Driving for Uber and Lyft isn’t for everyone: some people need to bring children or other family members along, and some drivers prefer working at more convenient times, that may be less lucrative than rideshare driving times, queue GoPuff.
The Rideshare Guy contributor Chonce Maddox Rhea shares her GoPuff driver review with everything you need to know below.
What is GoPuff?
GPuff allows you to order stuff you might get at a convenience store and you pay $5.99 per month for a membership and $1.99 per delivery.
This could be an easy way to make some extra money as well since GoPuff hires driver-partners to deliver the items.
As someone who’s done delivery gigs like DoorDash before, I wanted to explore the idea of working as a GoPuff driver to see if it’s an opportunity that could actually be helpful to rideshare drivers looking to diversify income.
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How Does GoPuff Work for Drivers?
To start delivering with GoPuff, you must become a GoDrive Driver Partner. Since GoPuff is basically like a mobile convenience store, GoDrive partners get paid to deliver items directly to customers when they are ordered via the app.
Unlike apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats, GoDrive partners don’t make any restaurant deliveries.
This means that if you’re someone who doesn’t want smelly food in your car, or the hassle of carrying around drink orders, GoPuff might be the perfect delivery opportunity for you.
So how do you get the items that you deliver? GoPuff has a warehouse in centralized locations all over the U.S. Drivers set their own schedule in advance, then show up at the warehouse at the start of their selected shift.
When orders start coming through, you’ll be assigned a delivery route to take the items to. It’s very similar to how Amazon Flex works, so if you’ve tried that before, you’ll be familiar with it!
In some markets, GoPuff sells alcohol and tobacco, so GoDrive partners must check to make sure the customer meets the legal age requirement to buy these things. All you’d need to do is scan the customer’s ID and scan it with your phone.
Each customer uses their phone to sign off on the order once it’s received. Some minors do make orders but in that case, as a GoPuff Driver, you’ll have to verify with an adult and get their signature.
GoPuff Driver Requirements
In order to become a GoPuffdriver, you must meet their basic requirements.
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a valid U.S. driver’s license
- Vehicle insurance and registration
- Own a smartphone with up to date operating system
- Be willing and able to pass a pre-paid alcohol delivery training course (where applicable)
In what Cities Can You Be a GoPuff Driver?
GoPuff is not available in every city yet. They have 100’s of facilities delivering to over 1,000 U.S. cities.
Here’s a list of some of the more popular cities where GoPuff is located:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Dallas-Fort Worth
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston
- Kansas City
- Little Rock
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- Newark
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- Tallahassee
- Washington, DC
You can always check to seeif there is a GoPuff warehouse in your area or the nearest metropolitan city.
GoPuff not available in your area? We highly recommend you try out DoorDash!
How Much Can GoPuff Drivers Make?
GoPuff’s payment structure is very similar to other platforms. GoPuff Drivers get:
- Variable Base Pay
- Tips
- Weekly Bonus
- Boosts
- Wait Pay: Only if you schedule a block of time to deliver
GoPuff currently offers a guaranteed minimum rate per hour for their drivers. This varies by city but to give you an idea, a GoDrive delivery partner in the Aurora, CO area saidhis guaranteed minimum rate is $14 per hour. He went on to add that if he works a 10-hour shift or longer, his rate goes up to $18 per hour.
Based on driver feedback in forums and Glassdoor, drivers can expect to earn $17/hour on average. Tips can always increase your income, so the exact amount a GoPuff driver will make will vary from time to time. GoPuff drivers get paid weekly.
Tips to Maximize Your GoPuff Earnings
1. Schedule Shifts During High Demand
One thing I love about driving gigs is that you have the freedom to choose when you work. While GoPuff does have more limitations than some other apps, you can still use their scheduling feature to your advantage by scheduling shifts during high-demand times.
Delivery drivers should keep their eye on the schedule and plan shifts based on when people will most likely be ordering items. Think of what time you’d use the app if you were a customer. Popular times might include:
- Evenings when people are too tired to run out to the store
- On weekends when lots of errands are piling up
- Or even during the workday when people can’t get out as often and would prefer a convenient delivery
2. Work Efficiently
I heard that GoPuffdidn’t always allow drivers to keep 100% of their tips in the past. Instead, they worked the money from tips into their regular rate which is what some food delivery companies do as well.
Thankfully this is not the case anymore which means that the more delivers you complete, the more tips you can get. So be sure to keep organized and verify your orders accurately but also quickly so you can move on to the next one.
Working efficiently and getting as many deliveries done as you can in a timely manner can definitely bump up your earnings. Plus, GoPuff drivers may also get a bonus once you complete a certain number of deliveries during their shift.
How to Become a GoPuff Driver
If you’re interested in becoming a GoPuffdriver, you can apply right on their website in just a few minutes. You’ll fill out some basic information and will have to choose which area you want to work in.
From there, you will agree to a background check and if you pass it you’ll move on to Alcohol Delivery Certification Course and an onboarding session.
After this is complete, you’ll be ready to start driving GoPuff, and you can start to select your shifts. Overall there are 12 key steps to the signup process and it takes less than 2 weeks to get started.
- Questionnaire
- Waiting List/Re-engagement
- Personal Information
- Document Upload
- Direct Deposit
- W9 Information
- Review and Sign
- Background Check
- Alcohol Delivery Certification Course
- Onboarding Videos
- Onboarding Session
- Ready to Drive
Pros and Cons of Being a GoPuff Delivery Driver
Pros
- Deliver items from a central location. Unlike driving for Uber, Lyft and delivery appslike GrubHub, GoDrive partners only deliver local orders that are near their specific warehouse location. This puts less mileage and strain on your car and you’ll always know where you’re headed to deliver.
- Set your own hours.GoDrive partners get to choose their own hours but still have some structure with their schedules since shifts are selected at least a week in advance. GoPuff deliveries run until 4:30 am in some markets (and 24/7 in others), so this could work for your availability.
- Guaranteed minimum rate. The guaranteed minimum rate for GoPuff drivers is not bad especially given the fact that your mileage will be lower than with rideshare driving. While, you get to keep all your tips so GoPuff doesn’t take a portion of this you do also need to consider your expenses for gas, taxes, and insurance as well.
Cons
- Dealing with cash payments and tips.One GoPuff driver mentioned how dealing with cash payments and tips can be a little tedious. Since GoPuff operates as a mobile gas station, they try to make it convenient for customers by allowing them to pay for their orders in cash in some select markets. As a delivery driver, you may not prefer to carry a ton of cash or have to deal with the burden of keeping up with it.
- Handling orders from minors or having to ID customers.Handling orders from minors creates an extra step in the delivery process since you have to make sure an adult signs off on the order. What if a teenager orders and there is no adult present when you deliver? Another potential conflict could be the extra time it takes to deliver orders for alcohol and tobacco. While it’s important to check IDs, this adds more time to your delivery when you could be focusing on getting back to the warehouse to take more orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of car do I need to be a GoPuff delivery driver?
GoPuff doesn’t provide any vehicle requirements publicly, so there may not be any strict guidelines in this area. Since you’re transporting goods and not people, the year and model of your car is not a big factor like it would be with Uber and Lyft.
How can I bring GoPuff to my city?
If GoPuff is not currently in your area but you’d like it to be, be sure to make it known by reaching out to them on social media. They encourage people to tweet at @gopuff to recommend cities they should launch in next.
How much do GoPuff delivery drivers make?
GoPuff drivers earn an average of $15 per hour according to Indeed. While GoPuff does have a guaranteed minimum rate, this varies depending on your location.
How do I schedule a shift with GoPuff?
You can schedule your shifts from the driver app. Once you sign up for an available shift, you are guaranteed to work those hours and must show up on time.
Should You Sign Up for GoPuff?
Overall, driving for GoPuffseems pretty easy. You choose your schedule and don’t have to deal with waiting at restaurants or packaging any orders.
You simply just show up at the warehouse at the start of your shift and deliver pre-packaged orders to customers.
One of the biggest perks is that you’ll be delivering in one specific area which can save your car some strain over time.
As with all extra income opportunities, there are pros and cons. If GoPuff is in your area, you should give it a try to earn some extra income part-time.
Would you drive for GoPuff or use it as a customer?
FAQs
GoPuff Driver Review 2023: Requirements & Pay? ›
You can make $13 an hour on average on Gopuff, according to Glassdoor. This rate will vary for each driver. However, regardless of the mode of delivery, a delivery partner should expect to earn a commission for each order. Each micro fulfillment charges its customers a standard delivery fee of two to five dollars.
Can you make good money with Gopuff? ›You can make $13 an hour on average on Gopuff, according to Glassdoor. This rate will vary for each driver. However, regardless of the mode of delivery, a delivery partner should expect to earn a commission for each order. Each micro fulfillment charges its customers a standard delivery fee of two to five dollars.
What are the perks of being a Gopuff driver? ›We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, optional FSAs and HSA plans, commuter benefits, 401k matching, supplemental employee, spouse and child life insurance to all eligible employees.
Can you cash out daily with Gopuff? ›Gopuff is now providing its US delivery partners with the ability to instantly cash out their earnings balance at any time with just a few clicks, offering an instant pay option for delivery partners, bringing them a more flexible, convenient, and quick way to receive their earnings and tips.
Do Gopuff drivers get tips? ›Tips. Customers can tip you with their credit cards via the app, or they can give you cash when you make the delivery. Tips made through the app will be added into your weekly pay, whereas the cash you make is yours to keep.
Does Gopuff pay daily or weekly? ›GoPuff drivers get paid weekly.
Do you make more money with DoorDash or Gopuff? ›What is this? However, a small percentage of Gopuff drivers earn much more per hour because of their market's base rate and the fact that Gopuff is busy in their area. But, for most drivers, Gopuff is slower and pays less than popular food delivery gigs like DoorDash or Grubhub.
Do Gopuff drivers use their own cars? ›Delivery Driver Partners must have a valid driver's license, minimum auto insurance and complete a background check. Delivery Driver Partners will use their own reliable car, smartphone, and data + text plan.
Is Gopuff a 1099 job? ›As a Gopuff delivery partner, you'll likely want to be familiar with these forms: 1099-NEC: Reports how much money Gopuff paid you throughout the year. All companies, including Gopuff, are only required to provide this form if they paid you $600 or more in a given tax year.
What is the average tip on Gopuff? ›$5 should always be a minimum tip. If you're feeling generous, go wild, we drivers appreciate it!
Do you pay monthly for Gopuff? ›
Gopuff Fam is our membership service that offers a variety of perks and free delivery on all orders for just $7.99/month.
What is the minimum for Gopuff? ›Just add whatever you need to your bag. Our order minimum is as low as $12.95. Once you hit the order minimum, we'll take care of the rest.
Can you tip Gopuff drivers in cash? ›Fortunately, if you don't want to put your total payment amount on your card, you can still tip your Gopuff driver with cash. The main difference between electronic and cash tips is that drivers will need to remember to declare their tips during tax season.
Do you get paid for unscheduled hours on Gopuff? ›Our hourly guarantees should be paid in full, regardless of whether we're working a scheduled shift or unscheduled hours.
Can you have passengers with Gopuff? ›It's that simple. There are no unruly passengers in your car, no surly restaurant staff to deal with, and far less hassle and hustle than other rideshare and delivery driving gigs. If Gopuff already sounds like a good deal to you, just wait 'til you hear about even more Gopuff features drivers just have to love.
How do I increase my Gopuff tip? ›You may leave your driver a tip on your credit card or debit card at checkout in the app. Your delivery partner gets 100% of your tip! Additionally, if you would like to increase your tip amount, or did not apply a tip, you'll have the opportunity to do so after the order delivers in the app when leaving feedback.
How does scheduling work for Gopuff? ›Log in to the Gopuff Driver app. Swipe right to start your delivery session. Wait for an order to be offered to you in the app. Make that money!
How long does it take to get approved on Gopuff? ›If you are offered a job as a goPuff driver, you will be asked to fill out some paperwork for taxes and to choose your schedule for the upcoming week. You'll be able to start driving for goPuff within a few days.
How long should I wait for Gopuff? ›Gopuff's goal is to deliver orders within half an hour, though orders may take up to 40 minutes. Nevertheless, there are times when Gopuff orders may take even longer than that.
Is Instacart or GoPuff better? ›Both Instacart and Gopuff are reliable services for online grocery shopping. If you want to purchase items from familiar retailers like Kroger or Costco, you should opt for Instacart. But if you have smaller orders and don't want to pay Instacart's high service and delivery fees, Gopuff is the best option for you.
What food delivery driver apps make more money? ›
- Instacart. Hands down, Instacart is the best food delivery app for its drivers, which easily puts it at number one on our list. ...
- Amazon Flex. ...
- Uber Eats. ...
- Postmates. ...
- Shipt. ...
- Favor. ...
- GoPuff. ...
- DoorDash.
Based on what drivers make per delivery, Uber appears to come out on top. These are 2022 numbers for median deliveries per order. Although Uber Eats earnings per trip are 18% higher compared to DoorDash, DoorDash drivers complete 1.5 trips for every trip completed by an Uber Eats driver.
What company owns Gopuff? ›These services are organized under the umbrella of goBrands Inc. The company owns warehouses that stock many of the products it delivers, including electronics, food, medications, and pet supplies.
Did Uber acquire Gopuff? ›Gopuff's deal with Uber isn't a straight-up acquisition, but a partnership that would grant Uber Eats users automatic access to Gopuff. Moreover, Uber Pass and Eats Pass members can sidestep the delivery fee on all Gopuff orders over $15. The Gopuff deal with Uber had plans to launch in June in 95 U.S. cities.
What app do Gopuff delivery drivers use? ›The GoPuff driver app (goDrive) is available for both Apple iOS and Android phones. However, you'll need to visit the Apple App Store or Google Play app store to download the app. Once the app has finished downloading, you'll need to open it to access the sign-up prompts and become a GoPuff driver.
Do I have to pay taxes for Gopuff? ›If you drive for Gopuff, the IRS technically views you as the owner of your own small delivery business. That means you'll need to pay self-employment taxes.
What can you write off being a Gopuff or Doordash driver on taxes? ›You should receive a 1099-NEC from each company you deliver for. If you're an independent contractor, you can typically deduct work-related expenses on Schedule C. These write-offs may include mileage, tolls, mobile phone charges, supplies, and more. Typically, these deductions are not available if you're an employee.
How many people are employed by Gopuff? ›Gopuff has 10,000 employees.
What is the meaning of Gopuff? ›Gopuff is a digital delivery service that brings food, drinks, home essentials and over-the-counter medications right to your doorstep.
Is Go Puff legit? ›Gopuff has a rating of 1 star from 8 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Gopuff ranks 109th among Grocery Delivery sites.
Does Grubhub own Gopuff? ›
Grubhub and Gopuff Partner to Power Nationwide Delivery from Gopuff's Network on the Grubhub Marketplace. CHICAGO and PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4, 2022 — Grubhub and Gopuff announced a partnership today to offer Gopuff's network of instant commerce locations on the Grubhub Marketplace.
How does Gopuff work on Uber eats? ›There are 2 ways to place an order on Uber Eats: on the app or online using the Uber Eats website. After you've looked over the Gopuff - Convenience, Alcohol & More menu, simply choose the items you'd like to order and add them to your cart. Next, you'll be able to review, place, and track your order.
Can I tip Instacart driver in cash? ›Don't forget to change your tip in the app later - you have up to 3 days to do it. (Don't do it until an hour after your delivery, or it can be deducted from the pay the worker gets.) Or, you can simply tip in cash at the door.
Can you accept cash tips as an Uber driver? ›The easiest way to tip your driver is through the app. At the end of your trip, you'll be prompted to rate your driver. Once you provide a rating, you'll be given the option to add a tip. Giving cash directly to your driver is also an option.
Can you pay cash with DoorDash? ›Cash on Delivery is a DoorDash product offering that allows merchants to accept cash as a form of payment for their orders.
How do you set up a Gopuff? ›You can log into the Gopuff Driver app with the email address or phone number associated with your Gopuff delivery partner account. Once you enter your email address or phone number, you will receive an SMS or email with a 6-digit passcode that will allow you to log into goDrive.
How much can you make with Gopuff reddit? ›I started drive for Gopuff in California on November of the last year. At the beginning, it was a really stupidly easy way to make money. Sometimes i could make up to $2000 a week spending like $100 on gas.
How do delivery drivers get bigger tips? ›- Get Over the Embarrassment. ...
- Don't Take Anything Too Personally. ...
- Look Like a Customer. ...
- Talk Like a Customer. ...
- Love the Pets. ...
- The Receipt Trick. ...
- The Change Trick(s) ...
- Get To the Credit Card Tippers Last.
Gopuff has raised $3.4B . When was the last funding round for Gopuff ? Gopuff closed its last funding round on May 18, 2022 from a Seed round.
What is the growth of Gopuff? ›GoPuff reached $1 billion revenue in 2021, an 194% increase on the previous year.
Is Gopuff legit? ›
Gopuff has a rating of 1 star from 8 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Gopuff ranks 109th among Grocery Delivery sites.
Is Gopuff owned by Amazon? ›GoPuff is a private company founded by Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev in 2013. This Online platform specializes in home delivery faster than other services, eliminating the need for convenience stores and picking up your must-have items.
How often do you get paid from Gopuff? ›GoPuff pays its drivers once a week and usually on Fridays.
GoPuff uses direct deposit to pay its delivery drivers, which is a payment method that goes right into your bank account. Drivers are also able to view their earnings and payment histories on the GoPuff driver's app.
GoPuff started as a delivery service run by students for students. In little more than a decade, it's grown into a multi-billion dollar business servicing over 1000 cities.