What is the Cheapest Online Food Delivery?

Is your wallet tired of being drained by takeout? Do you wish for a budget-friendly alternative to the best foods straight to your home?

With countless sources available, searching for the most affordable source for ordering food online may take time and effort.

Whether searching for cheap food online, the cheapest food delivery app 2024, or the cheapest way to order food online, you will find something within your income bracket to please your taste buds.

Why overpay when the savings could just be one click away? Here are a few of the cheapest fast-food delivery apps to help you decide!

Which Food Delivery App is the cheapest — DoorDash, Postmates, UberEats, Grubhub, or a Restaurant’s Own App?

Let’s dive into a question many food lovers and restaurateurs are asking: What is the cheapest place to order food online from DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, or, let’s say, Grubhub? The answer changes according to your geographical location or even the restaurant from which the order is made.

Curious about such differences, I researched and realized that dishes from the same restaurant sell at variant prices on distinct sale platforms.

For instance, a Big Mac meal would cost $8.99 on UberEats in New York City, the same on DoorDash would cost $9.49, and on Grubhub $9.79.

At the end of the day, though, Uber Eats consistently turned out to be a few cents lower than the rest in average pricing. So, if you want to look for the cheapest food delivery in the USA, Uber Eats will likely be your best shot.

In fact, as of October 2020, UberEats occupied 61% of Miami’s market share. DoorDash, on the other hand, was at the forefront of markets like Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Houston. GrubHub still reigned over New York with 51%, while Postmates still had its fighting chance in Los Angeles with 38%

Well Now, Let’s Look at Things from the Perspective of the Business Owner:

DoorDash

While searching for cheap food delivery near me, I came across DoorDash. As of 2019, DoorDash has a market share of 27% and an exciting commission rate of 20%.

Available in all fifty states, it provides companies with the most geographic diversification and lowest costs possible. Two primary strengths are the large customer base and low-price plans.

GrubHub

GrubHub, one of the first names on the list of food deliverers, has a market share almost equal to DoorDash, holding nearly 27%.

After its acquisition of Seamless and several other services, the company currently operates in more than 2,700 cities in the U.S.

The commission rate varies, ranging from 15% to 30%, thus placing it in second place in market share. It is a reliable option for restaurants that appeal nationally or regionally.

Postmates

Postmates estimates it controls about 12% of the market and is operational in 1,500 cities in the United States.

This platform works on a slightly higher commission, about 30%, which is off-putting for restaurant owners.

However, it balances this by adding additional features, such as a $10 monthly subscription that promises free delivery on orders exceeding $15.

This plan can make it even more appealing to customers despite higher fees.

Uber Eats

On the other hand, UberEats is available in its 500 cities worldwide with a market share of nearly 25%. Its network is vast because of Uber-reliant operations, yet it charges higher commission rates from 30% to 40%.

Moreover, Uber initially provided taxi services worldwide, which is why their drivers do not specialise in food delivery; thus, the service is compromised.

Its reach and fame do represent the majority of customers for many businesses.

Caviar

Since Caviar works in a specific space and targets prosperous dining establishments, it is available in only 11 major American cities such as Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Manhattan, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Queens, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and Washington D.C.

It has a market share of approximately 3%, yet the product has proved efficient in its class. While it has a commission rate of 25%, it is cheaper than other platforms such as UberEats. 

However, it has become most suitable for premium businesses designed to target only a niche market.

Branded Apps

Thus, the ability to create a branded app or website is paramount for businesses interested in setting up a considerable level of control over pricing and customer experiences.

To avoid paying outrageous commission fees to third-party services, restaurants can charge $49-$169 monthly for a restaurant-owned app.

However, this approach requires spending on marketing and customer acquisition and avoiding the ongoing cost of using third-party providers.

So, which is the most affordable food delivery application?

Well, that depends on the type of product you are selling and the geographical location. I understand that price is one of the factors, but it is not the only one.

Market reach, service quality, and customer loyalty will also be your focus when choosing your operational market.

It may seem random at first while experimenting with this channel and that one, but once the connections with customers become consistent and you start giving them more business, it will all be well worth it.

FAQs – Cheapest Online Food Delivery