Which food delivery app pays the most in Canada?

Uber Eats and DoorDash generally pay the most — $15–$25/hr including tips in major cities. SkipTheDishes pays slightly less at $12–$20/hr. Actual earnings depend on your city, time of day, and whether you use a bike or car. Bike couriers in downtown Toronto or Vancouver often earn comparable hourly rates to drivers because they complete short-distance orders faster with no gas or parking costs. Tips make up 30–50% of your total earnings on all platforms.

Is food delivery worth it after expenses?

It depends on your vehicle. Bike couriers keep almost all their earnings (net $14–$21/hr). Car drivers spend $4–$8/hr on gas, wear, insurance, and depreciation, netting $10–$17/hr. If you drive an older car with high maintenance costs, the net hourly rate may drop below minimum wage. The best strategy: deliver by bike or e-bike in a dense downtown area during peak hours (lunch and dinner). This maximizes earnings while minimizing costs.

How do food delivery drivers report taxes in Canada?

Report your delivery income as self-employment income on form T2125 with your T1 tax return. No T4 is issued — track your own earnings from each app. Deduct vehicle expenses (gas, insurance, maintenance) at your business-use percentage, plus phone, insulated bags, and other supplies. Keep a mileage log for CRA. You pay both employee and employer CPP contributions. Register for GST/HST if gross revenue exceeds $30,000 in four consecutive calendar quarters.

Best Food Delivery Apps to Work for in Canada (2026)

Food delivery is one of the most accessible side hustles in Canada. Here’s how the major apps compare for drivers and cyclists.

App Comparison

App	Avg Hourly (incl. tips)	Base Pay Model	Tip % of Earnings	Available Cities	Vehicle Options
Uber Eats	$15–$25/hr	Per-delivery (distance + time + surge)	30–50%	50+ Canadian cities	Bike, e-bike, scooter, car
DoorDash	$15–$22/hr	Base pay ($3–$7) + tips + peak pay	30–50%	40+ cities	Bike, e-bike, car
SkipTheDishes	$12–$20/hr	Per-delivery + tips	20–40%	100+ cities	Car (most zones), bike (some cities)
Instacart (restaurant)	$14–$22/hr	Batch pay + tips	30–50%	Select cities	Car

Earnings Breakdown

Uber Eats

Factor	Details
Base pay per delivery	$2–$5 (short distance), $5–$12 (long distance)
Surge / boost pay	1.2x–2.0x during peak demand
Average tip	$3–$6 per delivery
Deliveries per hour	2–4 (bike), 2–3 (car)
Typical hourly (peak)	$20–$28
Typical hourly (off-peak)	$12–$18

DoorDash

Factor	Details
Base pay per delivery	$3–$7 (varies by distance and desirability)
Peak pay bonus	$1–$5 extra during rush hours
Average tip	$3–$5 per delivery
Deliveries per hour	2–3
Typical hourly (peak)	$18–$25
Typical hourly (off-peak)	$12–$16

SkipTheDishes

Factor	Details
Pay model	Shift-based scheduling + per-delivery
Transit pay	$0.50–$0.75 per km driven
Average tip	$2–$4 per delivery
Deliveries per hour	2–3
Typical hourly (peak)	$15–$22
Typical hourly (off-peak)	$10–$15

Bike vs Car Delivery

Factor	Bike / E-Bike	Car
Gross hourly	$15–$22	$18–$25
Gas / fuel cost	$0	$3–$5/hr
Insurance (delivery)	$0–$50/month	$100–$300/month extra
Maintenance	Minimal	$50–$150/month
Parking	$0	$0–$3/hr in downtown
Net hourly	$14–$21	$10–$17
Delivery range	1–5 km orders	1–15 km orders
Best in	Downtown cores, dense areas	Suburban, spread-out cities
Weather factor	Rain/snow limits earnings	All weather
Fitness	✅ Great exercise	❌ Sedentary

Best Cities for Food Delivery in Canada

City	Demand Level	Avg Hourly	Notes
Toronto	Very high	$18–$28/hr	Highest density; bike couriers do very well downtown
Vancouver	High	$17–$25/hr	Strong demand; bike-friendly but hilly
Montreal	High	$15–$22/hr	Good demand; lower cost of living helps net earnings
Calgary	Moderate-high	$15–$22/hr	Car preferred; spread-out city
Ottawa	Moderate	$14–$20/hr	Decent demand; seasonal
Edmonton	Moderate	$14–$20/hr	Car preferred; cold winters
Winnipeg	Moderate	$12–$18/hr	SkipTheDishes HQ; decent demand

Peak Hours and Strategy

Time Slot	Demand	Strategy
Weekday lunch (11am–1:30pm)	High	Office orders; fast turnaround
Weekday dinner (5pm–9pm)	Very high	Family orders; higher tips
Friday night (6pm–10pm)	Very high	Highest demand of the week
Saturday dinner (5pm–10pm)	Very high	Premium orders; surge pricing
Sunday brunch (10am–1pm)	High	Brunch orders; good tips
Weekday 2pm–4:30pm	Low	Not worth working unless multi-apping
Late night (10pm–1am)	Moderate	Fast food orders; lower tips
Rainy / snowy weather	Very high surge	Fewer drivers = surge pricing; highest effective hourly

Tips to Maximize Earnings

Strategy	Impact
Work peak hours only	Earn 30–50% more per hour vs off-peak
Multi-app	Run Uber Eats + DoorDash simultaneously; accept best order
Know your zone	Learn which restaurants are fast and which neighbourhoods tip well
Decline long-distance, low-pay orders	Protect your $/km ratio
Position near restaurant clusters	Less dead time between orders
Track mileage from start	Larger tax deduction at year-end
Use an e-bike	Nearly zero expenses; fast in downtown cores
Deliver in bad weather	Surge pricing + fewer competitors = higher pay

Vehicle Costs for Car Delivery

Expense	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost
Gas (20 hrs/wk delivery)	$200–$400	$2,400–$4,800
Insurance (rideshare/delivery add-on)	$100–$300	$1,200–$3,600
Maintenance (oil, tires, brakes)	$50–$150	$600–$1,800
Depreciation (wear on vehicle)	$100–$250	$1,200–$3,000
Total vehicle costs	$450–$1,100	$5,400–$13,200

At 20 hrs/wk with $1,600/month gross, vehicle costs consume 28–69% of car delivery earnings. Bikes or e-bikes are far more profitable.

Tax Reporting for Delivery Drivers

Item	Details
Income	Report total from all apps on T2125 (line 13500 gross, 13700 net)
Vehicle expenses	Track total km and business km; deduct business-use % of gas, insurance, maintenance
CCA (depreciation)	Claim capital cost allowance on your vehicle (Class 10 or 10.1)
Phone	Deduct business-use % (typically 50%)
Supplies	Insulated bags, phone mount, charger — 100% deductible
GST/HST	Register if gross exceeds $30,000/year
CPP	Both employee + employer portions on net self-employment income
Mileage log	Required by CRA — use MileIQ, Driversnote, or a spreadsheet