What is the Best Food Delivery App for a Restaurant?

Following the Covid pandemic, people have now adopted ordering food through food delivery apps as a standard practice. Industry data suggests that the food delivery as a service market is expected to grow by 31% between 2025 and 2029.

Approximately 72% of American adults use food delivery apps on a somewhat regular basis, with 28.2% of them ordering food through the various food delivery apps with a frequency of at least once a week. That means that more than 1 in 4 people in the U.S. are ordering food through these food delivery apps at least once a week.

Also of note: there is approximately a quarter (24.5%) of American adults who have never used a food delivery app and are an untapped market for restaurants.

Despite these positive trends, the available options for food delivery apps can be overwhelming. There are many different food delivery apps available, each with its own features and benefits, commission structures, and target markets.

Some food delivery apps are better suited for certain types of restaurants or locations, while others may not be as effective. This can make it difficult for restaurants to choose the right food delivery app for their needs.

With so many options to choose from, the current dilemma is not whether to join a food delivery platform, but which one suits your business.

In this introductory article to food delivery apps in the United States market, we will cut through the noise and see if we can get you on the right track. Based on our research of the problem, we will highlight your options based on actual data, allowing you to make an informed decision to answer the question: What is the best food delivery app for a restaurant?

Why Should a Restaurant Care About Food Delivery Apps?

Food delivery apps are necessary nowadays for restaurants. They are not merely a choice. They are an important source of income for your eatery.

Some restaurant owners may dislike third-party delivery platforms due to the commissions they charge. Others worry about brand control. Still, it's essential to recognize that delivery is crucial in today's market.

• 👉 Consumers now want to order their favorite meals with just a few taps on their phones. Therefore, if you don't have your restaurant listed on even one major delivery app, a significant portion of potential customers will be unable to see you.

• 🍔 A food delivery app lets your restaurant serve more than just in-person diners. Whether it's someone stuck at work, a family, or friends enjoying a rainy night at home, you're capturing opportunities that might otherwise slip away.

• ❌ If your competition is already using these food delivery apps, your restaurant not doing the same means giving them the customers.

• ✅ On the other hand, the right food delivery app choice can give you an advantage. Learn more about the different platforms that work well in your area and negotiate good deals that preserve your coach margins.

Once you know the market situation, you can make informed decisions that will enable you to increase sales.

Top 10 U.S. Food Delivery Apps for Restaurants (2025)

U.S. Food Delivery App Commission & Payment Overview (2025)

Key Takeaways:

• ✅ Most platforms charge a commission of around 15% to 30%.

• ✅ Big restaurants may get lower fees, while some platforms offer discounts for exclusive deals.

• ✅ To manage these costs, consider raising menu prices, utilizing special promotions, and encouraging more direct orders.

• ✅ Most platforms pay out earnings weekly, but some offer faster payouts for a fee.

U.S. Food Delivery App Market Penetration by Region (2025)

Key Takeaways:

• 🍔 DoorDash is the leading player, with a 60.7% market share. It suits places like suburbs and medium-sized towns.

• 🌮 Uber Eats is prominent in urban centers. They are now working with restaurants in the suburbs.

• 🍟 Food delivery apps like ChowNow, Slice, and BeyondMenu cater to niche markets.

• 🍕 Grubhub maintains a presence in legacy markets, where it was one of the early entrants and initially held a substantial market share, but has seen a decline in market share.

Pick a food delivery app by thinking about where your restaurant is, who your customers are, and what each food delivery app does well. This way, you reach more people and make more money.

Public Perception of Food Delivery Apps in the U.S. (2025)

There are many food delivery apps available today. Among them, DoorDash and Uber Eats are very popular. They have a large number of users and cover a wide geographical area. However, people have mixed feelings about their services.

Uber Eats is a well-known brand in cities, although online, people tend to have negative opinions about it. It is regarded as a large company that makes money at the expense of local eateries and riders. This attitude weakens consumers' trust in it.

DoorDash is more popular than others, but it faces complaints about its delivery service. They are believed to bring cold food or have irresponsible riders, as indicated by reviews on TikTok and Yelp. Thus, it delivers fast but does so sloppily, as per several such complaints. Some bad experiences can hence tarnish its image in this digital world, where peer reviewers abound.

Food delivery apps such as ChowNow and Slice are perceived positively due to their support for local businesses. ChowNow's system is free from commissions, thus attracting diners who care about ethical behavior. Slice sells itself as a defender of independent pizzerias, thereby creating an image of a David vs. Goliath narrative that appeals to consumers who dislike impersonal services from large food delivery apps.

Furthermore, the users' consideration is crucial. Food delivery apps are a brand and like any brand, a negative public perception can increase the likelihood of the erosion of user trust and use of the food delivery app. Users want good food delivery apps and foreign brands as well. Therefore, restaurant owners should evaluate food delivery apps in terms of both financial benefits and scope. Additionally, they need to consider the image of their brands in the minds of their customers.

What Food Delivery Apps Offer Restaurants in 2025

In 2025, food delivery apps will have more functions to help restaurants. Some of this additional functionality includes dashboards, promotional tools, loyalty programs and much more.

Let's look at some in particular:

1. Data Dashboards and Sales Analytics

DoorDash and Uber Eats give real-time data to restaurants. Owners can use this information to:

• ✅ Track which dishes are selling best.

• ✅ View peak ordering hours.

• ✅ Analyze customer satisfaction and delivery performance.

• ✅ Adjust menu items or pricing based on performance.

Uber Eats uses data to suggest price changes and show menu trends. This helps restaurants stay ahead.

2. Advertising and Promotion Tools

Food delivery apps have become their own marketing platforms as well. DoorDash and Uber Eats have:

• ✅ Sponsored listings to increase visibility in the app.

• ✅ In-app promotions and discounts to attract new customers.

• ✅ Tools to schedule and A/B test special deals or campaigns.

These tools assist in creating demand, especially when business is slow, or to draw attention to new menu items.

3. Custom Ordering Systems

Some services, such as ChowNow, allow restaurants to accept orders through:

• ✅ The restaurant's own website instead of the ChowNow app itself

• ✅ The Instagram, Facebook, and Google listings of the restaurant

Why should a restaurant owner care whether an order comes through a food delivery app instead of their restaurant's website or Facebook page? Access to customer data is today's gold rush, whether we like that or not. A restaurant that only has visibility into customer information that a food delivery app allows them access to means that the restaurant continues being one-step removed from any long-term, meaningful relationships between the restaurant and the customer.

By establishing a direct relationship with a customer, the restaurant can continue to thrive even as food delivery apps come and go.

4. Loyalty and CRM Features

Slice helps local pizzerias by giving them useful tools to.

• ✅ Build and manage loyalty programs.

• ✅ Send automated emails to repeat customers.

• ✅ Track customer ordering history for personalized marketing.

These features are essential for building customer loyalty over time.

5. POS Integration and Operational Tools

Apps like Slice and DoorDash are now working with POS systems to.

• ✅ Sync orders with your existing POS.

• ✅ Generate sales and tax reports automatically.

• ✅ Streamline kitchen prep workflows.

This makes it easier for restaurants to manage both in-house and delivery orders.

6. Access to Market Trends and Insights

Food delivery apps like Postmates and Instacart can provide valuable market insights for local restaurants. This information can be used to:

• ✅ Launch localized promotions.

• ✅ Bundle food items with relevant drinks or snacks.

• ✅ Identify new products based on customer preferences.

7. Advertising and Sponsored Content

Restaurants can advertise and sponsor posts using apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash. The options include:

• ✅ Sponsored positions at the top of search results.

• ✅ Targeted ads to specific customer groups.

• ✅ Sponsored banners or notifications.

Thus, restaurants can also pay for visibility in fiercely contested delivery areas.

Support for Restaurants Using Delivery Apps

Food delivery apps, such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, offer varying levels of support to their partner restaurants. DoorDash and Uber Eats offer phone support, live chat, and email support.

DoorDash offers a Fast Pay feature that enables quick payments.

Uber Eats pays weekly and tries to resolve issues using chat.

Grubhub is known for its fast Merchant Help Desk, offering phone and email support. Grubhub pays weekly or daily.

All three platforms solve payment issues quickly. Problems with orders are typically resolved through credits, refunds, or replacement orders. The restaurant partners are not unsupported when they face issues.

Some food delivery apps, such as Postmates (now part of Uber Eats) and Grubhub, offer detailed reports that track the performance of restaurant dishes and sales. This helps restaurants understand what customers like and what the current trend is. These apps not only deliver food but also provide valuable data, enabling restaurants to run their businesses more effectively. Support is generally available, but the wait time to speak with a representative may vary. This may affect restaurants that need quick solutions. In summary, support is detailed, but the speed of each app's customer service varies. Restaurants should consider this when choosing a delivery partner.

FAQs on Food Delivery Apps

1. How much are commission fees for DoorDash?

DoorDash charges restaurants commission fees between 15% and 30% per order, depending on the service plan and location.

2. How much are commission fees for Uber Eats?

Uber Eats' commission fees typically range from 15% to 30%, depending on the restaurant's agreement and service level.

3. How much do food delivery apps charge restaurants?

Food delivery apps typically charge restaurants commission fees ranging from 15% to 30% per order, varying by platform and plan.

4. Which food delivery app is best for restaurants?

The best food delivery app depends on location and individual needs, but DoorDash and Uber Eats are top choices due to their wide coverage and extensive service options.

5. Are food delivery apps bad for restaurants?

Food delivery apps can be costly due to high commission fees, but they offer valuable customer reach and convenience, despite potentially impacting profits.