If you’re looking to earn extra money with a flexible side gig, delivering packages and groceries with Amazon Flex or Shipt may be options worth considering. Both platforms allow you to set your own schedule as an independent contractor, but they have some key differences when it comes to pay, work availability, requirements, and more. This comprehensive guide examines the pros and cons of driving for Amazon Flex versus Shipt to help you decide which is a better fit.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | Amazon Flex | Shipt |
| Pay Structure | Per block ($18-25/hr avg) | Per order ($15-25 avg) |
| Pay Period | Instant | Weekly |
| Schedule Flexibility | Maximum (on-demand blocks) | Less (set schedule) |
| Income Predictability | Low (varies block to block) | Higher (preset schedule) |
| Delivery Type | Packages only | Groceries and other items |
| Shopping Required? | No | Yes |
| Vehicle Needed? | Yes (inspection required) | No |
| Best For | Supplemental income, schedule flexibility | Predictable income, shopping lovers |
Overview of Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex allows everyday people to sign up and deliver Amazon packages directly to customers’ doors. With Amazon Flex, you use your own vehicle to make deliveries when it’s convenient for you. Here’s a quick rundown of how it works:
- Block Scheduling: Amazon Flex drivers choose available delivery blocks based on their location and availability. Blocks are usually 3-5 hours long.
- Package Delivery: During your block, you’ll pick up packages from an Amazon warehouse or logistics facility and then follow an optimized delivery route to complete all your deliveries.
- Independent Contractor: As an Amazon Flex driver, you are considered an independent contractor. Amazon does not provide benefits.
- Pay Structure: You are paid per block you work. Rates vary by location, distance, block length, and other factors. Expect to earn around $18-25 per hour before expenses like gas and taxes.
Pros of Driving for Amazon Flex
- Flexible Schedule: Blocks allow you to only work when it fits your schedule. No set hours required.
- Supplemental Income: Great option for earning extra money on the side with a flexible schedule.
- Be Your Own Boss: As an independent contractor, you have autonomy over when and where you work.
- Deliveries Only: Unlike other gig jobs, with Amazon Flex you only have to focus on delivery, not shopping or food prep.
Cons of Driving for Amazon Flex
- No Guaranteed Income: Pay depends entirely on blocks you select. No income if you don’t sign up for blocks.
- Block Competition: Popular blocks can go quickly, especially with increased driver saturation. Have to act fast to grab desired blocks.
- Vehicle Requirements: Your car will undergo inspection and must meet cargo space minimums. This excludes smaller sedans.
- Expenses: As an independent contractor you have to account for costs like gas, maintenance, insurance and taxes. This cuts into earnings.
Overview of Shipt
Shipt is a grocery delivery platform that lets users shop and deliver orders from major retailers like Target, Kroger, Costco and more. Here’s how Shipt works:
- Member Matches: After signing up, you claim shopping orders in the Shipt app based on member preferences and your schedule.
- Shop and Deliver: You shop for the items on the member’s list at the assigned store, then deliver directly to the member’s location.
- Weekly Schedule: You create a weekly schedule of your general hours of availability so members can schedule orders during that timeframe.
- Independent Contractor: Like Amazon Flex, Shipt shoppers are independent contractors who get to make their own schedules.
- Pay Structure: Earnings include a small order fee plus a percentage of the order total as commission. Members can also tip. Expect to earn $15-25 per order based on effort, tips, and more.
Pros of Driving for Shipt
- Set Schedule: Ability to establish a predictable schedule by reserving matching member orders in advance. Provides more income security.
- Client Relationships: Get to interact with members and potentially develop regular customers. Provides a more social experience.
- Shopping Required: Gives more active gig experience than just driving and dropping off packages. Good option if you enjoy grocery shopping.
- No Vehicle Requirements: You can use any vehicle or even shop on foot or bike, giving you more flexibility.
Cons of Driving for Shipt
- Inconsistent Orders: Order volume and demand varies. You may not get matches during all your scheduled hours.
- Shopping Required: Having to shop for and select all items on large grocery orders can be time consuming. Not ideal if you prefer quick deliveries.
- Physical Demands: Shopping for and delivering heavy items like cases of water or bags of pet food can be physically demanding. Lots of walking required too.
- No Instant Pay: Unlike Amazon Flex, you have to wait for the weekly pay period to get paid. No instant payout option.
Comparing Key Factors Between Amazon Flex And Shipt
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s do a side-by-side comparison of some of the most important factors when deciding between delivering for Amazon Flex versus Shipt:
- Pay
Amazon Flex: $18-25+ per hour (before expenses). Instant transfer of earnings to bank account after block completion.
Shipt: $15-25+ per order based on tips, effort, bonuses. Weekly payout.
The pay for Amazon Flex and Shipt can end up being pretty comparable on an hourly basis, but the instant pay and predictable block rate structure of Amazon Flex provides more instant gratification and income reliability for drivers. With Shipt, earnings are less consistent week to week.
- Schedule Flexibility
Amazon Flex: Grab blocks as desired on short notice. True on-demand flexibility.
Shipt: Set schedule in advance based on member order prematching. Provides shift consistency but less last minute flexibility.
Amazon Flex offers maximum schedule flexibility for drivers, allowing you to work whenever is convenient without any required minimum hours. Shipt requires more advance planning with a weekly minimum hour commitment, but provides more income predictability.
- Availability
Amazon Flex: High demand for drivers as Amazon’s delivery needs scale, especially in bigger cities. Easier to get blocks.
Shipt: Varies by metro area size. Smaller cities may not have as many order opportunities. Larger cities have more demand.
Amazon Flex typically has plenty of blocks available even with a high volume of drivers on the platform. Shipt’s order availability is more dependent on the size of your city, with bigger cities naturally having more orders to fill. Make sure to research Shipt order volume in your location.
- Requirements
Amazon Flex: Must use 4-door vehicle with interior cargo dimensions of at least 12”x10”x12”. Also requires passing background check and vehicle inspection.
Shipt: No vehicle requirements. Just need to pass background check. Can even shop on foot or bike.
Amazon Flex has more strict requirements when it comes to using an approved vehicle in good condition, excluding smaller cars lacking trunk space. With Shipt you can shop any way you like without a vehicle inspection.
Also Read: Comparison Between Gopuff And DoorDash
- Expenses
Amazon Flex: Vehicle costs like gas and maintenance. No shopping or supplies needed.
Shipt: Vehicle costs if driving, otherwise just minor shopping supplies/bags. Includes shopping time not just driving.
With Amazon Flex you really only have driving expenses like gas and vehicle wear and tear. Shipt requires more active shopping time that cuts into earnings, but you don’t have the vehicle costs if shopping on foot locally.
Getting Started as a Driver
If you’ve decided that either Amazon Flex or Shipt seems like a good gig option for your needs, here is a quick rundown of what it takes to get started:
Amazon Flex
- Submit application online including background check permission
- Pass background check
- Attend onboarding/orientation
- Download Flex app and set up account
- Get car inspected at orientation or local car mechanic
- Watch training videos
- Schedule your first delivery block
Shipt
- Submit application online and agree to background check
- Pass background check
- Attend local in-person onboarding event
- Download Shipt Shopper app and set up account
- Complete training and quiz in app
- Begin claiming orders in your desired metro area
The signup process is relatively quick and easy for both platforms. The hands-on training ensures you are comfortable delivering independently right away.
Also Read: Comparison Between Schwan’s And HelloFresh.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Interested in driving for Amazon Flex or Shipt but still have some questions? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about these delivery platforms:
Amazon does not publish driver earnings information, but full-time drivers report average monthly earnings between $1,500-$4,000 working 25-50 hours per week depending on factors like location and blocks available. Top earners make up to $6,000 per month maximizing hours in busy cities.
Amazon Flex provides pay comparable to other delivery and rideshare apps ranging from $18-25+ per hour on average, allowing you to earn supplemental income in your free time. Full-time drivers can make $1,500-$4,000+ per month. Income depends on your market and availability.
Amazon Flex pays between $18-25 per hour on average, which accounts for their base rate plus any tips you receive. Actual earnings depend on your city’s block rates, route distance, time of day, promotion bonuses, and other variables. Expect anywhere from $54 for a 3-hour block up to $120 for a 4-5 hour block.
A Shipt driver, known as a Shipt Shopper, is an independent contractor who shops and delivers groceries and other items from retail stores to Shipt members. As a shopper, you use the Shipt app to claim delivery orders from members in your metro area and earn money through order fees, tips, and bonuses.
Also Read: Comparison Between Favor And Shipt
Final Thought
When it comes down to it, both Amazon Flex and Shipt offer the opportunity to earn solid part-time income with maximum flexibility. Which option is ultimately better for you depends on your individual needs and preferences as a driver.
Key factors to consider are how much consistency versus flexibility you want with hours, if you prefer delivering packages or shopping for orders, if you have a qualifying vehicle, and which platform tends to be more popular in your city. Taking the time to research both and try them out will give you the best sense of which is a better personal fit.
Whichever platform you choose, you can feel good knowing you have the freedom to entirely control your schedule while making extra cash on the side. And as an independent contractor, you always have the option to drive for both Amazon Flex and Shipt if you wish.
Driving for a delivery app ultimately provides a low-pressure supplementary income stream, giving you a flexible side job that fits into your lifestyle. So what are you waiting for? Sign up and start delivering today!
