How to Choose the Best Food Delivery App: Tips and Tricks for the US
The right food delivery app can help you avoid spending time and money when hunger hits. This guide is for busy professionals, collegians, families, and anyone who strives to make wiser decisions about which platform to use to order their food online.
With dozens of food delivery apps available, and many offering multiple options for ordering, such as from a website or even over the phone, choosing the right one can be like picking a restaurant after you’re already starving: Go with whatever is closest, or, in this case, cheapest and with the fewest strings attached. That’s key — figuring out what is most important to you in your needs and budget.
We’ll show you how to consider what you want from a personal delivery app and take a look at the major players like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. You will also discover how to get the most savings, with tricks for clever order combinations and subscription bundling. Last but not least, we discuss how to identify responsible delivery suppliers who maintain food safety and quality standards.
Evaluate Your Delivery Needs and Preferences
Determine your budget for delivery fees and tips
Set a realistic delivery budget, so you are not spending too much and you can afford regular delivery. Most have charge delivery fees of $1 to $5, plus service fees and optional tips of 15 to 20 percent. Add what you spend on food delivery every month, plus any promo credits and subscription discounts like DashPass or Uber One.
Assess your preferred cuisine types and dietary restrictions
Which app is best for you will largely depend on your food preferences. Some excel in certain types of cuisines — Grubhub has more local restaurants, usually, and Uber Eats offers more chain options. Key for: Checking each app’s filtering capabilities for dietary restrictions like vegan, gluten-free, or keto options before you make a deal.
Consider your typical ordering frequency and timing
Regular orderers can receive the delivery fee waived with subscription services, while occasional users might appreciate the flexibility of pay-per-order. Dinner time (5-8 PM) often translates to higher prices and waiting times among all services. Late-night ordering options differ greatly by app and location.
Identify your location's delivery coverage requirements
The availability of restaurants varies significantly depending on your exact address, and, indeed, in the same city. Download several apps to compare coverage areas and delivery zones in your area. Some focus better on the suburbs, others on the urban density that can allow for speedier delivery.
Compare Major Food Delivery Platforms
Analyze restaurant selection and variety on each platform
The major players all have their restaurant variety strengths. DoorDash tends to have the most robust restaurant network, particularly in suburban markets, although in urban markets that are more apt to have trendy, upscale dining scenes, Uber Eats wins out. Grubhub has solid relationships with long-standing chains and local legends, though they differ widely from place to place.
Compare delivery fees, service charges, and hidden costs
Base delivery charges range from $0.99 to $4.99 among various platforms, but the real costs are obscured within service fees, small order charges, and even suggested tips. DoorDash often adds so-called regulatory response fees, and Uber Eats has boost fees during periods of highest demand. Grubhub tends to be transparent about total costs upfront — although it sometimes raises delivery prices at peak times.
Store Selection
Seek out applications that have formed partnerships with your preferred grocery chains. Some applications offer partnerships with numerous retailers which provides users with broader options and other applications limit their operations to specific stores. You should evaluate if your shopping needs can be met by mainstream supermarkets or if you require access to specialty stores.
Examine user interface design and ease of navigation
Uber Eats comes out on top for clean, intuitive design and great filtering options, and for a smooth checkout. DoorDash has strong search and extensive restaurant information, but its interface is busier. Grubhub’s app is at least reliable and functional, though it also feels dated compared with competitors, with slower load times and less polished visual design.
Review customer support quality and responsiveness
The quality of customer service is wildly different between platforms. Uber Eats also offers the quickest response times over in-app chat and phone support, normally within minutes. DoorDash has okay support, but an almost complete dependence on automated responses at the beginning. Grubhub’s customer service is really slow, and it often takes several messages to get delivery problems sorted or get a refund.
Assess Delivery Speed and Reliability
Check average delivery times in your area
Different delivery apps have their own neighborhood strengths. Leverage the estimated delivery window for the corresponding apps of both companies to test standard delivery times during busy periods. In urban areas, delivery can be 20-45 minutes; in suburban areas can be longer. Try a few apps during lunch and dinner rushes to see which consistently gets to your address the fastest.
Read reviews about order accuracy and food quality
In customer reviews, patterns emerge about missing items, incorrect orders, and food temperature upon arrival. Search for recent reviews that mention the individual restaurant you’re ordering from, since the quality of delivery can vary widely by location and preparation technique. Listen for soggy food, missing sauces, temperature, etc, problems which can damage the quality of your meal specifically, which in turn will impact which system you decide upon.
Evaluate real-time tracking capabilities
Some delivery apps include GPS tracking now, but the accuracy differs widely. You’ll want the best platforms to offer detailed updates on when your driver picks up your order, where they are in relation to your address, and a realistic estimate of when you will be together. Some apps even feature pictures of your delivered food as well as driver information. Select platforms that offer end-to-end tracking options and send push notifications, update you on delays, or delivery completion.
Maximize Savings with Smart Ordering Strategies
Take advantage of subscription services and loyalty programs
Many of the delivery apps have subscription plans that waive delivery fees in exchange for a monthly fee of $5-15. If you order twice weekly, these services pay for themselves. Apps such as DoorDash, DashPass, and Uber Eats Pass also offer members-only discounts and priority customer service. The rewards are points that can be earned for free food or discounts.
Use promo codes and seasonal discounts effectively
Should you choose to give it a shot, installing numerous applications will help you receive a higher welcome bonus because many apps provide substantial discounts on the first order. Similarly, follow your favorite eateries and delivery companies on social networks for exclusive promotional codes and discounts. Where possible, combine discounts from different restaurants and use them with global discounts from the applications. Subscribe to newsletters to get tailored offers that relate to your order history.
Bundle orders to meet minimum delivery requirements
Combine orders with roommates, family, or colleagues to meet minimum spending requirements and sidestep small order fees. A lot of apps drop delivery fees once you reach $12-20. Think about adding items to your order that you can stash away for later consumption or non-perishables such as drinks and snacks, to get the most out while signing on.
Time your orders during off-peak hours for better deals
During holiday hours (2-4 PM and 9-11 PM), the price is often lowered. Certain apps provide for “Happy Hour” deals, which include discounted menu items. I wouldn’t be on during the peak of dinner (5-8 pm) because they start digging into surge pricing, and wait times skyrocket.
Compare prices across multiple apps before ordering
Depending on the commission rate or a given deal, the same restaurant may serve the same dish at differing prices on different platforms. To make the best economic choice, do not forget to check 2 to 3 applications, or make use of price-comparing apps. These applications allow you to get the best deal available. In addition, remember to take delivery fees, service charges, and discounts into consideration when calculating the final amount, which shouldn’t only be the menu prices.
Ensure Safety and Quality Standards
Verify restaurant hygiene ratings and certifications
Food safety ratings are important to help us assess the cleanliness of a restaurant. Most delivery apps show health department scores, but you should also review your local health department’s website for the latest inspections. Seek out A-graded restaurants or scores of 90 and higher. Waiters and managers should be washing their hands and staying away from any restaurants that have recent violations, temporary closures, or scores below 60.
Check contactless delivery options and safety protocols
Today’s delivery apps offer all sorts of contactless permutations, including doorstep delivery, pickup lockers, and no-touch handoffs. Look at the safety precautions that each app has put in place, including driver health scans, sanitization regulations, and mask policies. Apps, including DoorDash and Uber Eats, have thorough safety information in their help sections.
Review app policies for refunds and dispute resolution
Tougher refund policies leave you protected from cold food, missing items, or shoddy service. Compare both platforms’ resolution process – some give an instant credit, and others require submitting a detailed complaint form. Be aware of the fine print related to time limits for flagging issues, as most care apps take complaints only within 24 to 48 hours of food delivery.
Conclusion
Choosing the right food delivery app for you is a matter of what you value most. Start with your own ordering habits, but then look at what the heavy hitters like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub can offer, and see which one is servicing your favorite restaurants and neighborhoods best. And yet, don’t forget to test how speedy and reliable the delivery service is in your area, as various places occasionally have extensive wait times for cold food no one wanted to trek outside for.
Smart shoppers are constantly searching for tips to save you money without losing that special something. Take advantage of loyalty programs, promo codes, and subscriptions if you’re ordering frequently enough for them to make sense. Above all, go with food safety-focused apps and partners that have high standards. The best food-delivery app is the one that gets you the food you want exactly when you want it (and) the way you want it, with the fewest fees or challenges.
