Favor Vs. Shipt: Which On-Demand Delivery Service Is Best?

In the on-demand economy, companies like Favor and Shipt make getting anything delivered fast and convenient. Whether it’s takeout, groceries, or that item you forgot at the store, these services bring it right to your door.

But when it comes to user experience, drivers, costs, and reliability, how do Favor and Shipt compare? Let’s dive into the key differences between the two platforms to see which best fits your delivery needs.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	Favor	Shipt
Delivery Options	Any restaurant or store	Select grocery chains only
Delivery Speed	<1 hour, on-demand	1+ hour, must schedule
Driver Network	Stringent vetting and tracking	Mixed reliability reviews
Order Accuracy	Depends on merchant	Varies based on shopper
Geographic Coverage	100 cities, mostly southern US	5,000+ cities nationwide
Pricing	Per delivery fees	Membership plans
Extra Perks	Loyalty rewards program	Exclusive sales and gifts
Communication	Real-time texting with driver	Chat with shopper in app

Overview of Favor

Based in Texas, Favor is a popular delivery app serving over 100 cities across the southern and midwestern US. The company started by focusing just on food delivery but has since expanded to deliver any product locally.

Some key features of Favor include:

• On-demand delivery from any restaurant or store in your city
• No restrictions on the type or amount of items ordered
• Real-time delivery tracking after order is picked up
• Text messaging with your Runner (delivery driver)
• Cashless payment through the app with no need for tips

Favor offers true on-demand delivery with the ability to get anything at any time. They vet drivers extensively and monitor performance in real-time.

Overview of Shipt

Founded in 2014, Shipt focuses specifically on grocery delivery through partnerships with major chains like Target, Kroger, Costco, and Meijer. The service is available in over 5,000 cities nationwide.

With Shipt, you can:

• Get groceries from a variety of store brands delivered same-day
• Schedule delivery in as soon as 1 hour or up to weeks in advance
• Choose a specific delivery window
• Receive real-time shopper updates and messaging
• Rate every order experience

Shipt shoppers hand select groceries according to your list and preferences. The app provides an affordable annual or monthly membership plan.

Also Read: Comparison Between Amazon Flex And Shipt

Key Differences Between Favor And Shipt

1. Comparing Delivery Scope and Options

The main difference between Favor and Shipt lies in what each service delivers. With Shipt, you are limited exclusively to grocery delivery from partner grocery chains. Favor offers delivery of virtually anything from food to pharmacy items to pet supplies.

Some key notes:

• Favor has no restrictions, delivering local restaurant meals, convenience store items, pharmacy products, and more.
• Shipt focuses only on fresh grocery delivery from major supermarket brands. No other items can be ordered.
• Favor provides true on-demand delivery with most orders picked up and delivered in under an hour.
• Shipt requires scheduling delivery at least 1 hour ahead or often further in advance for same-day.

So Favor caters to immediate, urgent delivery needs while Shipt works better for planned grocery orders.

2. Driver Networks and Reliability

Both companies rely on networks of independent contract drivers to complete deliveries. Shipt uses personal shoppers who select and deliver groceries, while Favor leverages drivers to pick up orders from merchants.

Favor touts their rigorous driver onboarding and unrelenting focus on reliable delivery times. Extensive background checks, ongoing performance metrics monitoring, and real-time support underpin this reliability.

Shipt also puts shoppers through a detailed application process and training. But some users report more inconsistent delivery experiences ranging from late deliveries to inaccurate orders. Shipt’s shopper model seems to produce more mixed results.

For rock-solid on-time delivery, Favor edges out Shipt. But both networks work successfully for the most part.

3. Order Accuracy and Quality

In addition to on-time delivery, customers expect accuracy with the items ordered. Performance here also varies between Favor and Shipt.

With Favor, drivers simply pick up the sealed order packages prepared by the restaurant or merchant. Accuracy depends on the merchant properly filling the order, but drivers do verify items. Favor’s customer service will promptly correct any issues.

Shipt shoppers personally select every grocery item ordered. Despite their training, some reviewers complain of regular missing, damaged, or incorrect items. Quality control seems more hit or miss compared to Favor.

For hands-off order accuracy, Favor is preferable over the more hands-on Shipt model. But Shipt shoppers do their best to pick items matching your preferences when available.

4. Geographic Coverage

When it comes to delivery regions covered, Shipt currently edges out Favor in terms of national footprint.

Shipt provides grocery delivery in over 5,000 cities across the US. Their coverage spans:

• Most major metros
• Mid-size cities
• Many suburban and rural zones

Favor operates in around 100 cities concentrated in Texas, the south, midwest, and some western states. Their markets include:

• Dallas, Houston, Austin and other large Texas cities
• Scattered metro areas across southern states
• Major midwest cities like Chicago and Minneapolis
• Western hubs like Phoenix, Denver, and Portland

So for broad national coverage, Shipt wins out. But Favor dominates the Texas market and focuses heavily on southern hospitality.

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5. Pricing and Fees

Pricing is another area where Shipt and Favor take divergent approaches. Favor charges per delivery, while Shipt offers membership plans.

Also Read: Comparion Between Favor and Instacart

Favor Pricing

• Delivery Fee – $2-$10+ based on time/distance
• Small Order Fee – $2 (orders under $10)
• Surge Pricing – During peak times
• Tips – Not required but can be added

Shipt Pricing

• Membership – $99/year or $14/month
• Order Minimum – Varies by retailer, usually $35
• Item Prices – Same as in-store
• Tips – Customary to tip 10-20% of order

Favor offers predictable per-delivery pricing, while Shipt provides discounted groceries through membership. Shipt ultimately costs less for frequent grocery delivery, while Favor works best for occasional immediate needs.

6. Additional Perks

A few extra perks differentiate the two services:

• Favor offers a “Favorites” program rewarding loyal customers with free deliveries and other perks.
• Shipt provides members access to exclusive sales, free gifts and early shopping privileges.
• Favor allows customers to text drivers in real-time before and during delivery.
• Shipt shoppers communicate through the app chat as they pick items.

So Favor offers perks tailored to frequent delivery usage, while Shipt focuses on grocery discounts and gifts. The ability to text Favor runners directly also provides added convenience.

Also Read: Compaison Between Roadie And Doordash

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Which Should You Choose: EatStreet Or DoorDash?

The Final Verdict

When weighing all the factors, a few key conclusions emerge:

• Favor dominates for instant delivery of restaurants, convenience items, pharmacy supplies, and more.
• Shipt reigns for scheduled same-day grocery delivery from major chains.
• Favor offers maximum flexibility and reliability through their delivery network.
• Shipt provides affordable grocery pricing through memberships.

The right choice depends on your needs. For planned grocery replenishment, choose Shipt. But when you need anything at anytime, Favor delivers the goods.

Overall, Favor takes the lead in terms of business model, convenience, and reliability. But Shipt fills an important grocery niche at great prices.