If you want flexible part-time income in 2026, delivery apps are still one of the easiest places to start. DoorDash, Amazon Flex, and Instacart soak up most of the attention. Thing is, the app that pays the most on paper rarely leaves the most cash in your pocket. So which one actually fits your schedule and your car? The answer sits in the gap between what an app advertises per hour and what you actually keep.
Gross pay flatters everyone. A $25 per hour gross offer might net you $17 to $20, and where you land in that range depends on your vehicle, your market, and how many miles each order burns. The IRS business mileage rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per mile, so 100 miles in a shift becomes a $72.50 deduction. You can take that rate or deduct actual expenses, not both.
Here's the part that trips up new drivers, the part the signup screens never mention: a deduction shrinks your taxable income, but the cash for gas and wear already left your wallet, so it never quite feels like money you got back. Self-employment tax takes another 15.3% of net earnings. In practice, many drivers keep 20% to 30% less than their gross hourly rate. That's the number that matters.
Track every business mile from your first shift. A mileage app works, and so does a notebook, but the IRS expects a log if you get audited. The IRS standard mileage rates page covers the details. No log means no deduction, which means more tax.
Here's how the main platforms stack up. Ranges are reported gross pay before expenses, and net pay runs lower.
| App | Reported gross | Best for | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | $20-$27/hr | Peak hours, flexible start | 18+ (19+ in some states), license, insurance, background check |
| Amazon Flex | $18-$25/hr | Scheduled blocks | 21+, 4-door 2005+ vehicle |
| Instacart | $18/hr avg | Grocery shopping | 18+, vehicle or scooter |
| Uber Eats | $19-$25/hr | Urban evenings | 18+, vehicle 1997+ (varies) |
| Grubhub | $15-$22/hr | Safety features | 18+, vehicle |
| Shipt | $16-$23/hr | Tips-heavy grocery | 18+, vehicle |
| GoPuff | $16-$20/hr | Micro-fulfillment | 21+, vehicle (W-2 in some markets) |
DoorDash sets the baseline for a lot of drivers. The company's formula is base pay plus 100% of customer tips plus any active promotions, laid out on the DoorDash pay help page. Requirements shift by state; Texas and Florida, for example, want drivers to be at least 19. Read the official DoorDash requirements before you sign up instead of guessing.
Amazon Flex runs on a different model entirely. You book 2-to-4-hour blocks, and the pay, often $18 to $25 per hour, is set before you start driving. That predictability is the whole draw for parents and anyone juggling a second job. Block availability depends on your market, though, so the hours you want aren't always sitting there.
DoorDash often wins on gross hourly pay in driver reports. Uber Eats pushes back in dense urban areas, especially at dinner. One 2025 analysis from Gridwise found Uber Eats median earnings of $14.07 per hour, with top drivers hitting $20.83, and tips made up a larger share of pay on Uber Eats than on many other apps. Turns out tipping behavior changes by platform more than most people expect.
Both apps dangle bonuses. DoorDash has Challenges and Peak Pay, which can drag a slow shift back to a good one. Uber Eats counters with surge pricing and quests. Neither one guarantees a rate. Your market, your hours, and your acceptance rate decide most of it, which is why multi-apping is common: plenty of drivers run both and take the better offer.
Grocery gigs suit people who don't mind shopping for strangers. Instacart shoppers often report around $18 per hour gross, but batch size and tips swing that number hard, and a small order with a good tip can beat a large order with none. Shipt pays $16 to $23 per hour and has perks like insurance discounts. Spark, which delivers Walmart orders, tends to run $16 to $20.
To be honest, this work can beat you up. You might carry 40-pound bags of dog food up three flights of stairs. If you're organized and fast, the orders stay steady, and since customers tip on service, a quick message about a substitution earns its keep.
Amazon Flex is the most structured option on this list. Pick a block that runs 2 to 6 hours, deliver packages, go home. Pay is typically $18 to $25 per hour with surges during holidays, and you'll need a 4-door vehicle from 2005 or newer. No customer tips, but no food handling either.
Grubhub pays $15 to $22 per hour and offers safety tools like Rapid SOS plus dash cam discounts. GoPuff pays $16 to $20 per hour out of micro-fulfillment centers, which usually means shorter drives between stops. In New York City, some GoPuff drivers are W-2 employees with benefits; everywhere else, it's 1099 work.
Roadie plays by different rules. You bid on gigs that range from a single package to a long-haul delivery, so pay swings widely, though airport runs can hit $25 per hour. E-bikes are allowed in some cities.
Match the app to your week.
Students do well with DoorDash and Uber Eats. Both let you dash between classes, and e-bike options exist in many campus markets, so no car required. Amazon Flex blocks can wrap around a class schedule too, but you'll need a vehicle.
Stay-at-home parents often prefer Amazon Flex. Book blocks during school hours or nap time and you know exactly when you'll be done. Instacart works the same way since you choose batches that fit a short window, while DoorDash and Uber Eats give you more flexibility and less predictability.
Evening and weekend drivers earn the most. Dinner rush runs 5 to 9 PM, lunch is 11 AM to 2 PM, and weekends plus rainy days often bring surge pay. If Friday and Saturday nights are your only free hours, food delivery is your best bet.
Working without a car is doable too. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Roadie all support e-bikes or scooters in select cities, Favor is another option in Texas, and medical courier jobs pay more, though they usually require a car and certifications.
- Check the requirements for your state and city first. Age minimums, vehicle year cutoffs, and insurance rules all differ, and DoorDash wants 18+ in most states but 19+ in a handful.
- Gather your documents: driver's license, auto insurance, and a Social Security number for the background check. Some apps ask for vehicle registration too.
- Sign up in the app and let the background check run. That takes 1 to 3 days, and you can start the moment you're approved.
- Set up your profile with a clear photo, then grab an insulated bag and a phone mount. Small stuff, but it moves tips and efficiency.
- Track miles and taxes from day one. A mileage app or spreadsheet does the job, and setting aside 25% to 30% of net earnings for taxes spares you a painful April.
- Run two apps at once. Pairing DoorDash with Uber Eats can lift your hourly rate by 20% to 30%, since you can decline weak offers and wait for better ones.
- Work the peaks. Lunch and dinner rushes pay the most, Friday through Sunday evenings are prime, and rain or snow often adds surge pay.
- Set a minimum per mile. Many drivers decline anything below $1.50 to $2 per mile, a rule that protects profit after gas and wear.
- Keep the car maintained. Planned oil changes, tires, and brakes cost less than a breakdown that eats a whole shift.
- Track expenses and keep receipts. Phone bills, insulated bags, and some maintenance are partially deductible.
You're an independent contractor, not an employee, so nothing gets withheld for you. The self-employment tax is 15.3% of net earnings and covers both sides of Social Security and Medicare. Federal and state income tax come on top of that. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS wants quarterly estimated payments, due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
The mileage deduction is your biggest tax break. The 2026 business rate is 72.5 cents per mile, and you pick either that or actual expenses like gas and repairs, never both. Most drivers take the mileage route because it's simpler and usually larger. Keep the log anyway. The IRS standard mileage rates page explains the rules.
FAQ
Do I need a car for delivery jobs? Not always. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Roadie allow e-bikes or scooters in some cities. Check your market before you sign up.
Which app pays the most after expenses? It depends on your market. DoorDash often nets $17 to $24 per hour in strong markets. Amazon Flex nets $11 to $16 after higher vehicle costs. Instacart can hit $18 to $25 during peak grocery hours.
How much can I make part-time? Part-time drivers working 15 to 20 hours a week often earn $300 to $600 gross. Net pay after expenses and taxes is typically $200 to $450. Cities vary a lot.
Are there part-time delivery jobs for students or parents? Yes. DoorDash and Uber Eats offer the most flexibility. Amazon Flex blocks work well for parents who need predictable hours.
Pick one app, sign up, and test a few peak shifts this week. Once you can see what your market actually pays, add a second app if you want more volume. Your own numbers, after gas and taxes, are the only review that counts.