We compare two of the most famous food delivery apps in the US on price, app layouts, customer support and more. With many restaurants limited to pickup and delivery in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats have become a particularly convenient method to grab some grub.
DoorDash and Uber Eats are currently the biggest food delivery services in the US. On the surface, the apps have similar features; they are both available in various cities, have thousands of restaurant options and, most importantly, allow you to order food directly from your phone.
I wish to find out how these apps compare not only for food delivery, but for equally essential, albeit less obvious features like price, app layout and customer service. To examine which food delivery app was the strongest overall, I ordered the same meal from both services and compared delivery prices at various times of the day.
Uber Eats or DoorDash: Which App is Cheaper? A Full Breakdown of Fees, Promos and Subscription Services
When I began comparing these apps, I was immediately curious whether one was more affordable than the other. DoorDash and Uber Eats charge a delivery fee, a service fee and, occasionally, a little order fee.
Delivery fees change with the time of day and the restaurant’s distance. DoorDash’s service fees are typically on the same par with 10 to 11% of the order subtotal, while Uber Eats‘ run as much as 15%. If your subtotal falls below a certain amount, you will be charged a small order fee of $2 to $3.
In my experience, DoorDash’s order minimum is lower than Uber Eats, but this differs by location. While I thought a lower service fee would make DoorDash consistently cheaper than Uber Eats, I was wrong.
When I ordered two California burritos from a local Mexican restaurant about 2 miles away, the final cost on DoorDash was $3 more than Uber Eats. Yet, prices fluctuate depending on the time of day, and I ordered my burritos within the nonpeak hours of 2 to 4 p.m., so I checked what they would’ve cost during the busier hours of lunch and dinnertime.
At lunch, Uber Eats was costlier than DoorDash because the delivery fee increased by $9, but at dinner, the delivery fee went back down, and DoorDash was the pricier option again.
DoorDash’s straightforward menu layout, individualised customer support, and frequent exclusion of the small order fee for one-person orders make it the app I use most.
Still, because it is hard to know which service will be cheaper once you start ordering for a group, I keep both downloaded and will opt for Uber Eats if it’s more affordable.
Costs also change with restaurant distance, so I checked what my total would have been if I ordered from a Mediterranean restaurant a half a mile away from me, and a Mexican restaurant 4 miles away from me.
If I ordered two falafels from the Mediterranean restaurant, DoorDash would have always been $5 more than Uber Eats, because Uber Eats has an exclusive 99-cent delivery fee for this restaurant.
As for ordering 2 burritos from the Mexican restaurant, DoorDash was only a little cheaper at non-peak hours and dinner time. Yet, at lunchtime, DoorDash was significantly less expensive than Uber Eats because its delivery fee was reduced by $4.
At the end of the day, there is not one service that’s consistently cheaper than the other. Prices change in unexpected ways depending on when you place your order and the distance to the restaurant. In addition, as the Uber Eats 99-cent delivery fee shows, both apps offer promotions that can end up making one a lot cheaper than the other.
If you are only ordering for yourself, DoorDash’s frequent exclusion of the small order fee will most likely make it the more affordable option. Once you begin ordering for more than one person, it is nearly impossible to know which app will be cheaper. I recommend keeping both apps downloaded and checking each before you order.
If you plan on using these apps frequently, both offer $10-a-month subscription services without delivery fees. DashPass from DoorDash gives members lowered service fees on orders above $12, while Eats Pass on Uber Eats offers a 5% markdown on orders above $15. Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get DashPass at no additional cost for two years.
DoorDash’s Menu Layout and Customer Support are Unmatched
When I first opened DoorDash and Uber Eats, they looked quite similar. The two have filter options at the top and icons to find specific items like fast food. As I started scrolling through restaurants, I liked how the thumbnails on Uber Eats gave plenty of information on pricing, type of food, and ratings without taking up too much of the screen.
In contrast, DoorDash just displays the restaurant name, delivery time and fee, only giving you enough information when scrolling down. However, any doubts I had about DoorDash’s interface were quenched by its user-friendly menu. Both use an infinite scroll with a navigation bar at the top, but DoorDash also allows you to switch into a category view that sorts items into groups like “Appetisers” and “Dinner.”
I am a fan of this option because I like how it allows me to quickly find items without having to scroll through the whole menu. I also appreciate that DoorDash offers more personalised customer service with phone numbers, live chat and a comprehensive FAQ page. While Uber Eats also answers many frequently asked questions, it does not have a chat option.
DoorDash and Uber Eats Have Nearly Identical Checkout Processes
After customising your order and adding it to your shopping cart, you may add specific drop-off instructions and can tip your driver during checkout or after the food has been delivered. Both services have received backlash over how they treat drivers’ tips, so one way to make sure your tip makes it to your driver is to place some cash at your doorstep.
Both take credit cards or Apple Pay for iOS users, while Uber Eats also takes Venmo and Uber Cash. DoorDash also accepts Google Pay if you use Android.
DoorDash and Uber Eats are also offering a no-contact delivery already in light of the pandemic.