Ever wondered why your food arrived cold, with missing items, or way later than expected? It might not be bad luck—it could be the delivery app you’re using. The people who know these apps best are the drivers themselves, and they’re not staying quiet about which platforms treat them poorly. When drivers aren’t happy, your food delivery suffers too. Here’s what delivery drivers want you to know about which apps to avoid and which ones to use when you’re hungry and don’t want to leave the house.
Instacart struggles with difficult app interface
At the bottom of our list is Instacart, which many drivers say has a complicated app that makes their job harder. When drivers can’t easily navigate the app while picking up groceries, it creates delays and frustration. The app has been criticized for not recognizing some forms of ID for alcohol delivery, forcing drivers to make tough decisions about completing orders. The lack of easy access to customer support means that when problems happen, drivers are often left to figure things out on their own, which can lead to order cancellations or long wait times for you.
Besides the technical issues, Instacart drivers report earning between $15-$20 per hour on average, which falls on the lower end compared to other services. When drivers aren’t making enough money, they’re more likely to take multiple orders at once to make ends meet, which can affect the care taken with your order. Many drivers complain that the batch payment system doesn’t always fairly compensate for the time and effort required, especially for complex grocery orders with many items or substitutions.
Postmates has long waiting times at restaurants
Postmates (now part of Uber Eats) comes in second-to-last according to many drivers. A common complaint is that Postmates doesn’t coordinate well with restaurants, resulting in drivers arriving to pick up orders that haven’t even been started yet. This means you’re paying for your driver to wait around, and your food gets delivered later. Drivers report that the platform often gives unrealistic delivery time estimates, setting up both drivers and customers for disappointment. When drivers have to wait 20-30 minutes at a restaurant, they’re not making money, which leads to frustration and potentially lower quality service.
The payment structure is another issue drivers highlight. While Postmates advertises earnings of $18-$22 per hour, drivers say this doesn’t account for expenses like gas and car maintenance. Since Postmates has been absorbed by Uber Eats, many of the original features that drivers liked have changed or disappeared. Drivers also note that the customer service for them is often slow and unhelpful, making it difficult to resolve issues quickly. When your driver can’t get help, your order problems don’t get fixed either.
Grubhub has confusing delivery zones
Grubhub ranks poorly among many drivers due to its confusing delivery zone system. Drivers report being sent on deliveries far outside their preferred areas, sometimes traveling 10-15 miles for a single order. This can mean your food is in transit for a long time, affecting its temperature and quality when it arrives. Drivers also mention that Grubhub’s app doesn’t provide enough information about orders before acceptance, leading to situations where they agree to deliveries that aren’t worth their time—and potentially rushing your order as a result.
Payments are another sore point, with drivers reporting an average of $15-$22 per hour, which can vary widely depending on tips. According to research on delivery speed, Grubhub orders take an average of 35 minutes and 49 seconds—almost 10 minutes longer than the fastest service. The platform also has one of the higher combined fees at $5.74 on average, making it less attractive for both drivers and customers. When you pay more but get slower service, nobody wins.
Shipt has strict scheduling requirements
Shipt comes in the middle of our ranking. While it offers decent pay at $15-$22 per hour, drivers note that the scheduling system can be extremely rigid. Drivers must often book their work hours well in advance, and there are penalties for canceling shifts. This creates a stressed workforce that might be running on tight schedules rather than focusing on careful delivery of your items. For grocery orders especially, where proper selection of fresh items matters, a rushed driver might not give your order the attention it needs.
The app uses a rating system that many drivers find harsh—they can lose access to hours or even be removed from the platform if their customer ratings drop below a certain threshold. This creates anxiety among drivers who feel they need to rush between orders to maintain their status. Driver feedback suggests that Shipt’s training and bonus structure can be complicated to understand, leading to inconsistent service levels. When drivers are stressed about ratings rather than focused on service quality, it’s the customers who ultimately suffer.
GoPuff has limited delivery range
GoPuff sits in the middle of our ranking with mixed reviews from drivers. The main drawback is its limited delivery area compared to other apps, which means you might not even have access to the service depending on where you live. Drivers work from warehouses rather than restaurants, which creates a different set of challenges. They report that the warehouse organization isn’t always efficient, leading to delays when trying to locate items for orders. When drivers spend extra time searching for products, the delivery time increases and your order arrives later.
On the payment side, drivers report earning about $16-$20 per hour, with limited opportunities for bonuses or incentives. Many drivers say that the work can be steady but that growth potential is minimal. The schedule flexibility is better than some services but still has limitations. Another issue is that since GoPuff delivers mostly convenience items and not full meals, drivers often receive smaller tips, which can lead to less motivation to provide speedy service. For customers, this means potentially longer wait times and less attentive service.
Amazon Flex has challenging delivery quotas
Amazon Flex ranks above average in our list but still has notable issues according to drivers. While the pay range of $18-$25 per hour is attractive, drivers report high pressure to complete a large number of deliveries in short time frames. This pressure sometimes results in rushed deliveries, with packages left in unsecured locations or delivered to the wrong address. For food deliveries specifically, this rush can mean less care taken with temperature-sensitive items or fragile packages.
The work schedule can be both a pro and a con—drivers like being able to pick up blocks of hours, but these blocks are highly competitive and can disappear within seconds of becoming available. Drivers also mention that routes can be inefficiently planned, sending them back and forth across delivery areas rather than in a logical sequence. Driver feedback suggests that support for delivery issues is often automated and unhelpful, leaving them to make judgment calls that might affect your delivery. The algorithm-driven nature of the platform means there’s little room for human consideration of traffic, weather, or other factors that affect delivery time.
DoorDash has peak hour surcharges
DoorDash comes in as our second-best option, though it’s not without drawbacks. The main complaint from customers is that prices can surge dramatically during peak hours, with extra fees that aren’t always clearly explained until checkout. Drivers generally report positive earnings of $20-$25 per hour, but note that the app sometimes bundles multiple orders together, which can result in your food sitting in the car while other deliveries are completed first. This practice helps drivers earn more money but can affect the freshness of your meal.
On the positive side, DoorDash ranks first for delivery speed according to studies on food delivery services, with an average delivery time of just over 26 minutes. It also has the highest order accuracy rate at 98%, meaning your food is more likely to arrive exactly as ordered. Drivers appreciate the transparent pay structure and the “Dash Now” feature that allows them to work whenever they want without scheduling in advance. The flexibility creates a larger pool of available drivers, which typically means faster service for customers.
Uber Eats offers most reliable delivery times
At the top of our list is Uber Eats, which drivers rate highest for overall experience. The app provides clear information about orders before drivers accept them, including distance, pay, and estimated time. This transparency means drivers can choose orders that make financial sense for them, leading to more satisfied drivers who provide better service. The app also allows drivers to easily communicate with both restaurants and customers, helping to resolve issues quickly when they arise.
Drivers report earnings of $18-$24 per hour, with opportunities for higher pay during busy periods through surge pricing. According to comparative studies of delivery services, Uber Eats has the most restaurant options and some of the fastest delivery times, though it can have higher fees than some competitors. The user interface gets high marks from both drivers and customers for ease of use. Drivers also appreciate the instant pay feature, which allows them to cash out their earnings up to five times per day—giving them more motivation to provide good service rather than rushing through deliveries to make ends meet.
The next time you’re thinking about ordering food delivery, remember that the app you choose affects more than just the fees you pay—it influences how your food is handled, how quickly it arrives, and whether it matches what you ordered. By choosing apps that treat their drivers well, you’re more likely to get better service. And if you’ve had bad experiences with delivery in the past, it might be worth trying a different app rather than giving up on delivery altogether.
