After working with Shipt for nearly a year, I started noticing the same frustrations cropping up week after week: inconsistent batch availability, oversaturated markets, and declining tips. I knew there had to be better alternatives out there.
So I spent the last six months testing 15 different delivery and gig apps to find the best jobs like Shipt. Some paid more, some had better scheduling flexibility, and a few completely changed how I think about gig work.
In this guide, I’m ranking the top alternatives based on my personal experience with pay rates, flexibility, and overall earning potential. The best part? Most of these let you get started in 24-48 hours.
Quick Answer: Best Jobs Like Shipt (2026)
Based on my testing, here are the top 3 alternatives:
- Uber Eats – Best overall for consistent orders and instant pay ($18-25/hr in my market)
- DoorDash – Most flexible scheduling with steady delivery volume ($16-23/hr)
- Uber Driver – Highest earning potential if you prefer passengers over packages ($20-30/hr)
| Platform | Type | Avg. Pay/Hr | Best For | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uber Eats | Food Delivery | $18-25 | No shopping required | 24-48 hrs |
| DoorDash | Food Delivery | $16-23 | Flexible scheduling | 24-48 hrs |
| Uber Driver | Rideshare | $20-30 | Higher earnings | 3-7 days |
| Instacart | Grocery Delivery | $15-22 | Similar to Shipt | 1-2 weeks |
| Amazon Flex | Package Delivery | $18-25 | Set block scheduling | 1-2 weeks |
Best Jobs Like Shipt: Ranked by My Experience
Here’s my honest ranking of the top alternatives to Shipt, starting with the ones that earned me the most money with the least hassle.
1. Uber Eats – Best Overall Alternative
Average Pay: $18-25/hr (including tips) | Start Time: 24-48 hours
Why it’s better than Shipt: After switching from Shipt to Uber Eats, I immediately noticed the difference. No more shopping – just pick up food and deliver. Orders are consistent throughout the day, and the instant pay feature means I can cash out whenever I need money.
My earnings: In my market (Northern Virginia), I average $22/hr during dinner rush and $18/hr during slower periods. That’s about $4/hr more than I was making with Shipt.
Best for: Anyone who’s tired of the shopping aspect of Shipt. If you just want to drive and deliver without navigating crowded grocery stores, this is your answer.
✓ No grocery shopping required
✓ Instant cash-out available
✓ More consistent order volume than Shipt
2. DoorDash – Most Flexible Scheduling
Average Pay: $16-23/hr (including tips) | Start Time: 24-48 hours
Why it’s better than Shipt: DoorDash has the most flexible scheduling system I’ve found. Unlike Shipt where you’re competing for batches, DoorDash lets you “Dash Now” in most markets, meaning you can start earning immediately without scheduling shifts days in advance.
My earnings: I consistently make $18-20/hr during peak times. The key is their “Peak Pay” bonuses that can add $2-4 per delivery during busy periods.
Best for: People who want complete control over their schedule. Work 2 hours or 12 hours – it’s entirely up to you. Still deciding between the two? See my side-by-side DoorDash vs Uber Eats earnings comparison →
✓ “Dash Now” feature for instant availability
✓ Peak Pay bonuses during rush hours
✓ Works in more markets than Shipt
3. Uber Driver – Highest Earning Potential
Average Pay: $20-30/hr (including tips) | Start Time: 3-7 days
Why it’s better than Shipt: If you don’t mind driving passengers instead of packages, Uber Driver consistently pays more than any delivery app. I average $25/hr on weekdays and hit $30+/hr on Friday and Saturday nights.
My earnings: My best week netted me $1,200 working about 42 hours – that’s roughly $28/hr. Compare that to my Shipt weeks where I’d struggle to hit $800 working the same hours.
Best for: Drivers who want the highest earnings and don’t mind social interaction. The background check takes longer (3-7 days), but it’s worth the wait.
✓ Higher hourly earnings than delivery apps
✓ Surge pricing during peak hours
✓ Can combine with Uber Eats for maximum income
Other Solid Alternatives to Shipt
⚡ Ready to Earn $4-6/Hr More Than Shipt?
These 3 platforms are accepting new drivers right now. Get approved in 24-48 hours and start earning this week.
While my top 3 picks above are my personal favorites, here are other legitimate alternatives worth considering depending on your situation:
4. Instacart – Most Similar to Shipt
Average Pay: $15-22/hr | Type: Grocery delivery with shopping
If you actually enjoyed the shopping aspect of Shipt, Instacart is the most direct alternative. The pay structure is similar, and you’re doing the same work – shopping for groceries and delivering them.
Why I rank it 4th: In my testing, Instacart had the same issues as Shipt: inconsistent batch availability and heavy shopping loads. The pay was comparable ($17/hr average in my market), but I found myself preferring the simpler delivery-only model of Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Best for: Shoppers who genuinely enjoy the grocery shopping experience and don’t mind heavy lifting. Want to give it a try? Read my complete guide on how to become an Instacart Shopper →
5. Amazon Flex – Best for Structured Schedules
Average Pay: $18-25/hr | Type: Package delivery in set blocks
Amazon Flex operates differently than Shipt – you claim “blocks” of time (usually 3-4 hours) and deliver Amazon packages. The pay is guaranteed at $18-25/hr depending on your market.
My experience: I found Amazon Flex reliable but less flexible than other options. Blocks fill up quickly, so you need to be glued to your phone to grab them. However, once you have a block, the pay is guaranteed even if deliveries take less time.
Best for: People who prefer structured blocks and guaranteed earnings over true flexibility. Discover 15 more jobs like Amazon Flex that pay $18-25/hr →
Want the full breakdown? Read my complete Amazon Flex earnings review (with proof) →
6. Grubhub – Good for Scheduled Blocks
Average Pay: $12-20/hr | Type: Food delivery with scheduling
Grubhub works on a block scheduling system where you select times you want to work. You keep 100% of tips, but the base pay can be lower than competitors.
My take: In my market, Grubhub had fewer orders than DoorDash or Uber Eats. I averaged $15/hr, which was disappointing compared to my other options. However, some markets are better than others.
7. Postmates – Deliver Anything
Average Pay: $10-18/hr | Type: Multi-category delivery
Note: Postmates has been acquired by Uber and is now part of Uber Eats in most markets. If you’re interested in this type of work, I recommend applying directly to Uber Eats instead.
How to Choose the Right Alternative to Shipt
After testing all these platforms, here’s my framework for choosing the best fit based on your priorities:
Choose Uber Eats if:
- You’re tired of grocery shopping and want delivery-only work
- You need instant cash-out capability
- You want consistent order volume throughout the day
- You prefer app-based pickup (no waiting in store lines)
Choose DoorDash if:
- You want maximum scheduling flexibility (“Dash Now” feature)
- You like earning bonuses during peak times
- Your market has strong DoorDash presence
- You want to stack orders for efficiency
Choose Uber Driver if:
- Maximizing earnings is your top priority
- You don’t mind social interaction with passengers
- You can work nights and weekends for surge pricing
- You want to potentially earn $25-30/hr
Choose Instacart if:
- You genuinely enjoyed the shopping aspect of Shipt
- You’re comfortable with heavy lifting
- You want work that’s nearly identical to Shipt
Can You Work Multiple Apps at Once?
Absolutely – and I highly recommend it. Here’s my current setup:
Monday-Thursday: I run both Uber Eats and DoorDash simultaneously. Whichever app sends me a good order first, I accept it. This keeps my downtime minimal and earnings maximized.
Friday-Saturday nights: I switch to Uber Driver for the higher surge pricing. I can easily pull $30/hr during these peak times.
Sunday: Back to Uber Eats for the brunch/dinner rushes.
This multi-app approach has increased my weekly earnings by about 35% compared to when I only used Shipt. The key is having multiple income streams so you’re never sitting idle waiting for orders.
My Honest Take: Why I Left Shipt
Don’t get me wrong – Shipt isn’t a bad platform. I made decent money there for almost a year. But the reality is:
- Batch competition was exhausting: Waking up early to claim batches, constantly refreshing the app, competing with hundreds of other shoppers in my metro
- Shopping took too long: A single Shipt order could take 60-90 minutes with shopping, checkout, and delivery. With Uber Eats, I complete 3-4 deliveries in that same time
- Inconsistent availability: Some days had plenty of batches, other days I’d struggle to find even 4 hours of work
- Heavy lifting: Multiple cases of water, 12-packs of soda, 50lb dog food bags – my back wasn’t happy
When I switched to Uber Eats and DoorDash, my hourly rate went up and my stress went down. That’s a winning combination in my book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays more than Shipt?
In my experience, Uber Driver pays the most at $20-30/hr, followed by Uber Eats at $18-25/hr and Amazon Flex at $18-25/hr. Shipt averaged $16-20/hr for me, but this varies significantly by market.
Can I do Uber Eats and DoorDash at the same time?
Yes! I run both apps simultaneously and accept the best orders from either platform. Just make sure you only accept one delivery at a time to avoid late deliveries.
Which is easiest to get started with?
Uber Eats and DoorDash are the fastest – you can typically start earning within 24-48 hours after applying. Uber Driver takes 3-7 days for background checks, while Amazon Flex can take 1-2 weeks.
Do I need a car for all these apps?
Most require a car, but Uber Eats and DoorDash allow bike and scooter delivery in some markets. Check your local requirements when applying.
What’s better than grocery delivery?
If you want to avoid grocery shopping entirely, food delivery (Uber Eats, DoorDash) or rideshare (Uber Driver) are better options. They’re faster per delivery and often pay more per hour.
Final Verdict: Best Jobs Like Shipt in 2026
After six months of testing, here’s what I recommend:
🥇 If you want one app to replace Shipt:
Start with Uber Eats. It’s the smoothest transition, pays well ($22/hr average in my market), and has consistent order volume throughout the day.
💰 If you want maximum earnings ($800-1,200/week):
Use my exact strategy: Run Uber Eats + DoorDash simultaneously for weekday orders, then switch to Uber Driver for Friday/Saturday night surge pricing. This combo increased my income by 35%.
🛒 If you loved the shopping aspect of Shipt:
Stick with Instacart as your direct Shipt alternative. Same work, similar pay structure.
The gig economy has exploded with opportunities beyond just Shipt. Whether you want to deliver food, drive passengers, or explore 50+ other proven side gigs that pay $15-50/hr →, there’s never been a better time to take control of your schedule and earnings.
The best part? You can apply to all of these platforms today and have multiple income streams running by next week. That’s the power of the gig economy in 2026.
Most Drivers Get Approved in 24-48 Hours
Start earning more this week with apps that actually value your time. No batch competition. No heavy shopping. Just consistent orders and better pay.
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