Key Takeaways: To simplify operations, pick a delivery service that works well with your POS system Seek for a delivery service that charges appropriate commission costs to prevent cutting into your profits. To guarantee that your consumers have a great experience, give priority to a delivery service that provides outstanding customer support. Choose a delivery service that provides thorough analytics and data to assist you in making wise business decisions. In recent years, the restaurant industry has been turned on its head, all thanks to the advent of food delivery apps. Many ambitious operators also recognize the opportunities for a new food experience regardless of table availability. The projected growth of the food delivery industry in the United States in the next five years is said to reach $42 billion, according to the survey conducted by IMARC Group. So, if you’re new to the food industry, we are here to assist your decision-making process. We have identified 10 top food delivery services along with their essential features. Let’s dive deep into this topic. Forget Spaghetti Routes, Optimize Routes for Your Entire Team with Upper Start a 7-Day Free Trial Table of Contents Understanding Food Delivery Fundamentals Top Food Delivery Services Compared What is Involved in the Delivery of Food? Essential Features to Consider When Choosing a Food Delivery App Making the Right Choice for Your Restaurant FAQ Conclusion Understanding Food Delivery Fundamentals The basics of delivering food At its core, delivering delicious meals is a courier service provided by restaurants and other food-based businesses. Here is a glimpse of the online food delivery process. A customer place an order for the food they want to be delivered to a specified address. The restaurant fulfills that order, including preparing the food, packaging it, and giving it to the customer. Typically, the food deliveries are made by courier drivers that use motor vehicles, although delivery by scooter, bicycle, or even foot is not unusual. Restaurateurs interested in adapting to this new reality will find many companies ready to woo them. It can be overwhelming and time-consuming to wade through all the options and figure out your business’s best fit. Just as technology has changed the retail landscape, it has impacted the restaurant industry. And customers’ expectations have surged. For many restaurateurs, the only way to remain competitive today is to offer online food delivery. Key benefits for restaurants Food delivery has become an important service for restaurants, helping them stay competitive and meet modern customer expectations. By offering online food delivery, restaurants can: Increase their customer base by reaching individuals who prefer dining at home. Generate additional revenue streams beyond in-house dining. Enhance customer satisfaction with the convenience of ordering and receiving meals at their doorstep. Operating models explained Commission-based model In this model, restaurants partner with delivery platforms that charge a commission for each order. These platforms handle the logistics, including delivery personnel and technology, while the restaurant focuses on food preparation. The commission is typically a percentage of the order total, making it a pay-as-you-go solution for restaurants. Subscription model The subscription model involves restaurants paying a fixed monthly fee to use a food delivery platform’s services. This model can be cost-effective for businesses with high order volumes, as it removes the variability of per-order commissions. In many cases, the restaurant may manage its own delivery drivers, giving them more control over the delivery process. Top Food Delivery Services Compared 1. DoorDash Specifications: Service available in the US, Canada & Australia Restaurants recommendation Ready-to-eat meals and alcohol delivery DoorDash is an aggregator platform that over 310,000 restaurants in +4,000 cities currently use. It matches local restaurants with local ‘dashers’ (i.e., freelance couriers) to not have to hire your couriers. It is one of the most popular food delivery services in North America, followed by other apps like Uber Eats, GrubHub, Postmates, Seamless, and Instacart. DoorDash has also taken companies like Caviar under its wings. Caviar was initially started as a higher-end food delivery app. But since DoorDash acquired the company in 2019, you will find a diverse selection of balanced meals. Ideal for Lunch & dinner options Commission rates DoorDash typically charges restaurants a commission fee that varies based on the service level and market, often around 15-30%. Coverage area DoorDash operates in the US, Canada, and Australia, covering over 4,000 cities and partnering with more than 310,000 restaurants. Integration features DoorDash provides integration with point-of-sale (POS) systems like Toast, Square, and Clover, making order management seamless for restaurants. Restaurants can also use DoorDash Storefront to enable online ordering directly through their websites. Customer support DoorDash provides 24/7 support for restaurants and drivers via phone, email, and an online help center. However, users often report delays in resolving issues. Pros Useful for diner takeout orders or ready to eat meals; Tracking of orders and progress; Low minimum order amounts; A monthly charge for no extra fees for delivery; Subscription option: monthly or annually. Cons Customer service is dearth; High prices. 2. Postmates Specifications: Offers 24/7 delivery service No contact delivery Subscription plan from $ 9.99 / month Food, drinks, retail goods – you name it, Postmates can help get it delivered right to your customers’ doors. Their mission says it all: “Our mission is to enable anyone to have anything delivered on-demand.” Postmates, like many of its counterparts, uses a fleet of couriers to fulfill orders from local restaurant partners. Ideal for Ordering midnight snacks Commission rates Postmates charges a commission rate that can vary widely but generally falls within the industry standard of 15-30%. Coverage area Postmates is available across major cities in the US, offering 24/7 delivery. Integration features Postmates offers an API for restaurants to integrate their menus and ordering system into the platform. However, it doesn’t offer extensive POS integrations compared to competitors like DoorDash. Customer support Postmates offers support through their app and website, but the response time can vary. Restaurants can also access a help portal for common issues. Pros Low delivery fee and costs; Restaurants can outsource the whole delivery. Cons The system of compensation is unclear for drivers; Issues with delivery assignments. 3. Uber Eats Specifications: Service available in 24 different countries Order fees up to 15% Accepts cashless payments Uber made a name for itself as an alternative to the traditional taxi experience, and now they’re making their mark in the food delivery business with the Uber Eats app. It is one of the most favored apps in taxi and food delivery services. Ideal for Uber-friendly users Commission rates Uber Eats typically charges restaurants between 15% to 30% commission based on the type of service selected. Coverage area Uber Eats is available in 24 countries, making it one of the largest meal delivery platforms globally (excluding China). Integration features Uber Eats supports integration with popular POS systems, enabling real-time updates of menu changes, orders, and payments. They also provide data analytics to help restaurant owners make informed decisions. Customer support Uber Eats provides dedicated support channels for restaurants through email and in-app messaging. The platform also has a help center with detailed guides and FAQs. Uber Eats customer support is generally reliable but can be slow during peak times. Pros Largest meal delivery platform (except China) in terms of Gross earnings; Refined technology; Business insights from data collection. Cons A delivery person receives fewer tips; Service charges and delivery charges eating into revenue. 4. GrubHub Specifications: Available in 4000+ US cities Supports multiple payment modes Food tracking option GrubHub claims to have the largest and most comprehensive restaurant partners’ network, with more than 200,000 partnering restaurants in over 4,000 U.S. cities. GrubHub also owns Seamless. They share the same app. Ideal for Online food buyers Commission rates GrubHub charges fees based on the order and offers a straightforward subscription option for businesses. The commission rates typically range from 10% to 30%, depending on the agreement with each restaurant. Coverage area The platform is available in over 4,000 US cities, partnering with more than 200,000 restaurants. Integration features GrubHub connects with several POS systems. It also offers GrubHub Direct, a tool to let restaurants accept orders directly from their own websites without redirecting customers to the app. Customer support GrubHub has a 24/7 support system for restaurant partners via phone, email, and live chat. It also offers training resources to help new partners navigate the platform. Pros COVID-19/coronavirus friendly pickup orders; Simple subscription option and fee structure; GrubHub is available on iOS and Android. Cons Bad reviews from delivery drivers; High delivery fees and other costs relative to the competition. 5. goPuff Specifications: Available in 170+ cities Charges extra delivery fees Include cleaning supplies goPuff is a really good delivery app for other services like snacks, drinks, groceries, and even over-the-counter medicine. The app delivers in more than 500 cities across the United States and is growing rapidly. The unique thing about goPuff is that anything the customer orders does not get delivered from a store but from goPuff’s own warehouses. Ideal for Snacks Commission rates goPuff’s commission structure is less transparent but typically involves flat fees rather than percentage-based commissions. Coverage area goPuff operates in more than 500 US cities, with its own micro-fulfillment centers. Integration features goPuff does not rely on restaurant partnerships. Instead, it integrates its inventory into its app from its own micro-fulfillment centers, limiting direct restaurant integration features. Customer support goPuff provides customer service through in-app chat and email. However, it focuses more on customer-facing support rather than direct restaurant assistance due to its unique delivery model. Pros It goes beyond the menu, includes household essentials like grocery delivery cleaning supplies, over-the-counter medicine, and baby essentials; Delivers in less than 30 minutes – from its micro-fulfillment centers to your home; Superfast deliveries; Has a flat delivery fee of $1.95 meals per week. Cons Delivers only quick meals, no restaurant meals from the restaurant; Experiences of inaccuracy in deliveries. 6. Skip The Dishes Specifications: Available in Canada Pick-up and drop-off options Separate delivery fees based on order Skip a lot of the extra work associated with introducing food delivery to your restaurant with SkipThe Dishes. The company will send its couriers to your restaurant to pick up orders and deliver them to customers. Skip The Dishes is used by many chains and fast-food restaurants, including McDonald’s, Subway, KFC, and Wendy’s. Ideal for Fast food lovers Commission rates Delivery fees are calculated based on the order, and no subscription is required. Skip The Dishes generally charges around 20%-30% commission on orders placed through their platform. Coverage area The service is primarily available in Canada, catering to both chains and local restaurants. Integration features SkipTheDishes allows restaurants to integrate their online ordering systems and offers a partner portal to manage orders efficiently. Customer support SkipTheDishes offers email and chat support, with limited availability for live phone support. Restaurants can access their partner portal for assistance with order management. Pros Used by well-established merchants for breakfast, lunch, and oven-ready meals; Available in many places and countries; No subscription required; Charges a delivery fee or service fee based on the order. Cons Issues with reliability; Service charge cutting into restaurant revenues. 7. Instacart Specifications: Service available in major parts of the US and Canada It offers a wide range of options for grocery delivery service Faster deliveries with Instacart express Instacart is a platform that goes beyond restaurants. It provides online and mobile experiences to help shoppers select and order products. Customers can then pick up at the store or order delivery (delivery fees apply). Ideal for Buying grocery items Commission rates Instacart’s commission rates vary widely based on agreements but can reach up to 20%. Coverage area Instacart operates in major parts of the US and Canada. Integration features Instacart focuses on grocery and household items rather than restaurant deliveries, so its integration features cater more to retailers and supermarkets than restaurants. Customer support Instacart provides email and phone support, but restaurants may find its customer service less relevant since it primarily focuses on grocery deliveries. Pros Order items from neighborhood grocery stores as well as favorite restaurants; Coronavirus pandemic friendly contact-free delivery – leave at my door delivery option; Scheduled delivery option. Cons The delivery app is considered glitchy or buggy; Tip structure is not advantageous to a valid drivers; No free delivery (there are varied delivery fees or custome fees). 8. Seamless Specifications: Available in major cities in US & UK 9.99/ month subscription fee Restaurant fees charge may vary as per bill It is the food delivery app that collaborates with Grubhub. The widely popular food delivery app offers a wide variety of meals without any extra charges. Moreover, the meal delivery company has now enabled the option for contactless delivery, where customers can ask for the delivery agent to deliver the food meal outside their doorstep. Ideal for New York city’s food lovers Commission rates Seamless operates under GrubHub’s model, typically charging around 10% to 30% commissions depending on agreements with restaurants. Coverage area Seamless is available in major US and UK cities, with a focus on New York City. Integration features Seamless shares POS integration options with GrubHub since the two platforms operate under the same umbrella. It also provides tools to help restaurants manage orders effectively. Customer support Seamless uses the same customer service system as GrubHub, offering 24/7 phone and online support. Pros Easy to pay bills with multiple online modes; It doesn’t include extra charges; Multiple restaurants options. Cons Far-away restaurants includes delivery charges; No live food tracking feature. 9. Delivery.com Specifications: Available in more than 100 US cities Rewards points program Minimum order fees vary by restaurant It offers an extensive delivery option to its users, which means you can even schedule your food delivery prior to the actual delivery time. Delivery.com allows you to select the pick-up and drop-off time as per your wish. It also delivers alcohol, wine, groceries, and tasty meals. Therefore, you can consider this app for multiple uses. Ideal for Contactless food delivery Commission rates Delivery.com typically charges commissions that range from 10% to 25%. Coverage area The service is available in over 100 US cities. Integration features Delivery.com offers limited integration capabilities compared to larger platforms, but it allows businesses to manage menus and orders directly through its platform. Customer support Delivery.com offers email and phone support for businesses. The platform also has a detailed FAQ section for common issues. Pros It has extensive reach; Delivery of food and grocery items; Rewards points for every purchase order. Cons Upcharge for food delivery; It sends many spam messages through email 10. Caviar Specifications: No subscription options Delivery fees: up to $8.99 Available across 28 US cities It became part of DoorDash, back in 2019, and it is currently open for food deliveries in more than 25 cities. Understanding the customer’s demands, it has a rich collection of local restaurants and cuisines. Caviar allows its user to pick up their food or get it directly to their home via online food orders. Ideal for Healthy meals Commission rates Caviar’s commission rates are generally higher than average at around 20%-30%. Coverage area Caviar operates in 28 US cities and focuses on local restaurants and cuisines. Integration features Caviar offers integration with DoorDash’s POS features and analytics tools, as it is now part of the DoorDash ecosystem. Customer support Caviar relies on DoorDash’s customer service system, providing 24/7 support through phone, email, and chat options. Pros GPS-tracking for online food delivery; No-contact delivery; Option to add delivery instructions Cons It only focuses on nearby restaurants; It covers limited areas for deliveries. What is Involved in the Delivery of Food? In recent years, technology transformed meal delivery. Gone are those days when restaurants had to rely on the paper takeout weekly menu and manual management of the orders. Today’s expectations are high with free delivery. Nowadays, business owners offer easy-to-use food delivery apps and online menus where customers can browse plenty of options and place their orders. Many ordering platforms provide customers with an affordable option, such as requesting drop-off at a specific time. Below are the main involvements in food delivery apps. Customers are often given the choice of paying online or upon delivery. Ordering food with special diet plans like vegetarian options, low carb, gluten-free, or diabetes-friendly has easy with just a few taps. They focus on each meal weekly plan with specific dietary restrictions. A meal kit service uses high-quality fresh ingredients and saves your primary concern of grocery shopping and meal prep time. The evolution of food delivery has provided exceptional opportunities for restaurateurs to reach new customers and grow beyond their physical location constraints. Opt for a Safer and Simpler Way of Food Delivery Want a food delivery app? Join Upper Route Planner to use advanced delivery routing features and streamline multiple food delivery orders. Start using Upper Essential Features to Consider When Choosing a Food Delivery App Ready to explore the best food delivery service apps for your business? Whether you have an established food business or are starting a new meal-kit delivery service, you’ll want to make sure you choose a platform that suits your needs. Here are some key features of a food delivery app to consider when making a choice. Route Planning and Allocation: With proper route planning & optimization, restaurants can easily manage multiple drivers and meet customer expectations while reducing cost. It allows a manager or assigns orders to specific retailer drivers easily. Easy and Secure Payment: Your chosen app must offer multiple payment options for your delivery orders. It is one of the most indispensable features. If it doesn’t, there’s a good chance you’ll lose many customers at the ‘place order’ stage of the process. Include an online payment integration such as Square, Stripe, Apple Pay, or PayPal and cash or credit upon delivery for customers who are not comfortable making online payments. You’ll also want to ensure that payment information provided by customers is safe and secure. Flexible Delivery Scheduling: This feature will make things easier for the customer and the kitchen and delivery staff. Allowing customers to schedule for later in the day or even the next day ensures the user’s ordering process is convenient. It can also help the kitchen and delivery team better plan for peak demand times by ensuring they have enough staff, organic ingredients, etc. Live Tracking: Customers will appreciate this feature, which allows them to track in real-time. It can also help reduce the amount of time the delivery driver spends at each stop and provide managers with valuable information. Many popular delivery apps have a live tracking feature now. User-Friendly Customer Interface: At the end of the day, what matters the most in every business is the customer experience. And if you’re offering food transportation through delivery apps, your app represents the first interaction a customer will have with your restaurant. First impressions are essential, so ensure the app provides a user-friendly dashboard and seamless ordering process that is fast and intuitive. The best way to understand the user experience? Test each app out as a customer and see where you land. User-Friendly Administrator Dashboard – Just like your customers, you will want a dashboard that’s easy to navigate and allows you to do everything you need to do as a restaurant manager/administrator. Order Management – This is another ‘must-have’ for any food delivery app. From the admin panel, the administrator should manage all orders, update customers on their order status, and manage payments. Navigation and GPS Tracking—This feature will assist your delivery drivers in completing their deliveries more efficiently, which will, in turn, mean happier customers and the capacity to make more deliveries in each shift. Upper: The all-in-one app for food delivery From finding optimized routes to delivering the food in a timely manner, Upper has got all the necessary features to keep you on top of your business. Sign Up for Free Making the Right Choice for Your Restaurant Choosing the best food delivery service for your restaurant takes careful planning. You need to weigh costs, understand integration needs, and make sure your staff can adapt to new tools. Here’s how to approach these considerations effectively. 1. Cost analysis framework Start by understanding the costs involved. Most delivery platforms charge a commission fee on each order, which can range from 15% to 30%. Some also have additional fees for premium features like marketing or priority placement. To make an informed decision, compare: Commission rates: Calculate how much of each order’s revenue goes to the platform. Subscription options: Look for flat-rate plans if your order volume is high. Hidden costs: Be aware of add-ons like promotional tools or custom integrations. This will help you find a service that fits your budget while still meeting your goals. 2. Integration requirements Seamless integration is essential to keep operations running smoothly. The delivery service you choose should work well with your existing tools and processes. POS system compatibility Check if the platform integrates with your restaurant’s POS system. This ensures that orders from the platform flow directly to your kitchen, reducing errors and saving time. Most major platforms like DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats integrate with popular POS systems like Toast, Clover, or Square. If your POS system isn’t compatible, you might need to manually input orders, which can slow things down and lead to mistakes. Look for platforms that support your system to keep everything efficient. Staff training needs Introducing a new delivery platform may require training for your staff. Delivery orders come with unique challenges, like managing delivery timing or understanding specific customer requests. Consider the following: Ease of use: Choose a platform with a simple interface to reduce training time. Support resources: Check if the service provides guides or customer support to help your staff learn quickly. Time investment: Factor in how long it will take for your team to adapt. By addressing these needs upfront, you can avoid disruptions and ensure your team feels confident with the new system. Making the right choice involves balancing costs, technology, and your team’s readiness. Take the time to evaluate these factors to find a platform that fits your restaurant’s needs. FAQs What is the most popular food service delivery? Popular food service may vary as per your location and service availability. Many Foodies consider DoorDash as the first pick for ordering a meal-delivery kit. While other spicy food lovers also choose Uber Eats or postmates to place an online food order. Who is better: Grubhub or DoorDash? Doordash is marginally ahead of Grabhub as it has an extended network across the US and other countries. Also, Doordash is cheaper as far as food delivery services are concerned. Hence, Grubhub comes out on top. Who makes more DoorDash or Uber Eats? Since June 2020, DoorDash has covered 45% of the market share in the food delivery businesses. It is followed by Uber Eats, GrubHub, and Seamless. So, if we consider the current market position, DoorDash has a clear edge over Uber Eats. Conclusion One of the challenges for local restaurants today is solving the “straight to your door” problem. But with changing trends offering new opportunities, it is up to restaurant owners and operators to seize the opportunity and take advantage of it. We hope this article gave you useful information in determining the right choice of meal delivery services. Here, we discuss the top 10 food delivery services, but you can also check out more popular options like Amazon Fresh, Freshly, and others to get nutritious meals. If you are looking for essential features in the food delivery app, book a demo at Upper to learn how a multiple delivery route planner app can simplify food delivery operations. Author Bio Rakesh Patel Rakesh Patel, author of two defining books on reverse geotagging, is a trusted authority in routing and logistics. His innovative solutions at Upper Route Planner have simplified logistics for businesses across the board. A thought leader in the field, Rakesh's insights are shaping the future of modern-day logistics, making him your go-to expert for all things route optimization. Read more. Share this post:
