The advanced technology in the food, grocery delivery, and pickup delivery industry gave rise to many platforms. When we think of food and grocery delivery services, Uber Eats and Instacart are the first apps that come to mind.
Uber Eats and Instacart appear similar at first glance, but they also have some important differences to consider.
Considering the similarities in their service, people frequently ask: Which one is the best? Although both the platforms have their pros and cons, the best one to use will depend on what you want from the service.
Uber Eats vs Instacart can be tricky to decide between. In this article, we’ll explain the similarities and differences between them.
Uber Eats vs Instacart Comparison
Have trouble deciding which of these popular delivery platforms is the best for you? Let us help you make an informed decision, with our Uber Eats vs Instacart comparison.
Uber Eats has over 60 million monthly active users. Instacart is much less popular with only about 10 million users. Taking a look at the stats, Uber Eats is clearly the most popular.
Nevertheless, numbers don’t give us all the answers, and that’s why we’ve created a detailed comparison of Uber Eats vs Instacart.
Overview: Uber Eats vs Instacart
As an extension of Uber’s main app, UberFRESH launched in 2014 and later separated and relaunched as UberEATS in 2015. The app is now called Uber Eats.
You can order from local restaurants through the Uber Eats app or website, and your food will be delivered to you, generally at a nominal fee.
It is possible to create group orders or schedule orders for a future date. Along with food, Uber Eats also offers drinks. Most of the drinks on Uber Eats are the same as those you would find at a café or restaurant.
Instacart provides grocery delivery services by sending personal shoppers to shop on your behalf and deliver the groceries to your door. Several big grocery stores partner with it and deliver same-day in many cities.
As opposed to other grocery delivery services, Instacart doesn’t maintain a huge warehouse to stock the fresh groceries or products.
Delivery Fees: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Delivery fees vary depending on where you live. When you select a restaurant, you can see how much it will cost.
You will be charged a fee according to the size of your order, usually 5% of the total.
In most restaurants, orders under a certain amount will be subject to a fee called the small order fee. Restaurants can set their own fees, resulting in varying charges. By adding more items, this fee can be waived.
Delivery fees for Instacart orders start at $3.99, plus an additional service fee of 5% of your grocery total. Instacart charges a separate service fee for alcohol delivery.
You pay a different fee for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and orders under $35. The delivery charge will be clearly displayed at the time of order placement.
Operating Countries: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Uber Eats may have started in the US, but it has spread to dozens of countries in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa.
Currently, the service is available in more than 6,000 cities throughout 45 countries.
Instacart offers grocery delivery and pick-up service in the United States and Canada.
Subscription: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Uber Eats provides a subscription plan called Eats Pass. With Eats Pass, you get free delivery on all orders and receive an additional five percent off orders exceeding $15.
You can save a lot with Eats Pass if you use Uber Eats regularly for meal deliveries, but if it’s only a rare occasion that you use the service, then it probably isn’t worth it.
You can subscribe to the Express subscription plan to receive unlimited free delivery on orders over $35 for $99 annually, or $9.99 per month. In addition, it lowers the service charge on your orders.
In the case of daily grocery deliveries, Instacart Express might be a good option, especially if you regularly shop at places that offer Instacart.
Tipping: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Upon delivery, customers can tip the driver through the Uber Eats app or website. The tip amount is predetermined, you can enter your own amount, or you can opt not to tip.
By default, tips are 5% or the percentage of your last order, whichever is more. Individual store deliveries are suggested to tip at least $2.
Changes to tip amounts can be made prior to placing an order or within 24 hours of delivery.
Payment Methods: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Uber Eats accepts a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal.
As soon as the order is placed, the payment method selected is charged and the delivery is initiated. An order can be trusted to be legitimate this way and it streamlines the whole process.
You can add or remove payment methods at any time on the Uber Eats website or the app’s Account Section.
Instacart accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including credit and debit cards from the United States and Canada, EBT cards from participating retailers in certain states, China UnionPay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal.
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Uber Eats vs Instacart: For Drivers
Payout: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Uber Eats doesn’t have a set delivery price. Pay per trip is instead determined by factors such as the delivery fee and the distance traveled by the customer. Upon completing a delivery, your customer can leave you a tip.
Depending on the time and day of the week, delivery drivers for Uber Eat earn $14.90 per hour, on average.
Instacart’s payment system is quite complicated, but generally, Instacart Shoppers will receive $10 for full-service batch deliveries. Instacart pays per delivery on average $15-20 per batch. Customers keep all tips received from Instacart.
Payout Time: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Direct deposit payments are made every week to your linked bank account. You can also use Uber Instant Pay, a service that lets you withdraw your earnings five times daily.
Shoppers are paid weekly on Wednesday for the past week that ended on Monday. Payments are made the next Wednesday morning.
Instacart Shoppers in select cities will be able to withdraw earnings whenever they like, using the Instant Cashout option.
Requirements: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Uber Eats
- You must be at least 18 years old to drive in your city
- Reliable vehicle
- Your driver license and insurance must be valid
- Social Security number
- iPhone or Android smartphone
Instacart
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old
- You need a valid Social Security number
- An iOS or Android phone
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds comfortably
- Vehicles that are reliable and well-maintained
- Mandatory vehicle insurance.
How does it work?: Uber Eats vs Instacart
Uber Eats
- Drivers log into the Uber delivery app
- You receive a notification if you are near a restaurant where someone just ordered.
- You can get the restaurant’s name and address from the app.
- It’s your job to drive to the restaurant, collect the food, drive to the customer’s location and give it to the customer.
Instacart
- When customers order groceries, the app will notify the nearest Shopper.
- You can use the Instacart Shoppers app to find orders, buy the list of items ordered by the customer, and notify the customer if the ordered item is not available
- The customer may suggest you buy an alternative item if required
- At last, deliver them to customers.
Flexibility: Uber Eats vs Instacart
When it comes to flexibility, both Uber Eats and Instacart offer it. Uber Eats and Instacart is an ideal platforms for people looking for flexible work, part-time, or temporary jobs. Here’s why;
- You can create a schedule that works for you
- You earn more money by receiving tips from your customers
- Whenever you need more money, you can work longer hours.
Uber Eats vs Instacart: Which is better?
With Uber Eats, it’s easy to earn a little side income on the side. If you want to earn the most money, consider delivering during rush hours, such as lunch and dinner.
In case you want to earn some extra cash and are looking for a simple, flexible way to make money, Uber Eats driving is a good option for you.
Uber Eats is easy to use, and it pays well. Instacart is also user-friendly, but since it has less userbase you are likely to have fewer orders to deliver as a Shopper. Both allow you to keep your 100% tip money. But, Uber Eats offers extra incentives.
The needs of individual users play a large role in determining which delivery platform is better. If you want the food delivery app, Uber Eats may be a better choice for you. However, if you want groceries delivery platform, look no further than Instacart.
Spend a few hours reading reviews from Uber Eats drivers and Instacart Shoppers on sites like Indeed and Glassdoor to help make a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Uber Eats take cash?
No. Uber Eats doesn’t accept cash. The service used to accept cash in India. But it was acquired by Zomato in India in 2020.
Is Uber Eats better than Instacart?
Instacart is a grocery delivery app whereas UberEats is a food delivery app. This makes it impossible to compare both of them.
Is working for Uber Eats worth it?
The Uber Eats driver job offers you the possibility of generating some extra income if you have the time and vehicle availability. Despite a few challenges, driving for Uber Eats is worth it,
Who pays more Uber Eats or Instacart?
While the pay varies on various factors, Uber Eats pay more on average for its drivers.
Do you make more with Uber eats or Instacart?
On average, Uber Eats drivers earn about $15 per hour. Uber Eats drivers can make more money than Instacart since it has more active users. Moreover, Uber Eats drivers enjoy a lot of flexibility compared to Instacart.
