Is Grubhub Worth It? (Honest 2024 Driver Review)

When it comes to making money with a side hustle, gig economy apps are some of the most consistent ways to earn.

For example, apps like DoorDash and Instacart are excellent ways to make extra money on the side without starting your own business. Plus, these apps usually pay more than minimum wage depending on where you live and how many deliveries you can complete!

Grubhub, another popular gig app in this space, is also a way to earn side income as a delivery driver.

But is Grubhub worth it? And how much can you really make as a Grubhub driver?

In this Grubhub driver review, I'm covering how much this delivery gig pays, how to get started, and how to decide if it's worth it.

Looking for more ways to make money? Checkout:

• Branded Surveys: Share your opinion to get gift cards and PayPal rewards!
• Uber Eats: Start making money by delivering with Uber Eats!

What Is Grubhub?

Grubhub is a popular food delivery app that features more than 365,000 restaurant partners across 4,000+ U.S. cities. The company was founded in 2004 in Chicago, Illinois and has since become the 3rd largest food delivery service in the world.

As a Grubhub driver, you get paid for delivering restaurant food to customers who order through the Grubhub app.

Overall, this delivery gig is very similar to other delivery gigs like Uber Eats or DoorDash.

And, becoming a Grubhub driver is very simple. You just have to be 18 or older and pass a background check to become a driver. You can deliver with any car, and bike and scooter deliveries are eligible for some markets.

As for customers, Grubhub works the same as almost any other food delivery app and lets you order food, snacks, alcohol, and everyday essentials to your door.

Is Grubhub Worth It?

Grubhub is worth it if you want a flexible side hustle that pays an average of $14 per hour. It's also worth it if you don't mind making deliveries and have regular access to a vehicle.

If you want to make a full-time income, Grubhub probably isn't worth it. Additionally, it's not as lucrative in very small towns versus larger cities where order volume is higher.

How much Grubhub pays you really depends on a few factors like:

• Your location
• Grubhub's contribution
• Mileage per order
• Time spent on road
• Tips
• Special Offers

You may earn more or less per hour depending on these factors, so be sure to check the average hourly rate in your city for Grubhub drivers.

Ultimately, Grubhub isn’t meant to replace your job. Its purpose is to supplement your income as a side hustle or to be utilized as a part-time job.

Making money as a delivery driver can also be somewhat inconsistent, so it might help to use it with other similar apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats.

How Does Grubhub Work?

Like many other driving apps that pay you, getting started with Grubhub is as easy as four simple steps:

1. Meet Grubhub Driver Requirements
2. Sign Up
3. Complete Deliveries
4. Get Paid

Time to break down each step in a bit more detail so you can decide if this side hustle is worth it or not.

1. Meet Grubhub Driver Requirements

To deliver for Grubhub, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 years old or older (21+ in Las Vegas)
• Have an iPhone with iOS 11 or later OR Android with 5.0 or later
• Have a data  plan
• Have a checking account for direct deposit
• Have access to a car (or bike in certain areas)

If you’re completing deliveries with a car, you also need auto insurance and a valid driver's license. Specifically, you need a license that's valid for at least one year if you're 18 years old and a license that's valid for at least two years if you're 19 or older.

Finally, like other gigs like DoorDash or Amazon Flex, Grubhub drivers also need to pass a background check to become a driver. This check looks for any criminal convictions or any major driving violations on your record.

2. Sign Up

Signing up for Grubhub is fairly simple. Just head over to driver.grubhub.com to start filling out your application.

Start by entering the state and city you live in from the drop down list. If your city is not on the list, Grubhub might not be available in your area.

After hitting “Next”, enter your name, email, number, and agree to the privacy policy.

To continue with the application from this point, you’ll need to download the “Grubhub For Drivers” app on your App Store or Google Play Store. Follow all the rest of the instructions within the app and submit it when you’re done.

Grubhub requests a picture of a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance as you move forward, so it helps to have that ready with you as you sign up.

Keep in mind that after you apply, you can end up on the Grubhub waitlist if there's already enough drivers in your market. It can take a while to get off this waitlist, but this is the case with many delivery gigs.

3. Complete Deliveries

Once Grubhub accepts your driver application, you're ready to complete deliveries and begin making money!

Thankfully, Grubhub has a very lenient delivery system for drivers. You can work in a spontaneous shift if there is available room or you can schedule shifts in advance to guarantee a time to work.

It’s all first come first serve so it’s important to snag shifts quickly!

Once you go online with the Grubhub driver app, order requests start popping up from nearby restaurants. Each order request mentions:

• The restaurant
• Minimum driver pay
• Total delivery distance
• The restaurant address

This YouTube video from Grubhub driver Trevor shows exactly how the driver app works and how you can accept or decline orders.

Like other delivery apps, Grubhub drivers keep 100% of all tips. And I like that there's no minimum acceptance rate, so you don't have to accept low-paying or high-mileage orders if you don't want to.

When you accept an order, you can use the in-app map or an alternate map to navigate to the restaurant and drop-off locations.

4. Get Paid

Grubhub pays delivery drivers every Thursday through direct deposit. This usually takes around 3-5 days to process the payment. There's also an instant cashout option which charges a $0.50 fee per cashout and sends the money to your bank within seconds.

Gigs like Uber Eats and DoorDash also pay weekly and have instant pay options, so it's nice that Grubhub is keeping up with its competitors.

There’s no minimum you have to make from deliveries throughout the week in order to cash out either. Whatever is in your balance by Thursday is what you receive.

Direct deposit is the only way to receive your money, so make sure you have a checking out that you’re willing to use when you sign up.

How Much Does Grubhub Pay?

According to salary review websites, Grubhub drivers earn approximately $14 per hour on average. However, how much you earn greatly depends on your market, the time you deliver at, potential tips, and how fast you complete deliveries.

Grubhub isn’t transparent about how much drivers will earn. Instead, it shows the formula for how payments are calculated: Delivery Pay + Grubhub Contributions + Tips + Special Offers + Missions = Total Pay

The only upside to this information is the Grubhub Contributions which is essentially a minimum hourly rate guarantee depending on where you live. In most cities it’s between $9-12.

Online salary sites like Indeed claim that the average hourly rate in the United States is around $14.

This is below the national average for minimum wage and a few bucks less than their claims for DoorDash and Uber Eats. But again, how much you earn really varies depending on your market.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• It's easy to sign up for Grubhub and there's no strict vehicle requirements
• You can schedule shifts in advance
• Good hourly pay for side hustle
• Grubhub's new pay model includes a contribution factor that can bump up your pay if things are slow and orders aren't paying much
• Grubhub pays weekly and has an instant cash out option

Cons:

• Grubhub pays less on average compared to Doordash and Uber Eats
• There's a long waitlist in competitive areas
• Grubhub has less market share in the United States than competitors like DoorDash so it can be slower for drivers

Other Grubhub Reviews

One of the best ways to tell if a side hustle idea is legit and worth it is to see what other drivers have to say about their experiences.

This is the case for Grubhub as well. But thankfully, other real drivers share how much they make with Grubhub and if it's worth it on Reddit:

• Pavlata says: “I go 11-7 in like a very specific Midwest suburb where it’s easy for me to multi-app and the gas is cheap, I make $220 on average.”
• Ibanezrocker724 says: “After paying for fuel I average 13-15 per hour.”
• That-Breath-5785 says: “Austin, TX – $0.08/min and $0.24/mile. However, they pre-calculate the time based on optimal circumstances.”
• BlazeWatchingAnime says: “I multiapp, but if using one app, you're not gonna make much unless it's busy, that's all I can say.”
• Toodlez says: “Far less than DoorDash. When I started, $22/hour was typical, now it mostly just makes me waste gas, a couple times orders being canceled as I enter the restaurant. The only advantage to GH is they have a bigger operating area near me so I can do a delivery on the way to/from my parents house.”

As you can see, these Grubhub drivers report earning about $13 to $15 per hour but also say it really depends on your market.

And, multiapping, which means using several delivery apps at once, is important to get as many hourly orders as possible.

This Grubhub driver review from popular YouTuber Your Driver Mike also shares information to help you decide if Grubhub is worth it or not.

Mike points out how Grubhub's new contribution pay model helps the app pay a bit more. And the fact that Grubhub also has some missions to help you earn more is a perk.

However, Mike still thinks Grubhub isn't as good as Uber Eats. And he also suggests multiapping so you can get as many deliveries as possible.

The Best Jobs Like Grubhub

As other drivers point out, multiapping is critical to earning as much as possible when it comes to delivery apps.

Thankfully, there are tons of apps like Grubhub out there that you can use to make some quick money. Some of the most popular options include:

• DoorDash: The leading food delivery app in North America.
• Shipt: A popular grocery delivery gig that's similar to Instacart.
• Uber Eats: Another popular food delivery gig that's more global than Grubhub.
• Instacart: The leading grocery delivery service in North America.
• Amazon Flex: This driving gig pays you $18 to $25 per hour for delivering Amazon packages.

Now, it's difficult to make a full-time income with any of these delivery apps. But if you live in a low cost of living area, you might be able to by using a combination of apps.

But if you just want a flexible side hustle, these Grubhub alternatives are all worth considering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Grubhub Pay More Than DoorDash?

No, Grubhub pays less than Doordash on average. Grubhub’s hourly rate is around $12-14 while DoorDash drivers can generally earn more. But you can always multiapp with Grubhub and DoorDash.

Is Grubhub A Good Job?

Grubhub is a good job if you want a side hustle to make extra money in your spare time and have access to a car and a data plan on your phone.

Grubhub isn't a good job if you’re expecting it to be your only job. It’s difficult to make enough money in most cities with the amount of competition and orders available.

Check out what the average rate is for drivers in your area and see if it’s worth picking up as a side hustle. And don’t forget to account for things like gas, repairs, wear and tear, and taxes!

Is Grubhub+ Worth It For Customers?

Grubhub+ gives you free delivery on orders over $12. This can be worth it for customers who order through Grubhub frequently and would like to save on delivery fees every month.

The cost to join Grubhub+ is $9.99 per month. So, look through your previous Grubhub orders and see how much you pay per month on delivery fees. If you consistently pay more than $9.99 per month, Grubhub+ is worth it.

Final Thoughts

So, is Grubhub worth it?

Well, that depends.

Do you have access to a car, want to make extra side income, live in a less competitive area, and enjoy flexible work schedules?

If you answered Yes, then Grubhub can definitely be a great side gig for you. But if you live in a competitive area, have expensive gas costs, and don't want to drive, then Grubhub probably isn't the best side hustle for you.

And remember: It’s still best to combine multiple gig apps like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats to get as many orders as possible.

Ultimately, you can always try out Grubhub to see how much it pays per hour and then decide if it's worth it in your market.

Happy hustling!

Looking for even more money-making ideas? Checkout:

• How To Make $500 A Week With DoorDash.
• How To Make $1,000 A Week With Uber Eats.

DoorDash Disclaimer: Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability.