We’re here to compare the difference between DoorDash vs GrubHub, two of the most popular food delivery services out there.
Comparing the Food Delivery Titans
We’ll explore comparisons in various categories that are important to customers, such as:
- Ease of use
- Price and value
- Delivery experience
- Food menu variety
- Customer service
- Availability
- And much more
Which service has the advantage? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Read on for all you need to know about these popular food delivery services and figure out which one might work best for you.
DOORDASH VS GRUBHUB: THE CONTENDERS
DoorDash
DoorDash emerged into the food delivery scene in 2013, and since then has grown exponentially in size & reach. They’re now one of the most well-rounded delivery apps out there and quite popular as a result.
Check out our DoorDash customer review for a deep dive!
GrubHub
GrubHub is the original pioneer of the food delivery app movement, launching in 2004 and growing with the times since. They currently offer one of the most user-friendly services with a fantastic fee structure.
DOORDASH VERSUS GRUBHUB: THE COMPARISON
DOORDASH: STRENGTHS
- Low delivery fees
- Delivers from convenience stores
- Massive continued growth
GRUBHUB: STRENGTHS
- Best membership program
- Very user-friendly
- Huge variety of restaurant partners
DOORDASH: WEAKNESSES
- Need to create account to browse
- Service fees
GRUBHUB: WEAKNESSES
- Only available in U.S. & London
- Higher delivery fees
DOORDASH: EASE OF USE
- Menus easy to navigate
- Lower order minimums make it easier to order for just yourself
GRUBHUB: EASE OF USE
- No account required to browse options
- Can place order with Alexa
DOORDASH: PRICE & VALUE
- Great introductory offer
- Exclusive deals with Chase cards
- Low delivery fees
GRUBHUB: PRICE & VALUE
- No service fees
- Best membership program
- ‘Perks’ discounts always available
DOORDASH: DELIVERY
- Ability to see estimated delivery time before checkout screen
- Organized group ordering with a variety of options for everyone
GRUBHUB: DELIVERY
- Faster deliveries with GrubHub Ultimate technology for orders
- Curbside pickup available to skip delivery fees, still with no-contact
DOORDASH: FOOD VARIETY
- Over 310,000 choices
- Restaurants & convenience stores
- Teamed w/ Caviar for more options
GRUBHUB: FOOD VARIETY
- Over 350,000 choices
- Huge amount of restaurant partners
- Will deliver food & alcohol
DOORDASH: SUPPORT
- 5 different support options
- Support available via social media
GRUBHUB: SUPPORT
- Exclusive support for GrubHub+
- 24/7 available support
DOORDASH: AVAILABILITY
- Over 4,000 cities
- U.S. & P. Rico, Canada & Australia
- First delivery app in all 50 states
GRUBHUB: AVAILABILITY
- Over 4,000 cities
- U.S. & London
- More widely available in U.S.
DOORDASH VS GRUBHUB: THE RESULTS
DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the most well-rounded food delivery apps with a wide range of availability, low delivery fees, great customer support, and delivery options from both restaurants and convenience stores.
GrubHub
GrubHub is one of the most cost-effective food delivery apps on the market with no service fees, a fantastic membership program, 24/7 support, and a huge variety of restaurant partners to choose from.
DOORDASH OR GRUBHUB: THE OVERVIEW
We compared GrubHub vs DoorDash side by side.
Now it’s time to break down each of those categories in more detail.
Which is Better, DoorDash, or GrubHub?
When discussing food delivery services such as we are, there are a few categories we had to cover.
As a customer, there are certain factors that are more or less important to each individual.
Overall, though, we’ve put together a list of the items that highlight the various advantages and disadvantages of the competition very well.
Where Are DoorDash and GrubHub Available?
Availability is an important aspect, especially if you’re not in a large city.
Thankfully the difference between GrubHub and DoorDash in terms of available cities isn’t that crazy big.
GrubHub food delivery is currently available in over 4,000 cities within the United States and London.
On the other side of things, the DoorDash service is available in over 4,000 cities within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia.
Fun fact!
They were the first food delivery app available in all 50 states. [1]
So, if you’re in London, Canada, Puerto Rico, or Australia, the choice is basically made for you as only one option is available in those locations.
If you’re in the United States, the odds are if you’re located in a large or medium city, you most likely have access to both GrubHub and DoorDash.
If you’re in more of a small city, you may need to check both of the apps to see which platform is available in your area.
So the verdict?
DoorDash does have an edge with slightly wider availability, but this is a close one.
Who Has a Bigger Variety of Restaurant Options?
Is having a wide variety of choices something that’s important to you when choosing to use either GrubHub or DoorDash?
If so, you’re in luck.
This is a tight race, as both apps have a wide range of options.
DoorDash currently offers a choice of 310,000 restaurants.
They also highlight some deliveries available from their sister app, Caviar (exclusively for high-end & independent establishments).
Not far from that number is GrubHub, which currently features 350,000 restaurants, making this another close category.
One thing to also consider is the fact that DoorDash has a wider geographical reach globally.
Therefore, if you’re in the United States, they actually have less available restaurants per city than GrubHub does.
Also worth noting is that DoorDash now accepts deliveries from convenience stores as well, which counts towards their overall partners. [2]
With these things in mind, GrubHub definitely takes the win for the best variety offered.
Promotional Partnerships Are Huge
Who has better partnerships (and therefore, better deals)?
This is actually pretty even as well!
Both of these particular food delivery services tend to seek partnerships with big brands, chain restaurants and fast food, and they both offer regular promotions, perks, and deals for orders with these merchants.
There are, of course, some local restaurants featured as well.
A lot of times, you can even score free delivery.
Some of GrubHub’s notable partnerships include:
- Applebee’s
- IHOP
- Taco Bell
- Shake Shack
- Dunkin’ Brands (Dunkin’ Donuts)
- Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, etc.)
And DoorDash features some of the following partner restaurants:
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Chipotle
- Cracker Barrel
- Wendy’s
- Wyndham Hotels
So for this category, it may be a case of personal preference.
Or you may be craving something in particular, in which case you could snag a deal with the right app.
Especially if you order with food delivery services often, it would be a good idea to have both apps at the ready, and you can take advantage of partner promotions as they crop up on both.
How User-Friendly are the DoorDash & GrubHub Apps?
Is there a difference between DoorDash and GrubHub when it comes to ease of use?
Of course, there are differences between platforms, but thankfully the user interface seems to be a priority for both of these delivery apps.
Both are easy to search/organize, easy to add filters (such as price, location, type of cuisine, etc.), and simple to find deals/promotions.
Thank goodness!
The ordering process is relatively quick for both as well, and both allow users to see an estimated delivery time BEFORE placing your order, which is a huge factor for hungry people looking for a hunger fix asap.
There are a few things that stand out, of course.
The biggest thing about the GrubHub app is that it offers the ability to browse through available restaurants before even creating an account.
DoorDash (and most other top food delivery companies) does in fact require an account to be created first before you can even browse.
There are some other noteworthy user-friendly features for both brands worth mentioning.
For DoorDash, these include:
– Menus are very easy to navigate
– Lower order minimums than many other brands; makes it easier to order for 1
For GrubHub, another noteworthy feature is that you can place an order using your Amazon Echo. [3]
While for most aspects both DoorDash and GrubHub are even, we’re going to give DoorDash the edge here with their easy-to-navigate menus and lower order minimums.
Pricing & Fees: Is DoorDash or GrubHub Cheaper?
The most important factor for many people when choosing a food delivery service is just this, the overall delivery charges & cost.
Is DoorDash cheaper than GrubHub, or vice versa?
Most restaurant meal prices are going to be relatively even, especially when comparing 2 of the biggest food delivery giants.
When comparing the GrubHub vs DoorDash price overall, you’ll have to look at the fees charged for delivery orders.
It goes without saying that ordering through a food delivery service is going to be somewhat expensive, as there are fees associated so that the system works for everyone involved.
There are a few factors to consider here when comparing GrubHub vs DoorDash:
- Cost of the food itself
- Sales taxes
- Service fee (covers the cost of operating expenses)
- Delivery fee (unless you get free delivery with DashPass)
- Tipping
So how do the fees stack up when comparing the two food delivery services?
When ordering from DoorDash, you’ll pay for the cost of the food plus any applicable sales tax, a service fee (this is set by and goes directly to the restaurant itself to cover expenses), a delivery fee (goes to DoorDash), and any gratuity you should wish to add for the driver.
When ordering from GrubHub, you’ll also pay for the food, sales tax, a delivery fee, and gratuity, but you won’t have to pay that additional service fee.
That being said, the overall cost will vary depending on the restaurant you choose to order from, as they determine that additional service fee on their own.
A couple of additional thoughts…
Additional factors to keep in mind when ordering from either service are minimum order amounts and surge pricing.
While the DoorDash surge pricing and that of GrubHub will most likely be during the same peak hour time frames, it’s worthwhile to check both before ordering if you’re placing an order during peak hours to avoid these added charges if possible.
Also…
Minimum order amounts are set by the restaurant partners, so just keep an eye out for those as well no matter which app you decide to order with.
When it comes to comparing various DoorDash vs GrubHub fees, it turns out that GrubHub generally comes out being less expensive due to their lack of service fees.
Are you new to either food delivery service?
We’d highly recommend heading over to our DoorDash coupons list and our GrubHub promo for new users guide to sweep up some promo code savings before you start.
Big Savings Opportunities for Existing Users
What about subscription programs for these delivery services? Who wins there?
Is DoorDash better than GrubHub, or the other way around?
Offering a subscription service option has become a go-to method of retaining recurring users for most of the best food delivery apps such as these two.
These programs usually include free delivery for deliveries above the minimum order amount, which is a huge savings.
DoorDash offers a program called DashPass, which offers the following benefits:
- Free delivery from restaurant partners for orders $12 or more
- Reduced fees (varies by location, restaurant, & order total)
- Exclusive perks for Chase credit cardholders
On the flip side of things, GrubHub features a subscription service called GrubHub+.
Rewards of this program include the following:
- Free delivery from restaurant partners for orders $12 or more
- 10% cash back on all orders from partner restaurants
- Access to Elite Care (special customer service team)
- Matching donations to the Community Relief Fund if you donate your change
- Exclusive access to new perks, local events & experiences.
Both programs will set members back just $9.99 monthly, so they make up their cost with 2-3 orders per month or so by nixing that delivery fee.
Both programs are definitely similar, but we’re declaring GrubHub the champ here with their deeper benefits including cash back.
Like to keep saving every time you order?
Dive deeper into your savings options with other food delivery services also by checking out our guide to DoorDash codes for existing customers and guide to DoorDash vs Uber Eats.
Plenty of Customer Service & Support Options
With delivery orders, there are unfortunately a lot of opportunities for errors to occur.
So, is DoorDash or GrubHub better when it comes to handling customer issues?
Thankfully each food delivery service has multiple options for handling customer support experiences with convenience in mind.
GrubHub offers the following methods for customers to reach them:
- In-app chat support
- Phone (877-585-1085)
- Contact form
- Customer FAQ section
DoorDash also has several options available, including:
- In-app chat support
- Phone (855-973-1040)
- Email address (support@doordash.com)
- Contact form
- Customer FAQ section
In a side-by-side comparison, we’d have to give the nod to DoorDash on this one with the addition of their email address added as a support option.
What is Delivery Experience Like?
With any delivery service, but especially one involving food, the actual delivery experience is of the utmost importance.
So what do these 2 brands bring to the table when it comes to delivery?
For DoorDash, 2 things that stand out about their delivery experience are:
1. The ability to see delivery time estimates on the restaurant page before completing your order and moving on to the checkout page like most other services.
2. Intuitive group ordering, which allows each person to place their own individual order. Once complete, each person can track it individually.
GrubHub rises above with its technology-driven approach.
They just recently launched their Ultimate technology, which paves the way for a more seamless experience all around, faster delivery times, less mistakes, and better communication between all parties involved.
The official press release describes it as a: “proprietary hardware and software solution that integrates all restaurant ordering channels into one system.” [4]
This will certainly up the ante in the delivery game for all players.
Their app also shines with its curbside pickup feature.
This allows customers to avoid both delivery fees and minimize face-to-face contact for the best of both worlds.
In terms of GrubHub vs DoorDash for overall delivery, we’d have to give the edge to GrubHub with their innovative solutions and superior speed.
DoorDash vs GrubHub: Who is Better Overall?
If we’re only looking at which of these top food delivery companies wins in more categories, the verdict here would be a tie, actually, with 3 category wins each.
In terms of a higher average rating, DoorDash just sneaks ahead with a 1/2 star higher overall rating.
The thing is, all of these criteria are really a matter of personal preference.
Some people think that having a large variety of options with a food delivery service is important, whereas others may only look at the cost difference.
And others just want to sign up with the best membership program and stick with one app without a delivery fee.
Our suggestion would be to choose which categories most appeal to your personal preferences and choose an experience to match that.
Take a peek at each category that’s important to you and use the information to guide your selection, although we still recommend trying them both!
GrubHub vs DoorDash FAQs
What’s the deal with the DoorDash vs GrubHub Reddit thread?
These promo codes are actually existing users posting their referral codes to gain account credit. The codes are valid and will work, but only for new users to the apps. Generally, we’d recommend using a coupon code that’s been verified by a site such as ours, as they are much more likely to be valid and currently working.
Can I try GrubHub and DoorDash with a discount the first time as a new user?
You sure can! We’ve got promo codes coming out of our ears for the best food delivery apps. Take a peek at the pro tips throughout this article for the codes to use for the proper apps.
Are GrubHub and DoorDash reliable?
While there are some negative reviews out there, the majority of users do report good reliability. Even the biggest food delivery companies have to retain recurring customers to make it, so handling issues well is an important aspect of their business model.
Resources
- DoorDash becomes the first food delivery app available in all 50 U.S. states (PR Newswire, Jan 2019)
- DoorDash now delivers from convenience stores nationwide (TechCrunch, April 2020)
- Ordering GrubHub using Amazon Echo (Gear Brain, March 2020)
- GrubHub launches Ultimate technology for restaurants (GrubHub, Jan 2020)
