Uber Eats works well as a side hustle, but it's far from the only option. For those looking to earn over $500 a month from delivery or gig work, several alternatives pay more consistently and offer better flexibility for students and others fitting work around other commitments.
Drive for Lyft or Other Rideshare Apps
Rideshare driving tends to pay slightly more per hour than food delivery, with most drivers earning about $5 more per hour. Lyft, Uber, and Bolt all offer peak-hour bonuses that increase earnings during busy periods, particularly at night.
Drivers in densely populated areas or close to city centres see the best returns. Signing up to multiple apps and switching between them to accept the best available offer is a common strategy for maximising hourly earnings. Each platform has its own vehicle requirements covering size, year, and driving record, so checking eligibility before signing up is worth doing.
Deliver Food with Grubhub or DoorDash
Food delivery remains a solid option for those who prefer less direct customer interaction. Apps like Grubhub and DoorDash operate similarly to Uber Eats, though peak bonuses and surge pay vary by platform and location.
Running multiple delivery apps simultaneously during peak hours increases the chance of landing higher-paying offers. DoorDash is generally regarded as one of the better-paying delivery apps, making it a reasonable starting point for drivers new to the category.
Deliver Packages with Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex lets you deliver Amazon packages using your own vehicle, on a schedule you choose. It suits drivers who prefer parcel delivery over food and want a more predictable route structure than restaurant-based apps provide.
Shifts are competitive in many areas and can be claimed quickly by other drivers, so checking the app regularly improves the chances of securing consistent work.
Deliver Groceries with Instacart
Apps like Instacart and Shipt work similarly to food delivery, but orders are picked up from supermarkets rather than restaurants. Larger hauls pay more per trip, so high-volume family orders tend to be the most worthwhile runs to accept.
A vehicle with enough cargo space to handle a full grocery shop is the main practical requirement. Drivers with smaller vehicles can still accept compact orders, but turning down larger requests limits earning potential. Motorcycles and bicycles are generally unsuitable for most grocery delivery requests.
