Favor is a Texas delivery app founded in Austin in 2013 and owned by the grocery chain H-E-B since 2018. It delivers restaurant meals, groceries from H-E-B, Central Market and Joe V’s stores, and other local items. Its drivers are called Runners. They’re independent contractors who choose when to work, accept orders in the app and pay for purchases with a virtual Runner card.
At a glance
| What it is | Food and grocery delivery app |
| Owner | H-E-B, since 2018 |
| Where | Texas only |
| Workers | Runners (independent contractors) |
| Pay | Weekly, with instant pay option |
| Tips | Runners keep 100% |
How it works
You sign up as a Runner, pass the checks and get the Favor app. When you go online, delivery offers appear. For restaurant and store orders, you pick up or shop the items, pay with the virtual Runner card and deliver them to the customer. Grocery orders can include substitutions, so you contact the customer as you shop.
The H-E-B advantage
H-E-B is the biggest grocer in Texas, and Favor handles its Express Delivery from H-E-B, Central Market and Joe V’s stores. That gives Runners a steady grocery stream on top of restaurant orders.
Pay and tips
Favor advertises weekly earnings, an instant pay option and 100% tip retention. Your income depends on your city, the time of day and how many orders you take. Peak meal times and weekends are usually busiest.
Getting started
You need to live in a Texas market Favor serves, have a reliable vehicle and a smartphone, and pass a background check. Sign up on Favor’s Runner page and follow the onboarding steps in the app.
Shopping orders
Grocery orders take longer than restaurant pickups, so check the item count before accepting. Message the customer early about substitutions rather than guessing, and keep cold items together. Getting substitutions right is often what earns a better tip. Keep receipts in the app as the order requires.
Multi-apping in Texas
Many Runners also drive for national apps such as DoorDash or Uber Eats. Running Favor alongside them can cut waiting time between orders, especially in cities where H-E-B grocery demand is strong.
Vehicle and costs
Any reliable car works for most orders. Fuel, insurance and maintenance are your costs as a contractor, so track mileage for tax. Short trips in busy areas usually make the most of each hour. Lunch and dinner peaks, plus weekend grocery runs, are usually the busiest times.
Owen’s take
Favor is a local option worth adding if you already deliver in Texas. Grocery orders from H-E-B give it a different mix from the national apps, so it can fill gaps when restaurant orders are slow.
Who it suits
It suits drivers in Texas who want to multi-app with a strong local brand. It suits nobody outside Texas.
Similar options
- DoorDash delivers restaurant and grocery orders nationwide.
- Instacart pays shoppers for grocery orders.
- Shipt pays shoppers for Target and other store orders.
- Uber Eats delivers restaurant orders in many cities.
More options are in Gig Work.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Grocery orders from Texas’s biggest grocer
- Keep 100% of tips
- Instant pay option
Cons
- Texas only
- Shopping orders take longer
- Vehicle costs are yours
FAQ
Who owns Favor?
H-E-B, since 2018.
Where does Favor operate?
Only in Texas.
What is a Favor Runner?
An independent contractor who delivers and shops orders.
Do Favor Runners keep their tips?
Yes, 100%.
How do Runners pay for orders?
With a virtual Runner card in the app.
