You’re probably here to find out which service is better between Uber Eats vs GrubHub.
And maybe snag a promotion or two to save some money on delivery orders while you’re at it?
You’re in the right place because that’s exactly what we’ll be doing here. We’re going to compare the two services in several categories so you can decide for yourself which service works best for you.
Which is Better, Uber Eats, or GrubHub?
We’ve chosen 7 categories that have been chatted about most when it comes to food delivery apps.
We will compare both apps in each category and highlight a winner (or determine a tie) for each one as well as overall.
After scouring the internet for chatter from customers, we determined the following to be the most pressing criteria:
- Available areas
- Variety of restaurant options
- Promotional partnerships
- User-friendliness
- Pricing & fees
- Opportunities for existing users
- Customer service & support
There are other factors, surely, but these seem to be the most important to both existing customers and prospective ones.
Take a peek and see which app may work better for your particular takeout needs.
For a more in-depth look at each app, take a look at our GrubHub review for customers and our Uber Eats review.
UBER EATS VS GRUBHUB:THE CONTENDERS
Uber Eats
Since their launch in 2014, Uber Eats has expanded at an incredible pace and are now the most prolific option out there. That huge availability along with quick delivery times & generally low prices have made it really shine.
GrubHub
GrubHub is a trailblazer of the food delivery app revolution, emerging in 2004 and expanding with the progress since. They now offer one of the most user-friendly apps with a very reasonable fee structure.
UBER EATS VERSUS GRUBHUB: THE COMPARISON
UBER EATS: STRENGTHS
- Huge availability
- Great membership savings
- Combined service & delivery fees
GRUBHUB: STRENGTHS
- Best subscription program
- Easy to use
- Large variety of partner restaurants
UBER EATS: WEAKNESSES
- Not as many large partnerships
- Less deals for new users
GRUBHUB: WEAKNESSES
- Availability only in U.S. & London
- Steeper delivery fees
UBER EATS: EASE OF USE
- Combined with Uber app
- Map feature for pickups makes it easy to skip delivery fees
GRUBHUB: EASE OF USE
- No account needed to browse options
- Able to order with Amazon Alexa
UBER EATS: PRICE & VALUE
- Awesome membership savings
- Combined service & delivery fees
- Lots of ways to keep saving
GRUBHUB: PRICE & VALUE
- Don’t charge service fees
- Amazing subscription option
- ‘Perks’ coupons always offered
UBER EATS: DELIVERY
- Reputation for quicker delivery times than competitors
- Map feature for pickups make it easy to save on delivery fees\
GRUBHUB: DELIVERY
- GrubHub Ultimate technology for orders makes smooth deliveries
- No-contact curbside pickup option to cancel out delivery fees
UBER EATS: FOOD VARIETY
- Over 320,000 choices
- Many local/regional partnerships
GRUBHUB: FOOD VARIETY
- Over 350,000 options
- Offers both food & alcohol delivery
UBER EATS: SUPPORT
- Low average wait times
- Support available via Twitter
GRUBHUB: SUPPORT
- GrubHub+ has exclusive support
- Support available 24/7
UBER EATS: AVAILABILITY
- Over 6,000 cities
- Over 45 countries globally
GRUBHUB: AVAILABILITY
- Over 4,000 cities (U.S. & London)
- Vast U.S. availability
UBER EATS VS GRUBHUB: THE RESULTS
Uber Eats
Uber Eats is one of the most popular food delivery apps around with a huge availability, combined delivery & service fees, quick deliveries, great membership savings, and deals with many local establishments.
GrubHub
GrubHub is one of the most cost-effective, balanced food delivery services out there with zero service fees, a great subscription option, 24/7 support, and a large variety of partner restaurants to choose from.
UBER EATS OR GRUBHUB: THE OVERVIEW
Available Areas
This category is pretty black & white: either you have access to both apps or you don’t. Hopefully, you have access to at least one, but how do they hold up against each other in the battle for the widest availability?
They’re pretty close.
GrubHub takes the win by a longshot here, which is a credit to their exponential growth over the past few years.
As of early 2020, GrubHub is available in over 3,200 cities across the United States and London.
Uber Eats, in comparison, is available in over 500 cities globally.
So, if you’re in the United States and live in a large or medium city, the odds are that you have access to both food delivery apps.
If you’re in a smaller city or suburb, the odds are more likely that GrubHub will be available, but it’s worth it to check both delivery services first to see what your options are.
Here are some of the most popular cities for both delivery options:
- New York City
- Seattle
- Toledo
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Boston
- Houston
This is by no means an exhaustive list, as delivery orders across the country (and the world) are surging in popularity, especially with shelter-in-place orders still in effect in some states.
Variety of Restaurant Options
Do you like a little variety in the restaurant partners you see on these food delivery services?
If you like to mix it up, you’re in luck.
No matter which way you go, this one is a pretty even race.
GrubHub currently features over 350,000 restaurants and Uber Eats offers upwards of 320,000 with both continuing to expand each and every day.
That’s a lot of options!
Promotional Partnerships with Uber Eats vs GrubHub
When it comes to partnerships, the GrubHub vs Uber Eats debate really comes down to what you want to order.
Are you craving fast food? Are you wanting something specific?
The difference between GrubHub and Uber Eats when it comes to delivery partners is in their strategy.
As a whole, GrubHub tends to partner with big brands and chains, so you’ll find more partnership restaurants in more cities because of how plentiful those types of establishments are, especially in the United States.
Uber Eats also partners with some chains, as you can see below, however, they also offer partnerships with a lot of local/regional restaurants.
For example, their Los Angeles market benefits from partnerships with Pono Burger, Tasty Wok, Veggie Grill, and many more.
GrubHub has announced partnerships with the following brands:
- Applebee’s
- IHOP
- Taco Bell
- Shake Shack
- Dunkin’ Brands (Dunkin’ Donuts)
- Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, etc.)
Uber Eats, on the other hand, has had the following partners:
- McDonald’s
- Starbucks
- Chik-Fil-A
Our advice with this?
If you’re not craving anything in particular, take a peek at both apps.
Both allow you to scroll through current deals/promotions, so you can see what’s available to you in real-time before choosing the food delivery service that you need at the moment.
User-Friendliness
When discussing the best online food delivery app, you must take a look at the ease of use.
Is it simple to go through the process of placing an order, or is it wrought with frustration and too many steps?
In this case, it seems that both GrubHub and Uber Eats have taken care to create a very user-friendly app and ordering process.
For example…
With both delivery apps, you’re able to organize your options by price, which has been noted by many customers as a handy feature.
Also noteworthy is the ability to search for specific restaurants, narrow your search via zip code/distance, or simply scroll through your options.
This one is definitely a tie, although that isn’t too surprising.
Most food delivery services such as these spend a good amount of thought on the user interface, as that’s what consumers want: a seamless experience.
Pricing & Fees: Is Uber Eats or GrubHub Cheaper?
There are several factors when it comes to comparing the various prices & fees set by different delivery companies.
When it comes to GrubHub vs Uber Eats cost analysis, these are the factors we’ve found to be most important:
- Delivery cost (Delivery fee & service fee)
- Minimum order amount
- Tips
Also important to mention is the fact that many of these costs can be offset with a subscription service, which both GrubHub and Uber Eats do offer. This will be discussed in the next section.
First up is GrubHub.
For delivery costs, it depends on the restaurant that you choose. There is a wide range of fees because the restaurants themselves actually set those delivery fees.
You can expect to see a range anywhere from $1-$10.
Order minimums can sometimes be a problem, so keep an eye out for this before finalizing your order.
Restaurants also set this minimum on their own, so it also can have a wide range.
Minimums typically range from $15-$40.
As with most food delivery apps, tipping is appreciated and suggested, but never required. This is the case for both companies being compared here.
With GrubHub, the tip is set to a default of $0, and the customer has the ability to either change that option manually or provide a cash tip if desired.
Next up is Uber Eats.
The delivery fee is typically less when ordering from Uber Eats, with a typical cost of about $2-$3, depending on the restaurant chosen and your distance.
Neither GrubHub nor Uber Eats charges an additional service fee, although both do charge sales tax according to your local tax laws.
Part of the delivery fee is something called a service fee. This is built-in to help cover the costs of delivery, such as packaging, technology, costs for the actual delivery person,
Uber Eats charges a 15% service fee, although GrubHub does not charge one.
This actually levels out the cost comparison since the delivery fees tend to be cheaper for Uber Eats.
Order minimums for Uber Eats are also set by the restaurants themselves and therefore range around the same area anywhere from $15=$40.
So all in all, which is cheaper, Uber Eats or GrubHub?
Both are quite comparable in overall cost, however, Uber Eats does have an edge with lower delivery fees.
If you haven’t used either (or one) of these apps before, take a peek at our guide for GrubHub discounts and Uber Eats promo for new users guide.
Opportunities for Existing Users
Once you get past that first promo code, most people want to know which service will keep providing discounts and deal opportunities for their regular users.
The best offers on food delivery apps usually come with their subscriptions, and both of these competitors offer great programs with rewards and quality perks that make it worth it with just a couple of orders per month.
Uber Eats offers a platform called an Eats Pass.
This allows for free delivery on all orders over $15, and only costs $9.99 per month!
Members also receive an additional 5% off all orders (deliveries or pickup items).
GrubHub also offers a membership program called GrubHub+, which also costs $9.99 per month.
They offer free delivery on all of their partner restaurants, which are marked on the menu with a GH+ next to their names.
Members also gain access to Elite Care, which is an exceptional customer support line available exclusively to GrubHub+ members.
Lastly, if you choose to donate your change to the GrubHub Community Relief Fund as a member, the company will provide a matching donation.
In terms of pure savings, Uber Eats definitely takes the cake here with double discounts and free delivery for all businesses on their app, not just their partners.
For tons of ways to save on both services (as a new or current customer), head over to our GrubHub promo codes for returning users guide and our guide to codes for existing Uber Eats customers.
Customer Service & Support
When it comes to food delivery, there are a lot of opportunities for problems to happen.
Whether it’s an issue with your meal itself, your driver being unable to find your location, or a billing mishap, a good customer service experience can leave a distinctly good – or bad – impression.
Both of these delivery companies actually have great customer service!
Not only that, but there are many options to reach out so you can get help based on your particular preferences.
Uber Eats offers support in the following ways:
- Email (eats@uber.com)
- In-app chat support
- Phone (800-253-6882)
- Contact form
- Customer FAQ section
GrubHub also has multiple ways to reach out when needed, including the following methods:
- In-app chat support
- Phone (877-585-1085)
- Contact form
- Customer FAQ section
So in the battle of customer service options, Uber Eats comes out on top with the addition of their email support option.
Uber Eats or GrubHub: Who Wins?
In this food delivery comparison, who came out on top overall?
If we’re looking strictly at the number of categories won on each side, it’s a tie!
Remember, user-friendliness was deemed a tie.
Then Uber Eats came out on top for pricing, opportunities for existing users, and customer service.
And GrubHub?
They came ahead for available areas, restaurant options, and promotional partnerships.
So it all depends on your personal choices.
Is it more important to save a few bucks? To get delivery from that little neighborhood joint that only offers one delivery app? A variety of cuisine options?
With two great options, you’re sure to have a good experience either way.
Uber Eats and GrubHub FAQs
Can I get a no-contact delivery left on my doorstep?
Yep! Both companies currently offer no-contact deliveries and even encourage them with the COVID-19 pandemic still holding strong. You can easily choose this option throughout the ordering process in both apps.
