DoorDash vs Instacart
Business model, scale, and a side-by-side Litmus framework score — which model wins, and for whom.
DoorDash is the broader food-and-retail delivery leader; Instacart is the focused grocery specialist with a bigger ad business relative to its size.
At a glance
| Metric | DoorDash | Instacart |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $13.7B (FY2025) | $3.74B (FY2025, +11% YoY) |
| Profit | $935M (GAAP Net Income, FY2025) | $447M GAAP net income (FY2025) |
| Active users | 56M+ Monthly Active Users | ~14.4M monthly active orderers |
| Employees | ~25,000 | ~3,000+ (corporate) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2012 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
LLitmus Framework Score
Overall: DoorDash 90 · Instacart 90
Customer Segment
96
95
Value Proposition
93
92
Marketing Channel
92
88
Engagement
95
91
Income Source
90
96
Asset Validation
88
85
Core Operations
87
82
Strategic Alliance
89
94
Expense Validation
84
86
DoorDash leads 6 modules, Instacart leads 3. Overall edge: Tie.
Head to head
| Dimension | DoorDash | Instacart |
|---|---|---|
| Primary category | Restaurant food (expanding to grocery/retail) | Grocery delivery |
| Monthly active users | 56M+ | Smaller, grocery-focused base |
| Revenue (FY2025) | $13.7B | Grocery + ads driven |
| Advertising | ~$1B run-rate (~7% of revenue) | Ads a larger share of its mix |
| Fleet model | 3M+ Dashers, white-label Drive | Personal shoppers |
FAQ
Is DoorDash or Instacart a better business?
DoorDash is the broader food-and-retail delivery leader; Instacart is the focused grocery specialist with a bigger ad business relative to its size. It depends on what you optimise for — see the module-by-module breakdown above.
What is the difference between DoorDash and Instacart's business model?
DoorDash operates in Technology / Logstics (Your favorite restaurants, delivered), while Instacart is Ecommerce (Groceries delivered in as fast as 1 hour). Their revenue, scale and Litmus scores are compared in detail above.
Which is more profitable, DoorDash or Instacart?
DoorDash: $935M (GAAP Net Income, FY2025). Instacart: $447M GAAP net income (FY2025).