Wondering what it's like to work as a delivery driver at Postmates?
Here's the important update first: Postmates no longer exists as a standalone platform. Uber acquired Postmates back in 2020, and by mid-2021 it had fully folded Postmates' delivery operations, including the driver app, into Uber Eats. You can no longer sign up to drive for Postmates specifically, current and former Postmates couriers were migrated over to Uber Eats years ago.
So if you're looking to do the kind of delivery work Postmates used to offer (food, groceries, and general item delivery), Uber Eats is where that work lives now. We're keeping this page up as a reference for how Postmates used to operate, with an updated look at what to expect on Uber Eats instead.
Postmates Is Now Uber Eats
Sign up to deliver food, groceries, and more on the platform that replaced Postmates.
Sign Up to Deliver with Uber Eats →What Was Postmates?
Postmates was once one of the largest on-demand delivery platforms in the U.S. Over its run as an independent company, it completed more than 35 million deliveries, generated over $1.2 billion in platform revenue, and saved customers an estimated 11 million hours of time.
Most people thought of it as just a food delivery app, but it also delivered groceries, personal items, and pretty much anything from a local store.
Uber bought Postmates for $2.65 billion in 2020 and spent the following year merging operations. By mid-2021, the Postmates Fleet driver app was retired entirely, and all delivery requests routed through Uber Eats instead. The consumer-facing Postmates brand hung around a bit longer before fading out as Uber consolidated everything under Uber Eats.
What's It Like Delivering for Uber Eats Instead?
The good news: everything that made Postmates appealing as a side hustle carried over to Uber Eats. You still don't have to deal with picking up or talking to passengers, unlike ridesharing jobs like Uber. Hours are still fully flexible, and you can still deliver by car, scooter, or bike depending on your city.
Uber Eats also has a much bigger footprint than Postmates ever had, it now operates in 6,000+ cities across 45 countries, so there's a good chance it's active wherever you are, even if Postmates never was.
How Does Uber Eats Delivery Work?
The process is straightforward, and very similar to how Postmates used to work. You sign up and get approved as a delivery driver, then go online in the app whenever you want to work. When a nearby order comes in, you get a notification with the pickup location and a preview of the estimated payout.
Accept the order, drive to the restaurant or store, confirm the pickup, then deliver it to the customer's address and confirm the drop-off in the app. Your earnings for that delivery, plus any tip, are added to your balance right after.
How to Start Delivering with Uber Eats
Signing up takes a few minutes online or in the app. You'll need to provide:
- The city you plan to deliver in
- A valid driver's license (if delivering by car, scooter, or moped)
- A working phone number
- Your full legal name
- An email address
- Your vehicle type and registration info
- Bank details for direct deposit
- A recent photo
You'll also need to pass a background check, which Uber covers the cost of.
Ready to Apply?
The application takes just a few minutes, and the background check is free.
Start Your Uber Eats Application →Tips to Make Good Money Delivering
The same strategies that worked for Postmates drivers still apply on Uber Eats:
- Deliver during off-peak traffic hours when possible to avoid wasting time stuck in your car
- Watch for Surge Pricing and Boost Earnings windows, these pay noticeably more per delivery
- Prioritize orders with short pickup waits and minimal parking hassle
- Cluster your deliveries in the same general area when you can
Is It Worth It?
Postmates used to average around $19/hour for drivers. Uber Eats drivers in 2026 see a similar or better range, commonly $18-25/hour gross depending on your market, with tips and Surge/Boost pay on top. Since Uber Eats has far more order volume than Postmates ever did, you'll typically spend less time waiting around between deliveries than Postmates drivers used to.
Is There an Hourly Guarantee?
Uber Eats doesn't promise a blanket hourly minimum nationwide, but in select markets, including California, drivers are guaranteed a minimum level of earnings for active delivery time. Check the current terms for your city in the app, since guarantees and promotions vary by location and change over time.
How Is Pay Calculated on Uber Eats?
Your earnings per delivery are built from a few components, similar to how Postmates used to calculate pay:
- A flat pickup fee for each restaurant or store stop
- A flat dropoff fee for each delivery location
- A per-mile rate in some cities, based on the distance between pickup and dropoff
- A per-minute rate in some cities, based on estimated time
- 100% of any tips you earn
On top of base pay, Surge Pricing and Boost Earnings can meaningfully raise your per-delivery rate during busy windows.
What About the Old Postmates Referral Code?
Postmates' driver and delivery referral program (including old codes like the one previously listed here) no longer works, since the Postmates app and its referral system were shut down when everything moved to Uber Eats. If you're signing up now, use Uber Eats' current driver and delivery promotions instead, check the app for whatever sign-up offer is running at the moment.
Bottom line: Postmates no longer exists as its own platform, it's now part of Uber Eats. Your hours worked, deliveries completed, and location still drive your daily pay, and in 2026, Uber Eats drivers commonly average $18-25/hour gross.
Other Gig Economy Delivery Jobs to Consider
Besides Uber Eats, a few other delivery apps are worth comparing:
The Bottom Line
Life keeps getting busier, and after a full day, most people would rather stay home, order food, and relax watching Netflix than go out. That demand for delivery hasn't gone anywhere, it's just consolidated onto fewer, bigger platforms.
Postmates played a big role in building that market, but today, if you want to do this kind of delivery work, Uber Eats is where it lives. Expect gross pay in the $18-25/hour range in most markets, in line with or ahead of what other on-demand delivery platforms like DoorDash pay.
2026 Update
Skip the Dead Postmates Signup, Go Straight to Uber Eats
Set your own hours, keep 100% of your tips, and get started today.
Sign Up to Deliver with Uber Eats →