How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- DoorDash has the widest US restaurant coverage at about 67 percent market share, while Uber Eats leads in cities with heavy Uber use.
- Delivery fees, service fees, and small-order fees stack up, so the cheapest menu price is rarely the cheapest total.
- DashPass, Uber One, and Grubhub+ all cost about $9.99 per month and pay off only if you order several times a month.
- ChowNow and Slice help restaurants keep more of each order, which can mean lower menu prices for you.
- Compare the final checkout total across two apps before every order, since the same restaurant often costs a different total.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 DoorDash | Widest restaurant choice | Free to browse | Yes |
 Uber Eats | City coverage and Uber One | Free to browse | Yes |
 Grubhub | Corporate and campus orders | Free to browse | Yes |
 Instacart | Groceries plus restaurant delivery | Free to browse | Yes |
 ChowNow | Direct restaurant ordering | Free to browse | Yes |
 Slice | Local pizza shops | Free to browse | Yes |
 goPuff | Late-night essentials and snacks | Free to browse | Yes |
 Too Good To Go | Cheap surplus food bags | Free to browse | Yes |
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The best food ordering apps
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
DoorDash is the default food ordering app for most Americans, with about 67 percent US market share, more than 37 million monthly active users, and 390,000 plus restaurant partners across 7,000 plus cities in the US, Canada, and Australia. If a restaurant delivers at all, it probably delivers on DoorDash, which makes this the first app to check in any city.
Fees are the catch. Delivery runs $1.99 to $5.99 by guides, service fees run 10 to 15 percent, and small orders can add a small-order fee. DashPass at $9.99 per month removes delivery fees on many orders and adds member deals, which pays off if you order weekly. For sheer choice, DoorDash leads, but always check the final total before you confirm.
What we like- About 67 percent US market share
- 390,000 plus restaurant partners
- DashPass cuts delivery fees
Watch out for- Delivery fees $1.99 to $5.99
- Service fees 10 to 15 percent
- DashPass costs $9.99 per month
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
Uber Eats holds about 23 percent US market share but a stronger global footprint, with more than 81 million monthly active users worldwide and service in 6,000 plus cities across 45 countries. It shines in major cities where Uber rides are already common, and Uber One bundles delivery perks with ride benefits for members.
Delivery fees range $0.99 to $7.99 by guides, with a service fee around 15 percent, and surge-style variation by demand. If you already pay for Uber One for rides, the delivery perks come effectively free, which changes the math. For city dwellers who ride and eat, Uber Eats is the natural second app beside DoorDash.
What we like- About 23 percent US share
- 6,000 plus cities in 45 countries
- Uber One bundles rides and delivery
Watch out for- Delivery fees $0.99 to $7.99
- Service fee about 15 percent
- Prices vary with demand
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
Grubhub is the third-largest US delivery app, with more than 140,000 restaurants and about 8 percent market share, down from its earlier lead but still strong in corporate ordering and campus markets. Its corporate platform suits office orders, and Grubhub+ at $9.99 per month offers free delivery on orders over about $12 plus member deals.
The smaller share means fewer restaurants in some cities and less bargaining power on fees, which range $0 to $7.99 for delivery with varying service fees. Check Grubhub when DoorDash and Uber Eats both look pricey, since the same restaurant sometimes totals less here, especially with a Grubhub+ deal active.
What we like- 140,000 plus restaurants
- Strong corporate ordering
- Grubhub+ at $9.99 per month
Watch out for- About 8 percent US share and shrinking
- Delivery fees $0 to $7.99
- Service fees vary
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
Instacart started with groceries and now covers restaurant delivery too, which suits households that want one app for both. You can schedule grocery orders ahead, shop by store, and add a restaurant order without switching apps. Instacart+ at $9.99 per month cuts delivery fees and adds perks across both.
Grocery delivery starts around $3.99, and store markups vary, so compare shelf prices with in-store prices on big orders. Restaurant coverage is narrower than DoorDash, so Instacart works best as a grocery-first app with food delivery as a bonus, not as your only restaurant app.
What we like- Grocery and restaurant delivery in one app
- Scheduling ahead
- Instacart+ at $9.99 per month
Watch out for- Delivery from $3.99
- Grocery markups vary by store
- Restaurant range is narrower than DoorDash
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
ChowNow works differently: instead of a marketplace that takes 15 to 30 percent commission, it powers direct ordering for restaurants on a flat monthly or annual fee to the restaurant. That means menu prices often match in-store prices, and more of your money reaches the restaurant.
The trade is discovery. ChowNow has no big cross-city marketplace to browse, so you order from restaurants you already know, usually through their own website or app powered by ChowNow. For your regular local spots, check whether they offer ChowNow ordering before defaulting to a marketplace, since the total is often lower.
What we like- No commission markup on orders
- Restaurants keep more
- Direct ordering supports local spots
Watch out for- Smaller restaurant list
- No marketplace browsing across cities
- Features vary by restaurant
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
Slice is the specialist for local pizza. It serves independent pizza shops that get squeezed by big marketplace commissions, with lower fees for the restaurant and a simple ordering flow for customers. Reordering a favorite pie takes seconds, and many shops offer deals only through Slice.
It will not replace a general app, since other cuisines are thin here. But if pizza is a weekly habit, Slice often totals less than the same order on DoorDash or Uber Eats, and more of the money stays with the local shop. Keep it as a second app for pizza night.
What we like- Built for independent pizza shops
- Lower fees than big marketplaces
- Easy reordering
Watch out for- Pizza-focused, so other cuisines are thin
- Coverage varies by city
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
goPuff fills a different gap: snacks, drinks, ice cream, and household essentials delivered fast from local micro-warehouses, often late at night when restaurants close. Delivery is quick because stock sits nearby rather than at a restaurant across town, and the catalog suits cravings and forgotten items.
Hot restaurant meals are limited here, so goPuff complements rather than replaces DoorDash. Fees vary by order and market, and coverage is city-dependent. For a late-night snack run or a missing ingredient, it is faster than any restaurant app.
What we like- Fast delivery from local micro-warehouses
- Snacks, drinks, and essentials
- Late-night hours
Watch out for- Limited hot restaurant meals
- Delivery fees vary
- Coverage is city-dependent
Starting priceFree to browse
Free planYes
Too Good To Go sells surplus food from restaurants, bakeries, and grocers as discounted surprise bags, which cuts waste and gives you dinner for a fraction of menu price. The fun is in the discovery: a bakery bag might hold bread, pastries, or cakes, depending on what is left at closing.
You cannot choose exact items, and pickup windows are fixed, so it suits flexible eaters rather than picky ones. Coverage varies by city, with the best choice in larger metros. For a cheap, low-waste meal a few nights a week, no other app on this list comes close on price.
What we like- Surprise bags at a steep discount
- Reduces food waste
- Fun discovery from local shops
Watch out for- You cannot pick exact items
- Pickup windows are fixed
- Coverage varies by city
How we chose
We compared food ordering apps on restaurant coverage, total checkout cost, delivery speed, subscription value, and current status, using vendor pages and 2026 fee guides that break down delivery, service, and small-order fees. We favored apps that are free to browse and still operating nationally, and we left out single-city services and restaurant-only ordering tools. Fees change by market and demand, so treat figures here as guide ranges, not quotes.
How to pick a food ordering app
Start with coverage in your city, then compare final totals. Install DoorDash and Uber Eats, add Grubhub for corporate or campus use, and keep ChowNow or Slice for your regular local spots. Before every order, build the same cart in two apps and compare the checkout total, since fees and promos shift the winner order by order.
Cut the fee stack
Fees stack in ways menus hide. Delivery, service, small-order, and tip charges can add 30 percent or more to a small order, so bundle orders, meet free-delivery minimums, and pick up when the restaurant is close. A subscription pays off only if you order enough: at $9.99 per month, DashPass, Uber One, and Grubhub+ each need several orders a month to beat pay-as-you-go fees.
Order direct when you can
For restaurants you order from often, check their own website first. Direct ordering through ChowNow or the restaurant own system avoids marketplace commission, which can mean lower prices and better portion accuracy. It also helps the restaurant keep more of your money, which keeps local spots open longer.
Frequently asked questions
Which food ordering app is cheapest?
It depends on the order. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub totals vary by fees and promos, so compare the final checkout across two apps. For regular local spots, direct ordering through ChowNow or Slice often totals less, and Too Good To Go is cheapest of all for flexible eaters.
Is DashPass or Uber One worth it?
At about $9.99 per month each, both pay off if you order several times a month, since delivery fees drop on many orders. If you order once a month or less, skip the subscription and pay per order. Uber One adds extra value if you also use Uber rides.
Why do menu prices differ from in-store prices?
Restaurants often raise marketplace menu prices to cover 15 to 30 percent commission. Direct ordering usually matches in-store prices, which is why checking the restaurant own website can save money on repeat orders.
Are delivery fees the same in every city?
No. Delivery, service, and small-order fees vary by city, restaurant, distance, and demand. Treat fee ranges in guides as starting points and always read the checkout breakdown before confirming.
Can I save money and still use delivery apps?
Yes. Bundle orders to clear free-delivery minimums, pick up nearby orders, use one subscription if you order often, and rotate promos across apps. Too Good To Go surprise bags offer the deepest discount for flexible meals, and ordering direct from your regular spots avoids marketplace commission entirely.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.doordash.com
- https://www.ubereats.com
- https://www.grubhub.com
- https://www.instacart.com
- https://www.chownow.com
- https://slicelife.com
- https://gopuff.com
- https://www.toogoodtogo.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.