Deliv vs. Amazon Flex: Which Side Hustle Is Single-Parent Friendly?

Scheduling extra part-time work as a single parent is incredibly hard. Not only do you have to work around your own work schedule, but you also need to cater to your child’s timetable. Rideshare and on-demand delivery services are two of the most popular options for individuals to boost their income. However, the majority of these programs don’t offer the flexibility and minimal earning potential that a parent needs.

Fortunately, there are two new styles of delivery in town—Deliv and Amazon Flex. They are both well suited for the busy schedules of parents. If you’re looking for a new side hustle, take a closer look at these two options, below. Also, if you’re going to drive delivery, check out our article on the best vehicles for delivery drivers.

What Is Deliv?

Deliv is a same-day delivery service whose retail partners include Best Buy, Google Express, Walgreens, Macy’s and many others.. The company just raised $40 million in a funding round that included General Catalyst, Clayton Ventures, and Google.

Instead of the general public ordering through the app, businesses utilize the service to ensure their clients receive prompt deliveries of their goods. Essentially, drivers end up representing Deliv and the business at the same time.

Deliv’s delivery services are broken into four main categories:

• Small Business
• Enterprise
• Fresh
• RX

As the name suggests, Deliv Small Business serves the needs of local small businesses. This category also includes individuals that sell products in the area. The Enterprise level focuses on big retailers with locations in the area, while their Fresh services work with produce and other fresh foods. Deliv RX is their newest offering, which provides deliveries for pharmacies. When you become a Deliv Driver, your deliveries may cover any of these categories.

 

How It Works

Instead of multiple individual delivery requests, drivers sign up for three-hour shifts, known as blocks. During the block, the company pays for both time and mileage. Each driver signs a contract that assigns them an hourly block rate, and each delivery is given an estimated time. As long as you’re working on a delivery, you’ll earn the hourly rate as well as $0.50 per mile. However, if no deliveries end up being scheduled during a block, the company only pays out 50% of the overall block rate.

Driver Requirements

Right now, Deliv is available in 35 markets around the US, including cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. If you live in one of these areas, you can apply to become a Deliv driver at any time. The company’s requirements include:

• Age: Minimum of 18 years old.
• Phone: Must have a smartphone with a data and texting plan.
• Background Check: Applicants have to pass a criminal and DMV background check.
• Lifting Ability: All drivers need to have the ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Vehicle: Must use an insured car, truck, SUV, or minivan made in or after 1998.

Once approved, drivers are required to take an online certification course. Upon passing, you’ll need to use the Deliv app to submit your availability for the upcoming week. Drivers can also begin by picking up shifts that are currently open.

What Is Amazon Flex?

Like Deliv, Amazon Flex is a local delivery service. We covered them previously in our Amazon Flex Sign Up Guide. Typically, they offer same-day or next-day delivery, depending on the business. However, the company not only provides services to local companies; they also partner with many of them for Amazon Prime and Prime Now orders. This arrangement provides a larger customer base.

How It Works

Amazon Flex follows the same block style scheduling as Deliv. However, their shift is four hours long. Drivers can sign up for shifts ahead of time or pick them up as they become available. While they don’t cover mileage, the company does offer a fixed payment amount for each timeslot. Even if you don’t make any deliveries, they still pay for the full block.

The layout, schedule, and route of a Flex driver’s shift are laid out in the app. However, the company only gives access to the platform after their initial three- or four-question screening prior to the application. At that time, they’ll provide applicants a URL to paste into their mobile web browser. Currently, this step is the only way to access the Amazon Flex app.

 

Driver Requirements

To drive for Amazon Flex, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Age: Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Driving Experience: A current driver’s license that was issued more than 12 months ago.
• Vehicle: Only accepts insured and licensed four-door models, but no age restrictions.
• Background Check: Must pass a criminal and DMV background check.

The company also restricts the number of drivers allowed in an area. As a result, you can’t apply unless there is an opening.

Deliv vs. Amazon: What Are Their Parent-Friendly Attributes?

Now that you know what each service is all about, it’s time figure out how they differ. See below for a breakdown of the pros and cons of each delivery service. The categories are based on the unique needs of single parents.

Flexibility

Both Deliv and Amazon Flex offer the flexibility to make your own schedule. The one advantage that Deliv offers is its three-hour blocks. While one hour may not seem like a big difference, it easily affects a single parent’s opportunity to make money. Three-hour sessions are much easier to fit into an already busy schedule than the four-hour variations that Amazon Flex requires.

Winner: Deliv—but just barely

Driver Requirements

For parents, one of the biggest perks of delivery driving is the non-restrictive requirements. Uber and Lyft’s strict vehicle requirements are a hurdle for many individuals. It’s especially challenging for most single parents who don’t want to eat into their budgets by buying a newer vehicle. Deliv and Amazon Flex’s decisions to allow older model cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans ensure budget-minded drivers have an opportunity to earn extra cash.

While both options are driver-friendly, Deliv ends up with a slight lead in this category. This win is a result of their younger age criteria of 18 years old. Like Uber and Lyft, Amazon Flex only accepts drivers that are 21 years or older. However, they do get a point for only requiring one year of on-the-road experience.

Winner: Deliv

Earning Potential

Both delivery services advertise potential earning amounts for their drivers. While Deliv suggests drivers can earn up to $20 per hour, Amazon Flex claims their contractors can make $18 to $25 per hour. However, Deliv may be overshooting their estimate. According to Glassdoor, current and past Deliv drivers only make around $13 per hour on average. Amazon Flex drivers, on the other hand, have reported average earnings of $18.

Winner: Amazon Flex

Payments

Deliv drivers are able to request payouts once per week. However, the Deliv app is only designed to work with PayPal. This issue is likely to cause frustrations for some individuals. PayPal does offer instant transfers to debit card accounts, but the service costs an additional fee. The other option is to wait around 24 to 48 hours for the money to show up in your bank account.

Amazon Flex offers twice-weekly payouts directly to the driver’s bank account. Since parents are always facing unexpected expenses, like doctors visits and school activity fees, multiple payments throughout the week are ideal. Plus, you don’t have to wait for the additional transfer time from PayPal to your bank account. This arrangement gives Amazon Flex the upper hand.

Winner: Amazon Flex

Support

Delivery drivers at both Amazon Flex and Deliv benefit from an around-the-clock support staff. Each platform offers its own in-app help center as well as email and phone support. For busy parents, the ability to call and speak with a real person instantly is the biggest advantage. As a result, both companies provide an equally excellent amount of driver support.

Winner: It’s a tie!

Driving Opportunity

Currently, both delivery services are limited by their small market size. Deliv has the fewest cities at 35, but they also don’t restrict the number of applicants they hire. As a result, parents don’t have to wait for an opening in their city. Amazon Flex, on the other hand, offers a wider service area, but there are only a limited number of positions at one time. The upside to this option is that drivers are likely to have more shift opportunities available.

Winner: It’s a tie!

Deliv vs. Amazon: Which Side Hustle Is Right for You?

The competition between Deliv and Amazon Flex is a tight one. Both options provide single parents the opportunity to earn extra cash.

Unlike rideshare and on-demand delivery services, like Lyft and Doordash, Amazon Flex and Deliv drivers are also guaranteed earnings for every shift they pick up. The biggest limiting factor for each is the small number of locations, but that’s sure to change as both businesses expand. Not sure if delivery is for you, consider signing up for Upwork or Rover instead.