I have been delivering for GrubHub and Postmates lately. I know a lot of you have been wondering what differences are and which you should choose. So I decided it was time to do a comparison review of two delivery driver jobs. I will be comparing everything from getting hired to dropping deliveries off. Finally, I will tell you which side gig I believe comes out on top. Also, we will explore the possibility of doing both at the same time.
The hiring process for both jobs was basically the same. If I remember correctly GrubHub questions did seem to focus more on my driving experience much more so than Postmates. Still, l both are like any other independent contractor driving position out there. You start by filling out a job form on their site. You also must submit your information to have a background check done. For me, this is my least favorite part of these jobs. But it must be done if you want to work these side gig jobs.
In this section, we will determine which gig does a better job getting their drivers prepared to hit the road. GrubHub was far more thorough when it came to the job orientation process. They gave me two options to choose from. First was going in and having in-person training. Some of you may like that, but that just felt like a waste of time for me. The other option which I choose was to do online training. Overall the training was much more comprehensive and left me feeling quite prepared as compared to Postmates.
This is because Postmates only required that I watch a video. Which may seem nice until you realize you are not prepared when your shift begins. I would suggest anyone who is about to start Postmates to read as much as you can online before you start. Join your local Facebook groups and forums, and talk to as many current drivers as you can.
Postmates gave me a Credit Card and 1 Free cold and hot courier bag. The courier bag is made to keep the temps of the meals controlled throughout your deliveries. If you have done any food delivery in the past you will know what I am talking about. They do not provide nor require you to wear any, specific uniform or clothing.
GrubHub gives you 2 Free cold and hot courier bags. They are for different size orders. One is a little larger than the other. Unlike Postmates they require you to wear a hat and put a sign on your windshield. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I did not like having to use the extra gear. On the other, it does come in handy at times. It helps customers know who I am which makes things go smoothly at times.
Both apps offer support via their respected apps. However, GrubHub also offers a driver support service called Driver Care. Which comes in handy if you run into any issues while you're out delivering meals. You do have an option on the Postmate app to enter an issue that is not answered anywhere else on the app. This may prompt a call from a driver support agent. So you can't call them, they will call you. Seems like I have heard that somewhere?
The way scheduling works for GrubHub is you have to sign up for blocks. Like most of these types of apps, you first to claim it gets it. So you have to be on your toes and know when hours are going to be released in your area or you will be very disappointed. Their blocks usually run 2 to 5 hours at a time. Has you might expect with a restaurant delivery service most orders come in for lunch and dinner. This is why you will see more blocks available for those hours. You probably should be careful not to sign up for hours you cannot actually work. You can not simply drop hours. Drivers have to call into their driver care line or do whatever possible to get a substitute driver in your place. Otherwise, you will find yourself in hot water. Up to being removed has a GrubHub driver.
Postmates, on the other hand, lets you work whenever you decide. They have no schedule, just hit the road and turn on your app and your good to go. Personally, I love having the flexibility to work whenever I want and not have to worry about sticking to a schedule. Still, there are drawbacks to this. For one, you may get few if any orders while you are out. So although you can work when you want, that does not mean you should.
A huge difference between the two driving jobs is Postmates offers more services to its customers. They handle transactions for both restaurant and store purchases. The way they work the ordering process is more up in the air as well. The customer may have already paid for the food or you may have to pay for it with the credit card they provided. At times you will even need to make the order for the customer yourself. They allow you to send your customers message updating them on their order. I found this to be very helpful in improving my tips.
GrubHub only drivers, restaurant and that's it. With them, everything is already taken care of. You do not have to worry about ordering the food or paying for it. You run and grab the food and head out the door and that's it.
You can expect to get cash tips for both delivery jobs. You do your job in a quick and efficient manner and the customer leaves you a tip for your trouble. However, if the customer chooses to tip you via the GrubHub app they have to do so before you even deliver their food. The obvious drawback to this is your tip is not going to be a result of the job you did. Will leave you less motivated? For me, the possibility of a generous tip waiting for you adds a bit of intrigue to the process.
Tips always come after the food is dropped off to your customer with Postmates. Once you have dropped off your customer's food. Their app will prompt them with a message to review your service and leave you a tip. Although you should always take pride in your work and do your best for any job you do. I would be lying if I did not say the tip didn't motivate me to take up my service up a notch.
1. No minimum or maximum hour work requirements.
Since you are about to choose your hours you can work when you want if the hours are available.
2. They pay a minimum hourly wage.
This great since you know you will be getting paid no matter what. Often found myself waiting for orders in my car getting paid due to a slow day. Minimum pay will depend on your area.
3. Simple Orders
All orders will already be paid for you just stop in and pick it up and be on your way. They also only work with specific restaurants so you get used to it fairly quickly.
4. Solid Orientation
After you have finished orientation you feel like you are ready to hit the road and pick up some orders right away.
1. Difficult to get consecutive hours.
This usually due to hours being picked up by someone else. This may not be an issue if you were only wanting to work a few hours after your full-time job anyway. Those who are trying to make a day of it will find this gets old quick. You will find yourself working shorter shifts than you would like. Or worse long shifts with time gaps in between. If you find yourself in this situation I would suggest keeping an eye on your app in case someone drops a shift that fills the gap for you. Got to be quick or someone else will snatch it up before you.
2. Tend not to get good tips.
Expect to get lackluster tips due to customers tipping you before they even meet you.
With Postmates you do not have to sign up for time slots. So you really can work when you want to. Whenever you feel like working you can jump in your car and get at it.
2. They do not have a minimum or maximum hour work requirement.
One week you can work 60 hours next you can work 0. Noone is going to be asking you where you have been. Also, you will not be penalized in any sort of way.
3. They offer a minimum per order pay.
This is great for small orders that would be a complete waste of your time and gas otherwise.
4. Do not have to conform to a schedule.
Work whenever you feel like it since there is no schedule. Keep in mind that doe does not mean you will get much or any work. That will depend on your location and time of day you are going out. If you go out and no deliveries are coming in you may want to change locations or figure out a better time to come out next time.
1. No minimum hourly wage.
You do not want to find yourself sitting in your car with no orders for hours. I find that I do best with them when I work hours during dinner and lunchtime.
2. Complicated Orders
Customers can order basically anything and you have to deal with it. Sometimes you even have to order for them. Not to mention you will need to pay for it as well at times. You can use the credit card they provide. If it's a cash-only purchase they will reimburse you. Still, it seems like an unnecessary step that can be a pain to deal with.
3. Poor Orientation
Although their orientation is quick it is not very useful. You will need to do a lot of research on your own or you will like you are in over your head.
GrubHub is a bit more buttoned up which can be good or bad. What they lack when it comes with the flexibility they make up with support. They provide you with a guaranteed minimum hourly wage, driver support, and extensive training. However, to get that you must give up a ton of flexibility which you get with Postmates. For me when it comes to side gigs like this flexibility is king. Getting more tips with them does hurt either. Both gigs match up pretty evenly but for the areas, that matter the most I have a clear winner.
If you have not signed up for Postmates already your welcome to use my code below.
Referral Code: ehook
Which is ultimately best for you will depend on what is more important to you. Do you need the support, training and guaranteed hour wage? Or do you need to have the flexibility to work whenever you feel like it?
Did you all agree with my choice?! Love to know what you all think. Do you guys have experience working for both as well? Have you worked both at the same time and how did it work out? Please let me know in the comments below.
The Hiring Process
The hiring process for both jobs was basically the same. If I remember correctly GrubHub questions did seem to focus more on my driving experience much more so than Postmates. Still, l both are like any other independent contractor driving position out there. You start by filling out a job form on their site. You also must submit your information to have a background check done. For me, this is my least favorite part of these jobs. But it must be done if you want to work these side gig jobs.
This section its a draw the process is basically the same for both gigs.
Orientation And Getting You Prepared
In this section, we will determine which gig does a better job getting their drivers prepared to hit the road. GrubHub was far more thorough when it came to the job orientation process. They gave me two options to choose from. First was going in and having in-person training. Some of you may like that, but that just felt like a waste of time for me. The other option which I choose was to do online training. Overall the training was much more comprehensive and left me feeling quite prepared as compared to Postmates.
This is because Postmates only required that I watch a video. Which may seem nice until you realize you are not prepared when your shift begins. I would suggest anyone who is about to start Postmates to read as much as you can online before you start. Join your local Facebook groups and forums, and talk to as many current drivers as you can.
Postmates gave me a Credit Card and 1 Free cold and hot courier bag. The courier bag is made to keep the temps of the meals controlled throughout your deliveries. If you have done any food delivery in the past you will know what I am talking about. They do not provide nor require you to wear any, specific uniform or clothing.
GrubHub gives you 2 Free cold and hot courier bags. They are for different size orders. One is a little larger than the other. Unlike Postmates they require you to wear a hat and put a sign on your windshield. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I did not like having to use the extra gear. On the other, it does come in handy at times. It helps customers know who I am which makes things go smoothly at times.
Both apps offer support via their respected apps. However, GrubHub also offers a driver support service called Driver Care. Which comes in handy if you run into any issues while you're out delivering meals. You do have an option on the Postmate app to enter an issue that is not answered anywhere else on the app. This may prompt a call from a driver support agent. So you can't call them, they will call you. Seems like I have heard that somewhere?
GrubHub wins this section quite easy. They do a better job with their training and provide you with supplies and driver support.
Flexibility And Getting Hours
The way scheduling works for GrubHub is you have to sign up for blocks. Like most of these types of apps, you first to claim it gets it. So you have to be on your toes and know when hours are going to be released in your area or you will be very disappointed. Their blocks usually run 2 to 5 hours at a time. Has you might expect with a restaurant delivery service most orders come in for lunch and dinner. This is why you will see more blocks available for those hours. You probably should be careful not to sign up for hours you cannot actually work. You can not simply drop hours. Drivers have to call into their driver care line or do whatever possible to get a substitute driver in your place. Otherwise, you will find yourself in hot water. Up to being removed has a GrubHub driver.
Postmates Wins this section due to flexibility being the number one factor I like these type of gigs, to begin with.
Delivery Comparison
A huge difference between the two driving jobs is Postmates offers more services to its customers. They handle transactions for both restaurant and store purchases. The way they work the ordering process is more up in the air as well. The customer may have already paid for the food or you may have to pay for it with the credit card they provided. At times you will even need to make the order for the customer yourself. They allow you to send your customers message updating them on their order. I found this to be very helpful in improving my tips.
GrubHub only drivers, restaurant and that's it. With them, everything is already taken care of. You do not have to worry about ordering the food or paying for it. You run and grab the food and head out the door and that's it.
GrubHub Wins this section easily. They keep it very simple for their drivers.
Getting Tips
You can expect to get cash tips for both delivery jobs. You do your job in a quick and efficient manner and the customer leaves you a tip for your trouble. However, if the customer chooses to tip you via the GrubHub app they have to do so before you even deliver their food. The obvious drawback to this is your tip is not going to be a result of the job you did. Will leave you less motivated? For me, the possibility of a generous tip waiting for you adds a bit of intrigue to the process.
Tips always come after the food is dropped off to your customer with Postmates. Once you have dropped off your customer's food. Their app will prompt them with a message to review your service and leave you a tip. Although you should always take pride in your work and do your best for any job you do. I would be lying if I did not say the tip didn't motivate me to take up my service up a notch.
Postmates Wins this section fairly easy. Thier tip system just works better and you get better tips.
Final Score: 2 - 2
We will have to decide on a winner based on which sections are most important.
Pros and Cons Overview
But first, before we choose our winner take a quick look at the pros and cons of both food delivery gigs.
GrubHub
Pros
Since you are about to choose your hours you can work when you want if the hours are available.
2. They pay a minimum hourly wage.
This great since you know you will be getting paid no matter what. Often found myself waiting for orders in my car getting paid due to a slow day. Minimum pay will depend on your area.
3. Simple Orders
All orders will already be paid for you just stop in and pick it up and be on your way. They also only work with specific restaurants so you get used to it fairly quickly.
4. Solid Orientation
After you have finished orientation you feel like you are ready to hit the road and pick up some orders right away.
Cons
This usually due to hours being picked up by someone else. This may not be an issue if you were only wanting to work a few hours after your full-time job anyway. Those who are trying to make a day of it will find this gets old quick. You will find yourself working shorter shifts than you would like. Or worse long shifts with time gaps in between. If you find yourself in this situation I would suggest keeping an eye on your app in case someone drops a shift that fills the gap for you. Got to be quick or someone else will snatch it up before you.
2. Tend not to get good tips.
Expect to get lackluster tips due to customers tipping you before they even meet you.
Posmates
Pros
1. Work whenever you want to.
2. They do not have a minimum or maximum hour work requirement.
One week you can work 60 hours next you can work 0. Noone is going to be asking you where you have been. Also, you will not be penalized in any sort of way.
3. They offer a minimum per order pay.
This is great for small orders that would be a complete waste of your time and gas otherwise.
4. Do not have to conform to a schedule.
Work whenever you feel like it since there is no schedule. Keep in mind that doe does not mean you will get much or any work. That will depend on your location and time of day you are going out. If you go out and no deliveries are coming in you may want to change locations or figure out a better time to come out next time.
Cons
You do not want to find yourself sitting in your car with no orders for hours. I find that I do best with them when I work hours during dinner and lunchtime.
2. Complicated Orders
Customers can order basically anything and you have to deal with it. Sometimes you even have to order for them. Not to mention you will need to pay for it as well at times. You can use the credit card they provide. If it's a cash-only purchase they will reimburse you. Still, it seems like an unnecessary step that can be a pain to deal with.
3. Poor Orientation
Although their orientation is quick it is not very useful. You will need to do a lot of research on your own or you will like you are in over your head.
GrubHub vs Postmates Winner
Postmates! This gig is our overall winner in the battle between the two food delivery services.
Referral Code: ehook
Which is ultimately best for you will depend on what is more important to you. Do you need the support, training and guaranteed hour wage? Or do you need to have the flexibility to work whenever you feel like it?
Can I do Both?
Yes, you can! At the end of the day, I believe using more than one is the best approach to using any of these side gig apps. For most people, this approach will work best. If you have a gap in your hours for GrubHub switch over to Postmates during the gap. The two pair together quite well. Not to mention you can also do Uber, Lift, or any of the other driving apps.
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Did you all agree with my choice?! Love to know what you all think. Do you guys have experience working for both as well? Have you worked both at the same time and how did it work out? Please let me know in the comments below.
