Uber Eats vs. DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Full Comparison

1. Company Backgrounds & Market Position

To understand how Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub compete today, it’s essential to explore their origins and how they’ve grown—or struggled—to capture market share.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats (2014), part of Uber’s global ecosystem, leverages its parent company’s logistics network to offer food delivery worldwide.

While slightly behind DoorDash domestically, its international reach is unmatched, and it’s expanded into convenience and grocery delivery.

DoorDash

DoorDash, founded in 2013, quickly became the U.S. market leader through aggressive expansion, acquiring Caviar and diversifying into groceries and retail.

It now holds over 65% of the U.S. market, with particular strength in suburban and mid-sized cities.

Grubhub

Grubhub, the oldest of the three (founded in 2004), pioneered online food ordering but has lost ground post-merger with Seamless and acquisition by Just Eat Takeaway.

It now focuses on North America, retaining relevance in urban hubs and college towns through long-standing restaurant partnerships.

2. Consumer Experience

When it comes to food delivery, the end-to-end experience for customers plays a huge role in platform loyalty. From how easy it is to place an order to the speed and accuracy of delivery, each platform offers a slightly different ride.

Uber Eats leverages its real-time tracking and sleek app design, especially effective in dense urban environments.

DoorDash often impresses users with its intuitive interface and consistent promotional offers.

Grubhub, though sometimes perceived as outdated, still appeals to longtime users and those in specific regions. Evaluating usability, delivery speed, variety, and fees gives a clearer picture of what everyday consumers can expect.

Restaurant Partner Experience

If you're running a restaurant, choosing the right delivery app isn’t just about getting orders out the door—it’s about visibility, support, and staying profitable. Let’s break it down.

All three platforms charge commissions that typically range between 15% to 30%, depending on your agreement and service level. That can add up fast, so it’s worth knowing what you get in return.

Uber Eats stands out for its seamless tech integrations. If your restaurant already has some digital infrastructure, syncing with Uber’s system tends to be smoother and more automated. On the flip side, some restaurant partners say they feel like a small fish in Uber’s massive pond.

DoorDash makes onboarding fairly easy and is known for helping restaurants get up and running quickly. They also offer good tools for local promotions, which can really boost your reach in your area.

Grubhub, while less dominant nowadays, still has a loyal base and offers solid visibility in certain cities and college towns. Their tools are a bit older-school, but they get the job done—especially if you're targeting a local market with established customers.

When it comes to payouts, all three offer flexible schedules like daily or weekly payments. Exclusive deals can unlock extra perks, but many restaurants prefer to stay on multiple platforms to reach more customers.

So if you're a restaurant looking to choose a platform, think about what matters more to you: wide exposure, tech ease, or loyal local traffic.

3. Driver/Dasher Experience

Without drivers, none of these apps would work. So, if you're thinking of signing up as a courier for extra cash (or full-time grind), it’s good to know what you're in for.

Uber Eats 

• Favorite for many drivers who already use the Uber platform—it’s super smooth if you’re also doing rideshare.
• The app offers “quests” and “streaks,” which are basically little challenges that reward you for completing multiple deliveries in a row.
• Uber’s navigation and live tracking are solid too, helping you avoid delays. That said, the payout system can feel a little mysterious at times since Uber doesn’t always break down exactly how your earnings are calculated.

DoorDash

• Most drivers—called Dashers—appreciate how easy it is to get started. The app is pretty user-friendly, and features like “peak pay” during busy times can bump up your earnings.
• You can also schedule shifts in advance or go online whenever you're free, which gives you flexibility. But be warned: base pay can be low without tips or bonuses.

Grubhub

• Still has loyal drivers in specific regions. Their app gets the job done, and they tend to offer decent pay per delivery.
• The downside? Some drivers say it’s harder to get consistent orders, especially now that the platform isn’t as dominant.

In terms of support, all three have room to improve. Uber Eats seems to have a slight edge in responsiveness, but delays and automated replies are still common complaints across the board.

Overall, if you’re looking for flexibility and a decent side hustle, DoorDash and Uber Eats are your best bets. But like with any gig work, how much you earn really depends on when and where you drive—and how well you play the bonus game.

4. Pricing & Fees Comparison

Let’s talk money…

For customers, service fees usually sit around 10–15%, and that’s on top of the delivery fee, which can be anywhere from $1.99 to $6.99 or more, depending on how far your food has to travel, how busy things are, or whether you're ordering during a rush. 

• Uber Eats tends to be the most expensive during peak times, while DoorDash and Grubhub often roll out discounts or free delivery promos, especially if you're a regular.
• Subscription game: if you’re ordering often, paying monthly for something like DashPass, Eats Pass, or Grubhub+ can save you a good chunk on fees and get you faster service.

Now, if you’re a restaurant, the platform fees are a whole different story. You might end up handing over up to 30% of each sale, depending on how much exposure and delivery support you want. It’s a trade-off—yes, you reach more customers, but the margins can get tight.

And don’t forget tipping. All three platforms encourage it, and tips go straight to the driver. It’s a key part of their earnings, so if you get good service, definitely throw a few extra bucks their way.

At the end of the day, prices can vary wildly depending on location, timing, and promos—but knowing the average fee structures helps you avoid surprises at checkout.

5. Performance & Profitability

If a platform isn’t doing well financially, it might not be around for long—or it could start cutting corners. So, let’s get into the business side of things—how these apps are actually performing behind the scenes.

Uber Eats, on the other hand, is playing the long game. While it might not be as dominant in the U.S., its global reach gives it a serious edge.

Uber has been smart about using its existing rideshare infrastructure to keep delivery costs low and margins higher. It's not always profitable in every market, but the overall picture looks more efficient every year.

DoorDash has been crushing it in the U.S. for a while now. It dominates the market, especially in suburban areas, and it's been expanding into new verticals like retail and groceries.

Financially, it’s showing strong signs of profitability on its core business, and it's using that success to explore things like package delivery and even local convenience store partnerships.

Grubhub, unfortunately, is the one struggling to keep up. Since getting acquired by Just Eat Takeaway, it's had a harder time maintaining its U.S. presence.

It’s still doing okay in certain niche markets—like college towns and specific urban areas—but it’s definitely feeling the pressure from the other two giants.

In short: DoorDash is winning the U.S. game, Uber Eats is playing globally and efficiently, and Grubhub is fighting to stay relevant.

6. Business Strategy & Innovation

Each of these food delivery giants is cooking up their own secret recipe to stay competitive and grow.

Uber Eats is using its tech muscle to blur the lines between food delivery and everything else.

Since they already have tons of data and an existing rideshare app, they’re getting smart with AI-powered recommendations (like suggesting a snack after your ride) and cross-selling—so you might order a burrito and schedule a ride to the airport in the same app.

They're all about making their app your go-to for multiple services.

DoorDash has been pushing hard into the future.

They're not just about food anymore. They're exploring things like ghost kitchens (basically restaurants with no dining area—just delivery), and even experimenting with robotics and local delivery hubs.

That means they want to make deliveries faster and cheaper—maybe even with a robot rolling up to your doorstep someday.

Grubhub, while a bit quieter on the innovation front, is playing to its strengths. They’ve been building loyalty programs and teaming up with college campuses to lock in student users.

Think of it as going deep instead of wide—they’re not trying to win everywhere, but focusing where they know they still have an edge.

Bottom line: DoorDash is thinking big and bold, Uber Eats is leaning into its tech and ecosystem, and Grubhub is sticking close to its loyal user base and niche markets.