If you’re not sure what to order for dinner and the idea of going out sounds like too much of a hassle, food delivery services have become a popular way to grab a quick and convenient meal. The COVID-19 pandemic also brought delivery to the forefront of the economy so that using such services were seen as commonplace, rather than a luxury. The best food delivery apps make it easy to order exactly what you want and have it appear right at your door in a short amount of time.
More and more Americans are turning to convenience for meals. A survey of 2,000 Americans uncovered how people’s relationship with cooking has evolved since early 2020. Results show that people want to spend less than 25 minutes cooking a meal, from prep to ready time, but many take about an hour to prepare one meal. That’s why more than one-third feel their patience in the kitchen is at an “all-time low” (39%). If you are among those who are over cooking every night, using delivery apps may be perfect for you!
Make sure to tip your driver! According to a poll of more than 500 delivery drivers commissioned by Circuit Route Planner, 73% say the biggest reason they don’t like their customers is because they give bad tips. Eight in 10 food delivery workers even admit to eating part of their customer’s order. Tipping your driver is a polite way to thank them for their service and care in delivering your order safely.
Feeling hungry? StudyFinds researched and compiled a list of the best food delivery apps, ranging from fully prepared meals to groceries and convenience. Have a favorite of your own? Let us know which app is your go-to in the comments below!
The List: Best Food Delivery Apps, According to Experts
1. Doordash
Doordash is arguably the most popular food delivery service, with thousands of locations across the country. You can order from both your favorite restaurants and a selection of liquor stores, convenience stores, and other retailers. “Customers can use DoorDash for more than meals, and the company also delivers from a variety of retailers including pet stores, gas stations, drug stores and supermarkets,” says US News.
Once you order, it’s easy to track your order or even schedule an order to be placed automatically ahead of time. Doordash offers DashPass, a membership subscription service for $9.99 a month that saves regular users money on fees. “DoorDash features easy ordering (including quick reordering of your favorites), with options to track your delivery, pick up your food or schedule your deliveries for the most convenient times,” writes Tom’s Guide.
For those with particular taste, CNET describes how it works: “A menu of icons at the top of the screen let you search by type of food (burgers, Mexican, sandwiches and so on) or by rating level, price level, delivery in under 30 minutes or vegetarian options.”
2. Uber Eats
Uber’s food delivery service has carved out a name for itself in most major cities by now, merging the rideshare and food delivery apps into the same platform. “Uber Eats has more than 320,000 restaurant partners in more than 500 cities globally. The app sorts restaurant choices based on your previous orders, but you can also sort by most popular, highest rating, price range, delivery time, delivery fee and dietary needs,” says CNET.
You can track your order once you’ve placed it relatively easily within the Uber app, much in the same way you would track a ride. View your driver in real time on a map and the estimated arrival time. You can also communicate with your delivery driver directly through the app. “After ordering, I received notifications every step of the process,” writes a reviewer from Kiplinger. “I could text or call the delivery person through the in-app system and track their movement through the in-app map. While the delivery was estimated to take 40 to 50 minutes, the order came in 30 minutes.”
One tech expert on U.S. News notes, “‘they provide prompt service and are quick to refund money if there are any problems. ‘I love the tipping feature that’s baked in,’ he says. This allows customers to tip in the app, either before or after the delivery is made.”
3. Grubhub
Grubhub is one of the oldest food delivery apps on the market, and also offers catering for larger orders or events. “The GrubHub app was launched in 2004,” says Net Solutions. “Arriving early in the game allowed the company to set up a wide range of partnerships, and just like with Uber, market dominance helped maintain their success.”
Grubhub has the most extensive selection of restaurants to choose from for both pickup and delivery options. “Featuring over 320,000 restaurants in 4,000 cities across the country, Grubhub provides an extensive selection of choices for both takeout and delivery,” writes Healthline.
CNET gets down to the nitty-gritty of how to order: “You can search by type of food, and sort results by price, rating, distance, delivery time, and delivery fee. If you tap the My Grubhub option, you’ll see daily deals and past orders.”
4. GoPuff
GoPuff is a newer service on the scene and is organized a bit differently. “While many of the food-delivery apps work as a middleman between restaurants and customers, goPuff operates more like a digital convenience store,” remarks Digital Trends.
GoPuff can be used to order anything from toilet paper to coffee or even vaporizers, depending on what you need. “What goPuff does is essentially removing the middleman from the retail product delivery service,” writes AppsHive. “They store the commodities in their local facility and create the parcel and deliver themselves quicker and more personalized as per your order.”
Healthline names it the best for late night cravings. “GoPuff is one of the few food delivery services that offers 24-hour delivery in most major markets. You can order just about everything from your favorite shops at any time, including foods, drinks, household essentials, medications, and more.
5. InstaCart
InstaCart is the largest delivery service of groceries. You can choose from any of the supermarkets you already shop at, make your shopping list, and send it off through the app. You will be assigned a personal shopper who will go to the store to grab your items and deliver them to you. “Get thousands of groceries and other essential products from stores you already shop at delivered straight to your door via same-day delivery,” says Urban Taste Bud.
The app can charge significant fees, but also offers a membership subscription for free delivery and reduced fees for those who get their groceries delivered often. “Delivery starts at $3.99 for orders over $35, but fees for 1-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, or orders under $35 can vary. Delivery is also free on orders over $35 for members of Instacart+, which costs $9.99 monthly or $99 per year,” notes Healthline.
“The app connects you to over 20,000 retailers across North America, including well-known names such as Safeway, Publix, Wegmans, Costco, and more,” writes Knock Around. “These deliveries can include ready-made meals. You can also use Instacart to order from specialty shops, pet stores, and pharmacies such as CVS.”
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Sources:
- US News
- Tom’s Guide
- Kiplinger
- CNET
- Net Solutions
- Healthline
- Digital Trends
- AppsHive
- Urban Taste Bud
- Knock Around
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.