Amazon Flex Vs DoorDash: Similarities, Differences and Which Is Better?

Are you tired of scraping by with bills and other expenses?

Before you stress out too much, consider what it’s like to drive for Amazon Flex vs. DoorDash.

Both can make for great side hustles, but they aren’t for everyone.

Consider what each company does, where they operate, and how much you can make.

Then, you’ll be able to get some financial relief, and you can explore your city.

Read on for more information to help you choose the better delivery app.

Amazon Flex vs DoorDash: Basics

When comparing Amazon Flex and DoorDash, it helps to know the basics.

That may be enough to help you decide which is better for you to work for.

Here are a few things you should know about each delivery app.

What Is Amazon Flex?

Amazon Flex is a package delivery service that lets you get packages to their destination.

You can work in blocks, which are shifts, and you make an hourly rate.

To get a shift, you’ll need to reserve a block ahead of time.

That way, you’ll know you’ll have packages to deliver when you’re ready to work.

This service helps Amazon fulfill orders and complete that last mile of the delivery process.

You will use your own vehicle, so you don’t need to know how to drive a truck.

Amazon will give you a set of packages to deliver in one go, which means you don’t have to drive back and forth a ton.

What Is DoorDash?

DoorDash is one of many popular food delivery apps.

Like Uber Eats, for example, you will receive orders pop up in your DoorDash driver app.

Then, you can accept orders that pay well or are close to you.

You’ll need to head to the restaurant and grab the order before taking it to the customer.

This service allows more restaurants to deliver when they can’t afford to hire more workers.

After completing an order, you may get another right away.

However, you might have to wait a while before you receive another order.

How Do Amazon Flex and DoorDash Work?

The delivery services have some similarities.

However, delivering food and packages can be very different.

Consider the ways that each app works.

How Does Amazon Flex Work?

As mentioned, an Amazon Flex driver has to sign up for a time block.

When your block begins, you’ll need to arrive at an Amazon warehouse.

You pick up the packages on your route, and you head out to deliver them.

The app will direct you to the proper location for each delivery.

Depending on the length of your block, you may have a lot of packages to deliver.

When your block is over, you can sign up for another one to make more money.

How Does DoorDash Work?

With DoorDash, you can schedule a shift, but you don’t have to.

All you need to do is go to your driver app and start dashing.

Then, you can get orders from nearby restaurants, and you can start making money.

However, you may need to have a hot bag and a red card on you.

Some restaurants won’t release orders if you don’t have an insulated bag for the food.

Also, depending on the restaurant, you may need to use the company red card to pay for the order.

How Do Amazon Flex and DoorDash Shifts Work?

These two delivery apps let you plan out shifts in advance.

That may help you get more work when you have time to drive for them.

However, you should know how each service handles shifts.

Amazon Flex Schedule

When setting up a shift, you will schedule a block in your Amazon Flex app.

The length of the shift may vary, and shifts aren’t always available.

If you live near a lot of other Flex drivers, you may need to book your shifts far out.

Fortunately, when you do schedule a shift, you’ll know there will be work for you.

You can go straight to a warehouse or another location to pick up the packages.

Amazon Flex tends to offer more shifts during peak delivery seasons, such as the holidays.

But you may notice a dip in work during other months.

DoorDash Schedule

If you become a driver for DoorDash, you will need to go into your delivery app.

Like Amazon, you can schedule a shift.

However, you also have the option to dash whenever, even if you don’t schedule it ahead of time.

That’s nice if you suddenly have some extra time to work.

If you schedule a shift, you can choose how long it is, so you don’t have to work all day or all night.

DoorDash tends to get busy in the evenings and on weekends.

That means you may have a chance for more orders as well as orders with bonuses.

Where Are Amazon Flex and DoorDash Available?

Both delivery services are available in many areas.

However, if only one service operates near you, that will help you decide which to work for.

If you’re lucky enough to live in New York or another city, you may be able to work for both apps.

Either way, you should consider the areas of operation to decide if one is better for you than the other.

Amazon Flex Areas of Operation

Amazon Flex operates in a variety of cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

It also operates in some smaller cities, such as Boise, Idaho, and Omaha, Nebraska.

Unfortunately, Amazon isn’t always hiring Flex drivers in all cities where it operates.

As of this writing, it’s recruiting drivers in places like Evansville, Indiana, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

If there aren’t any openings where you live, download the app to find out when you can apply.

Even if you can get into Amazon Flex, you may not get many blocks.

Depending on how many drivers there are, you might have to compete for work.

DoorDash Areas of Operation

DoorDash is available in over 7,000 cities in countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada.

Some cities in Japan also have DoorDash, so you should be able to drive where you live.

The app will ask you for your ZIP code when you sign up to determine if you can drive in your area.

Unfortunately, they don’t have an extensive list of locations, so you’ll need to create an account to learn the specifics.

You may have to compete with other drivers.

However, you can learn where to park your car to get more orders, such as by parking near lots of restaurants.

Who Can Drive for Amazon Flex or DoorDash?

Along with living in a city where the app operates, you have to meet other requirements to drive for Amazon Flex or DoorDash.

However, the requirements can differ between companies.

Keep the following in mind when deciding which app is better for gig work.

Amazon Flex Driver Requirements

Amazon Flex workers have to be at least 21 years old to sign up.

The company also requires delivery partners to have a social security number and a valid license.

You’ll also need to have and use an iPhone or Android smartphone.

If you have an Android, it must run Android 6.0 or a more recent version.

Your phone also needs a working camera with a flash and to have at least 2GB of RAM available.

Amazon Flex Vehicle Requirements

An Amazon Flex driver needs to drive a midsize sedan with four doors.

Another option is to drive a larger SUV, truck, or van.

If you drive a truck, it should have a covered truck bed.

While Amazon may not require it, you might want to upgrade your car insurance.

That way, you’ll have protection if something happens while you’re working as an independent contractor.

DoorDash Driver Requirements

The DoorDash delivery service isn’t as strict about the age requirement; anyone over the age of 18 can sign up.

However, you will need to provide your driver’s license number.

If you’ll work in the United States, you also need to give your social security number.

DoorDash also has to run a background check on all prospective food delivery drivers.

Once the background check comes back clean, you can order some dasher supplies, such as an insulated bag, so you can start taking orders.

DoorDash Vehicle Requirements

Compared to a flex driver, a dasher has more vehicle options.

You can use any car, bike, or scooter, depending on where you live.

The car doesn’t need to have a specific number of doors.

It can also be a newer model or older version.

However, like Amazon Flex, you may want to purchase better auto insurance before you make your first delivery.

Which One Pays Better Amazon Flex vs. DoorDash?

You’re probably comparing delivery apps because you want to make extra money.

If that’s the case, knowing the income potential can have a huge impact on which app you choose to work for.

Both Amazon Flex and DoorDash can pay well.

But delivery app jobs don’t guarantee pay since you’re a contractor.

Still, you should know how much you can make per hour or shift when driving for either or both apps.

Amazon Flex Pay

Amazon Flex claims that drivers make about $18 to $25 per hour.

The amount you make depends on where you live and how long it takes you to deliver packages.

Because while a block may be two hours, you can’t go back to the warehouse if you don’t finish in that time.

So if a delivery block pays $50 for two hours, it may take you two and a half hours.

That would drop your hourly pay from $25 to $20.

However, you also have the option of making tips, so you could make more.

DoorDash Pay

With DoorDash, the average pay rate per hour is $25 in the United States.

The base pay depends on the distance and time the order will take.

Like a Flex driver, a dasher can make more if they receive a customer tip.

You also have access to promotions, including challenges and peak pay.

If you complete a certain number of deliveries, you can make more money from a challenge.

Peak pay offers a higher rate per delivery during busy hours, such as evenings and weekends.

Which Is Better to Work for Amazon Flex vs DoorDash?

When it comes to earning money, both apps offer plenty of opportunities.

However, there are some downsides to both apps.

Before deciding on one app or the other, consider why you may or may not want to drive for each.

Amazon Flex

Amazon Flex is an excellent option for anyone who doesn’t want to do food delivery.

Consider the pros and cons of working for this delivery service.

Pros

• Hourly pay
• Schedule shifts ahead of time
• No food in your car
• No need for special delivery equipment
• No background check

Cons

• Lower pay than DoorDash
• More driver and vehicle restrictions

DoorDash

If you find that Amazon Flex doesn’t meet your needs, DoorDash is a great alternative.

Here are some things you should know about this service.

Pros

• Better pay than Amazon Flex
• Fewer restrictions
• More areas of operation
• Able to accept or reject orders
• Bonuses available

Cons

• Food can stink up your car
• No guarantee of work

Conclusion

Amazon Flex and DoorDash offer different opportunities for you to make extra cash.

While they’re similar, Amazon Flex is great for people who like to plan.

Meanwhile, DoorDash is great if you have more time on your hands and want to work right away.

Outro

If you want to take on a side hustle, being a delivery driver is great.

But with all of the delivery apps out there, it’s hard to know which one to use.

Amazon Flex lets you deliver packages, while DoorDash is for food.

Consider how much money you need to work and if each service is even available where you live.

Then, you’ll know which app to go to when you have time to make some money.