The food and grocery delivery war are alive and well. With popular services such as Uber Eats, Shipt, and DoorDash competing for supremacy, it leaves consumers wondering which one is best.
With comparable prices, locations, and coverage, it can be hard to determine which service to use. So, is Shipt better than Uber Eats?
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Is Uber Eats Better Than Shipt?
Deciding whether Uber Eats is better than Shipt is somewhat tricky. Shipt only offers grocery delivery and is located in 5,000 cities and 48 states. Uber Eats offers both grocery and takeout delivery and is located in all 50 states and 6,000 different cities.
Understanding Shipt for Customers
Shipt is a grocery exclusive delivery service owned by Target. The delivery service is partnered with over 12 stores, including:
- ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
- Costco
- CVS
- H-E-B
- Kroger
- Office Depot
- OfficeMax
- Publix
- Safeway
- Target
Keep in mind this isn’t the full list of Shipt affiliates, and your options will vary depending on your location.
Shipt Prices for Customers
Shipt differs from other grocery delivery services, as they offer monthly and yearly memberships. However, without a recurring membership, customers can still expect to pay a premium for the service. Here are the Shipt prices:
- Basic delivery fee: $7
- Monthly membership fee: $35
- Yearly membership fee: $99
Keep in mind, with the monthly and yearly memberships; customers don’t have to pay a delivery fee on orders above $35. This may or may not apply to every location, subscription, and order.
Understanding Shipt for Shoppers
Shipt claims their shoppers can earn upwards of $22 per hour when delivering for the app. However, this number isn’t quite as accurate, and your mileage will vary depending on your location and market.
Shipt Application Requirements
Shipt has similar application and eligibility requirements as its competitors. Here’s a list of the requirements necessary to earn money using the Shipt app:
- You must be 18 years or older
- You must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance policy
- A dependable vehicle, no older than 1997
- Physical aptitude to lift 40 pounds
- An iPhone using iOS 10 or newer or an Android using 5.1 or newer
The Problem With Shipt
Although Shipt seems like any other grocery delivery platform, they operate quite differently than their competitors. According to some shoppers, Shipt is far more strict than other delivery apps.
One Reddit user claims your livelihood is dependent on your Shipt star rating. The user goes on to say if your rating falls below 4.7, you’ll be sent a refresher course. If this happens again, Shipt will deactivate your account with no questions asked.
This style of operation leaves shoppers feeling vulnerable and without job security. Software issues, angry customers, and bad days could lead a shopper to have their account deactivated, effectively destroying their income.
How Does Uber Eats Compare?
When you compare Uber Eats and Shipt, you can see some noticeable differences. Here are some of the differences between Uber Eats and Shipt.
Uber Eats Has More Locations Than Shipt
Uber Eats is located in all 50 states and can be found across 6,000 cities and 45 countries. This is substantially more coverage than Shipt. This provides both customers and independent contractors with more options and accessibility.
Uber Eats Has More Partners
Uber Eats is partnered with over 50,000 restaurants, locations, and merchants. Shipt is only affiliated with select grocery stores. Because of this, Uber Eats has substantially more options and coverage than Shipt.
Uber Eats Prices are Different
Uber Eats charges for the base item price, a service fee, delivery fee, local taxes, and any additional fees necessary. Here’s a quick summary of all the added fees:
Service Fee: The Uber Eats service fee can vary depending on location. However, the base minimum is around $3.
Delivery Fee: Uber Eats typically charges anywhere from $0.49 to $7.99 for deliveries. This number varies depending on the location, restaurant, and available drivers.
Additional Fees: If your Uber Eats subtotal is less than $10, you’ll have to pay an extra $2. If your order is less than $15, you’ll have to pay $3.
Uber Eats Reception
Compared to other popular delivery apps such as DoorDash and Shipt, Uber Eats ranks highly. Most delivery drivers claim the service to be a fair source of income. However, this isn’t without caveats.
Like any other courier or delivery gig, your income is not guaranteed. Additionally, your market, location, and availability all affect your profit margins.
What’s the Final Verdict? Is Uber Eats Better Than Shipt?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is somewhat tricky. Like any other courier gig, Shipt comes with pros, cons, and best-use scenarios. However, users typically recommend Shipt with a grain of salt, as their operating procedures are quite strict. More often than not, customers and couriers alike prefer Uber Eats over Shipt.