Download My FREE Income Ideas Cheat Sheet!
Make. More. Money. Join 20,000+ subscribers learning how to boost their income and take control of their finances.

Don't worry – we hate spam too. Unsubscribe at any time.

25 Best Driving Apps to Make Money (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  November 19, 2022

These day, a lot of people are moonlighting as delivery drivers to earn some extra cash.

Whether with a food delivery app, a rideshare app, or another driving app, there are many apps that pay drivers good money for driving in the gig economy.

Imagine being able to work whenever you want with the tap of a button. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

You can use your extra cash to pad your savings, pay down debts, or just to have some additional spending money.

If you have a free car or truck and want to earn money in your free time, there are plenty of apps that pay you to drive. Here are some of my favorites!

The Best Driving Apps to Make Money

Below are some of the best driving apps to make money in your free time. Try a few and see which ones work best for you!

1. DoorDash

DoorDash is a food delivery service that's similar to to other food delivery services in many respects. Customers can order from local restaurants and major chains, and DoorDash drivers (“Dashers”) choose which orders they accept to make money. 

The driver requirements aren't terribly strict, and you can drive whenever you like.

DoorDash pays its drivers based on a somewhat more complex formula than others. There are a number of factors, including the order size, how long you had to wait at the restaurant, the total mileage, and more.

Average Doordash Pay

DoorDash drivers earn an average of around $15 to $25 per hour, including tips and some drivers can even make a living with Doordash.

So if you want to earn an extra $500 a week or make over $1000 a week, using Doordash is a great option.

If you're wondering “is Doordash worth it?”, the answer is an easy YES! Check out these Doordash hacks to boost your earnings and register below to get started!

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

2. Instacart

Instacart specializes in grocery delivery, and offers two different types of service: simple delivery or full-service shopping.

Ordinary delivery is available at grocery stores that allow for curbside pickup, and the delivery driver simply picks up the order and takes it to the customer.

With full service shopping, a personal shopper personally picks out the entire order, then makes the delivery.

You can choose to work for Instacart as a full service shopper, or only make deliveries. Either way, the application process is short and the requirements are easy to meet.

Jobs like Instacart can be an awesome way to make extra cash when you need it. 

Drivers earn a different base pay per job depending on their region. Depending on where you live in the US and how quickly you work, this could work out to anywhere from $15 to $25 per hour. 

For example, this Reddit user claims to make $400 a week working part time. Not bad!

Instacart Average Pay

You can check out these Instacart tips to earn $500 a week or more delivering groceries! Register below to get started!

With Instacart you can work your own hours and get paid to deliver groceries!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

3. Stickr

If you want to make money driving, using the Stickr can be a great way to make an extra $50 a day or more.

Many driving apps to make money will require you to interact with others, but Stickr is different because you can make money doing nothing other than driving your vehicle as you normally would.

It works by placing a see-thru decal on your vehicle with a local advertisement on it.

By using this passive income app you can easily make money driving.

4. Grubhub

Grubhub is among the most popular food delivery companies on the planet.

Customers can log in through the Grubhub app or their web browser, and they have access to all kinds of restaurants, from national chains to local businesses.

Grubhub drivers are able to view orders that have been placed, and use their own vehicles to pick up the orders and carry them to customers. Drivers can schedule chunks of time in advance, or work any time they like by logging into the app.

Grubhub pay is based on a combination of base pay and mileage. The base pay can range from $2 to $6, although $3 to $4 is more the norm. The mileage rate is $0.50 per mile.

Customer tips can also be very generous, and drivers keep 100% of all tips.

Still not sure:? Check out the video below!

5. Postmates

Postmates is yet another one of the many apps that pay you money to pick up food orders. Postmastes customers place their orders through the app, and a delivery driver brings it to their house.

As an added bonus, Postmates drivers can earn even more money by taking Grubhub and DoorDash orders through the same app.

Like, InstaCart, Postmates pay varies from region to region.

There's a flat trip price, plus a drop off bonus, and extra pay for mileage and waiting at the restaurant. This works out to an average of $10 to $25 per hour.

6. Uber

Uber is a bit different than the other driving apps we've discussed, because it's not a delivery driver app. Uber is the world's most popular rideshare app.

Customers log into the app, and request a ride to another location. At that point, they'll be visible in the driver app, and you can choose which rides to accept.

Uber drivers use their personal vehicles, so you'll have to meet certain standards. You can't drive people in a car that's more than 10 years old, and you can't drive a two-seater.

Uber drivers earn an average of $14 to $20 per hour. A lot depends on ride availability, as well as how much you earn in customer tips.

Uber Driver Salary

You can also earn extra money by driving during peak hours, or by using other rideshare apps to scan for rides at the same time.

7. UberEATS

Along with ridesharing, Uber also offers a food delivery service called UberEATS. Existing Uber customers can sign up for UberEATS without going through a lengthy account setup, which makes this one of the more popular apps to deliver food.

One of the nice things about driving for UberEATS is that the requirements are less strict than Uber. If you have an older car or a less-than-perfect driving record, you won't be disqualified from UberEATS.

All you need is a car and a valid driver's license.

UberEATS drivers earn an average of $15-$20 per hour, depending on tips and other factors.

8. Lyft

Get Paid to Drive with Lyft

Lyft is similar to Uber in many respects. Customers request a ride from Point A to Point B, and drivers are able to choose the rides that are most convenient for them.

As with Uber, Lyft can be paired with other apps that pay you money for driving. As a result, it's common for drivers to use both apps at once. This makes it easy to find the most profitable rides.

Lyft drivers are paid a flat fee per trip, plus tips, and additional money for mileage. Lyft drivers earn an average of $14 per hour.

As with Uber, you can also earn more by driving during peak hours.

9. Shipt

Shipt is a popular grocery delivery app with an attached subscription service. Customers make up a weekly grocery list, and those items are delivered to their homes.

Shipt drivers also act as personal shoppers, who go to the store and hand-pick each item. This provides a level of quality customers won't expect from other similar services.

Shipt personal shoppers can work on their own schedule, on either a full- or a part-time basis.

On average, Shipt drivers earn between $16 and $22 per hour. This number does not include tips, which can sometimes be pretty substantial.

10. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is a delivery driver app with a unique twist.

Instead of driving for individual customers, you're delivering orders for Amazon Prime and Amazon Fresh. This is part of Amazon's overall strategy of outsourcing local deliveries to local drivers.

Amazon Flex Delivery Driver

Flex drivers work whenever they want, and they choose short delivery runs called “blocks.” You make money for each block you complete, and collect your earnings via direct deposit.

Amazon flex drivers earn an average of $17 to $21 per hour. Mostly, this depends on how quickly you can complete your block, which means that traffic can be a factor.

11. Dolly

Dolly is a bit of an oddball. Unlike other apps that pay you to drive people around, or deliver food and groceries, Dolly pays you to deliver larger objects like furniture.

Needless to say, you'll need a larger vehicle like a pickup truck, and you can make money even more quickly if you happen to own a box truck. It's like running your own little delivery company!

Needless to say, you'll need to have a strong back to work with this delivery service. But if you're up to it, this is one of the fastest ways to make money with a delivery app.

The average Dolly driver earns around $30 per hour.

12. Roadie

Roadie is like Dolly, but on an even bigger scale. Drivers deliver large objects like furniture and appliances, but these aren't just local shipments.

Roadie also offers cross country deliveries. If you like driving cross country in box trucks, this could be the perfect service for you.

Determining Roadie's driver pay is a little bit tougher than other driving apps. You can earn anything from $50 for a short local delivery to hundreds of dollars for cross country deliveries.

13. StickerRide

StickerRide is a unique service because you don't have to do anything you aren't already doing. Instead, you make money while you're driving around, during your everyday life.

This is a car advertising company that pays you to have your car wrapped, so you'll have to have a reasonably new car to begin with. That said, you can choose from a variety of ad campaigns, so you still have some control over your car's appearance.

Once the wrap has been applied at a StickerRide location, you'll get paid by the mile any time you're on the road. Just make sure the app is running so your mileage is being logged.

Depending on individual driving habits, StickerRide drivers earn an average of $50 a month. That might not be big money, but you're also not doing any work. It's basically free cash.

14. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit isn't purely a driving app, but you'll typically need to do some driving to get them done.

Customers sign up and ask for tasks that can range from deliveries to personal transportation to helping them move.

Workers (called “Taskers”) make money by choosing and completing particular tasks.

The neat thing about Tasking is that you can set your own hourly rate. This can theoretically be anything, but the going rate will vary depending on what you're doing.

For general pickup and delivery, Taskers earn an average of $13 to $16 per hour. For handyman services, the average hourly rate varies from $10 to $40 per hour, depending on the job.

For example, in my area, it's possible to make $39 per hour assembling furniture. Not bad!

Taskrabbit Pay

15. Saucey

Saucey is a delivery service with a twist; instead of delivering food or groceries, they specialize in delivering adult beverages.

Because alcohol delivery is a bit of a niche market, Saucey is not available everywhere. As of March, 2022, they offer their alcohol delivery in the Chicago, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco areas.

Drivers need to pass a background check, and deliver packages in 30 minutes while driving safely.

Saucey drivers are paid a base rate of $5 per delivery, plus $0.50 per item. Including tips, Saucey drivers average between $10 and $22 per hour.

16. Wingz

Wingz gets its name from its origins as a special airport ridesharing service. Now, they're famous for their unique app; instead of drivers choosing their customers, like most rideshare apps, Wingz customers choose from a list of drivers.

This is a premium service, so you'll need to meet strict requirements. You'll need to have a reasonably nice car, pass a background check, and meet certain other standards.

Like Saucey, Wingz is only available in a handful of major metropolitan airports. That said, Wingz drivers can earn more money than with other similar apps.

Depending on which gigs you're driving, you can earn as much as $40 per hour. A lot of this depends on tips, but no matter how you cut it, Wingz is a great way to make money.

17. Getaround

We've talked about several rideshare services, but what if you want to skip the driving altogether? In that case, Getaround could be one of the best apps for you.

Getaround doesn't pay you to drive. They pay you to rent out your car, and get paid for the time someone else is using it.

As you might expect, there are rules that dictate what kind of car you can use. Your vehicle can't be more than 10 years old, it can't have more than 125,000 miles on it, and it can't have more than 8 seats.

Getaround lets you set your hourly rental rate. You keep 60% of that amount, while Getaround gets the other 40%. The going rate is between $5 and $8 per hour, depending on your vehicle.

That said, there's a one-time fee of $99 for to have Getaround's hardware installed in your car. There's also a $20 data subscription, paid monthly.

18. Favor

Favor is a pickup and delivery service that's exclusive to the State of Texas. Drivers pick up food, as well as any other kinds of deliveries from local stores, and pass those goods on to their customers.

Favor's drivers can also function as full service shoppers, and must pass a background check in order to begin working.

Unlike a lot of apps that pay you to deliver stuff, your schedule isn't 100% free. While you get to set your own hours, you need to choose particular shifts in advance and commit to working them.

Your actual earnings will vary depending on how many tasks you complete, but Favor's average is between $10 and $18 per hour, including tips. And unlike most similar services, Favor guarantees a minimum hourly rate even if there are no tasks to perform.

18. Turo

Turo is a unique rental service that pairs travelers up with local drivers. A traveler can book a car, and schedule a pickup and drop off at their choice of location.

Drivers can view available gigs through the app, and drop their car off for the customer. The customer uses it during their trip, and returns it when they're done.

Of course, you'll need a way to get home after you've dropped off your car. Maybe another rideshare company can help?

Turo drivers set their own rates, although you'll obviously want to stay competitive within the marketplace. Regardless, it's a simple way to make money when you're not using your car.

Depending on your make and model, you can expect to charge anywhere from $34 to $124 per day, and you'll be paid weekly via direct deposit.

19. HopSkipDrive

HopSkipDrive is a special rideshare service that's tailored specifically for children. Their goal is to create a safe way for parents to ensure that their kids have transportation.

As you might expect, there are some pretty strict requirements to become a HopSkipDrive driver. You need to pass an extensive background check, and you also need to have experience in the childcare industry.

Other than that, this service works a lot like any other rideshare app. You choose when you want to work, and accept whatever rides you want to accept.

A major advantage of HopSkipDrive is their average rate. Depending on various factors, you can collect a cool $28 to $32 per hour.

20. BuddyTruk

BuddyTruk is a moving app that connects local truck drivers with people who need helping in their immediate area. In addition to simply driving, BuddyTruk drivers also help their customers load and unload their home's contents.

Drivers will need to pass a DMV background check, and they'll have to be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.

BuddyTruk drivers set their own rates, and pay a 30% fee off the top.

This works out to an average of $40 per hour.

21. GoShare

GoShare is a delivery service that pairs drivers with customers. These are larger deliveries like furniture, appliances, office supplies, and other things that most people can't carry in their own vehicles.

Obviously, this puts some limits on you as a driver. If you don't own a pickup truck, box truck, or something similar, this gig isn't going to be a great fit for you.

That said, it's a great way to earn extra money, and most drivers report an excellent driving experience.

The exact pay will vary from job to job, and also depends on how much you can haul. Pickup drivers earn an average of $45-$50 per hour, while those driving a delivery truck report earning upwards of $70.

22. Urgently

Urgently is a specialized driving app for people who need roadside assistance. You can deliver fuel, jump start batteries, fix flat tires, or even provide towing. Obviously, you're going to need the right equipment, so this isn't the best gig for everybody.

That said, you can earn a lot of money if you've got the gear. Ugently drivers earn an average of $5 per mile for towing. That's $125 for a 25-mile tow!

23. Gigwalk

Gigwalk is perhaps the most unique app on our list. As a Gigwalk driver, you're not making a fast food delivery or picking up groceries; you're a mystery shopper, so you're actually getting paid to go shopping.

Typical gigs range from checking prices to snapping pictures of store displays. And like most driving apps, you don't have to commit to any particular schedule. Scroll through a list of gigs when you've got some free time, and see what's up your alley.

Rates vary widely depending on the gig. You can expect to see anything from $3 all the way up to $100. This is mostly because some gigs are very involved, while others are pretty simple.

Another thing to keep in mind is what kinds of gigs are available in your area. If you're in a major city, there should be plenty to choose from. In a more rural area, your options will be more limited.

Are Rideshares and Delivery Services Worth it?

We've talked about a whole lot of driving apps to make money. But why would you want to drive instead of taking a traditional part-time job?

Here are some of the reasons you might want to consider these apps.

Earn as Much or as Little as You Like

One beautiful thing about working as a delivery driver is that you have control over your own earnings.

With an ordinary part-time job, you might be able to set limits on how much you work. But what if you want to earn a lot of extra money this month?

In that case, your boss might not have any hours available.

As a rideshare or delivery driver, you're your own boss. If you want to deliver food all night long, you can do that – as long as there are deliveries available.

This gives you the flexibility to work part-time or full-time, and adjust your schedule as you see fit.

The more you work, the more you get paid.

Set Your Own Schedule

Hand in hand with earning as much as you want, setting your own hours also provides an excellent work/life balance.

Delivery drivers have the freedom to care for sick family members, or pick up their kids from school.

If you're a parent, you can earn extra cash on your kids' schedule, with average pay comparable to many part-time jobs.

The same is true if you have hobbies that take up a lot of your time. If you absolutely must spend a month every year hiking on the Appalachian Trail, you don't have to worry about vacation time or getting permission from your boss.

Most food delivery and rideshare apps have no availability requirements. Just log in when you're available, and start making money!

Make Money Driving, Get Paid Faster

When you work a regular 9-5 job, it can take a few weeks before you start getting paid. This is particularly true if the job is paid monthly; you might have to wait as long as six weeks!

Most food delivery apps, on the other hand, pay on a weekly basis. This is great news if you want to get paid as quickly as possible.

Depending on the gig, it can take a few minutes to a few days to start driving. Normally, you'll have to submit to some kind of background check. You'll also need to share a copy of your valid driver's license.

Once you've been approved, all you have to do is open the app and start driving.

Better yet, most delivery driving apps pay by direct deposit. This gives you fast access to your earnings, as opposed to having to wait for a paper check.

In some cases, you can even get paid instantly.

For example, DoorDash offers a Fast Pay option for qualified drivers. This allows you to get an instant transfer up to once per day.

Earn Tips and Perks

With many delivery services, tips make up the better portion of your income. Depending on where you're driving, some of these tips can be pretty generous.

Many apps also provide bonuses to drivers who work during periods of high demand. If you're willing to Uber people around a crowded sports stadium, you can earn two or even three times your normal rate.

If you're savvy, you can put together a respectable income. Many delivery drivers earn $30 per hour or more in their spare time.

Less Job-Related Stress

One of the main drawbacks of a traditional job is that you have to answer to your boss.

Nobody likes being hounded about deadlines or held to strict performance metrics. And as an independent contractor, you won't have to deal with that.

There's nobody standing over your shoulder and micromanaging you. You set your own schedule, you choose which jobs to take, and you get paid for all the jobs you complete. If there's an emergency or you just get tired of working, you close the app and get back to your everyday life.

It's that simple.

What Are the Drawbacks?

With all of that being said, no job is perfect, not even when you're using apps that pay you to drive around town. Here are some of the drawbacks you should consider before using one of these apps.

You Use Your Own Vehicle

Food delivery and rideshare gigs aren't like ordinary employers. You're an independent contractor, you're responsible for your own fuel costs and other business expenses. Make sure to keep this in mind when you're calculating your own hourly rate.

Because they're using their own vehicles, car owners should also be aware that you won't get any reimbursement for mileage or wear and tear.

On the plus side, because you're self-employed, all of these expenses will be tax deductible. Make sure to save your receipts and itemize your deductions. In most cases, you'll save money compared to what you'd pay with the standard deduction.

There's No Guaranteed Pay

With a traditional job, you get paid an hourly wage or a salary. Either way, as long as you show up to work, you know you're going to get paid.

With driving apps, there's no such guarantee.

Let's say you're driving for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. If nobody is booking any rides, you're not going to earn any money.

To help mitigate this, many delivery drivers use more than one delivery service. If no-one wants a rideshare, for example, you might still be able to pick up some gigs delivering food.

Moreover, there's no obligation. If you find that a particular app isn't working for you, you don't have to give two weeks' notice. Just uninstall the app and stick with apps that pay better.

You Need to be Sociable

When you're using driving apps to make money, there's a certain amount of expected social interaction. We're not saying you have to be a professional stand-up comic, but you need to be comfortable with casual, everyday interactions.

Delivery drivers have to talk with staff from local restaurants, and rideshare drivers can wind up with chatty customers. Alcohol delivery services come with their own unique quirks.

If you're an introvert, this can be challenging. Yes, you could always keep quiet, but this could have a negative impact on your tips. At the very least, it helps if you smile, say hello, and thank your customers.

Then again, you'll also spend a lot of time driving around by yourself. That's a lot of time to listen to music, enjoy an audiobook, or just drive around in silence.

Most delivery services also allow for “no contact” deliveries. If your social anxiety makes you want to avoid human contact altogether, simply limit yourself to these deliveries.

Final Thoughts on the Best Apps to Make Money Driving

As you can see, there are plenty of apps to make money driving in your spare time.

Whether you're driving people around or making local deliveries, you can use these apps to be your own boss, and earn money on your own schedule. That's what the gig economy is all about!

If you haven't already, I recommend signing up for Doordash and Instacart, as these are some of the most reliable apps that pay you to drive. 

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
Download My FREE Income Ideas Cheat Sheet!
Make. More. Money. Join 20,000+ subscribers learning how to boost their income and take control of their finances.

Don't worry – we hate spam too. Unsubscribe at any time.