Your car is sitting in the driveway costing you money. What if it could earn money instead? We tested every major driving app for 6 months to find out which ones actually pay well and which are a waste of gas.
Earn from places you already visit, whether delivering or running errands
Because your attention has real value, and so does your time behind the wheel. Looking for non-driving options? See our guide to apps that pay real money.
3 Types of Driving Apps
Driving apps fall into three categories, each with different earning potential and time requirements.
| Type | Examples | Monthly Potential* | Time Required | Vehicle Wear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart | $500–$2,500 | 15–40 hrs/week | High |
| Rideshare | Uber, Lyft | $800–$3,000 | 20–50 hrs/week | Very High |
| Passive/Rewards | GetUpside, Dosh, location apps | $30–$150 | 0 hrs (normal driving) | None extra |
Most people thinking about "driving apps" mean delivery or rideshare. But passive rewards from driving you already do might be the smartest play, especially if you're looking for no-risk money making apps.
Delivery Apps: The Main Earners
1. DoorDash — Best Overall for Flexibility
DoorDash lets you deliver food from restaurants to customers. Accept orders, pick up, drop off, get paid. Average earnings run $15–$25/hour before expenses, which drops to $10–$18/hour after gas and wear. Payouts are weekly for free or instant for a $1.99 fee. Best times are lunch (11am–1pm), dinner (5pm–9pm), and weekends.
The app has the largest market coverage and most consistent orders with flexible scheduling. You can also multi-app. The downsides are low base pay ($2–3 per order), reliance on tips, and vehicle wear. Best starting point for delivery due to widest availability.
2. Uber Eats — Best for Urban Areas
Uber Eats works the same as DoorDash with food delivery from restaurants. Average earnings are $14–$22/hour before expenses, dropping to $9–$16/hour after. Payouts are weekly or instant (up to 5x/day free with Uber Pro). Best times mirror DoorDash with meal times and weekends.
Good surge pricing, stacks with Uber rides, and has instant cashout options. Slightly fewer orders than DoorDash in most markets with lower base pay. Great second app to run alongside DoorDash, especially in dense urban areas.
3. Instacart — Best Pay Per Order
Instacart has you shop for groceries at stores, then deliver to customers. Average earnings are $15–$28/hour before expenses, dropping to $11–$20/hour after. Payouts are weekly or instant. Best times are weekends, early mornings, and end of month.
Higher pay per order with larger tips and less driving since you spend more time shopping. The downsides are longer time per order, physical demands, and store crowds. Best hourly rate for those who don't mind the shopping component.
4. Amazon Flex — Best for Predictable Income
Amazon Flex has you deliver Amazon packages in scheduled blocks of 3–5 hour shifts. Average earnings are $18–$25/hour at a set rate, dropping to $13–$19/hour after expenses. Payouts are weekly via direct deposit. Early morning blocks pay best, especially during holiday seasons.
Predictable hourly rate with no tipping variance, and you can finish early while keeping full pay. Blocks can be hard to get, packages are heavy, and delivery windows are strict. Best for predictable income with less variance than food delivery.
Rideshare Apps: Higher Earnings, Higher Commitment
5. Uber (Rides) — Best Earning Ceiling
Uber rideshare has you drive passengers from point A to point B. Average earnings are $18–$30/hour before expenses, dropping to $12–$22/hour after. Payouts are weekly or instant. Requirements include a newer vehicle (usually less than 15 years old), background check, and inspection.
Higher per-hour potential with surge pricing, passenger tips, and no handling food. Stricter vehicle requirements, passenger interactions, higher insurance needs, and more miles driven. Best earnings if you have a qualifying vehicle and don't mind passengers.
6. Lyft — Best Driver Incentives
Lyft works the same as Uber for passenger rideshare. Average earnings are $16–$28/hour before expenses, dropping to $11–$20/hour after. Payouts are weekly or instant with similar requirements to Uber.
Better driver bonuses in some markets with slightly friendlier driver policies. Fewer riders than Uber in most markets with lower surge multipliers. Run alongside Uber and switch between based on which has better bonuses or surge pricing.
Passive Driving Rewards: Earn From Driving You Already Do
These apps pay you for driving you're already doing, with no extra work or deliveries required. They're perfect additions to passive income apps you might already be using.
7. GetUpside — Best Gas Cashback
GetUpside gives cashback on gas purchases at participating stations. Average earnings run $20–$60/month depending on how much you drive. Cashback rates are $0.05–$0.25 per gallon. Payouts go to PayPal, bank transfer, or gift cards with a $10 minimum.
Truly passive since you just check the app before filling up, and it stacks with credit card rewards. Not all stations participate, rates vary, and urban areas sometimes have fewer options. No reason not to use this for free money on gas you'd buy anyway. For more options like this, check our guide to the best cashback apps.
8. Dosh — Automatic Cashback
Dosh gives automatic cashback when you link your card, working at gas stations and more. Average earnings run $10–$30/month with cashback rates of 1–5% at participating locations. Payouts go to PayPal or bank with a $25 minimum.
Completely automatic once set up with no activation needed. Higher payout minimum and fewer participating locations than GetUpside. Set it up once and forget it since it stacks with everything else.
9. Location Reward Apps — Earn for Where You Go
Location reward apps let you accumulate rewards for visiting gas stations, stores, and other locations. Earnings potential is $30–$100/month taking just seconds per location. Payout varies by app.
Works during normal errands, stacks with everything, and takes very little time. You need to be at physical locations and earnings vary by area. See our store visits guide for the best options, and learn how VISU rewards work specifically.
Stack location rewards with gas cashback and delivery apps
Real Earnings: 6-Month Test
We tested multiple driving apps simultaneously for 6 months. Here's what actually landed in our account.
| App | Hours Worked | Gross Earnings | Expenses | Net Earnings | Net $/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | 180 hrs | $3,420 | $684 | $2,736 | $15.20 |
| Uber Eats | 120 hrs | $2,160 | $432 | $1,728 | $14.40 |
| Instacart | 80 hrs | $1,840 | $276 | $1,564 | $19.55 |
| GetUpside | 0 hrs | $168 | $0 | $168 | ∞ |
| Location rewards | 2 hrs | $312 | $0 | $312 | $156 |
| TOTAL | 382 hrs | $7,900 | $1,392 | $6,508 | $17.04 |
Instacart had the best net hourly rate at $19.55/hr despite fewer hours. Passive apps like GetUpside and location rewards had infinite or near-infinite $/hour since they required no dedicated time. Total expenses were 17.6% of gross, so factor this into your calculations. Multi-apping increased total earnings but required more strategy.
The True Cost of Driving Apps
Most articles ignore expenses. Here's what driving actually costs.
| Expense | Cost Per Mile | Monthly (1,000 miles) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | $0.12–$0.18 | $120–$180 | Varies by MPG and gas prices |
| Depreciation | $0.05–$0.15 | $50–$150 | Biggest hidden cost |
| Maintenance | $0.05–$0.10 | $50–$100 | Oil, tires, brakes, etc. |
| Insurance increase | $0.02–$0.05 | $20–$50 | Rideshare requires disclosure |
| TOTAL | $0.24–$0.48 | $240–$480 | IRS rate: $0.67/mile (2024) |
If you're earning $20/hour gross but driving 20 miles/hour, your actual earnings might be $10–$15/hour after expenses. This is why survey apps can sometimes beat driving when you factor in true costs.
Best Strategy: The Driving Stack
Maximize earnings by layering multiple apps strategically.
Base layer with passive rewards: GetUpside for gas, Dosh for automatic cashback, and location rewards during errands. This costs $0 in extra time with potential earnings of $50–$150/month.
Layer 2 with your primary delivery app: Pick DoorDash or Uber Eats as your main app and learn your market. Potential earnings are $500–$1,500/month part-time.
Layer 3 with a secondary app: Add Instacart or the other delivery app. Switch when one is slow. Potential additional earnings are $200–$500/month.
Layer 4 (optional) with rideshare: Only if you have a qualifying vehicle and want more hours. Potential additional earnings are $300–$800/month.
Always have passive rewards running. They cost nothing extra and can add $50–$150/month to whatever else you're doing.
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Drive for Apps
Good fit: You have a fuel-efficient vehicle with 30+ MPG, live in or near a busy metro area, want flexible hours, don't mind driving and traffic, and need cash flow now since same-day payouts are available.
Not a good fit: You have an expensive or new car where depreciation hurts more, live in a rural area with fewer orders, hate driving or get stressed in traffic, have a vehicle with poor fuel economy, or value your personal time highly.
Tax Considerations
Driving app income is self-employment income. Track every mile since you can deduct $0.67/mile (2024 rate) OR actual expenses, but not both. Set aside 20–30% for self-employment tax plus income tax. If you earn $1,000+ per quarter, make estimated quarterly payments. You'll get 1099 forms if you earn $600+ from any single platform.
See our realistic income guide for more on taxes and setting expectations.
*Earnings vary based on location, hours worked, vehicle efficiency, market conditions, and app availability. Some apps (including VISU) are currently in accumulation phase with withdrawals coming soon.
FAQ: Driving Apps That Pay
Which driving app pays the most?
Instacart typically has the highest net hourly rate ($15–$20/hr after expenses) because you spend more time shopping and less time driving. For pure driving, Uber rideshare pays most but has stricter vehicle requirements and higher expenses.
Can I do multiple delivery apps at once?
Yes, "multi-apping" is common and recommended. Run DoorDash and Uber Eats simultaneously and accept the best offers. Just don't accept orders from both at the exact same time since that delays deliveries and hurts your ratings.
How much can I realistically make driving part-time?
With 15–20 hours/week, expect $600–$1,200/month gross or $450–$900 net after expenses. This varies significantly by market, vehicle efficiency, and which hours you work.
Is delivering worth the wear on my car?
Depends on your vehicle. A paid-off Honda Civic with 150k miles? Probably worth it. A new BMW with a car payment? Probably not. Calculate your true costs per mile before committing.
What's the best car for delivery apps?
Toyota Prius or similar hybrid is ideal since 40–50 MPG dramatically improves your net earnings. Any reliable vehicle with 30+ MPG works well. Avoid trucks, SUVs, and luxury vehicles.
Are there driving apps that don't require deliveries?
Yes. GetUpside pays cashback on gas, Dosh gives automatic cashback, and location reward apps pay for visiting places. These work with driving you already do, with no deliveries or passengers required.