Uber Eats vs. Grubhub 2023: Which Platform Is Best for Drivers?

The food delivery industry continues to expand, creating more opportunities for side hustlers. According to McKinsey, the online food delivery market will reach $365 billion globally by 2030. This growth indicates a stable and potentially long-term side hustle option for people.

The good news is tha there’s no shortage of options for people who want to deliver food to earn cash. Two of the most popular platforms for food delivery are Uber Eats and Grubhub. 

Both apps make it easy to sign up and get started and both let you choose the hours you work. The earning potential is similar between the two. There are also a few differences, which might influence which app is a better fit for you.

Wondering which option you should sign up for to make extra cash on the side? In this article, we’ll tell you what you need to know about each one.

Uber Eats vs Grubhub (2022)

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: An Overview

Uber Eats and Grubhub each work with thousands of restaurants in the U.S. to deliver meals to customers. 

For delivery drivers, both services work essentially the same way. You use an app to see customers’ orders and decide which ones you want to accept. The app guides you as you pick up food and drop it off. You get paid based on the orders you deliver and customers can tip for excellent service. 

What Is Uber Eats?

Uber is best known as the largest rideshare company in the U.S. and the world. Uber Eats is Uber’s first food delivery operation—the company also acquired Postmates in July of 2020.

Uber Eats partners with restaurants in all 50 states. It currently has a presence in 45 countries aside from the U.S., including Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, and Brazil. According to Bloomberg Second Measure, Uber Eats had a market share of 23% in the U.S. meal delivery industry in September 2023.

If you’ve driven for Uber or taken an Uber yourself, you already have a good idea of how Uber Eats works. The only difference is that instead of human passengers, Uber Eats drivers deliver meals. 

If you are an Uber driver already, it’s extremely easy to start delivering for Uber Eats. If you’re completely new to the platform, there are a couple of extra steps, but it’s still an easy process. Check out our full Uber Eats driver review to learn more.

What Is Grubhub?

Grubhub is a food delivery service based in Chicago. The company was founded in 2004 and owns Seamless, AllMenus, and SkipTheDishes. In June of 2020, Dutch firm Just Eat Takeaway announced that it was purchasing Grubhub Inc. for $7.3 billion. 

Grubhub works with restaurants in all 50 states and Washington D.C. The deal with Just Eat means that Grubhub’s operations will expand to 25 countries. Grubhub and its subsidiaries had a 9% market share in the U.S. meal delivery industry in September 2023.

The Grubhub app lets customers order delivery from local restaurants. Delivery drivers pick up the food and deliver it. Check out our full Grubhub driver review to learn more.

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: How Do They Work?

Uber Eats and Grubhub work very similarly overall. App users order food from local restaurants. Drivers pick the food up and deliver it to the user.

Both apps allow you to deliver multiple orders at the same time to maximize efficiency and earnings. 

Here, we’ll look at each platform in detail. 

How Uber Eats Works

Before you start for the first time, you’ll need to create an account. We’ll go over the requirements and signup process in the following sections. 

When you’re ready to begin working, use the Uber app to log in and see available orders. You have 15 to 30 seconds to accept an order, so be sure to act fast. 

The app will guide you through each delivery, including navigating to the restaurant and the delivery location. 

During an order pickup, you might be notified that there’s another order at the same restaurant or one nearby. You can decide to accept a multi-restaurant trip or decline it. If you accept, the app will guide you through both deliveries. 

As you work on orders, you’ll notify your customers of their order status within the app.

How Grubhub Works

When you first start working for Grubhub, you’ll need an account. Check out the following sections to learn about the requirements and signup process. 

When you’re ready to work, log into the app. There’s an option to schedule shifts in advance, which is one thing that sets Grubhub apart from Uber Eats. If you have a scheduled shift, you’ll get priority on available orders.

You have 90 seconds to accept an order when one appears. If you decline or don’t respond, the order is passed to the next driver.  

Use the app to drive to each restaurant, pick up orders, and deliver them to customers. You’ll also notify customers when you’re on your way. 

Grubhub drivers can choose to pick up multiple orders if they are available. The app automatically creates a task list and guides you through picking up and delivering the orders. 

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: Requirements

Each of these platforms has similar requirements for delivery drivers. Neither requires you to have previous delivery experience. 

Uber Eats has slightly stricter requirements for your vehicle.

If you don’t have a car, Uber Eats lets you deliver via scooter, bicycle, or on foot. They also partner with rental companies so you can drive using a rental car. 

Grubhub allows you to use a scooter or bicycle in large cities like New York City and San Francisco. 

Uber Eats Requirements

All Uber Eats drivers must:

• Live in a place where the service is available
• Have a smartphone that can run the app and a data plan
• Pass a background check based on your Social Security number

The other requirements vary depending on how you plan to deliver.

To deliver by car, you must:

• Be old enough to drive
• Have a two or four-door car built in the last 20 years
• Have a valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance

To deliver by scooter, you must:

• Be 19 or older
• Have a scooter under 50cc built in the last 20 years
• Have a valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance

To deliver by bicycle or on foot, you must:

• Be 18 or older
• Have a valid government ID

Grubhub Requirements

Grubhub drivers must:

• Live in a place where the service is available
• Be 19 or older
• Have a smartphone that can run the app and a data plan
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have auto/motorcycle insurance
• Pass a background check based on your Social Security number

If you live in a city that allows delivery via bicycle, you don’t need a license or insurance. You will still need a valid ID. 

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: Sign Up Process

Signing up for either app is typically a straightforward process. Barring any complications, your account should be ready to go in a week or less. 

Keep reading to learn about the specific steps you’ll take as you sign up. 

Uber Eats Sign Up & Approval Process

If you’re already an Uber driver, log into your account and go to the Driver app menu. Select Account, Work Hub, and then click “Deliver food with Uber Eats.” From there, review and accept the delivery terms. 

If you’re new to Uber, head to the Uber Eats signup page. Fill out the form with your name, email, phone number, city, and password, and select the type of vehicle you want to use. You’ll then upload any required documents and consent to a background check. 

Once everything is uploaded, submit your application. It will usually take around three days to hear back.

If your application is approved, Uber Eats will notify you and send training materials for you to review. 

Grubhub Sign Up & Approval Process

Begin the process on the Grubhub signup page. Enter your info, including your location, name, email, and phone number. Upload the required documents and agree to a background check. Once you’ve filled out all the paperwork, submit your application.

If Grubhub approves your application, they’ll notify you within three to five days. You’ll then have the opportunity to attend an onboarding session. 

The company will send you insulated bags that you can use to keep food deliveries hot or cold. And, they’ll provide a Grubhub Driver Card. The card lets you pay for orders that customers haven’t paid for in advance. 

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: Pay

Both Uber Eats and Grubhub pay you for each order you complete. The way they calculate rates is a little different. 

Keep in mind that with both of these and other similar services, you have to pay for gas and vehicle expenses. These costs will reduce your overall earnings.

Uber Eats Pay

Uber Eats pay is based on the following factors for each trip:

• Base Fare: Includes pay for pickup, drop off, and estimated time and distance
• Supplement: Additional pay for orders that require extra time or distance
• Promotions: Some orders include Boost or Surge promotions.
• Tips: Tipping is optional but encouraged. Drivers keep 100% of tips.  

Uber offers two payment methods. The default method is via bank transfer. With this method, you enter your bank details in the app. The company automatically pays you on Thursday of every week. 

The other option is Instant Pay, which lets you cash out up to five times per day. This method is available if your account is in good standing and you’ve made at least one successful delivery. 

Grubhub Pay

Grubhub pay is based on the following:

• Mileage per order: Compensation for distance to the restaurant and the delivery location
• Time spent on the road: Additional compensation that takes traffic and other factors into account
• Special offers: Missions, bonuses, sweepstakes, and other promotions 
• Tips: Drivers keep 100% of all tips. 

Like Uber Eats, Grubhub offers two payment options. You can receive payments on Thursday of each week via direct deposit. Or you can use the Instant Cash Out feature. If you’re a Chase Bank customer, there’s no fee for instant payments. If not, you’ll pay $0.50 for each deposit. 

With Instant Cash Out, you can cash out up to $500 each day. 

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: Working Hours

Both Uber Eats and Grubhub offer the potential to work any hours you want, 24 hours per day. However, the available hours depend on where you live. 

In big cities, there are typically orders available around the clock. If you’re in a small town, there will be orders around mealtimes, but you’re less likely to have tons of work at other times. 

Uber Eats Working Hours Available

Uber Eats drivers can work at any time of day or night. Many of the service’s restaurant partners, such as McDonald’s, are open 24 hours per day in some locations.  

Grubhub Working Hours Available

Grubhub lets you schedule shifts ahead of time and it gives priority to scheduled drivers. It’s a good idea to schedule yourself to work around mealtimes. You can also try working at other potentially busy times, like late nights if you live in a college town. 

As you work, you’ll get a feel for the most lucrative times to make deliveries.

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: The App

With both platforms, you’ll rely heavily on the app to complete your orders. Here’s a closer look at each one.

Uber Eats App

Uber uses the same app, which is called Uber, for its rideshare service and Uber Eats. It’s easy to switch between the two services if you drive for both. 

The app provides instructions for each delivery, including driving directions. You can also view your earnings and request payments within the app. 

Grubhub App

Grubhub’s app is called Grubhub for Drivers, which is separate from the app customers use to order food. 

Use the app to schedule shifts and complete deliveries. You can view the map to see areas that are busy and need drivers.

Manage your earnings and request Instant Cash Out payments within the app. 

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: Earning Potential

The earning potential is similar between Uber Eats and Grubhub, as well as other platforms like it, including DoorDash and Postmates. The biggest factors affecting your earnings are how many orders there are in your area and how fast you can complete jobs. 

Many drivers work for several platforms at the same time to maximize earnings. If there aren’t many orders in one app, you can switch to another and try your luck there. 

Our pay estimates below are based on reports from real drivers. 

How Much Can I Make with Uber Eats?

The average hourly pay for Uber Eats drivers on Glassdoor is $20. On Indeed, drivers report their average pay as $18.63 to $19.22 per hour. 

Based on our research, Uber Eats drivers can expect to earn anywhere between $15 to $24 per hour.

How Much Can I Make with Grubhub?

Drivers on Indeed report an average hourly salary of $13.60. 

On Glassdoor, 1,527 Grubhub drivers report their average hourly pay as $26. However, the rates range from $9 to $43 per hour. This range shows how much the pay varies based on location, orders completed per hour, tips, and other factors. 

Based on our research, Grubhub drivers can expect to earn anywhere between $12 to $20 per hour.

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: Rating System

Both services have rating systems for drivers. Grubhub’s rating system is more complex and has more of a direct impact on your job. 

Uber Eats Ratings

Restaurants and customers can both rate drivers with a thumbs up or thumbs down. Your overall rating, which you can see in the app, is based on the previous 100 orders.  

If your rating is consistently low, you might lose your ability to use the app. The minimum required rating varies by location. If yours starts to drop too low, you’ll get a notification in the app. 

Grubhub Ratings

Grubhub ratings are based on the following factors:

• Attendance: Percentage of attended scheduled blocks of time
• Acceptance: Percentage of orders you accept
• Block Drop Rates: Percentage of blocks you schedule and then drop 

These stats are calculated over 30 days at a time. Based on your rating, you can reach different Driver Recognition tiers: Partner, Pro, and Premier. Partner is the first level, which you’ll reach when you’ve completed 20 deliveries.

As you reach higher levels, you’ll get access to perks like early block scheduling and access to catering orders.

Grubhub customers can rate their order on details such as whether the estimated delivery time was accurate. They don’t rate drivers directly. 

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: What We Like

We’ve covered some of the benefits of these platforms. You don’t need previous experience, and it’s easy to sign up. You can choose your schedule and work as much or as little as you prefer.

Here are some other things we like about each app.

What We Like About Uber Eats

• Extensive availability
• Integration with Uber ridesharing

What We Like About Grubhub

• Ability to schedule shifts ahead of time
• Driver Recognition Program

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Uber Eats vs. Grubhub: What We Don’t Like

It’s important to know about the downsides of Uber Eats and Grubhub before you sign up. For example, you won’t have employee benefits like paid time off. You’ll also need to set aside money to pay your taxes. 

Here are a few other downsides to each service.

What We Don’t Like About Uber Eats

• Ratings can affect your ability to keep working
• Stricter vehicle age requirements

What We Don’t Like About Grubhub

• Strict standards for Pro and Premier tiers
• Less flexibility if you can’t (or prefer not to) schedule shifts in advance 

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Final Thoughts

Uber Eats and Grubhub both offer opportunities to make money on your schedule. There aren’t significant differences between the two. If you like the idea of scheduling shifts in advance, try Grubhub. If you’re already driving for Uber, try Uber Eats. 

If you can’t decide, or you just want to make as much cash as possible, you can always try both. You might find that one is more popular in your city. Or, you might like using both and switching back and forth.