About DoorDash
DoorDash is a leading technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local and national businesses in more than 7,000 cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Founded in 2013, it is best known for its food delivery service, but it has expanded into grocery, convenience, and retail delivery. For affiliates, DoorDash represents a high-converting brand due to its massive market share (dominating over 60% of the U.S. food delivery market) and strong brand recognition.
DoorDash Affiliate Program Overview
DoorDash actually operates three distinct affiliate “tracks”: Consumer Acquisition (referring new eaters), Driver Acquisition (referring new Dashers), and Merchant Referral (referring restaurants). The data below focuses on the Consumer/Driver programs, which are the most common for standard affiliates.
| Feature | Description |
| Industry | Food Delivery & Logistics |
| Product Type | Digital Service (App/Website) |
| Affiliate Program Type | CPA (Cost Per Action) – Pay Per Lead/Sale |
DoorDash Affiliate Program Offers
The following details apply primarily to the consumer and driver acquisition campaigns managed through major affiliate networks.
| Feature | Description |
| Promotional Materials | Banners, Text Links, Deep Links, App Install Links |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | 14 Days (Consumer/Driver) / 30 Days (Merchant) |
| Accepted Traffic Sources | Social Media (TikTok, YouTube), Blogs, Review Sites, Email |
| Accepted Countries | United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand |
| Explicit Content | Strictly Prohibited (No adult, violence, or illegal content) |
| Religious or Political Content | Restricted (Generally avoided to maintain brand neutrality) |
DoorDash Affiliate Commissions & Payments
DoorDash does not operate an MLM structure; it is a standard single-tier affiliate program. Rates can vary by season and specific campaign (e.g., they often boost Driver payouts during shortages).
| Feature | Description |
| MLM | No |
| Commission Rate | ~$3 – (Driver) / $1,000 (Merchant) |
| Commission Structure | Flat Fee per First Order (Consumer) or Activation (Driver) |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (Net 30 or Net 60 depending on network) |
| Payout Methods | Direct Deposit (ACH), PayPal, Wire Transfer |
| Minimum Payout | Typically 50 (Network dependent) |
Suitable Affiliates for DoorDash
This program is highly versatile and fits various content niches:
- Bloggers: Foodies, personal finance (side hustle), and lifestyle bloggers can seamlessly integrate links for “ordering dinner” or “earning extra cash.”
- TikTokers / YouTubers: “Day in the life” vlogs, food reviews (Mukbang), or side-hustle tutorials are high-converting content formats.
- KOC (Key Opinion Consumers): Everyday users who share genuine reviews of their delivery experience or “hack” menu items.
- KOL (Key Opinion Leaders): Tech and business influencers discussing the gig economy.
- Influencers: Lifestyle influencers showing convenience (e.g., “too busy to cook”).
- Video Editors: Can create compilations of “Best Food Delivery Fails/Wins” or fast-paced ads.
- Livestreamers: Eating live on stream often triggers cravings in the audience, making it a perfect moment to drop a promo code.
DoorDash Affiliate Software
DoorDash primarily uses Impact (Impact.com) to manage its public-facing Consumer and Driver affiliate programs. This allows for third-party tracking, transparent reporting, and reliable payouts.
- Note: The Merchant Referral Program is sometimes managed internally or through specific B2B networks like PartnerStack or UpPromote, but Impact is the main hub for most marketers.
3 Alternatives for DoorDash Affiliate Program
Below is a comparison of DoorDash with its three main competitors: Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Instacart.
| Comparison Factor | DoorDash | Uber Eats | Grubhub | Instacart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Bill (AOV) | ~$30 – $40 | ~$30 – $40 | ~$30 – $35 | $100 – $110 (Grocery) |
| Entry Fees | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $10 (via Impact) | $10 (via Impact) | $10 (via Impact) | $10 – $50 |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Commission | ~$3 per consumer signup~$50 per driver signup | ~$5 – $10 per consumer signupVariable for drivers | ~$5 per new diner signup | ~$10 per signup or 3%–5% per order |
| Conversion | High (Top market share) | High (Global brand) | Moderate (Strong in cities) | High (Strong in grocery niche) |
| Marketing Materials | Banners, Deep Links | App Links, Banners | Deep Links, Coupons | Shoppable Recipes |
