Best Jobs Like Instacart: Make Up to $25 Per Hour

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Instacart is one of the most popular and fastest-growing on-demand grocery delivery services. 

It allows customers to order groceries online via its website or app, have them picked up at the grocery store, and get delivered to their doorsteps. 

Many people are now looking for jobs like Instacart because of the flexible working hours and the reasonable amount it pays its drivers.

However, with so many jobs out there like Instacart, it can be challenging to find the best one as some of these jobs might not be lucrative and worth your time.

In this article, we will explore some of the best jobs like Instacart. We will also provide you with tips on how to earn more and things to look out for when choosing such jobs.

So letโ€™s get started!


What is Instacart?

Instacart is an online grocery delivery service that provides an alternative to traditional grocery stores. It has created a platform for customers to order groceries from their smartphones and have them delivered to their homes.

This company was founded in 2012 by Apoorva Mehta in San Francisco and it has since grown into a multi-billion dollar company with presence in several cities. Currently, Instacart operates across the United States and Canada, with plans for expansion into other countries.

About Instacart Shopper Jobs

Instacart shopper jobs are some of the flexible jobs out there for shopping enthusiasts and grocery drivers.

The job has simple requirements that make it suitable for individuals without years of experience.

With such flexibility and simplicity, you can earn extra income with ease by maintaining your main job while working as an Instacart shopper.

But if youโ€™re not interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, you can visit the companyโ€™s career page to check out other Instacart jobs.

As of the time of writing, Instacart has the following job openings in Canada:

  • Billing Coordinator (Contract)
  • Billing Associate (Contract)
  • Senior Enterprise Technical Account Manager
  • Revenue Accountant โ€“ End User
  • Director of Product, Catalog

How Instacart works

So how does Instacart work?

Grocery shoppers are matched with customers who order groceries online or through their mobile app. The shoppers pick up the items from the store, then deliver them to their customerโ€™s house or office within an hour or two of placing the order.

Shoppers then get paid according to the type of order. Even though the pay depends on the type of order, you can expect to earn an average of $15-$20. You also keep the tips you get from customers.

In addition to its core service, Instacart also offers a subscription-based Instacart Express membership program for people who want to save money on their grocery bills each month.

If youโ€™re looking to earn extra money, you can sign up to become an Instacart shopper. However, there are certain requirements you must fulfil to become an Instacart shopper which are as follow: 

  • Have and be able to use the latest smartphone
  • Be up to 18 years old
  • Have a vehicle
  • Be qualified to work in Canada
  • Have the capacity to lift goods up to 25 kg

Best Jobs Like Instacart

bestjobs like instacart

Instacart shopper jobs are currently in high demand and they pay very well. But they arenโ€™t the only delivery job you can try. 

Here are other online delivery apps that are similar to Instacart that might be right for you if youโ€™re looking to make some money on the side or full-time:

1. Uber Eats

Uber Eats is Uberโ€™s meal delivery service that allows customers to order meals from their favourite restaurants and have them delivered to them within a short period.

Uber Eats is also a delivery service but it concentrates on food delivery, unlike Instacart which delivers groceries.

It is available in over 40 countries worldwide and has over 500,000 restaurants on its platform. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

To use this service as a driver, all you need is a smartphone with internet access and a vehicle.

Then you can sign-up for free as a โ€œdelivery driverโ€ on the Uber Eats website or app. After signing up, youโ€™ll be matched with restaurants located near you that are currently accepting orders through the app or website. 

Once a restaurant accepts your delivery request, an order will appear in the Uber Eats app on your smartphone or tablet screen with all the information needed to complete it.

As an Uber Eats driver, you can expect to earn an average of $17.74 per hour. However, you can earn up to $20 per hour depending on your delivery location.

Also, you completely own the tips you receive from customers for your services. Additionally, you can earn more money through the Uber Eats referral program.

Learn more: Uber Eats Promo Code Canada

2. DoorDash

DoorDash is a technology company whose mission is to connect people with their favourite restaurants or stores.

The company was founded in 2013 by Tony Xu, who wanted to create an app that would make it easy for people to order takeout from their favourite restaurants. 

In 2020, DoorDash expanded its offerings beyond just food delivery and also began servicing delivery orders at partner locations. 

Working as a DoorDash driver (Dasher) is simple. You download the app, create an account, and then receive requests from customers who want their food and groceries delivered to them. 

You simply accept these requests via the app, then go pick up their order from the restaurant or store and deliver it to them. 

DoorDash will pay you for every order completed. The pay varies according to the type of order, but you can earn from $2 to over $10 per delivery. 

You also keep 100% of the tips you get from customers. And you can also earn more through the companyโ€™s referral program.

3. SkipTheDishes

SkipTheDishes is a Canadian delivery service that was founded in 2012. The company has expanded rapidly since its inception.

SkipTheDishes offers an innovative approach to food delivery, enabling customers to order from local restaurants without having to call or visit them in person. 

Instead, they can do so online by using the SkipTheDishes app on their mobile devices. The amount you earn as a driver with the company depends on how many deliveries you make.

However, you can expect to earn from $5 to $24 per hour as a driver. The companyโ€™s service also enables drivers to earn money through referral bonuses and other incentives.

4. Postmates

Postmates is another great option if you are looking for the best Jobs like Instacart. You can deliver meals, alcohol, office supplies, and even pets with the app.

Postmates was launched in 2011, and Uber acquired the company in 2020. This means that Postmates is currently a subsidiary of Uber.

As a Postmates driver, youโ€™re in charge of setting your schedule and determining how much you want to work each week.

This is one of the best jobs for people who want to make extra money on the side while also having some flexibility in their schedules. 

Postmates has a wide variety of jobs available in most major cities. The pay is also decent. The company pays drivers up to $25 per hour to deliver orders in their city, plus tips on the order. 

They also offer bonuses for completing deliveries quickly and providing good customer service through their app. It also offers referral bonuses.

5. Shipt Shopper

Shipt is a membership-based grocery delivery service that allows users to order from local stores and have their items delivered by one of Shiptโ€™s shoppers.

Shipt works similar to Instacart. As a Shipt Shopper, youโ€™ll be matched with jobs based on your location, and availability. 

You can choose to work as little or as much as you want but keep in mind that some cities have more opportunities than others.

Also, the app has a built-in GPS that tracks your location in real-time and allows you to see exactly where your deliveries are in relation to where you are.

As a shopper, itโ€™s important to note that your pay will vary depending on your area, how far you have to travel, and how many orders you complete each week. 

Shipt pays $20 per hour excluding tips. You can also earn bonus pay of $50 for every new shopper you refer.

6. Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is a courier service run by Amazon.com Inc., the worldโ€™s largest online retailer. 

It connects independent contractors with local businesses who want packages to be delivered on their behalf. 

Amazon Flex drivers are independent contractors and as such, they have no fixed work schedule or salary. 

Instead, they choose their hours and earn money based on the number of deliveries they complete. 

The pay depends on how far away the package needs to be delivered and how many stops you make along your route. The pay ranges from $18 to $25 per hour.

7. Grubhub

Grubhub is a food delivery company that allows users to order food from their favourite restaurants and pick it up or get it delivered.

In addition to providing the best selection of restaurants in your area, Grubhub offers access to exclusive deals from restaurants that are only available through the app or website.

The platform also allows customers to schedule future orders so they donโ€™t have to worry about forgetting their favourite meal when they go out with friends or family members.

You can earn an average of $12 per hour as a Grubhub driver. If youโ€™re looking for the best job like Instacart that can fit around your schedule and you have a vehicle, then Grubhub might also be the place for you.

8. Caviar

Caviar is an on-demand food delivery service that allows users to order food from their favourite restaurants. It was founded in 2012, and it was acquired by DoorDash in 2019.

Users can use Caviarโ€™s website or app to browse menus and make orders from participating restaurants in their area (or even across town). 

Also, users can see how far away each restaurant is from its current location before placing their order.

As a Caviar driver, you get paid for each delivery you make up to $25 per hour. You can also earn more money by completing more deliveries in a single shift.


Tips on How to Choose the Best Jobs Like Instacart

When choosing the best jobs like Instacart, there are certain factors that you need to consider. Here are some of the things you need to consider:

Payment Structure

When looking for jobs like Instacart, itโ€™s important to consider what happens once your paycheck arrives. Some jobs offer hourly pay, while others pay by commission or per delivery task. 

If you want to earn as much as possible, look for opportunities that offer flat-rate pay instead of taking a percentage of each delivery you make.

Customer Tips  Possession

Tips are usually not included in the total price of your order. However, some companies donโ€™t allow their drivers to have complete tips. 

When looking for the best jobs like Instacart, look for one that allows its drivers to keep 100% of their tips. Keeping your complete tips will help you earn more.

Eligibility 

Every job has different eligibility requirements. So you need to be sure whether your qualifications meet the standards of these jobs or not.

If you donโ€™t meet their criteria, then there is no point in even applying for them because they wonโ€™t accept your application anyway.

Additional Earning Opportunities

In addition to being paid per delivery or hour, some jobs offer other ways for drivers to earn extra money.

For example, some companies offer referral bonuses to employees who refer their friends and family members. So you should always check out whether or not there are any incentives or bonuses available for you.


How to Increase Earnings on Jobs Like Instacart

Jobs like Instacart are a great way to earn money on your schedule. You can set your hours and work as much or as little as you like.

However, sometimes the pay is not enough to settle your financial needs. Fortunately, there are ways you can increase your earnings.

Here are some tips for increasing your earnings as a delivery driver with the best jobs like Instacart:

Work During Busy Hours

Delivery drivers who work on busy days and nights can expect higher hourly payouts than those who only work during slower times of day (like early mornings). 

Therefore, if you want to increase your earnings, try to include busy hours in your working schedule. Also, weekends tend to be busier than weekdays so it makes sense to include them if possible.

Accept Multiple Deliveries 

Some of the best jobs like Instacart offer multiple orders to their drivers. If youโ€™re fortunate to be offered multiple orders at the same time, accept them all and complete them in one trip. 

This is a great way to maximize your earnings, but it also means that your delivery time may be longer than usual since youโ€™ll have more bags to deliver. 

Provide Excellent Customer Service

You need to be friendly, polite and courteous with your customers. If there were no customers, there would be no job for you.

Also, if your customers are happy, theyโ€™ll spend more and be more likely to recommend you to others.

Use an App that Pays More

Lastly, when looking at different delivery driver apps, pay attention to how much they pay per delivery. 

Some apps offer higher commission rates than others do, so try one of those if you want more money in your pocket at the end of every shift.

Recommended: 15 Best Work From Home Jobs


Final Thoughts on the Best Jobs like Instacart

As you can see, there are tons of great jobs like Instacart out there that allow you to work and earn good money on your schedule.

All these jobs I have discussed above are great and you can surely find one which matches your interests. 

I have also discussed ways to earn more at each of these jobs and hope it helped you. 

Also, remember to consider the tips I have provided in this article when choosing the best job like Instacart. 

Thanks for reading. I hope you found what you were looking for. If you have any concerns, let me know in the comments section below. 

And if you feel like I missed out on an important job that should be added to the list, please submit them in the comment section.

Simon is a CPA by day and a Personal Finance Blogger by night. With over a decade experience in financial services, he's passionate about personal finance, investing and helping people take control of their financial life.

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