Top 9 Apps Like Instacart to Supplement Your Income

Do you like shopping? Can you deliver groceries straight to clients’ doors with a happy smile on your face? If so, Instacart is right for you.

But, not everyone is comfortable with shopping, as some would rather do deliveries alone.

Instacart isn’t the only app around that involves grocery shopping, though. Check out the top 9 apps like Instacart, many of which have interesting perks.

An Overview of Instacart

Instacart is a grocery delivery service that lets you shop for customers and deliver to their doorstep. Unlike some other delivery apps, Instacart has strict requirements for new drivers.

It’s a great delivery service to work for because you can choose to be a full-service shopper or an indoor shopper. The first option grants you flexibility with your work schedule and involves both shopping and delivery. The second option is for individuals who prefer to work on location and only gather the groceries.

Where Does Instacart Excel?

Instacart has options for those who like to shop and people who enjoy the delivery side of the job. You can accept the orders you want and work on your schedule.

If you have enough time on your hands, you can accept new orders to your delivery batch so that there’s another task waiting for you right after.

Where Does Instacart Fall Short?

Instacart prioritizes shopping over delivery. So, no option involves exclusively dropping off items to customers. The app won’t appeal to you if you don’t enjoy shopping.

Earnings are also inconsistent across various cities in the U.S., so you’ll only earn higher pay if you live and work in one of the big urban areas like Boston and San Francisco.

At a Glance

• Shipt: Best App for Delivery Drivers Who Also Want to Do Grocery Shopping
• Uber Eats: Best Food Delivery App for Individuals That Own Bikes or Scooters
• FreshDirect: Best App for Full-Time Delivery Drivers
• Amazon Flex: Best App for Delivery Drivers Who Want to Earn Good Money Consistently
• Walmart Spark: Best Delivery App With an Extensive Rewards Program
• Dropoff: Best Delivery App for Drivers Who Only Have a Few Hours to Work Weekly
• DeliverThat: Best Delivery App for Drivers That Are Free to Work During Lunch Hours
• Grubhub: Best Delivery App for Seamless Instant Cashout
• Dumpling: Best Delivery App for Deliveries Tailored to Your Preferences

Editor’s Choice: Our Top Picks Overall

There are plenty of delivery apps like Instacart, but two platforms stand out for the range of options they offer.

What Is The Best Alternative to Instacart?

Shipt is the best alternative to Instacart as it offers three work options. You can be a driver, a shopper, or do both if you’re up for it.

The platform also stands out for its health insurance benefits for drivers. Orders typically take an hour to complete, and you get to keep 100% of the tips you get from satisfied customers.

Who Is Instacart’s Biggest Competitor?

Uber Eats is Instacart’s biggest competitor. The gigs at the online grocery delivery service are highly flexible, and you can use scooters or bikes if you don’t have a car.

Uber Eats is a big name in the gig economy and has partnerships with many popular restaurants.

The Best Instacart Alternatives in 2023

1. Shipt

• Good: The platform has health insurance perks for drivers
• Bad: You may not get enough orders as a driver if you don’t have a big truck
• When to choose Shipt: If you’re confident in your customer service skills

In the “Shipt vs. Instacart” debate, know that the two services are highly similar, and are both worth trying if they’re available in your area.

As a Shipt driver, you can also choose to deliver large sets of Target orders along predefined delivery routes. Whichever option you choose, you’ll work at your hours and convenience.

Why Is Shipt a Great Option?

Shipt lets you work as both a shopper and a driver, increasing your chances of earning. If a customer likes your services, you can be their “preferred shopper” and get priority for all their orders. This is also a good opportunity to make more money in tips.

Shoppers also get some great perks, including health insurance and discounts when using TaxSlayer to file tax returns.

Drawbacks to Shipt

Some Shipt drivers have complained of not getting enough gigs because they didn’t own big vehicles, such as SUVs.

The rating system for shoppers is also quite strict, as you risk account deactivation if you ever go less than 4.75 on average.

2. Uber Eats

• Good: You can work for the food delivery service even if you don’t have a car
• Bad: There are too many small orders, meaning that you’ll have to work for hours before earning significant cash
• When to choose Uber Eats: If you prefer reduced interaction with customers while you deliver food

Uber Eats is a popular app that pays you to drop off food to customers and earn tips in addition to your main pay.

If you don’t have a car, you can still deliver food on Uber Eats using a bike, scooter, or on foot. With over 825,000 restaurant partners globally, you can be sure of getting steady delivery jobs on Uber Eats.

Why Is Uber Eats a Great Option?

You can cash out using the InstantPay option up to five times a day at a low cost of 50 cents. Cashing out is also free if you have an Uber debit card and use it for a maximum of five daily withdrawals.

If you want limited customer interaction, you can leave the package at their door. All you have to do is take a picture of it, upload the photo on the app, and move on to the next delivery.

Drawbacks to Uber Eats

Uber Eats drivers have complained about the poor response times for support. The rating system is a thumbs-up/down model, which isn’t as driver-friendly as the standard 1-5 model.

Compared to other food delivery apps, the map isn’t interactive and can be hard to use when you’re in a hurry.

3. FreshDirect

• Good: The orders are consistent
• Bad: You may have to work for long hours without health insurance
• When to choose FreshDirect: If you want to work as a full-time delivery driver

FreshDirect is an online grocery delivery service that lets you shop for customers and get paid. You get to deliver fresh food, prepared food, or grocery essentials to clients.

Drivers enjoy benefits like health insurance and discounts.

Why Is FreshDirect a Great Option?

FreshDirect drivers on Indeed have remarked on how consistent the gigs are. If you have lots of spare time, you can earn some decent money on the delivery app.

Drawbacks to FreshDirect

Some drivers have complained that the platform wants orders completed quickly. Such fast-paced gigs can take a physical toll on you.

Compared to other apps like Instacart, FreshDirect caters to a small part of the USA.

4. Amazon Flex

• Good: Amazon Flex’s average driver earnings can compete with some of the best delivery apps in the gig economy
• Bad: You have to join a lengthy waiting list and wait for approval before you can work
• When to choose Amazon Flex: If you have a big vehicle for large deliveries

Amazon Flex is a platform that pays delivery drivers to drop packages to clients. Although your actual earnings depend on your location, the app promises an average of $18-$25 per hour.

You get to pick up items from an Amazon delivery station and take them directly to customers. Alternatively, you can retrieve items from stores and drop them off to clients.  

Why is Amazon Flex a Great Option?

Amazon Flex earnings are competitive. You get paid in hourly blocks and can see your earnings upfront, including how long each delivery block lasts.

In some areas, you can also do Instant Orders, which are deliveries that start near your current location.

Drawbacks to Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is less readily available than other apps like Instacart. You have to get invited to join the platform. The waiting list is lengthy, and it often takes months to get approval.

If your car is small, you’ll have to opt for another delivery app, as the platform prefers drivers with big sedans or large trucks.

5. Walmart Spark

• Good: Hardworking drivers can easily earn extra money via Walmart Spark’s rewards program
• Bad: No instant cashout means that Walmart Spark isn’t for you if you’re looking for a same-day pay gig
• When to choose Walmart Spark: If you can work for many hours daily

Walmart Spark is a grocery app that lets you shop or deliver for customers of Walmart and other businesses. You get to work as an independent contractor with flexibility and freedom to earn whenever you want.

There are also promotions in various zones, which is an additional opportunity for drivers to make extra money. The online grocery delivery service is available in 3,650 cities across all 50 states.

Why Is Walmart Spark a Great Option?

Walmart Spark offers lots of driver incentives, and the qualifying criteria for the rewards are easily achievable.

You can keep 100% of your tips, and the earnings are comparable with some of the best-paid delivery apps.

Drawbacks to Walmart Spark

You don’t see your tips straightaway, as they can take up to 24 hours to reflect in your earnings. There’s also no instant cashout option.

Some drivers have reported that there can be long gaps between orders.

6. Dropoff

• Good: Dropoff offers more flexibility than many delivery apps
• Bad: The earnings aren’t competitive
• When to choose Dropoff: If you only have a few hours to spare weekly as a delivery driver

Dropoff is a same-day courier service that partners with more than 270 enterprises, including RaceTrac, Zimmermann, American Red Cross, and Nomi Health.

Why Is Dropoff a Great Option?

Dropoff drivers have stated that the platform’s support is great. This is a massive bonus, as many other delivery apps like Instacart often lack in this regard.

You also get paid by the delivery, so you’ll know how much you earn after each completed order.

Drawbacks to Dropoff

Per reviews from Indeed, Dropoff drivers aren’t impressed by the pay rates. Compared to other platforms like Instacart and Walmart, there aren’t any promotions or additional opportunities for rewards.

7. DeliverThat

• Good: DeliverThat pays some of the highest rates per gig among driver delivery apps
• Bad: You can’t see your earnings upfront
• When to choose DeliverThat: If you’re free to work during afternoon lunch periods

DeliverThat is a platform that lets you choose what deliveries to accept so you can plan your day. Whether you want to work on a full-time or part-time basis, DeliverThat is a great delivery service to work for.

The reach of the food delivery service rivals that of Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, as DeliverThat is available in nearly all 50 states.

Why Is DeliverThat a Great Option?

The platform’s support is available when you need it. You can also queue orders if you’d like to earn extra by working more hours.

Unlike some other apps that pay once weekly, DeliverThat pays drivers twice weekly, every Wednesday and Friday.

Drawbacks to DeliverThat

DeliverThat drivers on Indeed have stated that you can get suspended if you refuse an order. After this, you’ll have to take a test before your account is reinstated.

You also don’t get to see your earnings on the original offer screen. They can also fine you for dropping off deliveries before they’re due.

8. Grubhub

• Good: You get a quality, insulated bag when you start working with Grubhub
• Bad: The app doesn’t give the mileage or estimated time it’ll take to complete a deliver
• When to choose Grubhub: If you need to make daily cashouts

Grubhub is an easy-to-use app that lets you deliver groceries to customers as either a part-time or full-time driver. The platform has driver recognition levels to help you work your way to higher earnings and better rewards.

Instant cashout is free with a Chase savings or checking account. If you withdraw directly with your bank’s debit or credit card, you only pay $0.5.

Why Is Grubhub a Good Option?

As long as you maintain high order acceptance and low block drop rates, you’ll access exclusive benefits and perks that help you earn more.

Some of the perks include access to catering order deliveries and early access to scheduling blocks.

Drawbacks to Grubhub

The app’s layout isn’t intuitive and easy to use on the go. Grubhub also ties your deliveries to one zone, except if you request a change.

If a delivery takes you beyond your zone, you won’t get any orders except when you go back to your area.

9. Dumpling

• Good: You can create a personal profile that lets you get orders tailored to your preferences
• Bad: Dumpling has a sizeable startup fee for shoppers
• When to choose Dumpling: If you intend to set up your own grocery business

Dumpling is an app that lets you provide shopping and delivery services to vacationing guests. You can also set up your own grocery business and offer your products to customers.

You can use Dumpling’s credit card to purchase groceries for clients before they make payments.

Why Is Dumpling a Great Option?

Scheduled deliveries and repeat clients can help you plan your schedule ahead of time. You can also set your pricing structure to your standards.

The platform offers more opportunities to earn than other delivery apps like Instacart. Aside from being a shopper, Dumpling can help you launch your own grocery business.

Drawbacks to Dumpling

Dumpling charges a $19.99 fee for first-time users, which is on the high side. If you choose to use the platform’s tools to set up your own grocery business, you’ll have to rely on the website they create for you.

Notable Mentions: Even More Options To Check Out

You can also check out these delivery apps:

1. ParaWorks

ParaWorks is one of the highest-paying delivery apps around, as drivers can earn as much as $50 per hour. The app is particularly easy to use and can see the exact dropoff location, track earnings and mileage, and auto decline offers that don’t meet your criteria.

As it’s a relatively new app, you’ll get far fewer orders on ParaWorks than on other apps like Instacart.

2. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a popular same-day handyman, moving, and delivery service. You can schedule tasks and deliveries when they work for you. The app is also available across several states in the country.

The sheer amount of freelancers on TaskRabbit makes it highly competitive for new users.

3. Senpex

Senpex is a delivery app that has one of the best pay rates in the gig economy. You can earn up to $23 per hour and get paid weekly, working at your schedule.

Many of the goods delivered are electronics, so you’ll have to do a lot of heavy lifting alongside your regular job.

Wrapping Up

Instacart’s popularity also means that you can count on fairly steady delivery gigs. You can work at your own pace and earn some steady cash to top off your main earnings.

If you do the deliveries and shopping to the customer’s satisfaction, you can earn extra tips and keep all of it.

Shipt remains the best alternative to Instacart. You can stick to deliveries if you don’t enjoy shopping and still keep earning. If you have a big truck, you can opt for the Target deliveries and make extra money. The platform is available across 260 cities in the USA.

If you don’t want to use Shipt, Uber Eats offers the closest thing in terms of order availability and earning potential. You can complete orders on foot if you don’t have a scooter or automobile.

Apps like Instacart may not be able to substitute your full-time day job, but they’re sure to earn you some much-needed cash.