Grocery delivery apps can pay real money, but not the numbers you see in the ads. When I delivered on weekends, the surprise was never the pay on the screen. It was what was left after gas. So let’s do the math. Here’s how five of the biggest grocery delivery app jobs compare: Instacart, DoorDash, Shipt, Uber Eats, and Walmart Spark. You’ll see what each one requires, how to sign up the right way, and what taxes mean for your paycheck.
The catch: earnings vary a lot by city, time of day, and the orders you accept. I can’t promise you a number, and neither can any app. Treat this as a side hustle, not a salary.
Grocery delivery apps compared
These are the requirements each company lists on its own pages. They change and vary by state or city, so check the sign-up page for your area before you apply. Details are as of October 2026.
| App | What you do | Minimum age | Car needed? | Background check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instacart | Shop in the store and deliver | 18 | Reliable access to a vehicle | Yes, repeated over time |
| DoorDash | Pick up and deliver restaurant, grocery, and store orders | 18 in most states; 19 or 21 in some | Car, or bike where offered | Yes |
| Shipt | Shop in the store and deliver | 18 | Dependable vehicle | Yes |
| Uber Eats | Deliver restaurant and grocery orders | 18 on bike or foot; 19 by car (21 in California and New York) | Not always (bike or foot in some cities) | Yes |
| Walmart Spark | Deliver Walmart orders | 18 | Yes, a car | Yes |
Instacart: the best-known shopping gig
Instacart shoppers pick items in the store, bag them, and bring them to the customer. It’s the classic grocery delivery job.
- How it works: You accept a batch of orders in the shopper app, shop, and deliver.
- Requirements: Be at least 18, be eligible to work in the U.S., and have a driver’s license, a Social Security number, and a bank account for direct deposit. Instacart also lists reliable access to a car and a recent smartphone, and the ability to lift 40 pounds.
- The catch: Instacart runs a criminal and motor vehicle background check through a third party, and refreshes it over time. Shopping takes longer than driving, and big carts mean heavy lifting.
Start on the official page for Instacart shoppers.
DoorDash: the most flexible option
DoorDash isn’t only food. Dashers also deliver groceries and other store orders, and you choose when you work. DoorDash lists a minimum age of 18 in most states, with higher minimums in some, so check your state.
- How it works: You open the Dasher app, go “dashing,” and accept offers that show up on your screen.
- Requirements: A smartphone, a valid U.S. driver’s license and Social Security number if you deliver by car, auto insurance, and a background check. Bike delivery has different rules.
- The catch: Offers are pay-per-order, so a long drive for a small order can cost you more than it pays.
See the Dasher requirements for your state before you sign up.
Shipt: shopping with a smaller crew
Shipt works like Instacart: you shop and deliver for people who ordered through Shipt’s app. Shipt’s help center lists clear requirements.
- Requirements: At least 18, a valid mailing address, a U.S. driver’s license, a Social Security number, auto insurance, a dependable vehicle, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. You also need an iPhone with iOS 13 or later, or an Android phone running 7.0 or later.
- The catch: Shipt runs a motor vehicle and criminal background check, and you may have to wait for an opening in your area.
Read the full list on Shipt’s requirements page.
Uber Eats: good if you don’t have a car
Uber Eats lets you deliver on a bike or on foot in some cities, which can save a lot of money on gas. It delivers restaurant meals and some groceries.
- Requirements: At least 18 to deliver on a bike or on foot, and 19 by car (21 by car in California and New York State). You need a Social Security number for a background screening.
- The catch: The screening is done by third-party companies and can take several business days. Availability varies a lot by city.
Check what’s open in your city on the Uber Eats delivery page.
Walmart Spark: deliver Walmart orders only
The Spark Driver app delivers orders for Walmart. You pick a zone and accept offers.
- Requirements: At least 18, authorized to work as an independent contractor in the U.S., a valid U.S. driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, a bank account, and a phone with a camera and GPS. Walmart says it may run a motor vehicle record and criminal background check.
- The catch: You may be put on a waitlist after you enroll. Motorcycles and scooters aren’t allowed.
You can check your area and enroll on Walmart’s Spark Driver sign-up page. The Spark Driver FAQ lists the current requirements.
Let’s do the math: what’s left after gas?
Here’s a made-up example, not an average. Say an offer pays $9 plus a $4 tip, so $13 total. It takes 40 minutes and you drive 10 miles for the trip, including the drive to the store and back.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pay plus tip | $13.00 |
| 10 miles at the IRS rate of 76 cents per mile | −$7.60 |
| What’s left for 40 minutes | $5.40 |
That works out to roughly $8 an hour, before self-employment tax. The IRS mileage rate is an estimate of what it costs to run a car, including gas, wear, and insurance. It was 76 cents a mile for business driving from July 1 to December 31, 2026, according to the IRS standard mileage rates page. Short, well-paid, close-by orders are what make this work. Long drives for small orders don’t.
Before you accept an offer, ask three questions:
- How many miles is the whole trip, not just to the customer?
- How long will it take, including shopping and parking?
- Does the pay (including any tip shown) beat your costs?
Taxes: what gig workers need to know
The IRS says gig income is taxable even if it comes from side work and even if you don’t get a tax form. Here’s what to keep in mind, based on the IRS page on managing taxes for your gig work:
- Report all your income, even if the app doesn’t send a form.
- Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare. It applies if your net earnings are $400 or more.
- You may need to pay estimated taxes every quarter.
- Keep records of your miles, pay, and expenses. They can lower your taxable income.
A tax pro or a free tax program can help you sort it out. I’m not a tax advisor, so ask one if you’re unsure. For more ways to earn with your phone, see our guide to legit apps to make money, and browse the money apps section and side hustle tag.
How to sign up the right way
- Use the company’s official site or app. The links above go to the real pages.
- Never pay to apply. Real delivery apps don’t charge a sign-up fee, and anyone selling “approved accounts” is a scammer.
- Have your documents ready: driver’s license, proof of insurance, Social Security number, and bank account details.
- Wait for the background check. It can take days.
Frequently asked questions
Which grocery delivery app pays the most?
It depends on your city, the hours you work, and the orders you accept. No app can promise a set amount. Compare the offers you see in each app and track what you earn after gas.
Can I deliver groceries without a car?
Sometimes. Uber Eats and DoorDash allow bike or foot delivery in some cities. Instacart, Shipt, and Walmart Spark expect you to have a car.
Do I have to pay taxes on delivery income?
Yes. The IRS says gig income is taxable even without a form. Keep records of your pay and miles.
Can I work for more than one app?
Many people sign up for two or three so there’s always an offer. Check each app’s terms, and don’t run two orders at the same time.
My take
- If you have a car and free weekends: try Instacart or DoorDash first.
- If you like shopping and don’t mind lifting: Instacart or Shipt.
- If you don’t have a car: check Uber Eats or DoorDash for bike or foot delivery in your city.
- If you shop at Walmart anyway: look at Spark, but expect a waitlist.
Do the math on your first week before you decide whether it’s worth it. Earnings vary, and nothing here is a guarantee.
