DoorDash vs Uber Eats Differences and Comparison

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You’ve probably ordered food for delivery with DoorDash or Uber Eats, and you are likely to have a favorite based on their apps. If you’ve ever thought about joining the gig economy and driving with one of them, we’ve put together this guide to answer all your questions about how these two food delivery platforms compare.

Both of these companies have an established customer base and a strong presence on the market, which makes them a solid choice for anyone who would like to become a delivery driver.

If you are looking for work that offers autonomy and flexible hours, then driving with Uber Eats as a delivery driver or a ‘Dasher,’ as DoorDash’s delivery drivers are called, could be a good fit.

Uber Eats Overview

Launched in 2014, originally as UberFresh but soon rebranded to Uber Eats, the app has exploded worldwide. Uber Eats allows users to order and pay for food using the delivery app on their mobile device or a browser.

Becoming a delivery driver for Uber Eats is really easy, and if you already drive with Uber, it’s even simpler. If you have all your documents at hand, it doesn’t usually take any longer than half an hour to sign up.

To deliver with Uber Eats, you are required to be over 19 if you will be driving a car or scooter and over 18 if you wish to deliver by bike. Additionally, if you intend to deliver with a car, you should present your valid driver’s license.

Approval takes around seven days on average, but it has been known to be faster (as well as much longer in some cases), so don’t panic if you don’t hear back within a week.

You don’t have to have extensive driving experience to start delivering. Many drivers are young people looking for ways to make some extra money. It’s the time spent making food deliveries that will have the most significant impact on your earnings, not your work experience.

Sign Up With Uber Eats

DoorDash Overview

DoorDash is one of the fastest-growing food delivery apps in the USA and Canada. Established in 2013, it is now available in over 4,000 cities. Customers order food from their favorite restaurant using an app, and a freelance DoorDash driver picks it up and delivers it.

The sign-up process for drivers is pretty straightforward. Many freelancers prefer earning cash delivering food rather than dealing with the hassle of driving with the passengers.

Signing up to deliver food for DoorDash is a more elaborate process than with Uber Eats. You are required to be over 18 to deliver for DoorDash, though in some cities, the requirement is that the DoorDash drivers are over the age of 21 as they are able to deliver alcoholic beverages.

Much like Uber, you sign up through a DoorDash driver app, and if you have all your paperwork ready, it doesn’t take long to complete the process. As long as you have all the correct documents like a valid driver’s license, insurance, etc., and pass the background check, your application should be processed in around seven days. After this time, you will learn if you were approved to become a DoorDash driver.

DoorDash has one final step before you can start working, and that is the attendance to a Doordash orientation. This can be done in person at a local DoorDash office, but if this isn’t an option for you, you’ll be sent a DoorDash Activation Kit which contains all the essential information regarding food delivery services in the company.

Uber Eats vs DoorDash Pricing

There isn’t a huge difference between the two food delivery companies when it comes down to the costs of their services.

On top of the price of the meal, taxes, and tips, customers are charged several delivery fees like a service fee and possibly a small order fee. The fees for delivery orders are reasonably comparable between both apps. The cost will depend on how close the delivery address is to the restaurant or convenience stores. The fees may also be higher during busy times.

Both companies charge service and order fees. There may also be additional fees if you don’t make the minimum order amount. 

Uber Eats vs DoorDash Pay

The number one question everyone wants to know the answer to is how much you can earn as a Dasher or an Uber Eats driver? This is a big variable as it will depend on how many hours you are working, where you are located, the time of day when you are delivering, and several other factors.

DoorDash makes its money by charging restaurants a percentage for each order. Drivers for both companies usually find ways to maximize their earnings after a short while on the job. DoorDash’s payment model can be broken down into three forms: base pay, promotions, and tips.

Base pay is what Dashers earn from the delivery fee. Before they accept any order, they are given an estimate of how much it is likely to pay. Promotions are incentives to make more pay, such as Peak Pay for delivering at peak hours and completing specific challenges such as delivering orders in the designated amount of time. Dashers also receive 100% of any tips customers give them.

DoorDash offers payment via weekly direct deposit. You are paid for any deliveries made Monday to Midnight Sunday PST the previous week. Your earnings are then transferred to your bank account, though it might take two or three days before you receive them. DoorDash also offers you the option of instant cash, but this comes with a fee attached.

Uber Eats makes money by earning commissions from restaurants and service fees. It has a slightly more complex formula. Each delivery is calculated from an equation that includes a pick-up, drop-off, and mileage fee. On top of the base pay, drivers can earn additional cash with ‘Boost Earnings’ and ‘Delivery Surge.’

When there is a demand for delivery drivers on the road, Uber Eats helps boost earnings with incentives. This is usually when something big occurs in towns, such as a major sports event or concert. Usually, you’ll get some advance warning regarding a Boost Earnings promotion, so don’t forget to check any texts or emails that Uber Eats send you. It’s an easy way to earn some extra money.

They also have Delivery Surge, which is similar to DoorDash’s Peak Pay promotion, where Uber Eats delivery drivers can earn extra cash by delivering at busy times. Just the same as DoorDash, Uber Eats drivers receive 100% of their tips.

Uber Eats delivery drivers get paid weekly by direct deposit. In addition, the company offers something called Instant Pay, which allows drivers to transfer their earnings to a debit card and cash out up to five times a day.

This is a really nice feature if you need some money fast, in case of an emergency. There is a small processing fee attached, and you can withdraw as little or as much of your earnings as you want. With fast pay, other terms may apply, so it is good to check all the rules that are currently applying to Instant Pay.

Uber Eats vs DoorDash: Ease of Use

Uber Eats and DoorDash have apps with user-friendly interfaces that are simple to use for both drivers and customers.

With the DoorDash App Dasher, just open the app and tap on Dash Now, and you will be able to accept any offered orders. Once accepted, you’ll see the details for the delivery. At each step of the journey, you will be required to use the Dasher App to show your progress to keep the customers informed of their orders.

Uber Eats is just as simple. Once the app is open, you will be pinged delivery requests that you can accept or decline; if you accept, the app will give you directions to follow to the restaurant. Once you have picked up the order, it will provide you with directions to the customer’s address.

When you arrive at the destination, you will see the instructions from the customer regarding the delivery, for example, if you should come to the door or if they will meet you outside.

Neither app is complicated to use, and they are designed to make ordering and delivering food a simple process.

Both DoorDash and Uber Eats drivers have the comfort of working their own hours. You decide when you’re going to work and how many deliveries you will complete in a day. All you need to do to start delivering is register with one of the companies and have a car, bike, or scooter.

Another important thing to add is the fact that DoorDash and Uber Eats provide their drivers with auto insurance. Conditions and requirements might be a little different in both companies.

DoorDash drivers can benefit from auto insurance only while on active delivery. This means Dashers are insured only in the time spent making deliveries, not in between. Insurance can be applied only when the driver’s personal auto policy has declined their claims.

Uber Eats drivers are covered with auto insurance also during the time when they’re waiting for a delivery request and they’re not on active delivery yet. The insurance is $50,000 in bodily injury or $25,000 in property damage, as well as $1,000,000 third-party liability in instances when the driver is en route to pick up deliveries and during trips.

Uber Eats vs DoorDash: Customer Service

Both companies provide excellent support for their customers and drivers. This is crucial because drivers don’t work in close cooperation with the DoorDash and Uber Eats employees. Most of their work is done via delivery apps, which requires great solutions for dealing with any problems.

Customers and drivers have five ways to contact Uber Eats: via the app, email, Twitter, phone, and their help page to answer FAQs. Some cities also have offices that drivers can visit, known as Greenlight Hubs.

DoorDash’s customer service has a solid reputation with 24/7 live chat. You can also call their customer support number at 855-973-1040. Additionally, they have a help/FAQ page that answers common questions.

Conclusion: Which is Better – Uber Eats or DoorDash?

Both Uber Eats and DoorDash offer almost anyone a chance to earn an extra income easily, and we can’t say that one was better than the other. While DoorDash might be the preferred company food delivery service to work for in one city, Uber Eats might be in another. There is no reason why you can’t sign-up for both and see which one suits you the most.

If you are already driving with Uber, it probably makes sense to stick with Uber and deliver food with them as well. Many food delivery freelancers will juggle the two to maximize their earnings and have both apps open at once when making deliveries.

All in all, it will come down to personal preference, so, in conclusion, we will stay on the fence and declare it a draw!

Disclaimer

Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.