This article will finally settle the ultimate showdown of two delivery giants: Uber Eats vs DoorDash.
You may be asking yourself: “Which is better…. Uber Eats or DoorDash?”, “Which company has the better platform?”, “Does Uber Eats or DoorDash pay better?” Well, stick around! These questions and more will be tackled throughout this article.
In a hurry? Jump to Eligibility and Operations, Pay or Conclusion for a quick look!
The gig economy is booming and new companies are popping up left right and center, creating new work opportunities for those that are savvy enough to capitalize on them. It’s without question that Uber Eats and DoorDash have positioned themselves as powerful competitors in the gig economy delivery market. Choosing which one to work for can be an overwhelming decision with multiple factors that one has to keep in mind.
In this article we’ll explore those factors and categorically break them down for you, making the research process that much easier. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you’ll come out feeling empowered and informed enough to make the decision for which delivery company is right for you.
For ease of reading and comparison, we’re going to separate this ‘faceoff’ into several distinct categories, naming the winner in each one.
Without further ado…let’s start the UberEats vs DoorDash battle!
Eligibility and Operations
First thing’s first. Let’s talk about eligibility. You have to be able to legally meet the minimum requirements to work, right? Uber Eats requires you to be at least 18 for cycling/walking. DoorDash has the same requirements; not much to compare there.
When it comes to driving, things get noticeably different:
Uber Eats is definitely stricter here. Young university students looking to make some cash are out of luck with Uber Eats since they require a minimum age of 21. If your car is older than 20 years and if you still haven’t gotten your full G license, you’re also disqualified.
DoorDash is much more forgiving. You can use an older, reliable car; you can start working almost immediately after getting your G2 (you *do* need a year of driving experience, though, which isn’t asking for much); and, you can start younger, too!
It’s not even close. When comparing UberEats vs DoorDash eligibility requirements, DoorDash is the clear winner due to their more forgiving eligibility to become a driver.
Approval Efficiency
No onboarding is complete without the necessary document/background check and social insurance number.
Invariably, this process will take shorter/longer depending on the city you live in and company backlogs. Both companies have a very similar onboarding process, so there isn’t much to worry about or prepare for.
Anecdotally, however, DoorDash seems to be faster and more efficient with onboarding. This means you can start working faster and begin earning money sooner with them. What are you waiting for?
Want to get to work as fast as possible? DoorDash is a sure bet.
Uber Eats vs DoorDash Support
A good, versatile support experience is the backbone of a company. Things can and do go wrong with this job, and it’s good to have a support staff that’s responsive and reliable.
Uber Eats requires phone calls to resolve the majority of issues. A small number of problems, like trip fare adjustments, can be made via the app. However, resolving most issues requires a call to their support number. Support is usually fairly easy to reach for active orders, but not quite as easy to get through for inactive orders. Makes sense since active orders require greater urgency.
DoorDash has not only a support number but a live chat feature as well. This is great for people who are uncomfortable speaking on the phone and prefer to speak to a representative by texting. It’s better to call to resolve issues, generally speaking, but the flexibility to have a chat feature is definitely a plus.
Both support systems are decent and can come in handy when needed, but DoorDash wins this category simply for having the versatility of including a live chat option too. Ultimately, there isn’t too much of a difference between Uber Eats vs DoorDash support.
See what a day in the life of a Skip the Dishes courier is like in our new featured article.
Volume of Orders
This one is tricky and is highly market dependant. There really is no accurate way to know which platform will yield more orders. Practical experience is the best way to go, but obviously, not everyone is signed up to both platforms and has time to experiment. A good practice is to open the delivery apps within your area and check out how many restaurants are available on Uber Eats vs DoorDash.
Anecdotally speaking, in most major cities, Uber Eats has cornered the market with a greater order volume. This appears to be true for other markets within North America, but your mileage can and will vary.
Due to better advertising efforts and a stronger market presence, Uber Eats is the winner here.
Scheduling Flexibility
Part of the attraction of the gig economy to many is that you don’t have to report to a boss and have complete freedom over your hours. Nevertheless, not each company is the same when it comes to freedom of scheduling. Let’s have a look at how both companies handle this integral part of delivering:
Uber Eats – As simple as pressing “go.” Uber never limits you to a specific geographic area, just as long as you stay within the general provincial area you signed up for. There is no shift scheduling and no prior necessity to advise the company of where and when you will be working. It’s entirely in your hands! Order acceptance rates used to be more important but not so much anymore.
DoorDash – Scheduling is preferable and sometimes necessary. DoorDash is less forgiving in this aspect. It’s always smart to schedule a shift in advance since DoorDash attempts to somewhat balance out areas. If you don’t sign up for a shift in advance and want to begin delivering last-minute, you may have to wait half an hour or longer before you are able to go online. Bummer, no? This is why scheduling in advance is always recommended. Order acceptance rates are allegedly more important and it is possible that DoorDash may decide to reach out if you are consistently declining orders. Beware.
Uber Eats easily takes this category for their flexible scheduling, allowing for last-minute shift changes with zero consequences.
***tip: moved to a new city/province? You can request to change the area you work in by contacting support
Uber Eats vs DoorDash Pay
Both Uber Eats and DoorDash pay is highly dependent on your location and the days/times you deliver. They are also each frequently running promotions for extra pay in order to entice drivers to get on the road and deliver more, there is no clear winner on pay but there are some MAJOR differences between the companies.
Tip Transparency
Believe it or not, each platform handles tip transparency differently. This is something that often catches people off guard since they assume that tips are handled in a universal manner. Not exactly.
Uber Eats feeds the dormant gambler within you by not disclosing what the final customer tip will be until only about an hour or so after the order is complete.
Picture this: you go out of your way to deliver an order with exceptional service… only to get slammed with a big fat 0 dollar tip an hour later. Or, even worse, 1 or 2 cents (this actually happens sometimes, don’t be surprised).
On the other hand, you’ll receive the biggest dopamine hit ever after a flashy 20 bucks gets added to your total nightly earned out of nowhere!
Not so with DoorDash. Tips are stated upfront when deciding to accept an order. You’ll know exactly how much you’ll be paid when an order comes up, making the decision of whether or not to accept it way easier.
There are no two ways about it… DoorDash is the clear winner here
** fun fact: Uber Eats tips are displayed outright in the US market, but not in Canada. Go figure!
Double Order Payout
Double orders have been popping up more frequently on both platforms in recent years. Gone are the days of measly single orders! Surprisingly, both platforms handle these differently. Here’s what you need to know:
Uber Eats, unfortunately, only pays a fair base rate for the first order that comes in. This means that if you accept a double order for, say, $9, then you are likely being paid around $6.50 for the first one and a meager $2.50 for the second one. Blasphemous, I know, but it’s part of the game.
DoorDash, meanwhile, will pay you fully for both orders, should you accept to take a double. You can make a more informed decision and have a better idea of how much you’ll make (remember, tips are integrated into the order popup), should you decide to deliver two orders.
DoorDash unequivocally takes this category, and honestly, Uber could learn a thing or two from how their competitor handles double orders.
Promo Pay
Both companies have their own way to incentivize drivers on certain days in certain areas. The actual methodology behind promotions is a bit of a mystery and requires some luck, but it’s possible to earn bonus money with both.
Uber Eats calls these promotions ‘quests.’ You can get a bonus payout if you make a certain number of deliveries within a specified timeframe This can really make a difference in the amount that you earn in a night, sometimes almost doubling your earnings. Be on the lookout for them.
DoorDash has something called ‘peak pay’ opportunities that work largely the same way. They will incentivize riders to complete a certain number of deliveries in a specified area for a financial reward.
Who does it better? Neither are predictably better or worse…It’s a tie!
Uber Eats vs DoorDash Pay Overall
On average, you can expect to make approximately $19.30 an hour with Uber Eats in 2022 and $20.24 an hour with Door Dash. Given these numbers are so close, it is safe to assume that each company pays close to the same…around $20 an hour.
Which is Better…Uber Eats or Doordash?
Some of you may have skipped directly to this part. I don’t blame you, so let’s cut to the chase: which company is the better to work for overall….Uber Eats or Door Dash? Fantastic question, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer. It truly depends on what you value in a company.
If you don’t meet Uber’s minimum age/car requirements, definitely go with DoorDash. No brainer.
However, if you meet the minimum requirements for both companies, here’s the final verdict on both:
Go with Uber Eats if you’re looking for greater order volume with complete scheduling flexibility.
Choose Door Dash instead if you prioritize tip transparency and fair double order payout.
You can’t go wrong with either company and their respective applications have come a long way. Good luck out there, and as always, stay safe.
