Food delivery or rideshare. It’s a debate that has been around for a while, and it doesn’t seem like it will die down any time soon. Both sides have their pros and cons, but which one is the right option for you?
In this blog post, we will compare and contrast food delivery and rideshare driving to help you make the decision that is best for you!
Food Delivery
Food delivery, using apps like Grubhub or DoorDash, allows you to pick up and deliver food to a person.
You are paid an amount determined by the delivery app that takes distance, time, and other factors into account.
Usually, this is a solo job that requires you to go from Point A to Point B without having to interact with many people.
Food Delivery Costs for Workers
Costs for food delivery workers look similar to rideshare drivers, but there is more flexibility as you choose the travel method. Generally, costs can include:
- A smartphone
- A data plan for your smartphone
- Your own car or a bike
- Vehicle insurance, if applicable
- Gasoline, if applicable
Food Delivery Time Commitment
People order food all day and night long. That means there is flexibility when you work, especially if you live in a big city.
In a concentrated city, there is likely to be a lot of demand, with reduced travel times, meaning fewer hours of work and more profit in the end.
For best results, you’ll want to build a schedule around peak times to take advantage of surges, earning enough while working little.
Pros
Choosing Your Transportation Method
With food delivery, you’re able to choose what transportation you use. If you want to use a bike, that’s considered just as good as a car, if not better, in dense cities with traffic.
If you live in a popular area, you may also be able to also walk deliveries or take the train to commute. These alternatives offer flexibility that ridesharing can’t.
Promotions
Many food delivery apps provide benefits to workers who can help out during high demand. Usually, those high-demand times fall in line with traditional eating times (i.e., noon for lunch).
When demand is too high, delivery apps will charge customers higher fees which are passed along to workers to entice more to get out and deliver.
No Entertaining Necessary
Because you’re working solo, you won’t need to worry about making your guests happy. That is, beyond a speedy, smooth drop-off, which means you can play the music you want, keep to yourself, and focus on getting the job done rather than entertaining.
Cons
Extended Delivery Times
Unlike rideshare driving, where you’re able to drop someone off on the street, food won’t be successfully delivered unless you are the one handing it off. So if a customer puts a note that you bring their food up to the 20th-floor office, which requires going through security, you’re looking at a greater time commitment than just dropping off and heading for the next job (like ridesharing allows).
Upset Customers
Unfortunately, as the middleman, you’re likely to be blamed if something goes wrong with a customer’s order. If something is forgotten or done incorrectly, you may be the one to get a bad review or yelled at, despite it not being your error. Onions on a no-onion burger? You’re likely to hear about that. It’s a classic case of “don’t shoot the messenger,” but unfortunately, it does happen.
Rideshare Driving
Ride-sharing is when a customer uses an app like Uber or Lyft to request a ride from a nearby driver. The driver then picks up the customer and drives them to their destination. Drivers are paid based on time, distance, and sometimes other factors, such as surge pricing.
The cost of Rideshare Driving
Similar to delivery workers, there are only a few things that a ridesharer will need to have in order to be successful.
- A smartphone
- A data plan for your smartphone
- A car
- Vehicle insurance
- Gasoline, if applicable
Unlike the delivery app driver, who has the freedom to choose their delivery method, a rideshare driver must have a safe, modern vehicle to commute with passengers.
Also, rideshare companies will restrict the year, make, or model of a vehicle, and you can be denied during the application process if your vehicle is not up to code.
Rideshare Driving Time Commitment
Rideshare drivers who are working during peak times or in dense areas are likely to see the most success for their efforts when compared to off-peak suburbia driving.
If your schedule doesn’t permit rush hour driving or you can’t make it out to hubs like an airport, consider if you’ll have enough daily trips to sustain your way of life.
The average for ride-share drivers is 30 trips a week, but it depends on a number of factors. If you are not able to meet your quotas given the time you have to drive, you may need to look closer at how to make more money as a rideshare driver.
Pros
Higher Return Per Gig
When compared with food delivery workers, the return on your time investment is typically much better for ridesharers. But keep in mind: it’s not black and white.
There is no universal answer to which is better, but ridesharing has been shown to create higher returns for your investment in the form of your time and materials.
Fun Experiences and People
It should come as no secret that being a rideshare driver comes with unique experiences, many of which are just fun! One of the best parts is that you get to see and do new things.
Work near an international airport? You might meet people from all over the world. A small charming beach town? You’ll be able to help welcome and guide eager visitors to have the trip of a lifetime.
Cons
Safety Concerns
One of the top concerns when it comes to ride-sharing is its safety aspect of it. Unfronutaly, inviting strangers into your car leaves you vulnerable to crimes. Installing a dash cam and remaining aware of your surroundings can help ward off wrong-doers.
How to Decide if Food Delivery or Rideshare Driving Is Right for You
Decide which Is More Profitable
In general, rideshare driving is considered to be more profitable than delivery jobs. Rightfully so, as rideshare driving usually asks more from a driver: a customer service job as much as it is ensuring that someone makes it on time and safely.
Plus, the costs to maintain a car are more than a bike or another delivery method. On average, you can expect one rideshare transaction to pay what two or three food deliveries can pay.
Just keep in mind that it looks different from person to person. While averages point to higher profits for rideshare drivers, it’s not universal.
Which Is More Accessible
If you live in a dense city with no car, food delivery will be more accessible than rideshare driving because you can use different methods of travel to get the job done.
Alternatively, if you live in a sprawling suburban area, spending money to drive food around may not provide enough return to make it worthwhile.
A solution to this is to commute to a more populated area, but this method is not full-proof. You’ll need to carefully consider where your means fit into the gig economy so that it works for you and not against you.