accumulate decent pay. Unlike InstaCart, you will not have to shop for entire grocery orders. You must only pick up the meals and deliver them, making DoorDash a feasible replacement.
We’ve previously covered a comparison between DoorDash and Instacart in another post, and while the two delivery jobs share many similarities, they are different in many areas.
Amazon Flex
With a window to help you earn $18-25 hourly, Amazon Flex is a good alternative to delivery jobs like InstaCart.
As the name suggests, Amazon Flex is an Amazon service that enables its customers to receive shipments through third-party drivers. As an Amazon Flex driver, you must deliver Amazon packages from the Amazon warehouse to the customer’s address.
To become an Amazon Flex driver, you must fulfill certain criteria:
- You must be at least 21 years of age.
- You must own a mid-sized or a large vehicle capable of carrying big shipments.
- You must be physically fit to carry the shipments.
You must also have a driver’s license and a smartphone to collaborate with Amazon and seek opportunities.
Upon fulfilling the criteria, Amazon will take your application into consideration. Once you get approved, you can start making money by delivering Amazon shipments.
The platform notifies you through the smartphone app whenever a shipment is available. At Amazon Flex, you must choose the delivery packages based on the blocks you schedule and choose.
While you must choose a block, Amazon Flex lets you schedule deliveries according to your schedule, making it a flexible delivery job.
We’ve got another post where we compare Instacart and Amazon Flex head-to-head. While they’re pretty similar in a lot of ways, there are a couple of key differences you should know about.
Uber Eats
While Uber is primarily known for its ride-sharing services, its food delivery branch allows individuals to make money by picking up meals from restaurants and delivering them to customers.
If you’re already registered as an Uber driver, adding Uber Eats to your services is pretty straightforward. You simply go to the Work Hub on your Account page and sign up to deliver food.
Unlike some other delivery jobs that require a car, Uber Eats allows you to make deliveries using various transportation methods, including cars, bikes, and scooters.
Payment options are also flexible, with the choice of weekly payouts or multiple daily payouts through Instant Pay, though the latter comes with a small fee.
Shipt
Providing the same services as Instacart, Shipt is the most similar job to Instacart. Like Instacart, you help people on Shipt by shopping for their ordered groceries and bringing them to their doorstep.
When working as a Shipt driver, you must shop for groceries as requested by the customer. Once you purchase everything on the list, you must check out and complete the order by handing over the groceries at a specified address.
To further discuss similarities across both platforms, Shipt provides services in more than 5,000 cities. Considering their span, it is safe to say that both platforms equally rival each other in market size.
However, Instacart pulls one over Shipt by allowing flexibility to their operations. Unlike Instacart, Shipt requires you to schedule your delivery shifts beforehand. With Shipt, it is not possible to fire up the app and work when feasible.
In terms of requirements, Shipt almost shares the same criteria with slight additions:
- You must be 18 or older
- You must be Physically fit to lift 40 pounds
- Your vehicle must not be older than 1997
- Have a valid driver’s license and insurance
- Access to a smartphone supporting at least Android 5.0 or owning an iPhone 10
If you are still rocking an iPhone from the good old days, Shipt’s requirement of having at least an iPhone X model can be a dealbreaker. Nevertheless, the platform claims to let you earn an average of $22 hourly. Compared to other platforms, $22 is a much better pay rate.
Therefore, if you fulfill the criteria and can schedule your availability beforehand, Shipt is worth a shot.
GoPuff
Unlike other services where you’ve got to shop for the items yourself, GoPuff has everything ready to go in their own micro-fulfillment centers. This makes your job a lot easier and faster. You can even deliver booze along with household essentials.
When it comes to pay, it’s not bad at all. You can expect to make around $20 an hour on average, which is in the same ballpark as other delivery gigs. You get a set amount for each delivery plus all of the tips.
And if you like a more structured schedule, you can book a time block to make sure you’re getting a minimum hourly rate.
There are different ways to boost your earnings, like weekly bonuses and special “boosts” for certain orders. You can even score a bonus for bringing in new customers to the app.
Caviar
Caviar is another food delivery service that tends to focus on high-end and premium restaurants, giving it a more upscale vibe compared to some other delivery services.
If you enjoy the thought of delivering from fine-dining establishments or local artisanal eateries, Caviar might be right up your alley.
The pay tends to be competitive, often incorporating a dynamic pricing model that takes into account the distance traveled, time spent, and complexity of the order.
On top of the base pay, you also get to keep 100% of the tips you earn, which can be particularly generous given the service’s upscale clientele.
Burpy Shopper
Being a grocery delivery service, Burpy is another option to consider in your search for jobs like Instacart. This platform allows customers to order groceries online and lets a personal shopper bring them to you.
Burpy Shopper lets you work as an independent contractor, allowing you to take gigs according to your schedule and make money in your leisure time.
To work as a Burpy independent contractor, you must be:
- At least 18 years or older.
- Own a Reliable Vehicle.
- Own a Valid Driver’s License.
- Have a Smartphone with a stable internet connection.
- Able to lift 30 pounds.
While your earnings as a Burpy Shopper can vary based on location and demand, the platform allows you to make as much as $23 hourly.
Grubhub
Similar to Instacart, Grubhub allows you to make money by delivering items directly to customers, although the focus is on restaurant food rather than groceries.
The job offers flexibility, letting you choose your hours, although you are restricted to the market you initially sign up for—unlike Instacart, which generally allows you to switch locations more easily.
Where Grubhub lags behind is in average hourly pay, with drivers making around $14 per hour according to Indeed, which might be lower than what you’d make on a busy day with Instacart. However, the potential to earn more exists in high-demand markets, and promotional bonuses can provide a nice bump in earnings.
While it may not offer as much geographical flexibility or the same earnings potential as Instacart, Grubhub still provides a viable alternative for those looking to diversify their gig work or bypass waiting lists on other platforms.
With its own set of pros and cons, Grubhub is worth a look if you’re exploring delivery apps like Instacart.
TaskRabbit
It’s like the Swiss Army knife of gig economy jobs. Instead of just grocery shopping, you can get paid for anything from assembling IKEA furniture to helping someone organize their closet.
Signing up is easy; just pass a background check, and you’re good to go. You set your own rates and pick the tasks that fit your skills. Payment is handled in-app, so it’s hassle-free for both you and the client.
What sets TaskRabbit apart? Well, it’s got flexibility like Instacart, but the variety of tasks you can take on is way broader.
Roadie
Unlike traditional delivery jobs, Roadie is all about “on-the-way” deliveries. Essentially, you’re transporting items that are along your planned route, making it a convenient way to earn some extra cash while you’re out and about.
You can deliver anything from lost luggage to pets, and the pay varies based on the size and urgency of the delivery. There’s no need to schedule shifts; just pick up gigs as they fit into your day. So, if you like the freedom that comes with Instacart but want a break from grocery aisles, Roadie might be the right fit for you.
Other Jobs Like Instacart
These jobs can help you fit in flexible opportunities and make money by working on your terms.
While these delivery jobs like Instacart might vary slightly depending on their services, they all operate under the same idea: Pick up orders, deliver them to the customer, and get paid.
More From Dollar Sanity:
How Much to Tip Instacart Shoppers?
10 Apps Like DoorDash to Make Money
How to Make $1,000 a Week with Uber Eats
Steady App Review: Is it A Legit Way To Make Money On The Side?
Hi, I’m Ashley a freelance writer who’s passionate about personal finance. Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by the power of money and how it can shape our lives. I’ve spent years learning everything I can about budgeting, saving, investing and retirement planning. So if you are looking for tips, advice, or just a little bit of inspiration to help you on your financial journey, you have come to the right place. I am always here to help, and I am excited to share my passion for personal finance with you.