Uber Eats vs. DoorDash: Which Pays More, and Is It Worth It as a Side Hustle?
In today's gig economy, side hustles have become a popular way to earn extra income, with food delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash leading the charge. Whether you're in the United States or Canada, these platforms offer the flexibility to work on your own terms. But the real question is: Which platform pays more? And is it really worth your time as a side hustle? Let's dive into the details.
Earnings Potential: Uber Eats vs. DoorDash
United States
When it comes to earnings in the U.S., both Uber Eats and DoorDash offer competitive pay, but there are some differences to consider.
Uber Eats: On average, Uber Eats drivers in the U.S. earn between $15 to $25 per hour before expenses. The pay can vary based on factors like location, time of day, and whether you take advantage of peak hours or promotions.
DoorDash: DoorDash drivers, known as "Dashers," tend to earn slightly more, with an average hourly rate of $18 to $30 before expenses. DoorDash also offers promotions and bonuses that can boost your earnings, especially during busy periods like lunch and dinner rushes.
Canada
In Canada, the earnings are slightly lower due to the different market dynamics, but both platforms still offer viable income opportunities.
Uber Eats: Canadian Uber Eats drivers typically earn between CAD $14 to $22 per hour before expenses. As with the U.S., earnings can fluctuate based on location, time, and promotions.
DoorDash: In Canada, Dashers generally earn between CAD $16 to $25 per hour before expenses. Again, location and peak hour bonuses play a significant role in determining your actual earnings.
It is worthy to say here in Canada DoorDash takes more time to send you requests, whereas Uber Eats send requests more faster. This is good to keep into account sometimes it takes longer to wait for a new order, as we said here in this review it all depends of the area and also the hour if is lunch time or dinner time you might get more orders than any other hours.
Key Takeaways:
- Location Matters: Urban areas with high demand will typically offer better pay.
- Peak Hours and Promotions: Both platforms offer bonuses that can significantly boost your hourly rate.
- Expenses: Remember to factor in costs like gas, vehicle maintenance, and wear and tear when calculating your net earnings.
Is It Worth It as a Side Hustle?
Flexibility
One of the biggest perks of driving for Uber Eats or DoorDash is the flexibility. You can work whenever you want, making it a great side hustle for those with irregular schedules or other commitments. Whether you’re a student, a full-time employee, or a stay-at-home parent, these platforms allow you to earn money on your own time.
Work-Life Balance
While flexibility is a major advantage, it's important to strike a balance. Driving for these platforms can be physically and mentally draining, especially if you're spending long hours on the road. To avoid burnout, it's recommended to limit your driving to 20-30 hours per week if you're doing this as a side hustle. This allows you to maintain a steady income without compromising your well-being.
Income Stability
While the earnings potential is there, it's worth noting that income can be inconsistent. Weather, local events, and even competition among drivers can impact your earnings on any given day. Additionally, these platforms don't provide benefits like health insurance or retirement plans, which is something to consider if you're relying on this income long-term.
How Much Can You Really Make?
United States
Assuming you work part-time, say 20 hours per week, your weekly earnings could range from $300 to $600 before expenses with Uber Eats. With DoorDash, you might earn between $360 to $720 weekly under the same conditions.
Canada
In Canada, for a 20-hour work week, Uber Eats drivers could expect to earn between CAD $280 to $440, while DoorDash drivers might bring in between CAD $320 to $500 before expenses.
Monthly Earnings Potential
- United States: $1,200 to $2,400 (Uber Eats) / $1,440 to $2,880 (DoorDash)
- Canada: CAD $1,120 to $1,760 (Uber Eats) / CAD $1,280 to $2,000 (DoorDash)
These figures are estimates and can vary widely based on location, time, and how efficiently you work also you have to work a lot to make this kind of money, sometimes when it is slow the earnings are not more than minimum wage so keep in mind the words: POTENTIAL EARNINGS.
Final Verdict: Which Platform Pays More?
Overall, DoorDash tends to offer slightly higher pay on average compared to Uber Eats, especially in the U.S. market. However, the difference isn't vast, and your earnings will largely depend on your location, the hours you choose to work, and how well you can capitalize on promotions and peak hours.
Is It Worth Your Time?
As a side hustle, both Uber Eats and DoorDash can be a viable way to make extra money, especially if you value flexibility. However, it's important to set realistic expectations and limit your hours to avoid burnout. Ideally, aim for 20-30 hours per week to strike a balance between income and personal time.
If you're looking to make a significant amount of money, these platforms might not replace a full-time income but can be a great supplementary source of funds. Just be sure to factor in expenses and the potential for inconsistent earnings when planning your budget.
In recent years we have seen an increment in drivers, many of them are available in their scooters all day, and also their cars, however talking from experience, only when I did DoorDash grocery shopping I saw better payments, lately the platform is very slow, sometimes takes a full 20 minutes to get an order, so is not really worthy. I live in Toronto and whereas downtown Toronto looks busy all the time for this business, is not worthy to bring your car there since the traffic is crazy and there are no places to park, so mostly people with bikes and scooters can capitalize better working in the downtown areas in a busy city like Toronto.
Also to consider, I did try opening an Uber Eats account with my scooter, and believer it or not, I did not get orders, only 2 orders in one week, even though the app said it was busy. I did call the driver support line and they gave me some tips that obviously didn't work for me, so I ended up moving that account to car deliveries, and then it took off better. The agent told me that there is not really a demand for bikes deliveries anymore in my area (Toronto downtown/Midtown) and that it was better for me to use my car; so I did.
Anyways I always say, something is better than nothing, so for those of us that require lots of money to survive this crazy expensive times, yes my recommendation is try both apps and use them, but be aware of the times and promotions, and also keep close tabs on gas and see if it is really worth your time.
Hope you liked this review, have you tried to enter this crazy gig economy and have you succeeded it?
Leave us a comment, and again thanks for visiting our blog.
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The Review Lounge
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