Food Delivery Referral Programs Ranked: DoorDash vs Uber Eats

Food delivery referral programs vary dramatically between customer and driver incentives. While customer referral bonuses typically offer $5-20 per friend, driver referral programs can generate $500-950 per qualified referral depending on the platform and market. Understanding which programs provide the best value for your situation—whether you're a customer sharing discounts or a driver recruiting new Dashers—is essential for maximizing earnings.

DoorDash: Industry-Leading Driver Referrals

DoorDash operates the most lucrative driver referral program among major food delivery platforms. Referral offers can reach as high as $950 if the new driver (Dasher) completes 300 orders within 90 days, with the referring driver and new Dasher both earning substantial bonuses. This dramatically exceeds Uber Eats' driver referral structure.

• Driver referral range: $200-$950 depending on market and completion requirements
• Qualification: New Dasher must complete 200-300 deliveries within 90 days (varies by market)
• Bonus structure: Both referrer and new driver receive rewards, not just the referrer
• Geographic variation: Urban markets typically offer higher bonuses than rural areas
• Customer referrals: Available but less prominent; typically $5-10 for both parties
• Tracking: In-app dashboard shows referral status and progress toward completion milestones

DoorDash offers a lucrative referral program where both the referrer and the new driver benefit significantly once the new driver completes a set number of deliveries. Referral offers can be as high as $950, and the Dasher also gets a good amount, not just the referrer.

— Gig Economy Platform Comparison

Uber Eats: Moderate Referral Program

Uber Eats maintains a less prominent driver referral program compared to DoorDash, with lower bonus amounts and less aggressive promotion. Customer referrals are more actively marketed, typically offering $20 off first orders for new customers.

• Driver referrals: Available but with lower bonuses than DoorDash (typically $100-300 range)
• Customer referrals: $20 off for new customers, varies by market
• Qualification: New users must complete qualifying purchase within specified timeframe
• Sharing methods: In-app sharing via SMS, email, social media, or manual link copying
• Restrictions: Referral codes cannot be combined with other promotional offers
• Important: Only one referral code can be applied per order

Grubhub: Minimal Referral Presence

Grubhub stands at a significant disadvantage in referral program competitiveness. The platform does not typically offer a driver referral program, or drivers haven't encountered meaningful incentives. Customer referral options exist but are less generous than competitors.

This creates a strategic opportunity for DoorDash driver recruiters—Grubhub drivers looking for better referral earning potential represent ideal referral candidates when you're promoting DoorDash driver signup.

Strategic Implications for Referrers

For those choosing which food delivery platform to actively promote, DoorDash clearly offers the highest referral earning potential for driver recruitment. Focus your driver referral efforts there. For customer referrals, promote multiple platforms based on your audience's preferences—some customers prefer Uber Eats' interface, others value DoorDash's restaurant selection, making multi-platform promotion sensible.

Target Audiences for Food Delivery Referrals

Different referral types attract different audiences. Driver referrals work well when targeting people seeking flexible gig economy income (students, part-time workers, retirees), individuals with reliable vehicles looking for supplemental earnings, and communities with high unemployment or underemployment. Customer referrals convert best when shared with busy professionals who value convenience, college students living in delivery-friendly areas, and new residents unfamiliar with local food delivery options.

1. Research current driver referral bonus in your market (bonuses vary significantly by location)
2. Target recruitment during high-demand periods (holidays, major sporting events) when new drivers are most needed
3. Emphasize flexible scheduling and per-delivery earnings in your referral messaging
4. Create comparison content showing DoorDash vs. Uber Eats driver earnings and referral bonuses
5. Join gig economy communities (Reddit's r/doordash_drivers, Facebook driver groups) to share referrals where permitted
6. Provide genuine insights about the driver experience to build trust and credibility

Combining Multiple Food Delivery Referrals

Savvy referrers don't limit themselves to a single platform. Create comprehensive guides comparing all major food delivery services, allowing readers to choose their preferred platform while you potentially earn referrals from multiple sources. Include DoorDash for highest driver referral value, Uber Eats for brand recognition and customer referrals, and even smaller platforms like Postmates (now part of Uber) or regional services with their own referral programs.

To efficiently manage food delivery referrals alongside other categories, create a centralized gig economy or food delivery hub on Codiroo. This allows you to present all your referral codes in one organized location, making it easy for both potential drivers and customers to find relevant offers.