Top 5 Food Delivery Services to Try

We’ve taken a closer look at the best food delivery services that promise to bring food to your doorstep at affordable prices.

The food delivery industry has seen major growth in sales amid the pandemic as people look for ways to avoid grocery shopping while social distancing. But even before the pandemic, food delivery services were popular. According to a report by eMarketer, over 40 million Americans used food delivery apps in 2019. But that number has risen significantly in recent years.

And as the food delivery service industry continues to evolve, we’re seeing new players coming in with innovative approaches to improve customer experience and grow their sales. That said, there are so many food delivery services in the market, and finding the right one can be time-consuming and overwhelming. For that reason, here’s our selection of 5 of the best food delivery apps in the market.

The Best Food Delivery Services In 2021

Instacart

Instacart is an excellent delivery app for individuals in need of groceries.

If you’re tired of fast foods and you want actual groceries, you might want to consider using Instacart. It has specialized in offer delivery services for groceries, household goods, and even alcohol.

This service works with over 20,000 retailers in North America and local stores, which offer ready-to-eat meals. Instacart has the option of delivering the items you’ve ordered straight to your doorstep. And recently, it introduced a new drop-off feature as a way to minimize contact between you and the person delivering the groceries.

For immediate delivery, sign up for an Instacart Express membership for $9.99 a month.

Pros

Its service extends beyond fast food and groceries
Its membership option offers faster deliveries
Extensive inventory of grocery stores

Cons

Service charges tend to add up
Sometimes it’s hard to get time slots

Grubhub

Grubhub is arguably one of the best food delivery services on our list. It’s available in about 4,000 US cities and London.

This delivery service partners with over 300,000 restaurants from neighborhood mom-and-pop diner to national chains to provide customers a wide selection of food that can satisfy their cravings.

Grubhub comes with an easy-to-use interface. Customers can easily search for restaurants based on their desired cuisine or location. Also, they can quickly order food from the menu and track their order via the app, without incurring extra fees. However, some restaurants might have minimum orders and additional fees.

As a Grubhub user, you can order food delivery and takeout while taking advantage of special offers and discounts available only within the application.

Grubhub delivery instruction box allows users to inform drivers where to leave the meal if they wish for no-contact delivery. This app is free for use to anyone, but if you sign up for Grubhub+ you’ll pay a subscription of $9.99, which allows you to enjoy free delivery.

Pros

Supports a variety of payment options
Delivers food to national restaurant chains as well as local restaurants
Discounts may be available

Cons

Services from some restaurants include delivery fees

DoorDash

DoorDash is an amazing food delivery service. Just like Grubhub, it runs in 4,000 cities across North America, Australia, and Canada.

It has a wider inventory of cuisines, including sushi and a variety of fast food. The DoorDash app allows easy ordering and tracking of the food. It also allows users to select their pickup location or schedule their deliveries for convenient times.

The app integrates “Yum Score”, which rates food quality and how efficient restaurants work with DoorDash to get your food out quickly. This comes in handy, especially if you want your meal delivered nice and hot.

What’s even better, this app allows its users to make orders for alcohol and mixers from local wine and liquor stores. And just like Grubhub, you can use the DoorDash instruction box to specify where you want your meal dropped off for contact-free delivery. A DoorPass subscription for $9.99 a month will allow you to save on delivery fees.

Pros

Features an incredible recommendation engine that allows uses to discover restaurants
Works with numerous national chains and local eateries
DashPass monthly subscription reduces fees charged for the service

Cons

Delivery fees might vary
Its reach is still limited unlike Grubhub

Seamless

Seamless is another great food delivery service that’s run by the same company that runs Grubhub. It has a huge inventory of cuisines and restaurants, with a full-menu option and with no additional charges.

Just like DashDoor and Grubhub, Seamless comes with $9.99 monthly memberships for individuals who want to save on delivery costs. However, using the app is free.

Through the app, you can search by food or location, and have your meal delivered to your home or at your place of work. Additionally, you can arrange to have your food ready for pickup.

Seamless has extensive coverage in New York, though it’s available in other US cities. It partners with both local and national chain restaurants to offer its users a wide selection of food on the go.

Pros

Wide coverage
Works with neighborhood restaurants and big chain restaurants
Users enjoy multiple paying methods

Cons

Some restaurant may charge delivery fees
Limited in certain US regions

Uber Eats

Are you an Uber user? Then Uber Eats is the best delivery service for you. It’s an extension of the popular ride-sharing app. With the help of the Uber Eats app, you can easily and quickly search for your favorite restaurant and uncover new food places in your area.

After finding your restaurant., you can place an order for immediate or scheduled delivery. Also, you can track your order in real-time via the app.

Customers can pay for their orders via a credit card or their Uber credits. And that’s not all, within Uber Eats you can tip the person delivering your food and leave delivery instructions for contact-free food delivery.

Another perk of Using Uber Eats is that you can order food from across major cities all over the world. And if you sign up for Eat Pass for $9.99 per month, you will enjoy free delivery as well as a 5% discount on every order that’s over $15. Uber Eats app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Pros

Features real-time delivery tracking
Allows cashless payments
In some cities, it’s integrated with Uber.

Cons

Has a 15% service fee that is charged to restuarants

Finding the Best Food Delivery Service

When searching for the best food delivery services, there are a few considerations you must keep in mind. First, check if the delivery service charges extra fees. But remember, many delivery fees vary depending on the restaurant you ordered food from.

Second, determine how long you want to use the service. If it’s for a long period and frequently, it’s wise to check out their monthly subscription program. By signing up for these programs, you can clear any delivery charges and reduce any additional fees. In the case of Instacart delivery service, a membership or subscription program will mean faster delivery.

Finally, your order determines the service you will use. Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash are ideal for meals from restaurants, while Instacart is perfect for groceries.