FAQs
April 28, 2025
If you're considering joining Uber Eats to earn some money on the side or as a full-time gig, you're probably asking yourself if doing Uber Eats is worth it.
In a dense, traffic-choked city like New York, the economics of doing any kind of delivery work is complex but not impossible to manage.
In this article, we will outline the pros and cons of working for Uber Eats, the difference in experience between biking and driving, and why electric bikes are becoming increasingly the go-to vehicle for thousands of delivery drivers who want to maximize their income.
Gridwise research indicates that the average Uber Eats courier makes between $15 and $20 per hour before expenses. Some drivers in high-demand areas, such as New York and San Francisco, have been earning in excess of $25 per hour during busy times.
Tips also make a huge difference to your take if your deliveries are quick and your service is excellent. But these statistics only tell half the story.
The actual question, however, is what comes after the spending, and hence we will get the answer to the question “Is doing Uber Eats worth it?”.
Let's assume that we're working for Uber Eats using a car. The expenses and problems that you are going to face include inevitable ones such as gas prices, car insurance, and wear and tear of the equipment and car parts.
Other expenses can also make a huge difference when you consider the environment of the city that you are going to be working in. Other than traffic jams that are going to waste your time and gas money, parking fees and penalties are going to be a major factor to take into account.
That eats into your profit. AAA conducted research that showed that owning and maintaining a vehicle costs more than $12,000 a year, or almost $1,000 a month. Whether you're working delivery driving on a part-time basis or full-time, that's a significant amount of money.
Now, when we compare this with using an electric bike, we get to obvious cuts in expenses in things like not spending money on gas and car insurance. Additionally, the cost of maintaining the bike is remarkably smaller than that of a car.
These are kinds of expense comparisons that we all can get right away, but the true cost-saving things that are crucial in big cities are that you will have no parking issues, and you will make faster deliveries in urban traffic where cars get stuck for hours.
In case of delivery in a dense urban city center type of location, e-bike riding will enable you to deliver more packages in less time, with the minimum amount of expense.
More and more, couriers are discovering that driving electric bikes for Uber Eats not only make for a trendy option but also a good business option. E-bikes are definitely a better choice because they are:
1. Faster than a car in the city
In cities such as NYC, e-bikes will get you where you need to go faster than a car will. You get the advantage of bike lanes, avoiding traffic congestion, and avoiding the horror of parking.
2. Far more cost-effective to run
They also have very little operational cost. It costs just a couple of cents to charge the battery.
One of the best models, the Whizz Storm-2, allows you to go 85 miles on a single charge at a rate of 25 mph.
3. More deliveries equal more money
The faster and farther you deliver, the more your business earns. With a Storm-2, you'll deliver farther and be able to take on more work, especially in peak times. This equals more cash and bigger tips.
4. Flexible rental options
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This includes maintenance and protection from theft, so the focus stays on your deliveries, not repair and insurance.
If you live in the country or suburbs, the car might be your only option since the distances are much greater than what you need to ride. Additionally, the lack of bike lanes on the road or even pavements is making bike delivery hazardous.
But in the city? Driving isn't affordable and too frustrating. Gasoline, traffic, insurance, and parking take a bite out of your take-home income in seconds.
This could be really frustrating for the part-timers. Consider that you work 10 hours per week and spend half your take-home pay on car expenses. If you don't get a lot of high-dollar tips and orders, it's not a great job to make some extra money.
The shortest answer is yes, absolutely. Especially if you're in a high-demand-delivery market. You save money on the most expensive aspect (car ownership), and you make more deliveries in less time. You also don't need to get a driver's license or get insured.
And when you partner with a company like Whizz, you get a durable, high-quality e-bike and expert-level support and maintenance along with it. That means better utilization and less downtime.
To get the most out of your use of Uber Eats, the following straightforward tips apply:
As long as you have the correct strategy and the right gear, it can be a profitable side business or career in its own right.
Related: How much do Uber drivers make in NYC
Is doing Uber Eats worth it? If you have a car, it's likely not, except in cases where there is no other alternative.
The expenses and the stress will eventually outweigh the positives. But if you're on an e-bike, especially in a busy city, then yes, Uber Eats will certainly be worth it to you. You'll make more, save more, and avoid most of the hassle of driving.
Want to optimize your time on the road? Try the Whizz Storm-2, the delivery pro e-bike. Fast, efficient, and designed to handle long shifts, it’s the bike that will take your Uber Eats to the next level.
For more information about delivery work, get in touch with us on , where you will find all the information and help that you will need.
