The Definitive Guide to Deliveroo, the U.K. Food Delivery Service

There was a time when food delivery was synonymous with pizza joints, Chinese takeout, and…not much beyond that.

If you didn’t feel like getting off the couch, you’d either have to go with one of these options, rummage through the pantry, or suck it up and make the trek out to pick up food from a restaurant.

Luckily, the times have changed and you can now get nearly every cuisine delivered right to your door. With the ever-increasing popularity of on-demand food delivery services, you now have the power of thousands of restaurants that will deliver to your location, all in the palm of your hand.

Today we’re going to tell you a little bit about the British food delivery service Deliveroo that delivers delicious food right to your door. We’ll go over how it works, how much it costs, and how you can sign up to receive your first delivery.

Let’s jump right into this food delivery darling of the gig economy.

What Is Deliveroo?

Deliveroo is an on-demand food delivery service that employs a fleet of drivers that deliver restaurant orders right to your door. Instead of going directly to the restaurant, you can receive delivery from thousands of restaurants by only paying a small fee.

The company is the brainchild of founder and CEO Will Shu. In 2013, Shu moved to London from New York City and found that it was extremely difficult to receive restaurant delivery while he was at work. Instead of sulking in frustration, Shu saw an opportunity to roll out the restaurant delivery concept in the United Kingdom, leading to the development of Deliveroo.

The company now provides speedy and reliable delivery in 14 countries and has experienced revenue growth of over 650 percent year over year. By partnering with some of the best restaurants and franchises in the world, Deliveroo continues to grow and expand its footprint in the restaurant delivery game.

How Does Deliveroo Work?

The way it works is simple — a customer browses restaurants on the Deliveroo mobile app, they place their order, which is then prepared by the restaurant, and then drivers bring the order to the customer’s location.

Once customers place their order, restaurants immediately start preparing their food. Deliveroo delivery drivers — called delivery riders — are then notified with the best time frame to arrive at the restaurant to pick up the food.

Throughout the delivery process, customers are able to track their delivery in real time and are updated every step of the way. You’ll be given notifications as to when your order is being prepared, when it is en route to your location, and when it has arrived at your door.

Deliveroo prides itself in having advanced its delivery algorithm to ensure customers quickly receive fresh, hot food and that delivery drivers can maximize their earnings and are rarely waiting around at pick-up locations.

As for which restaurants are available, you’ll find quite the range of options. Everything from high-quality sit-down restaurants to reputable fast food joints are on the menu for you to choose from. This includes a late night snack of fried chicken from KFC to some lunchtime burritos from the local Mexican restaurant.

Now that you have a general idea of what Deliveroo is all about, let’s take a look at how much it costs.

How Much Does Deliveroo Cost?

If you’d like to use the service, you’ll be required to pay a small delivery fee. The amount of this service fee varies but is generally around £3 to £4.

The delivery fee is a calculation that depends on factors like the distance driven from the pick-up location to the drop-off point, the time it takes to deliver the order, and the time of day the order is placed.

You also should remember to account for a tip to your delivery driver. Tips are not mandatory but are surely appreciated from the hard working riders bringing you your food. You can add on a tip amount when checking out. Initially, the default tip is set to £0, but you’ll be able to tip in increments of £1. You can also decide to tip cash when your rider arrives in person.

Before getting too far ahead of yourself, let’s first see if your region is even covered by the app’s service.

Where Is Deliveroo Available?

Deliveroo is based out of London and is most prevalent across the United Kingdom. Beyond the U.K., the company has also expanded into 13 additional countries, including seven other European markets. It isn’t available in the United States.

Don’t fret if you’re an American sitting stateside and feeling a little let down that you won’t be able to receive Deliveroo delivery. You still have a handful of familiar delivery options that can save the day. Among these delivery apps are Grubhub, Seamless, DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Caviar. If interested, make sure to tap on one of the links for our overview of each delivery option along with some discount codes.

For those of you who are located elsewhere, here’s the list of the international markets the service is currently operating in:

• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Kuwait
• United Arab Emirates
• Taiwan
• Netherlands
• France
• Belgium
• Ireland
• Germany
• Spain
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• Australia

If Deliveroo is available in your country, let’s get you set up with your account.

Sign Up for Deliveroo

Signing up for this food delivery app takes only a few minutes. To sign up, you simply need to provide an email address and have a valid form of payment to complete your order.

If you’d like to sign up now, you can head to this page and provide your email address to get started. You can then place your order on the website or you can opt to download the Deliveroo app, which can be downloaded at the App Store and on Google Play.

Before placing your first order, we recommend finding a valid promo code that you can use to save on your first order. To find out more on how you can save money, head to our overview of Deliveroo promo codes and other perks and discounts.

For some of you out there, instead of seeing an easy way to receive food delivered to your front door, you’re seeing dollar signs and an opportunity to make some cash delivering for the service.

Interested in Driving for Deliveroo?

Driving for Deliveroo is a great side hustle for those looking for flexible employment and extra income on the side. Not only are you able to fit work around your life, but drivers are also capable of making up to £120 a day, earning 100 percent of their tips, and have access to a referral program that pays up to £250 per referral.

If you decide to drive for them, you’ll be paid for each delivery you complete. Each delivery fare will vary depending on factors like the distance driven and the size of the order. After you rack up the deliveries, you’ll be able to be paid out once a week.

In order to become a driver, you must meet all of the requirements, which are as follows:

• Proof of your right to work in your country
• Own an iPhone 5 (iOS 10 and above) or an Android (5.0 and above)
• Own a car, bicycle, or scooter with the appropriate safety equipment
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Have no current or pending criminal convictions
• Automobile insurance and food delivery insurance where applicable
• Safety equipment, which can be found in the table below

If you have more questions regarding the Deliveroo rider requirements, you can head to the rider FAQ page for additional insight. If you think you’re ready to dive right in and do it, then tap this link to begin the application process.

Tasty Addition to Your Weekly Routine

Getting great food delivered right to your door is easier than ever. Food delivery apps are changing the way people eat on a day-to-day basis.

Knowing that you can get all the local haunts delivered to you, what’s on the menu tonight? Thai? Italian? Japanese?

Download Deliveroo to start exploring all the options you have right at your fingertips.