How to choose
July 15, 2024
As a delivery rider, choosing the best company to work for is one of the most important decisions one needs to make.
The question many workers have is Uber Eats vs DoorDash, which one is better for them?
Both of these companies are known for being successful and professional, and are some of the biggest names in the industry.
However, most reviews you find online are from customers for customers. There’s not that much readily available information that can help prospective riders.
Once you take this into consideration, the dilemma delivery riders have is very understandable.
Here is all the available information about these two companies, as well as the final verdict on which one you should apply for.
Making such an important decision as Uber Eats or DoorDash immediately is nearly impossible.
There are many things you need to consider, and many features you need to think about before opting for one.
This is especially the case for first-time delivery riders, who might not even know where to start or what important things to look into.
Sure, some of this information doesn’t need much digging, such as the base pay for most food delivery companies. Still, it’s essential to understand the bigger picture before sending your application.
This is why we’ve looked into dozens of online reviews, done some research, and put everything we’ve discovered on paper.
Here’s everything you need to know about both of these companies:
Flexibility is one of the essential factors for many delivery riders. It allows them to manage the balance between life and work, optimize their earnings, and increase work opportunities.
Not only that, but it gives delivery riders a sense of autonomy, something that can increase their morale and motivation.
So, what about these two companies?
Uber Eats generally allows workers to choose when they want to work. All they need to do is to log in and start accepting deliveries whenever they feel like it.
This allows people to have a spontaneous work schedule as they typically don’t need to announce when they plan to work.
When it comes to DoorDash, their riders, also known as Dashers, can enjoy some of the most flexible working schedules out there.
They are aware that 84% of Dashers use DoorDash as a secondary job, and they want to allow them to create a schedule they can work around.
DoorDash allows their rider to work for as long as they like, whenever they like. You’re even allowed to take a break from working for a few weeks if this is what you like!
In fact, according to research done by DoorDash, most workers spend 4 hours riding on average.
Which company is more flexible? While both Uber Eats and DoorDash offer flexible working hours, DoorDash seems to be more relaxed about their riders, which is why they are the winners.
The acceptance rate is quite challenging to determine, and it’s hard to be precise here. Not only do most companies not publicly disclose their acceptance rates, but this is also something that varies on quite a few factors.
Fortunately, we’ve been able to gather some information from previous workers and hear their experiences about both companies. This helped us get to some conclusions.
Uber Eats doesn’t necessarily require you to have a high acceptance rate, and it won’t penalize or ban a rider’s account just because the rate is low.
However, a good acceptance rate can benefit riders in many ways.
For example, the higher the acceptance rate, the higher the number of delivery requests. Also, riders with a very high rate can get promotions, incentives, or bonuses.
Something similar is the case with DoorDash. There isn’t a required minimum acceptance rate.
However, if you continuously refuse orders, this can leave you with offers that don’t pay too much, as the better offers will go to riders with a better rate.
Most Dashers have reported that they’ve only been prioritized for high acceptance orders once their acceptance rate was over 50%, which is especially useful on days when the market is not too busy.
Which company has better benefits for a high acceptance rate? High acceptance rate matters in both companies, but the winner here is Uber Eats.
A company with a good support system helps its workers feel appreciated and safe. This is especially important when working with unknown people and traveling on the road.
DoorDash and Uber Eats both have good support systems for its riders. This includes:
DoorDash also has an emergency assistance button Dashers can use in case of emergencies, and you can report any incidents through the app. It also has a Safety Toolkit with various helpful resources for Dashers.
Similarly, Uber Eats has a Critical Safety Response Line that riders can contact if they are in danger or in case of incidents.
Which company has better support? Both companies excel in providing their workers with the help they need, so both are the winners here.
Inexperienced riders can greatly benefit from having extensive training that will teach them how to do their job properly.
Similarly, having proper and readily available resources helps all riders complete their tasks more easily, no matter their experience level.
This is something that Uber Eats lacks. There is no in-person training, and its only focus is on in-app tutorials and online resources, as well as community forums.
DoorDash, on the other hand, provides training for its Dashers. On the app, it says that it takes about 5 to 7 business days to complete training, but many riders reported that the process took about 10 business days.
Also, the app and the forums provide numerous resources any Dasher might need, as it’s in the DoorDash’s best interest to have as knowledgeable riders as possible.
Which company offers better training and resources? It’s clear that DoorDash cares more about the quality of their riders, making them the winner here.
No matter what anyone might say, people work for income. Pay is probably the first thing anyone looking to work for either DoorDash or Uber Eats will ask about.
Neither of the two names offers a fixed hourly rate, something pretty standard for most food delivery companies. Instead, there are several factors that will be considered when calculating the height of payments.
In the case of Uber Eats, your pay is calculated in this way:
There are also some tips included. You can keep 100% of the tips you earn while working for Uber Eats.
Also, customers can increase the tip amount up to an hour after the delivery. This is something riders typically call a hidden tip, and it further helps increase the profit.
Finally, according to TeachMe Delivery, Uber Eats' average pay is $16.32 per hour.
As for DoorDash, they also have a specific way of calculating earnings:
DoorDash will also allow you to take 100% of any tips you’ve earned, further increasing your hourly profit.
Lastly, TeachMe Delivery states that DoorDash riders have an average pay of up to $16.58 per hour in the high-earning cities, such as NYC.
Which company pays more? The results show that in cities such as New York, the winner is DoorDash, although both pay a satisfying amount.
Read Also: How to maintain a high rating on Uber Eats
An unwritten standard is that delivery companies pay their riders weekly.
This is typically done by Direct deposit, but some companies also offer immediate cash out after each delivery.
The same goes for Uber Eats and DoorDash, but with small differences when it comes to immediate cash payouts.
It isn’t stated what is the cost of a cash payout for Uber Eats, but it does cost some minor fees.
Also, you can get an Uber Pro card that serves as a debit card and a checking account. If you have Uber Pro, you can get immediate cashouts without that additional fee.
DoorDash makes a direct deposit to your bank account each week, and you can select the Fast Pay option to get daily payments for a minor fee.
Similarly to Uber Eats, they have a DashierDirect Business Prepaid Visa Card that allows you to get instant payments without fees.
Not only that, but this card provides riders with a 5% discount on certain costs necessary for delivering..
Which company has better payment frequency? Due to the special discounts their visa card offers, DoorDash is the winner of this round.
Order volume is the last thing to consider when thinking about Uber Eats vs DoorDash.
It is also the trickiest one, as not only does it depend on many circumstances, but it also isn’t always a good thing.
A large order volume results in a higher hourly rate, as it allows a rider to complete more orders throughout the day.
This gives you the option to choose which deliveries you want to take, and which ones to pass on.
At the same time, if the order volume is too high for the number of riders at a certain location, it can leave riders feeling overworked and stressed out.
Of course, having a good e-bike, such as Storm-2, can help you deliver more orders at the same time with ease.
Despite this, a low order volume is never a good thing.
Most of the time, when this is the case, priority riders will take all the good orders, leaving others on a minimum wage.
The order volume depends not only on the number of customers each company has, but on some external factors, including the hour of the day and the location.
Both of these companies generally have a high order volume. They are quite popular among customers, and tend to have lots of orders.
However, after communicating with several Dashers and Uber Eats riders, it seems that DoorDash has a better order volume.
This includes both good and bad offers you can choose from. Either way, you are unlikely not to get any deliveries by Dashing in NYC.
Which company has higher order volume?The winner here is DoorDash.
Related: Rent or buy e-bike for food delivery
After doing all the research, talking with numerous food delivery riders, and reading online forums, it appears that both of these companies are quite successful.
Working for any of them is likely to pay out, as both have plenty of loyal customers making orders.
However, after looking into all the results, DoorDash seems to be a better choice for delivery riders on e-bikes.
This company has a higher order volume, a slightly better hourly rate, and is extremely relaxed about working hours and schedule.
Its DashierDirect Business Prepaid Visa Card also gives you better deals, which is always a good thing.
Of course, this isn’t to say that Uber Eats is a bad company - quite the contrary. It also has many good sides and plenty of satisfied workers.
In the end, you are free to choose either one according to your liking. If you own an e-bike with a removable battery, entering this booming industry has never been easier.
Our Trade-In program is designed to lower the barrier for aspiring delivery riders like you.
Related: 50cc scooter vs electric bike for food delivery
FAQs
Are DoorDash and Uber Eats the same company?
DoorDash and Uber Eats are two entirely different companies. DoorDash is its own powerhouse, founded in 2012. Uber Eats is a branch of Uber, one of the largest ride-sharing companies.
Is DoorDash or Uber Eats a better deal?
As mentioned before, this entirely depends on your own preferences, needs, and expectations.
Uber Eats is more available globally than DoorDash and is a larger, more well-known company, but it’s also pricier for customers while offering lower hourly rates for their riders. DoorDash pays out more, but sometimes it isn’t too busy.
Which is more popular, Uber Eats or DoorDash?
The final factor in this Uber Eats vs DoorDash war is which one has more customers and is more popular overall.
According to Bloomberg’s research from March 2024, DoorDash is the leader in sales, making 67% of the market’s share of sales. Uber Eats is in second spot, with 23%.
Can you work for Uber Eats and DoorDash at the same time?
In the end, there is no need to choose on Uber Eats vs DoorDash. Both companies hire workers as individual contractors, which means you are not obliged to work for them only.
This can further help increase your profit and be even more flexible with your schedule.
Just remember to get the best e-bike possible so you can manage all those orders you are likely to get. Whizz can help you with just that.
Read Also: Food delivery work vs ridersharing
