{"id":368927,"date":"2026-10-24T03:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T08:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/fees-stores-and-which-job-is-easier"},"modified":"2026-10-24T03:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T08:56:25","slug":"fees-stores-and-which-job-is-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/fees-stores-and-which-job-is-easier","title":{"rendered":"Charges, Shops and Which Job Is Simpler"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p data-astro-cid-fzx4jmue=\"\">Instacart and DoorDash both bring stuff to your door, but each one is built for a different kind of order.<\/p>\n<div data-astro-cid-fzx4jmue=\"\">\n<p>Instacart and DoorDash both bring stuff to your door, but each one is built for a different kind of order.<\/p>\n<p>Instacart can shop 80,000 stores for you.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the count on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instacart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instacart\u2019s own homepage<\/a>, in 14,000 cities across the U.S. and Canada, and it\u2019s why the app wins most big grocery runs.<\/p>\n<p>DoorDash plays a different game: restaurants first, groceries second.<\/p>\n<p>Below, I\u2019ll compare Instacart vs DoorDash on stores, checkout costs, memberships and the work itself.<br \/>\nBy the end, you\u2019ll know which app fits your next order or your next shift.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the fast way to choose:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stocking the fridge for the whole week? Instacart.<\/li>\n<li>Dinner is late and nobody wants to cook? DoorDash.<\/li>\n<li>Want gig work with short, simple trips? DoorDash fits better.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t mind bigger jobs and walking store aisles? That points to Instacart.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"instacart-vs-doordash-at-a-glance\">Instacart vs DoorDash at a Glance<\/h2>\n<div class=\"picks-box\">\n<p class=\"picks-box-title\">The two apps side by side<\/p>\n<div class=\"et-table-wrap\">\n<table class=\"et-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>What you&#8217;re comparing<\/th>\n<th>Instacart<\/th>\n<th>DoorDash<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Built for<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Grocery shopping<\/td>\n<td>Restaurant meals, then groceries<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Stores<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>80,000 stores in 14,000 cities<\/td>\n<td>Restaurants, DashMart and grocery partners like Kroger and ALDI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Membership<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Instacart+: $9.99 a month or $99 a year<\/td>\n<td>DashPass: $9.99 a month, or a yearly plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Free delivery from<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>$10 grocery orders ($35 at Costco)<\/td>\n<td>Each store&#8217;s minimum, shown in the app<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Service fees<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Still apply with Instacart+<\/td>\n<td>Reduced with DashPass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Tips<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>100% go to your shopper<\/td>\n<td>100% go to your Dasher<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>The work<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Shop the aisles, then deliver<\/td>\n<td>Mostly pick up and drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"instacart-vs-doordash-the-core-difference\">Instacart vs DoorDash: The Core Difference<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/instacart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\">Instacart<\/a> is a grocery shopping service.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/doordash\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\">DoorDash<\/a> is a food delivery service that added groceries later.<\/p>\n<p>That one difference shapes everything else, from the stores you see to the work a driver does.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/instacart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ALDI\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/instacart-grocery-delivery-count-on.webp\" alt=\"Instacart homepage section saying personal shoppers pick items with care while you chat and manage your order\" width=\"1160\" height=\"520\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the grocery side, an Instacart shopper walks into a store, picks your items off the shelf and brings them to your door.<br \/>\nYou get the store\u2019s own aisles, just without the trip.<\/p>\n<p>DoorDash started with restaurants.<br \/>\nYou order a meal, the restaurant cooks it, and a Dasher picks it up and drives it to you.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/about.doordash.com\/en-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/doordash-restaurants-grocery-convenience.webp\" alt=\"DoorDash product cards for restaurants, grocery and convenience delivery, including DashMart\" width=\"1240\" height=\"690\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The two companies also run the work in different ways.<br \/>\nInstacart puts item accuracy first, while DoorDash batches orders together to keep costs down, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.convequity.com\/instacart-vs-doordash-which-is-the-better-investment-today-pt-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Convequity\u2019s June 2025 research report<\/a> on the two companies.<\/p>\n<p>What does that mean for you?<\/p>\n<p>Instacart is built to get a long grocery list right, while DoorDash is built to get a short order to you fast.<br \/>\nPick the app whose strength matches the order you\u2019re about to place.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"which-stores-can-you-order-from\">Which Stores Can You Order From?<\/h2>\n<p>Instacart has the bigger grocery lineup, with 80,000 stores, while DoorDash centers on restaurants, convenience stores and its own DashMart stores.<br \/>\nThe cheapest app is useless if it doesn\u2019t carry your store, so check this first.<\/p>\n<p>Open both apps, enter your address and look at the store list before you compare anything else.<br \/>\nYour town\u2019s list is the only one that matters.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"instacarts-grocery-lineup\">Instacart\u2019s Grocery Lineup<\/h3>\n<p>Reach is the big strength here.<br \/>\nInstacart\u2019s partners, from local grocers to big chains, add up to 80,000 stores, according to the company.<\/p>\n<p>That reach pays off most when your favorite store is a smaller regional chain, since the big names now show up on both apps.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/sams-club-vs-costco\/\">Costco<\/a> has delivered through Instacart for nearly a decade, according to an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wect.com\/2026\/09\/17\/doordash-uber-eats-offer-delivery-us-costco-stores\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">AP report from September 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So if your favorite grocery store shows up in the app, you\u2019re shopping the same shelves you\u2019d walk yourself.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"doordashs-restaurants-dashmart-and-grocery-partners\">DoorDash\u2019s Restaurants, DashMart and Grocery Partners<\/h3>\n<p>DoorDash\u2019s list leans hard on restaurants and fast food.<br \/>\nIt also carries convenience stores and a growing number of grocery chains.<\/p>\n<p>That grocery list is bigger than it used to be.<br \/>\nALDI joined DoorDash in 2023, nearly 2,700 <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kroger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Kroger<\/a> stores <a href=\"https:\/\/about.doordash.com\/en-us\/news\/doordash-kroger-partner-nationwide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">launched on DoorDash<\/a> on October 1, 2025, and Costco announced delivery from all its U.S. stores through DoorDash in September 2026, for Costco members only.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/about.doordash.com\/en-us\/news\/doordash-kroger-partner-nationwide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/doordash-kroger-announcement.webp\" alt=\"DoorDash news post from September 29, 2025 saying nearly 2,700 Kroger stores launch on DoorDash starting October 1\" width=\"1080\" height=\"535\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>DoorDash also runs its own shops, called DashMart, which sell snacks, groceries and household basics.<br \/>\nConvequity\u2019s report notes that DoorDash has invested in these stores, so some quick-grab items come straight from DoorDash.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the takeaway: DoorDash is great for a meal plus a few extras.<br \/>\nFor a full cart from a specific grocery store, check Instacart first, then see if DoorDash carries the same store.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-instacart-or-doordash-cheaper-for-groceries\">Is Instacart or DoorDash Cheaper for Groceries?<\/h2>\n<p>Neither Instacart nor DoorDash is always cheaper.<br \/>\nThe winner depends on your store, your items and your membership, so price the same cart on both apps and compare the checkout totals before you pay.<\/p>\n<p>That sounds like work.<br \/>\nIt takes about 10 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>And once you\u2019ve done it, you\u2019ll know which app to open for your normal grocery run instead of guessing every week.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-to-price-the-same-cart-on-both-apps\">How to Price the Same Cart on Both Apps<\/h3>\n<p>Here\u2019s the \u201csame cart test\u201d I\u2019d run before committing to either app:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Pick one store that both apps carry.<\/strong> Comparing a cheap store on one app to a pricey one on the other tells you nothing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add the same 5 to 10 items you buy every week.<\/strong> Use exact sizes and brands, like a gallon of milk and a loaf of the same bread.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Go to the checkout screen on each app, but don\u2019t pay.<\/strong> That screen shows item prices, fees and the tip before you commit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write down the total before tip, then the total with your normal tip.<\/strong> The before-tip number is the fair comparison.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeat once with your membership turned on, if you have one.<\/strong> That shows what the membership actually saves you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Say your cart comes to a hypothetical $62 on one app and $68 on the other.<br \/>\nThat\u2019s $6 a week, or about $312 a year, from one 10-minute test.<\/p>\n<p>Not bad.<\/p>\n<p>One more check: compare the app\u2019s item prices with the store\u2019s own website or weekly flyer.<br \/>\nA price gap there is easy to miss when you only look at the fees.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"the-fees-to-watch-at-checkout\">The Fees to Watch at Checkout<\/h3>\n<p>Fees are where a cheap order gets expensive.<\/p>\n<p>On Instacart, the delivery fee depends on the store, the delivery window and your order total, and every order must be at least $10.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instacart.com\/help\/section\/360007902791\/360039164252\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/instacart-fees-and-taxes-help.webp\" alt=\"Instacart help article explaining delivery and service fees\" width=\"800\" height=\"528\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Instacart also adds a service fee that changes with your location and cart, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instacart.com\/help\/section\/360007902791\/360039164252\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">its help center<\/a> says that fee isn\u2019t a tip and doesn\u2019t go to your shopper.<br \/>\nPickup orders have no service fee.<\/p>\n<p>DoorDash adds a delivery fee that varies by merchant, plus a service fee.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/help.doordash.com\/en-us\/consumers\/article\/what-fees-do-i-pay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Its help center<\/a> says that service fee now varies with distance and order size in most areas, and that a small-order fee may apply when your subtotal is low.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/help.doordash.com\/en-us\/consumers\/article\/what-fees-do-i-pay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/doordash-fees-help-article.webp\" alt=\"DoorDash help article titled What fees do I pay\" width=\"800\" height=\"526\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In California, Chicago, New York City and a few other places, DoorDash\u2019s service fee is still 15% of your subtotal for most orders.<\/p>\n<p>So when you run the same cart test, look at three lines, not one:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Item subtotal:<\/strong> the price of the food or groceries themselves.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fees:<\/strong> delivery, service and any small-order fee.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tip:<\/strong> what you choose to give your shopper or Dasher. Both apps say 100% of it goes to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Small orders get hit hardest, because a flat fee takes a bigger bite of a $15 order than a $150 one.<br \/>\nIf you only need a few items, check our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/apps-to-save-money-on-groceries\/\">grocery savings apps<\/a> before paying to deliver a tiny cart.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"instacart-vs-dashpass-is-either-worth-it\">Instacart+ vs DashPass: Is Either Worth It?<\/h2>\n<p>Instacart+ and DashPass are worth it only if you order often enough that the fees you skip add up to more than the membership costs.<\/p>\n<p>Both cost $9.99 a month.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instacart.com\/instacart-plus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instacart+<\/a>, once called Instacart Express, costs $9.99 a month or $99 a year.<br \/>\nIt gives you $0 delivery fees on grocery orders of $10 or more, Costco orders of $35 or more and eligible restaurant orders of $25 or more.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/instacart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/instacart-plus-membership-page.webp\" alt=\"Instacart+ page offering $0 delivery fees on orders of $10 or more, renewing at $99 a year after a 14-day trial\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Service fees still apply, and the free trial lasts 14 days before it renews at $99 a year.<\/p>\n<p>DashPass costs $9.99 a month, and DoorDash also sells a yearly plan.<br \/>\nMembers get $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders, plus 5% back in DoorDash credits on eligible pickup orders.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/help.doordash.com\/en-us\/consumers\/article\/what-is-dashpass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/doordash-dashpass-help-article.webp\" alt=\"DoorDash help article explaining what DashPass is\" width=\"800\" height=\"496\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The catch is the minimum.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/help.doordash.com\/en-us\/consumers\/article\/what-is-dashpass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">DoorDash\u2019s help center<\/a> says the most common reason DashPass doesn\u2019t apply is an order below the store\u2019s minimum, which the app shows you before checkout.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to tell if one pays for itself:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Look at your last month of orders on that app.<\/li>\n<li>Add up only the delivery fees you paid.<\/li>\n<li>Compare that total with $9.99.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If that total beats $9.99, the membership saves you money.<br \/>\nIf it doesn\u2019t, you\u2019re paying for a habit.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the same math that decides <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/is-amazon-prime-worth-it\/\">whether Amazon Prime is worth it<\/a>: count what you\u2019d actually use, not what the plan promises.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that \u201cfree delivery\u201d only covers the delivery fee.<br \/>\nRead the checkout screen with the plan turned on before you assume an order is free.<\/p>\n<p>And before paying for either plan, look for first-order deals and promos.<br \/>\nWe\u2019ve rounded up ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/how-to-get-free-food-delivered\/\">get free food delivered<\/a> that can cover a few orders while you decide.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"which-is-better-for-takeout-vs-a-big-grocery-haul\">Which Is Better for Takeout vs a Big Grocery Haul?<\/h2>\n<p>Instacart is better for a big grocery haul, and DoorDash is better for takeout and small, urgent orders.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what each app was built for, as the store lists above show.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how I\u2019d split it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Weekly groceries for a family:<\/strong> Instacart, from your usual store.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hot dinner from a restaurant:<\/strong> DoorDash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Forgot one ingredient mid-recipe:<\/strong> DoorDash or a DashMart, if one is near you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A big warehouse club or Kroger run:<\/strong> either app, so run the same cart test on both.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If takeout is creeping into your budget, cooking a few cheap <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/frugal-meals\/\">frugal meals<\/a> each week will save more than any food delivery app can.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"instacart-vs-doordash-for-drivers-and-shoppers\">Instacart vs DoorDash for Drivers and Shoppers<\/h2>\n<p>DoorDash is the easier app to work for if you want short trips you can start anytime.<br \/>\nInstacart suits you if you don\u2019t mind shopping aisles and lifting heavy bags.<\/p>\n<p>Like most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/gig-economy-jobs\/\">gig economy work<\/a>, both apps treat you as an independent contractor, not an employee.<br \/>\nThat means your gas, wear and tear on your vehicle and auto insurance come out of your own income.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/instacartdriver\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/instacart-shopper-signup-page.webp\" alt=\"Instacart shopper signup page saying over 600,000 shoppers choose Instacart\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To shop for Instacart, <a href=\"https:\/\/shoppers.instacart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">its shopper page<\/a> says you must be 18 or older, be allowed to work in the U.S., have a reliable car and a smartphone, and be able to lift up to 40 pounds.<br \/>\nIt says more than 600,000 shoppers work with Instacart.<\/p>\n<p>To deliver for DoorDash, you must be 18 or older (19 in some states and 21 in California), with a car, scooter or, in some cities, a bike.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-the-work-feels-day-to-day\">How the Work Feels Day to Day<\/h3>\n<p>As a Dasher, most of your time is driving.<br \/>\nYou wait at a restaurant, grab a sealed bag and drop it at a door.<\/p>\n<p>As an Instacart shopper, you do the grocery shopping.<br \/>\nYou walk the store, find each item, pick good produce, handle swaps when something\u2019s out of stock and load heavy bags into your vehicle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/instacartdriver\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/instacart-how-shopping-works.webp\" alt=\"Instacart shopper page: shop only the orders you want, go to the store to pick items, chat with customers about changes\" width=\"1360\" height=\"700\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You pay with an Instacart payment card, so the groceries never come out of your own pocket.<\/p>\n<p>That shopping step changes the job.<br \/>\nGrocery orders tend to take longer and wear you out more, while restaurant pickups are shorter and lighter.<\/p>\n<p>Before you sign up for either, ask yourself 3 quick questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do you enjoy shopping, or would you rather just drive?<\/li>\n<li>Will a full week of groceries fit in your trunk?<\/li>\n<li>Do you want to work set hours, or log on whenever you\u2019re free?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you answered \u201cjust drive\u201d and \u201cwhenever,\u201d DoorDash is the better fit.<br \/>\nIf shopping and bigger loads sound fine, give Instacart a try.<\/p>\n<p>Want a deeper look at the shopper side?<br \/>\nHere\u2019s how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/make-money-instacart\/\">make money with Instacart<\/a>, including how batches and tips work.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"which-app-pays-more\">Which App Pays More?<\/h3>\n<p>Neither app is the clear winner on pay, because your city, your hours and your customers\u2019 tips decide how much cash you take home.<\/p>\n<p>Both apps pay per order.<br \/>\nInstacart pays per batch based on order size, driving distance and shopping effort, while DoorDash pays base pay plus promotions, and both let you keep 100% of tips.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/go\/doordashdriver\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"same-origin\" data-astro-prefetch=\"false\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/doordash-dasher-signup-page.webp\" alt=\"DoorDash Dasher signup page for delivery drivers\" width=\"800\" height=\"482\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Instacart says shoppers can cash out as soon as 2 hours after an order.<br \/>\nDoorDash offers instant cash-outs through its own debit card.<\/p>\n<p>The pay ranges you\u2019ll see online mostly come from driver self-reports and affiliate blogs, and they swing a lot from one market to the next.<\/p>\n<p>The better move?<br \/>\nGet your own number.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a simple 2-week test:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Work the same hours on each app, one week each.<\/li>\n<li>Write down total pay, hours logged in and miles driven.<\/li>\n<li>Subtract your gas and a rough cost per mile for wear and tear.<\/li>\n<li>Divide what\u2019s left by your hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>That\u2019s your real hourly income, and it beats any national average.<br \/>\nCutting your fuel bill helps either way, so it\u2019s worth trying a few ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/how-to-save-money-on-gas\/\">save money on gas<\/a> while you test.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-you-work-both-apps-at-once\">Can You Work Both Apps at Once?<\/h3>\n<p>You can sign up for both, and plenty of gig workers do, but running them at the exact same moment is tricky.<\/p>\n<p>A grocery order keeps you inside a store for a while.<br \/>\nIf a restaurant pickup pings in the middle of it, you\u2019d have to leave a customer\u2019s groceries half-shopped.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, split your day: take grocery orders when demand is high and switch to restaurant pickups around mealtimes.<br \/>\nThat way each app gets your full attention when it\u2019s busiest.<\/p>\n<p>If you want more options to fill slow hours, there are plenty of other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/apps-that-pay-you-to-drive-your-car\/\">apps that pay you to drive your car<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-downsides-of-each-app\">The Downsides of Each App<\/h2>\n<p>Instacart\u2019s biggest downsides are fees that add up on small orders and hard physical work for shoppers.<br \/>\nDoorDash\u2019s are a grocery lineup that varies by area and more of a Dasher\u2019s shift spent driving.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing the catch upfront saves you a bad first order.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instacart.com\/help\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/images\/screenshots\/instacart-receipts-and-charges-help.webp\" alt=\"Instacart help page on viewing receipts and charges\" width=\"800\" height=\"544\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:720px;height:auto;border:1px solid #e2e8e4;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0 4px 16px rgba(29,41,43,0.12);display:block;margin:18px 0;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Instacart\u2019s downsides:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Service fees and tips add up fast on small carts.<\/li>\n<li>A store running out of an item means a swap you didn\u2019t pick.<\/li>\n<li>For shoppers, the job is physical and orders take longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>DoorDash\u2019s downsides:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Grocery choice depends on which stores partner with the app near you.<\/li>\n<li>Restaurant meals ordered on the app can cost more than you expect once fees land, so compare with the restaurant\u2019s own menu.<\/li>\n<li>For Dashers, most of the shift is driving, which means more gas and wear.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In other words, Instacart\u2019s catch is mostly cost on small carts, while DoorDash\u2019s is mostly choice.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"which-one-should-you-use\">Which One Should You Use?<\/h2>\n<p>Use Instacart for planned grocery orders and DoorDash for meals and quick fixes.<\/p>\n<p>As a driver, start with DoorDash if you want the simplest job, or Instacart if you\u2019d rather do fewer, bigger orders.<\/p>\n<p>If neither feels right, there are plenty of other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/best-second-jobs\/\">second jobs<\/a> that don\u2019t involve food delivery at all.<\/p>\n<div class=\"key-takeaways\">\n<p class=\"key-takeaways-title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Instacart is built for groceries.<\/strong> It shops 80,000 stores and puts getting your items right first.<\/li>\n<li><strong>DoorDash is built for takeout.<\/strong> It now carries Kroger, ALDI and Costco too, so check both apps for your store.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Run the same cart test.<\/strong> Price one cart from one store on both apps and compare the totals before tip.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Both memberships cost $9.99 a month.<\/strong> Instacart+ covers delivery on $10+ grocery orders, and DashPass also cuts service fees.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For gig work, DoorDash is simpler.<\/strong> Instacart means shopping aisles and lifting up to 40 pounds, but both let you keep 100% of tips.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-list\">\n<details class=\"faq-item\">\n<summary class=\"faq-question\">Is it better to do DoorDash or Instacart?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">\n<p>DoorDash is better if you want short, simple jobs you can start whenever you like, since you mostly pick up and drive.<br \/>\nInstacart is better if you don\u2019t mind walking aisles and lifting heavy bags in exchange for bigger orders, so try each for one week and compare your own dollars per hour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\">\n<summary class=\"faq-question\">Can you make more money doing Instacart or DoorDash?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">\n<p>Neither app wins everywhere, because pay depends on your city, the hours you work and the tips on each order.<br \/>\nThe honest way to find out is to track your total pay, hours and miles on both apps for 2 weeks, then compare what\u2019s left after gas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\">\n<summary class=\"faq-question\">What are the disadvantages of Instacart?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">\n<p>Instacart\u2019s main downsides are service fees that add up on small orders and the risk of a swapped or missing item when a store runs out.<br \/>\nFor shoppers, the work is physical, with long walks through the store and bags of up to 40 pounds to lift.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\">\n<summary class=\"faq-question\">Is Instacart or DoorDash cheaper?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">\n<p>Instacart or DoorDash can be cheaper depending on the store, the items and your membership, so there\u2019s no single winner.<br \/>\nBuild the same cart from the same store on both apps and compare the total on the checkout screen before you pay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\">\n<summary class=\"faq-question\">Is Instacart or DoorDash better for grocery orders?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">\n<p>Instacart is usually better for a full weekly grocery order because it covers 80,000 stores and focuses on picking the right items.<br \/>\nDoorDash is handy for a few groceries in a hurry, especially from its own DashMart stores or a nearby Kroger or ALDI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\">\n<summary class=\"faq-question\">Is Instacart+ or DashPass worth it?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\">\n<p>Instacart+ or DashPass is worth it if the delivery fees you\u2019d skip in a month add up to more than $9.99.<br \/>\nInstacart+ waives delivery on grocery orders of $10 or more, while DashPass waives it on orders that meet each store\u2019s minimum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"the-bottom-line\">The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The right app depends on the order: groceries go to Instacart, takeout goes to DoorDash.<br \/>\nFor drivers, DoorDash is the simpler job, and Instacart pays you to shop as well as drive.<\/p>\n<p>This week, run the same cart test on both apps with your normal grocery list, and let the checkout total pick the winner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frugalforless.com\/instacart-vs-doordash\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Instacart and DoorDash both bring stuff to your door, but each one is built for a different kind of order. Instacart and DoorDash both bring [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":368930,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4557],"tags":[471,101,548,426,223,15913,536,962,43108,5931,173],"class_list":["post-368927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing","tag-aldi","tag-california","tag-chicago","tag-contractor","tag-costco","tag-doordash","tag-driver","tag-kroger","tag-online-everytime","tag-personal-web-site","tag-united-states"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=368927"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":368929,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368927\/revisions\/368929"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/368930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=368927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=368927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=368927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}