Today's gig economy has been fantastic for workers in a lot of ways, and hard for workers in a lot of others. Making money outside of your main job is easier than ever, but there's also a lot more pressure on workers to spend their free time making money.
But, there is some good news. Some gig jobs, like Instacart, are getting better and better about helping workers actually make a full-time income doing their work.
But, Instacart isn't for everyone and isn't available everywhere. So, if you're looking for a solid side-gig or a job that you can even do full time that's similar to Instacart, you're in the right place.
In this post, I'll explore the best jobs like Instacart, how much money you can make, and much more. Let's get started!
What Is Instacart?
Before we start talking about jobs like Instacart, lets take a closer look at what Instacart is and why it's such a good job in the gig economy.
Put simply, Instacart is a job where you help people by delivering their groceries for a small fee plus tips. Working as an Instacart shopper you have the choice to either be an Instacart shopper who puts together orders and then delivers them, or you can specialize and only deliver food.
Both options have pros and cons, but being an in-store shopper is usually the more profitable version of this gig.
Workers have been known to make $100 a day, or more (some people make $500 a week with Instacart), depending on how long they're able to work, how fast they are, and the local demand for delivery services. Just check out this from a Reddit user.
If you like grocery shopping and don't mind delivery jobs, there aren't many better options out there. Plus, full-service shoppers can also take advantage of peak hours, make their own schedule, set their own goals for making extra money.
While some people make a living with Instacart, it will depend on your city and how efficiently you work.
All you need is a valid driver's license and a vehicle large enough to handle grocery delivery and you're ready to deliver groceries.
Top Jobs Like Instacart
If you're looking for jobs like Instacart you're in luck. There are actually a wide variety of options out there for people who want to deliver groceries or get other delivery jobs.
Apps like Instacart are also getting a lot more common, so chances are there will be more opportunities to turn your spare time into extra money with delivery jobs in the future.
However, it's important to know that you're probably going to have to spend more than just your spare time to earn money with apps like Instacart.
A lot of these gigs will increase your car insurance rates, and you'll spend money delivering food. Things like gas, extra car maintenance, and other expenses will probably cost more money than you expect at first.
Don't worry though, as long as you have a valid driver's license and a car in good condition, you're ready to get started.
Plus, since you're your own boss on these apps, you have more control over when you work and how much. That way you can control how and when you earn money to help offset the cost of jobs like Instacart.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let's take a closer look at some of the best delivery jobs out there.
DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the most popular apps if you want to deliver food. They're widely available, a lot of restaurants work with them, and they offer reasonable pay for a delivery driver gig.
This job is basically like any other restaurant delivery driver job, and most delivery drivers make reasonable money on this app compared with other delivery apps.
It's a little less work than being a full-service shopper, but it's like Instacart if you're just looking to deliver.
However, like any food delivery company, you should consider both the distance between the restaurant and the delivery destination, and how much it's going to cost to make each delivery. Because Doordash doesn't pay for gas, it's important to consider this when accepting orders.
There are plenty of Doordash hacks to help you make more money. Some Doordash workers can make $500 a week or more. Sign up below to start earning money with Doordash!
Uber Eats
If you have a valid driver's license, a car in reasonable condition, and want to get into food delivery, Uber Eats is another good option.
Unlike the other side of Uber (which we'll talk about later) Uber Eats doesn't really have any vehicle condition or age requirements. In terms of jobs like Instacart shopper, this is relatively comparable.
Like other food delivery jobs, Uber Eats lets drivers earn extra cash working food delivery. Your success depends on how busy your area is, how good you are at picking the right jobs, and how far you have to drive for the average food delivery.
But, if you want to see it's a viable option in your area, all you need is a driver's license and a reliable vehicle.
GrubHub
GrubHub is incredibly similar to both Uber Eats and DoorDash. It's another option that lets you work as a delivery driver for extra cash, going from restaurants to customers' homes.
Unlike other jobs like Instacart shopper, there's no expectation that you do the shopping yourself, which makes it a little easier than being a full-service shopper.
As long as you're able to delivery food quickly and accurately, it's easy to succeed as a Grub Hub food delivery driver.
Amazon Fresh
If you're looking for a job that's a lot closer to apps like Instacart, Amazon Fresh is a good option. This app still lets you work on your own schedule delivering groceries, but unlike most food delivery apps out there, this food delivery app is Amazon-specific.
So, with Amazon Fresh, you'll know where you're getting your food every time, and you'll get a per-hour rate unlike a lot of other delivery gigs.
If you want to make money delivering groceries, this is one of the best options other than Instacart shopper.
However, like other Amazon jobs, the company is really looking for top-performing delivery drivers who are fast and efficient on the job.
Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex is another good independent contractor delivery option with Amazon. Unlike most food delivery jobs, working with Amazon Flex isn't terribly predictable. You might be picking up groceries on one order, an Amazon Prime order the next, and a combination of the two on the third.
Despite that variety, Amazon Flex is definitely one of the best jobs like Instacart, even if it's a little less pressure than being an Instacart Shopper.
You'll be working with local stores on your own hour, but Amazon Flex isn't available everywhere or all day, so you need to pay attention to the hours that are most effective.
Peapod
Peapod, which just rebranded to Peapod Digital Labs, is a great option for people who want to deliver food and also want to work for a company that's trying to make things better.
This company is actively trying to analyze and improve the grocery and grocery delivery driver industry.
By working with local brands they're hoping to give customers a lot more versatility and flexibility as a workplace and for customers.
If that sounds like a great option for you, all you need is your driver's license, your own car, and to live somewhere the program is already active, and you'll be part of one of the most advanced companies in the food delivery scene.
Fresh Direct
Fresh Direct is another grocery innovator that's relatively new to the food delivery scene, but they're one of the more popular and growing companies out there.
This company specialized in offering food delivery of fresh, high-quality, discounted ingredients and groceries. The discount often comes from either working directly with producers and eliminating middlemen, or from grabbing up excess stock from local grocery stores and restaurants that have accidentally overstocked on certain goods.
The bad news is that, like Peapod and some of the other innovators in the delivery driver space, Fresh Direct is still a relatively small company and only active in a few states. Originally a New York company, Fresh Direct is spreading through the East Coast right now, and may start expanding into other regions in the future.
Deliver That
Deliver That is a food delivery company that's really looking to take care of their drivers, which is great news for you if you're looking to deliver food for a good wage.
The caveat is that Deliver That has a few more requirements than other food delivery jobs. They require that all their drivers have a specific set of food bags to help maintain quality, which you have to order after registering.
That means that Deliver That won't let you start accepting tasks right away, you'll need to wait until you have all the right equipment. That said, you can make better money, with Deliver That advertising as much as $30 an hour for qualified and registered drivers.
Favor
Favor is an anything delivery service that's designed to help connect customers with the goods they want to purchase, no matter what goods that is.
Favor partners with local businesses and ‘runners' to make buying easier. That means that this job is really like being an Instacart shopper, especially since sometimes you're going to be going into the store and shopping for the goods on your order.
The promise Favor gives customers is that they will get their order within an hour, which is important because it means you need to be a fast shopper to be successful on this food delivery app.
Shipt Shopper
Shipt is another good option if you want to deliver groceries. They are a fast and secure delivery service that, like other delivery gigs, works like other apps in that you get a small per hour rate, but you get to keep 100% of your tips as a driver.
If Shipt is available in your area, it's one of the best jobs like Instacart you can get.
Postmates
Postmates is a general delivery service where you'll be doing a combination of shopping, picking up orders, and going to restaurants.
If you're looking for a delivery job with more variety, Postmates is one of the better options. Better yet, Postmates is much more widely available than a lot of variety delivery services.
In terms of Instacart alternatives, this is one of the only ones that will sometimes send you after office supplies, but that keeps things interesting.
Caviar
Caviar is a food delivery option, but they're great for independent contractors because they deliver meals from some restaurants that work only with Caviar. That means fewer chain restaurants, more mom and pop shops and gourmet places.
As long as you have your own car and know how to protect food on delivery jobs, this is a great meal delivery service to get consistent orders and to help support local cuisine at the same time.
GoPuff
GoPuff is a fast-expanding delivery company that offer meal delivery, everyday essentials, and and reasonable hourly pay compared with other Instacart alternatives.
While GoPuff still isn't available everywhere, they're a good place if you're looking for a company where drivers earn consistently good money for their delivery shifts.
Bite Squad
Bite Squad is a fantastic restaurant delivery service that's relatively common through the South, but hasn't expanded much to the rest of the country.
Because of where they operate, this option tends to have a slightly longer delivery distance than other apps, but they also make sure their drivers earn a reasonable amount of money even after the cost of gas and vehicle maintenance.
Drizly
Want to make people happier? Looking for a job like grocery delivery, but a little more fun?
Consider signing up with Drizly. Currently only operating places that allow delivery app jobs to delivery alcohol, Drizly is all about bringing people their favorite drinks.
That means that you might not get as many jobs as other delivery jobs, but your hourly pay is still usually good because people tip more generously for this kind of job.
Burpy
Burpy is more of a traditional grocery delivery service, which comes with it's own delivery challenges, but the big advantage is that Burpy is working with a ton of different brands and stores.
For one thing, you can set your own hours, and you'll be working with stores like Walmart, H-Mart, Kroger, and other huge name brands in the grocery world. That means you'll be getting plenty of work, never fear!
Skip The Dishes
Skip the Dishes is really about the simple premise that cooking your own food can be a pain, and doing the dishes afterward just adds insult to injury.
Why not skip the dishes and order restaurant food online?
This is a traditional restaurant delivery job, but it's like Instacart shopper in that you need to make sure you're grabbing the right jobs, and the right time, and controlling delivery distance if you want to be a successful driver.
Task Rabbit
Task Rabbit might not be a food delivery service, but it's one of the better alternatives out there if you're looking to make quick cash.
The basic premise is that people put up short tasks for other people to do. Sometimes you can do the task online, sometimes you'll need to show up and help people move, or paint, or do other kinds of in-person work.
But, you get to control your schedule, work rates, and which jobs you accept. So, if you have some skills, free time, and willingness to work for other people, you can start making extra cash on Task Rabbit.
Fiverr
Fiverr is another app that's similar to Task Rabbit, but it tends to have smaller faster tasks.
The whole goal is to keep your task something that can be done in 5 minutes or less, in exchange for a small amount of money.
That means that Fiverr isn't always as profitable as other options, but it's also a good place to start for gig workers who aren't sure what they enjoy or what skillset they bring to gig work.
Lyft
Lyft is a straight driving app/taxi service that's a way for you to make money if you have a car that meets their qualifications. Enjoy driving? Want to be a little more social than delivery driving? Lyft is a good option.
However, like Uber, you need to meet a fair number of requirements to become a driver.
Uber
Uber and Uber Eats are two different options within the same company, but this is more of the taxi service side. They're great if you're looking for a more social job, but like most taxi driver jobs, there are quite a few requirements you (and your vehicle) need to meet tobe successful.
You'll also need to pass a background check, and it's important to remember that driver's receive payment not just on the length of the drive, but also how well tipped they are.
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Final Thoughts on the Best Jobs like Instacart
There are plenty of jobs like Instacart to help you build your income and make more money.
Between Doordash, Postmates, and others – there are plenty of apps that pay you to drive.
So what're you waiting for? Give a few of these jobs a try and see what works best for you!
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