DoorDash vs. Uber Eats: Which Is the Better Food Delivery Service?

We live in the most convenient era in human history.

Using just a smartphone, you can connect with friends who live halfway across the world, hire a car to pick you up, and order almost anything you can think of to be delivered straight to your door.

All of that is amazing.

However, one of the best perks of living in the smartphone age is having easy access to food delivery apps.

It’s amazing that you can order from nearly any restaurant that you want and have a meal delivered to your door in less than an hour.

Of course, food delivery is nothing new.

For decades, you’ve been able to have pizza, Chinese food, and other meals from select restaurants delivered to your home.

However, these days it’s hard to find a restaurant that you can’t have delivered.

With on-demand delivery companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats, you have access to nearly every type of food you can imagine.

But, with so many online food delivery services available at your fingertips, how do you choose one?

Today, we’re sharing our full comparison of DoorDash vs. Uber Eats.

How do DoorDash and Uber Eats hold up in comparison?

Is one of them better than the other?

We’ve broken down everything from affordability for customers to potential earnings for workers.

Uber Eats vs DoorDash: At a Glance

DoorDash and Uber Eats are amongst the most popular food delivery options available today.

• Both offer on-demand service that’s accessible via smartphone app or desktop computer.
• Both show an estimated delivery time.
• Both apps have a simple ordering process – just add your credit card, delivery address, food order, and any special delivery instructions.

Both of these companies are growing at a rapid pace, too.

It’s no surprise, of course, that the general population has taken kindly to an influx of delivery options.

Due to growing demand, Uber Eats increased their revenue by more than 230% during the last year alone.

According to the company, their success can be attributed to an exponential growth in loyal customers.

DoorDash is doing even better.

As CEO and co-founder Tony Xu states in a recent press release, the company has grown by more than 250% year-over-year.

The PR goes on to say that the company is growing faster than any other business in their space.

So, it’s clear that both of these companies are going to be around for a while.

Now, revenue aside, it might appear that these two services are the same.

After all, if someone is going to deliver a burrito to your front door…who cares what service they work for?

Doesn’t an on-demand box of donuts taste just as good no matter which app you use to order it?

Well…yes.

Of course, a burrito or a donut is just as enjoyable whether you use DoorDash or Uber Eats to buy it.

However, there are a few key differences that are important to take note of.

1. City Availability

For example, Uber Eats is available in far more cities across the United States.

It’s available in other countries, too.

Currently, you can use Uber’s food delivery service in cities all over North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

The same can’t be said for DoorDash.

Currently, it’s only available in the US and Canada.

The company claims that they’ll be in 1,600 cities across North America by the end of 2018.

So, they could have plans to go international soon.

But for now, their service isn’t available anywhere else.

So, if you live in a place where DoorDash isn’t available, they can’t do much for you.

2. Customer Support

Another key difference is their approach to customer support.

At the moment, DoorDash doesn’t have a customer support line.

Instead, they encourage customers to contact them via the chat app on their website.

Uber Eats, on the other hand, is accessible by phone 24/7.

All you have to do is:

This difference might not seem like a big deal.

But, if you’re hungry and your order hasn’t shown up, it’s nice to be able to talk with support directly.

Which One is Cheaper?

Unfortunately, convenient food delivery comes at a price.

After all, both companies have to pay their delivery drivers to bring you freshly prepared food.

Both companies make money by charging customers a delivery fee for each order.

So, in addition to paying for the order itself, you’ll also have to fork up a few extra dollars to cover the cost of the service.

DoorDash, for example, charges a base delivery fee of $5.99.

This fee is higher in certain cities.

It also increases during busy hours (i.e. lunch and dinner time).

They also charge a service fee for when you order from certain restaurants.

If the restaurant is not an official DoorDash partner (or “Merchant”), they tack a few extra dollars onto the bill.

In other words, DoorDash orders can be expensive when delivering a low-cost meal.

When you order from an official Merchant restaurant, the fee is typically waived.

This helps them to promote their partnerships with specific restaurants.

Similar to the delivery fee, the service fee varies depending on the delivery time and time of day.

However, you can always expect to pay a few dollars more for a delivery person to drop off your food than if you just walked into the restaurant yourself.

Similarly, Uber Eats charges a variable delivery fee.

At one point in time, they charged a flat booking fee of $4.99 per order.

However, they eliminated that policy in mid-2018.

Now, the fee is determined by the distance between your location and your restaurant of choice.

In other words, the further a driver has to travel, the more you can expect to pay.

Typically, it ranges between $2 and $8.

Unlike DoorDash, Uber Eats doesn’t charge a service fee.

The total cost is determined by the cost of the food, the delivery fee, any surge prices, and applicable taxes.

Is DoorDash or Uber Eats cheaper?

Ultimately, it’s hard to determine which one is a better deal.

In both cases, the location and time of day impact the final bill.

However, DoorDash’s base delivery fee of $5.99 often makes Uber Eats the cheaper option.

DoorDash’s Subscription Service

One benefit of DoorDash is that they offer what they call DashPass, a subscription plan that grants customers free delivery and lower services fees on all orders over $15.

It only costs $9.99 per month and subscribers can opt out at any time.

If you think about it, $9.99 per month isn’t a bad price for unlimited free deliveries.

That means that you pay the same price you’d pay in-house.

But, you get to enjoy the meal in the comfort of your own home.

If an average delivery fee is $5.99, you only have to place two orders each month for your DashPass to pay for itself.

Of course, the DashPass isn’t for casual customers.

If you only order once every few months, it’s not worth your money.

But, if you’re constantly browsing the DoorDash app in search of your next meal, this could be a great way for you to save some cash.

Right now, Uber Eats doesn’t have a subscription plan.

However, there have been whispers that the company is currently testing a subscription plan.

According to an article published in The National Post, the plan would not only give subscribers free deliveries but would also grant them access to exclusive menu items and special offers at certain restaurants.

For the moment, Uber Eats fans will have to stand by while the company tests their new plan.

Anyone who wants to take advantage of a subscription-based food delivery service should opt for DoorDash instead.

Who Has Better Promotions?

Both companies have exclusive brand partnerships with different restaurants.

These partnerships have huge benefits for customers.

For example, it makes more sense to order Chipotle from DoorDash.

The two have an ongoing contract in which DoorDash handles all deliveries for more than 1,800 Chipotle locations across the U.S.

This partnership is great for customers because the two companies often offer special discounts.

DoorDash offered free delivery to all Chipotle customers who ordered through them several times throughout 2018.

They did something similar with Cheesecake Factory, another partner.

Everyone who used the app to order from Cheesecake Factory received free delivery.

Uber Eats, on the other hand, partners with fast food restaurants like White Castle and McDonald’s.

Right now, you can get $5 off your first McDonald’s order when you use Uber’s delivery service.

In the end, you should consider discounts and promotions when deciding which app to use.

If one of them offers a discount to the restaurant you’re ordering from, you’ll want to use that app.

You can stay updated with all the latest promotions by following the two companies on social media and checking the emails they send you.

---

How Much Do DoorDash and Uber Eats Charge Restaurants?

Both companies charge restaurants a fee to deliver for them.

Restaurants who opt in to paying the fee are listed as delivery options in the app.

DoorDash charges restaurants 20% per order, while Uber Eats charges them 30% per order.

As DoorDash points out on their site, it helps restaurants to do more business without hiring a delivery staff.

It also extends their reach to customers who might not order for them otherwise.

Therefore, these companies see themselves as providing a service to the restaurant and charge money for that service.

Some restaurant owners have spoken out against food delivery apps.

These folks refuse to work with any third-party delivery service because the high costs hurt their business.

For example, Michelle Gauthier, owner of Mulberry & Vine in New York City, recently told The New Yorker that her restaurant is “losing money on delivery orders, or, best-case scenario, breaking even.”

In the future, some restaurants may opt not to work with Uber Eats, DoorDash, or any other delivery service.

But, if there is a high enough demand for delivery and they’re pressured to work with any company, they’re likely to go with the least expensive option.

In other words, Uber Eats is at risk of losing customers to DoorDash because DoorDash charges smaller fees to restaurants.

So, even if your favorite restaurant works with Uber now, it may not be that way forever.

Small restaurants, in particular, might be forced to hear over to DoorDash instead.

How They Compare for Drivers

Both of these companies hire independent contractors to deliver for them.

Drivers are paid a certain amount for each order.

The exact pay rate varies depending on the time of day, location, and mode of transportation (car, bicycle, scooter, or walking).

Working for DoorDash or Uber Eats is a great way to earn extra money.

Many Lyft or Uber drivers find that driving during lunch or dinner helps them to further boost their earnings.

Some people deliver for both of these companies (as well as other competitors).

However, most people prefer one or the other.

Survey data from Indeed indicates that DoorDash drivers (or “Dashers”) earn a national average of $57,348/year, while Uber Eats drivers earn, on average, $49,086/year.

According to one Redditor who worked for both companies, DoorDash pays better in their area.

At one point, they worked for both services during the same shift.

On that shift, they made $36 with DoorDash while they made $32 with Uber Eats.

However, they admit that Uber Eats is much busier.

While DD pays more, they have a much smaller volume of customers.

Therefore, if you plan on getting a job with Uber Eats, you may be able to expect a more consistent flow of customers.

Additionally, the same Redditor notes that DoorDash requires their drivers to complete extra tasks.

For example, they’re responsible for calling in orders after the customer submits it through the app.

DoorDash also requires their drivers to pay for the order using a preloaded debit card.

In the end, this means that their drivers must spend extra time on each order.

Uber Eats is much simpler for drivers.

As the Redditor writes, “You just walk in with a name/order number and grab the food.”

Each driver has a different opinion about which company is a better employer.

Fortunately, you can sign up for both and try them out to see which one works better for you.

More importantly, new drivers should maximize their earnings by signing up with a DoorDash or Uber Eats driver referral code.

The Final Verdict

Ultimately, it’s hard to decide which of these two services is better.

No clear winner emerges from the comparison.

They both have their own perks and downsides.

The best thing you can do is test them both out.

P.S. Get an exclusive Uber Eats and DoorDash promo code here to maximize your savings.

Scan through the menus on each app and see which restaurants they work within your area.

When you choose a restaurant, order through the app that delivers for that restaurant.

Then, order from the other one next time you’re eating out.

Over time, you’ll start to get an idea of which service is better for you.

Either way, it’s important to remember that your favorite food is being delivered straight to your door.

So they’re both pretty great.