DoorDash vs Uber Eats vs Grubhub: Full Comparison (2026)

DoorDash vs Uber Eats vs Grubhub: Which App Wins in 2026?

Three apps dominate US food delivery: DoorDash (67% market share), Uber Eats (23%), and Grubhub (8%). Together they serve over 80 million customers monthly.

But which one is actually best for your wallet? We ordered the same meals on all three platforms, compared every fee, and tested their subscriptions head-to-head. Here’s what we found.

Looking for a quick two-app comparison? See our detailed DoorDash vs Uber Eats breakdown, or jump straight to which app is cheapest.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
US market share	~67%	~23%	~8%
Restaurants (US)	390,000+	370,000+	365,000+
Delivery fee	$1.99–5.99	$0.49–7.99	$0.99–5.99
Service fee	~15%	~15%	~12%
Small order fee	$2 (under $12)	$2 (under $10)	None
Menu markup	15–30%	10–20%	10–25%
Subscription	DashPass $9.99/mo	Uber One $9.99/mo	Grubhub+ $9.99/mo
Sub minimum	$12	$15	$12
Avg delivery time	38 min	33 min	40 min
Grocery delivery	Yes (Albertsons, etc.)	Yes (Instacart partnership)	Limited
Pickup option	Yes	Yes	Yes
Student discount	$4.99/mo	$4.99/mo	No

Delivery Fees Comparison

Delivery fees are the most visible cost — and the most variable. Here’s what you’ll typically pay:

Standard delivery fees (no subscription)

Order Size	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
Small ($8–12)	$1.99 + $2 small order fee	$2.49 + $2 small order fee	$0.99
Medium ($15–25)	$2.99–3.99	$3.49–5.49	$1.49–2.99
Large ($30+)	$3.99–5.99	$4.99–7.99	$2.99–4.99

Key takeaway: Grubhub consistently has the lowest delivery fees and no small order fee. This makes it 20–40% cheaper on orders under $15.

With subscription ($9.99/mo each)

All three subscriptions eliminate delivery fees:

	DashPass	Uber One	Grubhub+
$0 delivery on	Orders $12+	Orders $15+	Orders $12+
Service fee reduction	~5% lower	~5% lower	~5% lower
Extra perks	Member-only promos	10% off Uber rides	Donation matching
Student rate	$4.99/mo	$4.99/mo	N/A

Best subscription for food only: DashPass or Grubhub+ (lower $12 minimum). Best if you ride Uber: Uber One (10% off rides adds $10–30/month in value).

For a deeper two-app comparison, see DashPass vs Uber One.

Real Price Test: Same Order, Three Apps

We ordered the same meals from the same restaurants and compared total costs (before tip):

Test 1: Chipotle Burrito Bowl + Chips ($13.50 in-store)

	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
Menu price	$15.75	$14.85	$15.20
Delivery fee	$2.99	$3.99	$0.99
Service fee	$2.36	$2.23	$1.82
Total	$21.10	$21.07	$18.01

Winner: Grubhub — saves $3 over the other two.

Test 2: Thai Restaurant for Two ($28 in-store)

	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
Menu price	$33.60	$30.80	$32.20
Delivery fee	$3.99	$5.49	$2.99
Service fee	$5.04	$4.62	$4.19
Total	$42.63	$40.91	$39.38

Winner: Grubhub — lowest fees offset the mid-range menu markup.

Test 3: McDonald’s Value Meal ($7.50 in-store)

	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
Menu price	$8.70	$8.25	$8.50
Delivery fee	$1.99	$2.49	$0.99
Service fee	$1.31	$1.24	$1.10
Small order fee	$2.00	$2.00	$0
Total	$14.00	$13.98	$10.59

Winner: Grubhub — no small order fee makes a huge difference on cheap orders.

Overall pricing verdict: Grubhub wins on raw pricing. DoorDash and Uber Eats are nearly tied. But promo codes can flip this — see our cheapest food delivery app breakdown for the full analysis with promos included.

Delivery Speed Comparison

Speed matters when you’re hungry. We tracked delivery times across 20+ orders in 3 cities:

Metric	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
Average delivery	38 min	33 min	40 min
Fastest delivery	22 min	18 min	28 min
Slowest delivery	58 min	52 min	65 min
On-time rate	85%	88%	78%

Uber Eats is the fastest — Uber’s existing driver network enables quicker dispatch and optimized routing. DoorDash is a close second. Grubhub tends to be slowest, particularly during peak dinner hours.

All three apps offer real-time driver tracking and contactless “leave at door” delivery.

Restaurant Selection

Coverage breadth

	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
US restaurants	390,000+	370,000+	365,000+
Metro coverage	Excellent	Excellent	Good
Suburban coverage	Best	Good	Moderate
Rural coverage	Good	Limited	Limited
International	Canada, Australia	40+ countries	US only

DoorDash invested heavily in suburban and smaller markets early, giving it the widest US coverage. If you live outside a major city, DoorDash likely has the most options near you.

Uber Eats is strong in major metros and the best choice if you travel internationally.

Grubhub focuses on US metro areas and has historically been strongest on the East Coast.

Exclusive partnerships

DoorDash: Exclusive delivery for many Albertsons/Safeway stores, Wingstop, The Cheesecake Factory (in some markets)
Uber Eats: Partnership with Instacart for expanded grocery delivery
Grubhub: Amazon Prime member perk (free Grubhub+ with Prime in select areas)

Grocery Delivery Comparison

All three apps have expanded beyond restaurant delivery:

Feature	DoorDash	Uber Eats	Grubhub
Grocery stores	Albertsons, Safeway, Aldi, Dollar General	Instacart partnership, local stores	Very limited
Avg markup	10–15%	8–12%	N/A
Delivery fee	$3.99	$3.99	N/A
Best for	Widest store selection	Lowest grocery markup	Not recommended

For dedicated grocery delivery, consider Instacart — it has the lowest fees and widest store selection for groceries specifically.

DoorDash is the best all-in-one option if you want restaurants and groceries from one app.

Promo codes can save more than any subscription. Here’s the typical pattern:

App	Typical Promo	Frequency	Avg Savings
DoorDash	40–50% off	Daily	$8–12
Uber Eats	$10–20 off	2–3x/week	$10–15
Grubhub	$5–10 off + free delivery	Weekly	$5–8

DoorDash has the most frequent and generous promo codes — a 50% off code on a $30 order saves $15, wiping out all the fee disadvantages.

Uber Eats offers the highest absolute dollar discounts ($15–20 off) but less frequently.

Grubhub promos are less common but often include free delivery stacked on top of dollar discounts.

Pro tip: Check all three apps’ deals before every order. We update codes daily on our deals page.

Membership Programs: DashPass vs Uber One vs Grubhub+

All three charge $9.99/month. Here’s a side-by-side breakdown:

Feature	DashPass	Uber One	Grubhub+
Price	$9.99/mo	$9.99/mo	$9.99/mo
$0 delivery	Orders $12+	Orders $15+	Orders $12+
Service fee cut	~5% reduction	~5% reduction	~5% reduction
Extra perks	Member-only promos	10% off Uber rides, priority pickup	Donation matching
Student rate	$4.99/mo	$4.99/mo	None
Free trial	30 days	30 days	7 days
Amazon Prime bundle	No	No	Free with Prime (select areas)
Cancel anytime	Yes	Yes	Yes

Which subscription saves the most?

For someone ordering 8 times/month with a $25 average order:

	No Sub	DashPass	Uber One	Grubhub+
Monthly food cost	$264	$230	$234	$226
Subscription fee	$0	$10	$10	$10
Total	$264	$240	$244	$236
Monthly savings	—	$24	$20	$28

Grubhub+ saves the most on raw food costs. DashPass is the best value when you factor in more frequent promo codes. Uber One is the best overall value if you also use Uber rides.

Who Should Use Which App?

If you…	Best app
Live in a suburb or small city	DoorDash (widest coverage)
Want the fastest delivery	Uber Eats (avg 33 min)
Want the lowest fees (no promos)	Grubhub (lowest base fees)
Want the most promo codes	DoorDash (daily 40–50% off)
Also use Uber rides	Uber Eats (Uber One = food + rides)
Order small meals under $12	Grubhub (no small order fee)
Need grocery delivery too	DoorDash (most grocery partners)
Are a college student	DoorDash or Uber Eats ($4.99/mo student rate)
Have Amazon Prime	Grubhub (free Grubhub+ in select areas)
Travel internationally	Uber Eats (40+ countries)

The Smartest Strategy: Use All Three

The real answer isn’t picking one app. It’s using all three strategically:

Compare prices before every order (30 seconds on each app)
Check for promo codes on our deals page — a single code can save $10–15
Pick the right subscription based on your order frequency:
- 0–3 orders/month: No subscription, promo codes only
- 4–6 orders/month: DashPass (best promos + low minimum)
- 7+ orders/month: Grubhub+ (lowest base cost) or DashPass
Use pickup when the restaurant is nearby — saves $5–10 per order on any app
Set a monthly budget — $100/month = ~4 delivered meals or ~6 pickup orders with promos

Want to save even more? See our full guide on how to save money on groceries and whether DoorDash is actually worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best food delivery app in 2026?

There’s no single best app. DoorDash has the most restaurants (390,000+) and best suburban coverage. Uber Eats is fastest for delivery (avg 33 min) and includes Uber ride discounts. Grubhub has the lowest base fees and no small order fee. The best strategy is to compare all three for each order.

Is DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub cheapest?

Grubhub is cheapest for raw pricing (lowest delivery fees, no small order fee). DoorDash is cheapest when you have promo codes (40-50% off codes available daily). Uber Eats falls in the middle but offers the best value if you also use Uber rides via Uber One.

Which food delivery subscription is worth it — DashPass, Uber One, or Grubhub+?

All three cost $9.99/month with $0 delivery fees. DashPass has the lowest order minimum ($12). Uber One adds 10% off Uber rides. Grubhub+ has the lowest overall base costs. If you order 3+/month, any subscription pays for itself.

Which app has the fastest delivery times?

Uber Eats averages 33 minutes per delivery, DoorDash averages 38 minutes, and Grubhub averages 40 minutes in our testing. Uber Eats benefits from Uber’s existing driver network for faster dispatch, especially in metro areas.

Can I use multiple food delivery apps at the same time?

Yes, and you should. Keep accounts on all three apps and check prices before every order. Use whichever has the best promo code or lowest total price. This strategy saves $20-50/month compared to sticking with one app.