Which delivery service pays the best for drivers in Australia – Uber vs Menulog vs Doordash vs Amazon Flex

The on-demand delivery service industry has expanded significantly, resulting in an increasing need for delivery drivers by gig economy platforms who are required to meet demands.

Many gig-based delivery platforms are operating in Australia, but the most popular ones are Uber Eats, DoorDash, Menulog and Amazon Flex. Not only delivering food from restaurants, currently these platforms also serve grocery deliveries.

Every eligible Aussie can apply to all of these delivery platforms, but you are free to choose and focus on one or two of the best platforms according to your criteria. 

Here, I will try to compare some popular gig delivery platforms in Australia based on several criteria, such as the platform’s working flexibility, which food delivery service pays best, or the ease of the requirements needed to get started.

Best delivery apps for drivers in Australia

Roymorgan’s research in 2022 said the usage of meal delivery services has increased, more than 7 million Aussies aged 14+ are using meal delivery services in an average of three months. And you can take advantage of this situation by becoming a delivery driver. 

Here are some of the best delivery apps for drivers in Australia which I will review further in this article. 

1. Uber Eats. Since Uber Eats launched in Australia in 2016, no other delivery platform has been able to surpass its popularity. One of the factors behind its popularity is the wide variety of restaurants to choose from, as well as the reliability of its service because it is supported by a very large network of drivers.
2. Menulog. This platform is the second largest food delivery platform in Australia after Uber according to Dashmote’s report. It is no wonder that this delivery app is quite popular because it turns out that this platform was founded in Sydney in 2006, about 10 years earlier than the Uber Eats launch date.
3. Doordash. Despite being a relative newcomer, DoorDash has seen incredible growth since its launch in Melbourne in 2019. The platform has now expanded to 8 states and territories across the country and has managed to take market share from other platforms that were already there.
4. Amazon Flex. In Australia, delivering groceries and meals is not the only thing that gig delivery drivers do. Using your car to deliver parcels with Amazon Flex is another way you can turn your spare time into additional cash. No need to wait next to a restaurant or on the side of the road to get orders, you work only when you manage to get a delivery block or work shift.

Which delivery service pays the best?

Gig delivery drivers are the most popular and accessible side hustle for everyone. There are many delivery services in Australia right now, but which gig delivery platform pays the most?

As we know, delivery driver’s earnings depend on many factors. Some of them are customer demands, times, locations, driver’s promotions and more.

Here I will try to show you how much a delivery driver earns (aggregate) per delivery order, every day and every week. 

DoorDash

DoorDash delivery drivers or commonly called Dashers will usually get 1-4 delivery orders every day. This number can be higher when you are at the right location and time.

This platform also offers two types of services for drivers, namely standard restaurant delivery as well as Shop and Deliver where a Dasher has to shop for items at stores and then deliver them. 

The rate for regular delivery from restaurants is similar to other platforms, starting at $6 per delivery. Here is an example of a delivery offer received during non-busy hours.

Meanwhile, the following is an example of a delivery order that Dasher received during busy hours and in a busy location.

Meanwhile, the rate is higher for shop-and-deliver orders (mainly from Coles) because the driver has to work harder to complete them. The following is an example of the rate of this kind of order.

When the demand for grocery delivery services is high, drivers will get more attractive offers. Here is one example of a delivery offer at that time. 

Weekly earnings for DoorDash drivers around the country are around $1,000 a week. It can be less or more depending on how many hours you are active and several other factors.

Screen capture above are examples of the weekly earnings of our fellow Dashers in Australia. Based on the screen capture below, both of them earn between $25 – $30 per hour, with an average of about $10 per delivery. Apart from that, drivers also have the opportunity to get tips from DoorDash customers, even though the tips given may not be very significant since tipping isn’t mandatory here.

Uber Eats

Australian Uber Eats drivers will typically be offered around 2 – 5 delivery orders per hour and maybe more during peak hours. For every completed delivery order, a driver will earn anywhere from $5 to tens of dollars for each delivery trip.

Uber Eats platform currently offers two types of delivery services for drivers. Standard restaurant delivery and Pack & Deliver which is a grocery delivery service. Here is an example of standard delivery earnings per trip on off-peak days and hours.

Driver income is usually higher during weekends and peak hours. When online at the right location and time you might be able to get a trip like the one below.

The income for grocery shop orders is likely to be higher than for restaurants. Because in addition to delivering grocery items to customers, they also have to shop at the store. Here is an example of how much a driver can earn for a Pack & Deliver trip.

Uber delivery people are also eligible to deliver with Uber Connect, a same-day delivery service that helps drivers reach more customers besides food and groceries. The Uber Connect pay rate is quite good, although sometimes the driver has to deliver quite a long distance to earn it.

Weekly Uber Eats drivers’ income fluctuates from day to day, as there are very slow and busy days. Their weekly income depends on several factors such as how many hours they work, but on average they earn over $1000 per week, with an average of about $10 per delivery.

I can’t estimate the hourly rate, because, in the earnings example above, the driver seems to stay online with Uber even though at the same time they are delivering on other platforms or multi-apping.

Menulog

When compared to the two platforms that I explained earlier, Menulog is not quite popular, at least among some of the Australian gig drivers that I met. 

Some use Menulog as a complement when they are multi-apping with other platforms. Maybe because of limited schedules or it is quite difficult to get open runs since you have to compete with other drivers.

Although not too busy, the income of Menulog delivery couriers is not too bad. Based on the screen capture I got, the average delivery pay is above $10 even though sometimes they have to travel quite a distance to complete it.

Earning $500 – $1000 per week with Menulog is still possible as long as you get good schedules, and are in the right location and time. Here is an example of a delivery courier’s weekly income.

Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex driver income in Australia is largely determined by the duration and rate of delivery blocks received each day. The higher the rate, the higher the income.

Delivery block is a set time period when drivers can deliver packages. Each vehicle you register has different block hours, such as sedan-sized vehicles that are eligible for up to 4-hour blocks.

Currently, the delivery block rates offered by Amazon will be adjusted to the vehicle you use to make the delivery. 

For example, small vehicles such as sedans or hatchbacks will only get blocks of 3-4 hours worth between $100 – $130. While drivers of larger vehicles such as minivans or SUVs will get up to 6.5 hours of blocks worth around $180.

Which delivery platform has the best flexibility?

One of the attractions of being a gig worker is the flexibility and convenience. As a gig delivery courier, you can choose your own schedule, working as much or as little as you want.

But it turns out that not all delivery platforms give full control over working hours to its drivers for some reason. For example, some platforms allow drivers to work anytime, some limit them to a chosen schedule.

Uber Eats, the most flexible gig delivery app

Once Uber activated your delivery driver account, you can immediately go online and receive orders right away. Without having to choose a schedule offered in advance, which sometimes doesn’t suit you.

The flexibility to be online and deliver anytime is the main attraction of Uber Eats. It is no wonder that their platform has the most delivery drivers across the country.

In Australia, Uber Eats is the most popular delivery platform with more than 38% market share according to Statista’s report. This requires the company to be able to provide enough delivery drivers to remain reliable.

DoorDash, another flexible app

As soon as your Dasher account is approved and activated, you can Dash Now and get delivery offers. In your first two weeks after activation, you will be able to deliver at any time or schedule a Dash. 

After that time, Dash Now will only be available when the area around you is busy. However, you can try navigating to a different area or check back later to see if Dash Now is available again. In addition, you can still schedule a Dash by choosing a time slot that suits your free time.

If you want to keep Dashing Now anytime, you have to qualify for the Dasher Rewards program. However, you need to meet some criteria such as minimum acceptance rate, completion rate, customer rating and others. Many fellow Dashers I met have qualified as Gold and Platinum Tier in Dashers Rewards and they said it is not too difficult to get that feature.

Flexibility can also be linked to access to earnings that have been collected. Luckily, DoorDash currently has a Fast Pay feature which allows Dashers to cash out their earnings daily without a fee.

Menulog, quite flexible app

With Menulog you can’t open the app and start delivering right away. So you need to schedule in advance when you want to deliver. You have to submit your availability by booking a delivery run every week which is usually released every Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

But when you are in a busy area, Menulog will give its delivery couriers the opportunity to start delivering without having booked a run. They call it open runs.

Menulog said that they operate in a closed network that allows them to match the courier online with the forecasted number of orders. This is their way to avoid too many drivers online in areas that are not busy and ensure there are enough orders for online drivers at that time.

Amazon Flex, need more flexibility

For those who are not suited to gigs that require you to wait and wander around the city to get delivery orders. Then you can consider joining Amazon Flex.

It’s an Amazon program that allows you to deliver Amazon marketplace parcels from their warehouse to customers using your own vehicle. And you will be paid based on the duration of the delivery block you take.

Since you will only work when you have reserved a delivery block, this kind of gig is not as flexible as other platforms. In addition, you will also have to compete with other drivers when the blocks are released.

Which gig delivery platform is easier to get into?

Almost all gig delivery platforms that I discuss here have similar requirements. Some platforms are very strict in implementing minimum requirements, while others are quite lenient.

In addition, each platform has different strategies and policies regarding delivery partners. That is why some platforms are quite difficult to join.

DoorDash, the easiest to get into

Of all the platforms I tried to register with, DoorDash was the easiest to get into. If you successfully complete all the requirements and pass the background check, your driver account will be activated in a couple of days.

The requirements to become a driver are also quite easy. Even drivers with provisional licenses can be approved to deliver. This provides an opportunity for the younger generation with P plates to earn extra money. 

The platform is still relatively new in Australia and they are still growing and expanding in several new cities. DoorDash still needs many new delivery drivers to continue to grow and be able to compete with competitors.

Uber Eats, has more stringent requirements

Uber has quite strict requirements, especially for driver’s licences. They only accept unrestricted or full Australian Driver’s License. When all the registration information you entered is approved and you pass a background check, your driver account will be activated in less than a week.

Uber is still accepting anyone to become a delivery driver as long as all the requirements are met. However, in some cities or certain areas, they no longer accept new delivery driver sign ups or only accept drivers with specific vehicles.

Based on what I heard, they are currently starting to limit new sign ups with bicycles, scooters or motorcycles but still accepting drivers who deliver with a car.

There is no information in which areas or cities Uber applies this restriction because it often changes according to driver demands. To find out, you can try to register directly, if there is a restriction you will be put on a waiting list.

Menulog, quite easy to get into

Menulog is a platform that maintains a balance between the number of delivery couriers and the forecasted number of orders in an area. This aims to ensure that there are orders for everyone and to avoid courier oversupply.

Until now, Menulog is still open for anyone to register and do onboarding. Some of my friends said that Menulog needs a few months to activate their courier account. 

But I think it actually depends on the driver needs in the area, if there are too many drivers compared to orders in the area you choose, then Menulog will put your application on the waiting list.

The requirements to become a courier are the same as other delivery platforms. I can even say it’s easier because drivers with P2 plates or Green Ps can be approved for delivery.

Amazon Flex, remains on their interest list

The requirements to deliver with Amazon Flex are also similar to other gig delivery platforms such as a 4-door passenger vehicle, living in the region where the program operates, a full driver’s licence and passing a background check.

Amazon is currently continuing to open opportunities for Australian gig delivery drivers to become their delivery partners on Amazon Flex. The program has been operating in 9 cities across the country. 

As of October 2024, not all of these cities are actively onboarding new drivers like Newcastle, Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide. There are also some cities where they will only activate your account if you register with large passengers and vans only like in Perth. In addition, you will be added to their interest list.

This makes the program difficult to get into, especially for common gig drivers who mostly only drive small vehicles like sedans or hatchbacks.

Uber Eats vs Menulog – which offers more value?

In Australia, Uber Eats is still the market share leader to date. Their service is very popular across the country and this could be an indication of how many delivery orders are offered to its drivers. 

But keep in mind, the population of Uber Eats drivers is much larger than Menulog. In addition, there is no work schedule or shift on their platform, all drivers can be online at any time, so you will compete with many people at one time. 

The implementation of a work shift or schedule is one of Menulog’s advantages because it can match the driver with the forecasted number of orders. So there will be enough orders for everyone.

Regarding Menulog vs Uber Eats pay, I see both offer similar delivery rates per order, as in the screen capture below. Both have pay with similar estimated distance and completion time.

So, how much Uber Eats vs Menulog drivers earn per hour or per day really depends on several factors, one of which is how busy the platform is.

In general, if you’re looking to make over $1,000 a week, it’s more possible with Uber because they let you online whenever compared to Menulog being limited by work shifts. In addition, Uber also has more customers.

Menulog vs DoorDash – which one has more benefits?

Both platforms have similar market shares based on a report from Statista. Even though it came last, DoorDash was able to take market share from other platforms such as Menulog.

Several fellow delivery drivers that I met, especially those who have just joined the two platforms, said it was easier to get orders with DoorDash.

This is probably because DoorDash allows its Dashers to deliver whenever they want for their first two weeks. After that, they have to wait until it’s busy or until they can earn Top Dasher status.

Both platforms also require their drivers to book a schedule to work. However, when demand is high, both apps can deliver without a schedule, also known as Dash Now (DoorDash) and Open Runs (Menulog).

The rate per delivery between the two is also similar at around $1 per km on average. The rate is very likely to be much higher when demand for delivery increases or when you get grocery delivery like Shop and Deliver.

DoorDash vs Uber Eats – keep competing wherever it is

In both countries of origin, in the US, DoorDash controls the market share while Uber Eats is far below it. However, the opposite happened in the Australian market, Uber is far above because it arrived first in this country and succeeded in winning the hearts of Australian foodies.

As a market leader and having many customers, Uber will certainly offer many orders for its delivery drivers. DoorDash is definitely going to take a bit longer to get more customers and gain market share.

But keep in mind, that Uber has the most delivery couriers across the country. So, even though they have a lot of orders, you have to compete with more people.

Another advantage of Uber is that drivers can deliver whenever they want without having to schedule shifts. At DoorDash you have to be a Top Dasher to do it.

Delivery pay between the two is also not much different, although some of us often get better pay when delivering with DoorDash, especially when delivering groceries from Coles.

These two platforms also still open up opportunities for drivers, but in several cities, Uber is starting to limit the recruitment of new drivers who use certain vehicles.

The requirements to become Dasher are easier because they allow P-plate driver licence holders to deliver, whereas Uber will only accept full unrestricted licences.

Amazon Flex vs Uber Eats – complement each other

What differentiates Amazon Flex from other platforms is the driver’s assignment. Their task is only to deliver customer parcels from the Amazon warehouse to their customers’ addresses. So a driver on this platform works like a shipping courier for companies like Auspost, Fastway or Aramex.

Unlike Uber which can deliver anytime, Amazon Flex working hours are tied to the delivery block that has been booked by the driver himself. Getting a delivery block is not easy because you have to compete with other drivers who are also on standby waiting for the blocks to be released.

The advantage of Amazon Flex over Uber is the fixed pay according to the block hours that have been successfully completed. Delivering with sedans, hatchbacks or other small cars will earn at least $116 for a 4-hour delivery block, although sometimes they also offer up to $200 for the same block.

Amazon Flex is currently available in 9 cities across the states. However, due to the high interest of Australians to become drivers on this platform, only in a few cities are they still onboarding new drivers.

So, in terms of ease of getting in and getting to work, it seems like Uber Eats is much easier to access. Because it can accommodate even small vehicles like sedans or hatchbacks.