Like many other delivery apps, Shipt has its pros and cons. If you’ve used it and think the cons outweigh the pros, or you’re looking for an additional app to use alongside it, you’re in the right place. This article discusses over nine apps like Shipt that you can use to earn money shopping for groceries or delivering meals.
An Overview of Shipt
Target Corporation-owned Shipt is one of many grocery delivery services in the U.S. It has an app that everyday Americans can register with to either order groceries or deliver orders.
If you’d like to know more, we dive into how Shipt works in another article.
Where Does Shipt Excel?
Shipt offers plenty of flexibility. You can control when you work, what deliveries you take on, and how often.
The app is also straightforward to use. For example, you can easily communicate with customers when one or two of the items they’ve requested are out of stock.
Where Does Shipt Fall Short?
Shipt’s tipping system isn’t the best. Unlike other apps, you won’t see the tips until you drop the grocery items with the customer. All you see is an estimate of the pay you’ll receive, which means you’ll be taking a gamble when accepting a gig.
Our Top Picks (At a Glance)
An overview of our suggestions below.
- Instacart – Best Overall
- FreshDirect – Runner-Up
- DoorDash – Best for Reliable Weekly Payouts
- Grubhub – Highest-Paying Delivery App
- Uber Eats – Best for Area Coverage
- Favor – Best for Beginner Shoppers and Delivery Drivers
- Amazon Fresh – Best for Stability and Reliability
- Spark Driver App (by Walmart) – Best for Walmart Shoppers
- ASAP (formerly Waitr) – Best Companion/Supplementary App
The Best Shipt Alternatives at a Glance
If you need answers fast, this section saves you a read by answering questions related to Shipt’s best alternative and biggest competition.
What Is the Best Shipt Alternative?
Instacart is the best Shipt alternative.
The app pays better than Shipt while offering the same flexibility and work-life balance that gig economy apps provide. Also, the average Instacart full-service shopper is spoiled for choice because the app has a wider coverage area across the U.S. than Shipt.
Who Is Shipt’s Biggest Competitor?
Shipt’s biggest competitor is Instacart.
According to Statista, Instacart was the most downloaded online grocery shopping app in the U.S. in 2022, with eight million downloads. Shipt doesn’t even appear in Statista’s top three most downloaded apps in 2022.
The other two apps that Shipt would have to out-compete before being able to claim the top spot from Instacart are Gopuff and 7-Eleven.
The Best Shipt Alternatives in 2023
1. Instacart
- Good: You can earn a decent hourly wage as an Instacart shopper and enjoy a work-life balance.
- Bad: Some customer orders may be too low to justify the time spent grocery shopping.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Choose Instacart when you want a delivery app that pays well but doesn’t make you drive too far.
Why Is Instacart a Great Option?
Instacart’s grocery delivery service pays a decent hourly wage. Some shoppers earn upward of $40 an hour without driving the long distances that are common with other delivery apps. Also, because you can work whenever you like, and grocery shopping isn’t too demanding, you can enjoy a work-life balance.
Drawbacks to Instacart
The main drawback to this grocery delivery app is that some customer orders don’t make sense. You might see orders under $5, which don’t justify the time or energy you’d spend visiting grocery stores. Also, if, for example, a customer who creates the gig doesn’t tip, you could lose money on such a delivery job.
2. FreshDirect
- Good: FreshDirect’s business model provides the stability of a full-time job.
- Bad: It doesn’t offer flexibility the way jobs like Instacart and Shipt do.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Choose FreshDirect if you’re looking for a gig that offers stability.
FreshDirect is America’s first online grocery delivery store. It delivers fresh groceries to households in New York, Southern Connecticut, New Jersey, and Long Island. If you live in one of those areas, you can work a gig as a fresh personal shopper or freeze personal shopper.
Why Is FreshDirect a Great Option?
FreshDirect is an excellent Shipt alternative because it’s stable. This option is one of the few that’s akin to a full-time job, which means you can earn a steady paycheck working for the company.
Drawbacks to FreshDirect
Ironically, you may find FreshDirect’s biggest pro a drawback if you’d prefer an app that offers you flexibility. Also, this app doesn’t have as much coverage as the others on this list since it serves the four U.S. cities mentioned above and no more.
3. DoorDash
- Good: DoorDash pays its delivery drivers weekly, providing a steady and reliable income.
- Bad: You’ll need to invest in a delivery bag because the one provided isn’t sturdy.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Choose DoorDash if you want an app that makes regular payouts.
DoorDash is one of the best-known online food delivery services in the U.S. The app offers same-day delivery of fast food and restaurant meals to its customers. As one of its delivery drivers, you’ll pick up orders from food joints in your area and make money from your base pay and tips.
Why Is DoorDash a Great Option?
DoorDash payouts are regular and quick. Once you become a “dasher,” you’ll not only make decent hourly pay with this pickup service, but you’ll also get this extra money at the end of the week. Plus, the app’s coverage across the U.S. is excellent, meaning you’re bound to find gigs nearby.
Drawbacks to DoorDash
Although DoorDash provides a bag you can use to transport the food, it doesn’t last long. If you plan to be a dasher for a significant period, expect to fork out the cost of a more durable one.
If you’re interested, we’ve reviewed other apps like DoorDash elsewhere on the site.
4. Grubhub
- Good: You can make a decent amount of money each week when delivering for Grubhub.
- Bad: Grubhub subjects its drivers to market restrictions when other apps don’t.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Choose Grubhub when you want to make decent amounts of income in small windows of time.
Since 2004, Grubhub has served as a food delivery platform for households across the U.S. You can use the app to earn money delivering food for local businesses in the food and drink industry. As a delivery driver for Grubhub, you can work on a flexible schedule, whether full- or part-time.
Why Is Grubhub a Great Option?
Grubhub pays well. Depending on how much driving you’re willing to do, you can earn a decent income in a couple of hours. And if you drive during peak hours, you can make even more via higher base pay and customer tips.
Drawbacks to GRUBHUB
Grubhub’s biggest drawback is its market restriction policy. For example, if you decide to deliver in the Chicago area, you can’t deliver in Seattle. This restriction isn’t the best because apps like Instacart, Uber Eats, and the Shipt app don’t impose them. If you’re not fine with this policy, consider augmenting this app with another one.
5. Uber Eats
- Good: Thanks to its wide coverage area, Uber Eats has plenty of food delivery gigs.
- Bad: The meal delivery driver covers the gas and repair costs.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Use Uber Eats if you have a car and can deliver food for a couple of hours each day.
Uber Eats is a food delivery app by ride-hailing giant Uber. Thanks to the company’s partnerships with local restaurants across the country, you can use your car to deliver meals to Uber’s huge customer base. All you need to start offering delivery services is a valid driver’s license, a vehicle, and the Uber app.
Why Is Uber Eats a Great Option?
Uber has a presence throughout the country, which means there’ll likely be plenty of food delivery jobs in your area. Also, as a food delivery driver for Uber, you can set your hours and work when it suits you.
Drawbacks to Uber Eats
Unfortunately, Uber doesn’t cover ongoing expenses like gas and vehicle maintenance. These two costs can eat into your profit, especially if you deliver over long distances frequently. Speaking of, some of the food delivery jobs you’ll see on the app aren’t worth the short distances you have to drive.
6. Favor
- Good: This Favor app doesn’t have stringent admittance criteria.
- Bad: The support for delivery personnel leaves a lot to be desired.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Use Favor if you’re new to this type of gig economy job.
Favor is an online delivery service with partnerships with grocery stores like HEB and eateries in the U.S. It operates exclusively in Texas, serving major cities like Dallas and San Antonio. As a runner for the company, you’ll make money delivering store-bought goods to Texans.
Why Is Favor a Great Option?
Favor doesn’t have strict registration criteria. For example, you won’t have to subject yourself to a background check. Also, unlike the other apps, a low delivery acceptance rate won’t have any bearing on your ability to get jobs. Both qualities make this app excellent for first-time delivery job workers.
Drawbacks to Favor
Favor’s support for its runners is lackluster. If you experience issues during a run for the company, you’ll have a difficult time getting a hold of support personnel. In addition, the people who you do speak to reach out primarily via text message, which can be irritating.
7. Amazon Fresh
- Good: Driving for Amazon generally pays well per hour.
- Bad: You have little control over where or how far you’ll deliver Amazon’s fresh food.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Choose this Shipt alternative if you want to deliver for a stable company.
Amazon Fresh is e-commerce juggernaut Amazon’s grocery delivery service. Amazon Prime subscribers use it to order household products and fresh produce. With a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license, you can leverage Amazon’s online marketplace to earn money doing grocery pick-up tasks.
Why Is Amazon Fresh a Great Option?
Amazon delivery drivers typically earn between $18 and $25 per hour, which is a decent amount for a gig economy job. Also, unlike other delivery apps, Amazon isn’t going anywhere. Independent contractors who crave stability will find this delivery for the e-commerce giant appealing.
Drawbacks to Amazon Fresh
Amazon delivery drivers don’t get to pick where they’re sent or how far. Since Amazon doesn’t cover the cost of gas or car repairs, this quality means you can’t accurately factor those costs into your calculations. Although Amazon provides stability job-wise, not knowing your delivery destination beforehand may throw you off.
8. Spark Driver App (by Walmart)
- Good: It doesn’t have an instant payout feature, which means you can be disciplined.
- Bad: Low pay and the customers can remove tips and lower your income even further.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Use Spark Driver if you live in an area with a Walmart.
The Spark Driver app is the brainchild of retail giant Walmart. It facilitates Walmart’s online grocery delivery service. You can make money by either delivering the store’s goods to its customers or shopping for them. Per Walmart’s website, “All you need to get started is a car and a smartphone.”
Why Is Spark Driver a Great Option?
Spark Driver’s standout quality is the fact that it doesn’t have an instant payout feature. There are two sides to this surprising benefit. The first is that not being able to withdraw money as soon as you’re paid (until the end of the week) instills discipline. Second, this quality reduces the competition.
Drawbacks to Spark Driver
Unfortunately, Spark Driver’s base pay isn’t decent compared to similar apps, and you may not make a profit for a while. Also, the app’s tipping system contributes to low income because Walmart’s customers can withdraw tips after you’ve completed a delivery.
9. ASAP (Formerly Waitr)
- Good: This app doesn’t penalize you for rejecting a job after accepting it.
- Bad: ASAP doesn’t show you the drop-off destination before you accept a gig.
- When to Choose This Shipt Alternative: Use ASAP when business is slow on bigger apps like GRUBHUB.
ASAP rebranded from Waitr in early 2022. This food delivery app isn’t as well-known as heavy-hitters like DoorDash or Uber Eats. However, it’s worth investigating if you do delivery jobs on a full-time basis. Use it to augment your income when your primary app is having a slow day.
Why Is ASAP a Great Option?
The best quality about ASAP is the freedom you have to accept and reject jobs. Unlike apps like DoorDash, ASAP won’t penalize you when you reject a delivery after accepting it. ASAP’s leniency in this regard is fantastic because there will be times when you’ll have to reject orders.
Drawbacks to ASAP
ASAP falls short in one key area: you can’t see drop-off destinations until you accept a job. This quality poses a problem because you can’t properly gauge whether a job will be profitable. You could accept a job and learn that it’s farther than you’re willing to travel.
Notable Mentions: Even More Options to Check Out
The apps discussed below are Shipt alternatives worth checking out if you want more gig economy apps like it:
1. Gopuff
Gopuff is an app used by thousands of Americans to order groceries and other everyday essentials. The company behind it has partnered with local stores, and you can work as an independent contractor delivering their inventory to households near you. It gets an honorable mention in this article because of the flexibility its 24-hour model affords its delivery people.
As to why Gopuff doesn’t make it into my top nine apps, it’s because of its shift system. This model makes it challenging to get jobs because it creates a first-come-first-serve situation. You also can’t turn down orders.
2. Dumpling
Dumpling connects customers with personal shoppers who’re willing to procure food items for them from local grocery stores. You can use this platform to start a business as a personal shopper in your area. Its suite of tools is impressive, which is why we figured it should get a mention in this article.
The reason we didn’t include Dumpling in the top nine apps is that it can be expensive. Unlike the other apps in this article, Dumpling isn’t free and will cost you $29 to access its suite of tools.
3. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit differs significantly from the other Shipt alternatives mentioned in this article, but I considered it worth mentioning due to its breadth of tasks. Unlike the other alternatives mentioned, you won’t deliver groceries or food to make money. Rather, you’ll offer your services to help customers with odd jobs, such as grocery shopping for them. I’m mentioning it for this reason alone.
Where TaskRabbit falls short is how competitive it can be. Competition is fierce on this app, which means you won’t always get the jobs you want to do. Additionally, you’ll have to submit yourself to a background check, which, when you think about it, is understandable.
Wrapping Up
Of all the Shipt alternatives available, Instacart reigns supreme. Whether it’s decent pay you’re looking for or work-life balance, this app offers those benefits in spades. Better yet, since it operates in 14,000 cities across the U.S. and Canada, it’s likely you can use the app outside your area.
FreshDirect earns second place because of the stability that the app provides. While Instacart’s coverage dwarfs its availability (14,000 versus FreshDirect’s four cities), the app makes up for the deficit by being akin to a full-time job. That’s why if you’re in between jobs, this app is the one to get to earn a steady paycheck.
DoorDash has almost become synonymous with food delivery, which is why it’s little wonder that it clinches third position. The app’s weekly payout structure provides much-needed liquidity for gig economy workers, making it an appealing prospect for anyone who needs to earn extra cash as quickly as possible.
