According to the company website, GrubHub (GH) has over 225,000 restaurant partners spread across 4,000 cities in the United States. That's a whole lot of restaurant options when it comes to getting food delivered to your door at any time of day or night.
GrubHub follows the same model as the other best food delivery apps. It connects customers, restaurants, and drivers to promote a mutually beneficial relationship. A business gets orders, a driver can make a little money, and a hungry person gets food.
If you have GrubHub in your area, you may be wondering how to use it and if it's worth it. This review will tell you how to place an order step-by-step as well as the pros and cons of the service.
GrubHub At A Glance
- Best Match For: Those wanting to explore new local restaurants or order food from popular places in the area.
- Commitment Level: No commitments - Order at any time; Grubhub+ membership
- Availability: Over 300,000 available restaurants in more than 4,000 US cities
- Value: Prices depend on select restaurants; Service fee up to 5.25%; Delivery fee for some locations or restaurants; Small order fee for orders under $10
- Type: A food delivery app with a vast network of partnering restaurants
How GrubHub Works
GrubHub began in 2004 when the founders decided they were tired of using paper menus to place takeout orders. Now, the app allows you to place orders for both pick-up and delivery. It's extremely convenient if your favorite place to eat doesn't typically offer delivery.
When you review the app, you see all of your local places on one platform. Despite the multitude of options, the experience of placing an order is simple. You can find items from local businesses, fast food companies, diners, chains, and whatever else you're into.
Placing an Order
You can use GrubHub with in-app or online ordering. Either way, the process is the same.
First, select "create your account" when you open the platform.
Make a profile with your email, name, and password. Then, you can enter your location so the system can pull up the restaurants in your area for your review.
As you scroll through your choices, you will see information for each place such as the average customer rating, pricing, and photos.
You'll also see the distance it is away from you and an estimated delivery time.
When you pick a place to get a meal from, you can click to see their full menu.
If you know what you're in the mood to eat, you can sort your dinner options by category. GrubHub has sorting features by reviews, price, and relevance as well as filters such as type of cuisine and location. For example, you may want to filter your selection by an item like "ice cream," " cheese pizza" or "soda."
Add anything you like to your order and hit "proceed to checkout" when you're ready to review it. You'll see the total cost of your order plus any applicable fees, such as a service fee or delivery fee. To pay, you can use Paypal, a credit card, or a few other options. You'll get a confirmation to your email or phone number when they process your order.
If you know what you're in the mood to eat, you can sort your dinner options by category.
GrubHub has sorting features by reviews, price, and relevance as well as filters such as type of cuisine and location. For example, you may want to filter your selection by an item like "ice cream," " cheese pizza" or "soda."
Add anything you like to your order and hit "proceed to checkout" when you're ready to review it.
If you know what you're in the mood to eat, you can sort your dinner options by category. GrubHub has sorting features by reviews, price, and relevance as well as filters such as type of cuisine and location. For example, you may want to filter your selection by an item like "ice cream," " cheese pizza" or "soda."
Add anything you like to your order and hit "proceed to checkout" when you're ready to review it. You'll see the total cost of your order plus any applicable fees, such as a service fee or delivery fee. To pay, you can use Paypal, a credit card, or a few other options. You'll get a confirmation to your email or phone number when they process your order.
GrubHub+ Review
If you enjoy the delivery service from GrubHub, you can sign up for their monthly membership program. The program allows users to get $0 delivery fees on applicable orders. As a member, you just have to find the GrubHub+ badge next to a restaurant's name and get your fee waived with no promo code.
What You Can Expect
After you place your food orders, you can sit back and relax knowing your meals are on the way. Both the app and site allow you to track your delivery as it is being prepared and as the delivery person is approaching your home or office. You also get notifications every step of the way. If you have a pick-up order, you will get a message when it's ready.
You have the ability to contact either the restaurant or your driver about your order. The delivery driver can also call or text you if need be. Once they arrive, they will drop your order off at your door for contactless service or you can meet them. It's a great option for no-contact food delivery services.
When you checkout, you will see the choice to tip electronically or with cash. If you give an electronic tip, you can adjust it after you get your food as well as rate and review the service. If you have any delivery issues, you can chat with customer support for assistance.
GrubHub for Drivers
For many people, becoming a driver and making deliveries is an opportunity to earn a side income and work on their own schedule. To become a driver, you submit a background check and your personal information and get the app for drivers. A typical trip would go something like this:
After dropping it off, you will mark the order as complete and review the customer if you wish. Drivers can also access customer service if there are any problems, and they see their earnings at the end of each day and cash out to a bank account.
As an independent employee, driving for the company can be a fun way to explore the neighborhood while getting revenue. You can set your own hours and enjoy the ease of working from your vehicle.
Delivery
GrubHub is available in over a thousand cities in the US. To find out if there is service in your area, enter your zip code into the app or website.
Your individual delivery experiences will depend on your location, driver, and ordering time. During peak times such as a lunch rush, it may take longer to get your food due to traffic.
When you set your address, you can include special instructions for your driver that will help reduce any drop-off problems. GrubHub makes communication a priority, so the process is straightforward and handy.
Since the COVID 19 pandemic, the company has an option for contact-free drop-off where you won't interact with your driver. Make sure you account for this type of drop-off if you typically use cash tips.
It's important to account for a potential delay or situations that may extend your delivery time. If you have a problem or question, call or message customer service or leave a review.
FAQS
Generally, GrubHub has average ratings on many different sites. As there are many moving parts to the system, it is possible to have an issue with the restaurant, driver, or app. However, the response from their customer service team is usually quick, and someone will try to correct your complaint.
The platform is easy to use and there is a wide variety of available products. Once you use the service a bit, you will get recommendations on a new establishment to try when you log in. The available dishes depend on your area, so major cities will often have the most amount of partners.
In terms of the food, GrubHub has no control over the quality. However, you can view GrubHub reviews and thoughts from other users of every restaurant before you make a purchase.
If you live in areas with both of these companies, then deciding between the two can be a challenge. Since the services are similar, the decision may come down to convenience and the availability of deals. The differences include:
- GrubHub is more widely available
- GrubHub does not usually have a service fee like DoorDash, but they do have order minimums
- DoorDash has a longer free trial period for its premium membership
- DoorDash makes group ordering easy
- Both have easy to use platforms
Overall, both have benefits and drawbacks to every user, so it's up to you to pick your preference. Both services offer frequent discounts and promotions for new users.
Grubhub gets a lot of bad reviews for high delivery fees, long wait times, and driver incidents. Many customers often switch to other food delivery apps like Postmates, DoorDash, and UberEats.
No, Grubhub drivers don’t steal food. If a driver gets reported taking an order, their account can be deactivated. For most drivers, it’s not worth it to take someone’s food and lose their account.
Customers pay fees to cover the cost of Grubhub because many of Grubhub’s operations happen without the consent of the restaurant. The delivery fees also cover paying the driver and the cost of the service.
No, Grubhub does not cover gas. However, the service accounts for mileage in the pay offered to drivers for each trip.
Per delivery, Grubhub pays drivers $4 to $8 depending on location. The drivers also get tipped based on the cost of the order. Hourly, most Grubhub drivers make $11 to $20.
Yes, Grubhub drivers can see how much you tip before they accept your delivery. The tip amount can often affect whether they accept your order.
If a restaurant is busy, Grubhub may mark it as closed. If the restaurant does not mark the order accepted on the tablet, Grubhub will call the restaurant. If no one answers, Grubhub will mark the place as closed.
If no drivers accept your Grubhub order, Grubhub will cancel it and contact you. If the restaurant already made the food, Grubhub will pay them for it.
There are several conditions that make Grubhub take a while to deliver. There may be terribly bad weather, no drivers, bad traffic, or a complex order that takes time to prepare. When that happens, the delivery will take longer than expected.
You can use Grubhub without paying a monthly fee. However, you can join Grubhub+ for $9.99 per month to get 10% cash back and unlimited free delivery if you use the service frequently.
According to the Grubhub site, the delivery range cannot be wider than a 70-mile radius for the restaurant. Their radius is a larger service area than most other food delivery services.
No, Grubhub drivers do not get paid hourly. They are paid based on each delivery and tips. Some drivers can make up to $30 per hour, while others may average $10 per hour.
It can be worth it to be a Grubhub driver if you make decent tips. Your pay from Grubhub does not account for wear and tear, gas, or vehicle maintenance.
No, Grubhub does not keep track of mileage. You are responsible for tracking your mileage for tax purposes.
Yes, Grubhub pays more than DoorDash on average. However, DoorDash is usually the busier of the two apps.
You can work as many hours for Grubhub as you want. On average, drivers drive four hours per day 5-7 days per week.
No, Grubhub does not take tips from drivers. However, many delivery drivers complain about the low base pay for each delivery.
Yes. Drivers work for low rates and rely on tips for the bulk of their income. Additionally, drivers can see the total payout before they accept your order. A low tip may result in drivers skipping your order.
Grubhub does deliver in snow, but it may take much longer to get your order. There will likely be fewer drivers delivering and longer wait times for the ones who are.
Yes, Grubhub can fire a driver and deactivate their account if they violate Grubhub’s terms. If a driver receives continuous low ratings or has an acceptance rate below 75%, they can get fired.
Yes, Grubhub has a minimum acceptance rate. Drivers must accept 75% of orders while online, and they need to make it to the restaurant before the cutoff time.
Many people often complain about Grubhub showing up late to the restaurant or the drop off location. There are many reasons your Grubhub order may be late.
For Grubhub, drivers are paid Delivery Pay + 100% of tips for every order delivered. Delivery Pay is calculated by the distance of the restaurant from the driver.
Yes, you can pay cash with Grubhub. However, not every restaurant will accept cash. Other accepted payment methods include Apple Pay, Android Pay, PayPal, eGift cards and credit cards.
Restaurants can set their own minimum order amount on Grubhub if they wish, and many restaurants set it to $0. However, if you place an order under $10, you’ll have to pay a $2 small order fee.
As you scroll through Grubhub, searching for a restaurant option to order from, you'll come across the delivery fees. Grubhub’s delivery fee is a set fee designed to cover the company’s cost of operations. It is separate from the driver’s tip.
Yes. Usually, you can only order from restaurants in a certain radius from you. However, a driver may receive offers for deliveries where the restaurant is outside of their usual delivery area.
Grubhub uses a formula to calculate the delivery fee that includes distance and time of the trip. There are occasional bonuses for drivers who meet certain milestones.
Yes, you can change your Grubhub delivery area or apply to new areas if you change cities or states.
Yes, delivering for Grubhub can be a great way to make extra money on the side. Some drivers even opt to drive for the service full time.
In certain markets, Grubhub offers a guaranteed hourly pay. Even if you don’t get deliveries, you will still make the minimum hourly wage for driving.
You should tip Grubhub drivers 15 to 20% of your order total, as they rely on tips for the bulk of their income. If the driver is driving in harsh conditions or during peak hours, you should tip more.
Yes, you can reactivate your account if you were a previous Grubhub partner by filling out the reactivation form on their website.
You can submit a request to Grubhub to delete all of your personal information. This will get rid of your account information and order history.
To remove your number from Grubhub, go to your online account and select "Address and phone" from the menu. You can edit, add, or delete your information from here.
No, you are not required to wear the Grubhub shirt and hat. However, wearing one or both can help restaurants and customers easily identify you. You are required to use an insulated bag to keep the food warm.
No, you cannot use your Grubhub card for personal use.
Grubhub drivers get about 15 minutes to accept an order offer before the offer goes to a different driver.
Yes. Grubhub uses your acceptance rate to determine your level in their driver recognition program. If you have an acceptance rate over 95%, you can access the Premier tier.
Grubhub charges a delivery fee to make up for the cost of their services. Because of Prop 22, it costs Grubhub more money to deliver in California. For that reason, the company makes up that money with a “Driver Benefits” fee.
The Grubhub delivery fee goes to the company to cover the cost of services, not the driver. The delivery driver receives the tip, so do not deduct the delivery fee from your tip amount.
Grubhub Costs
When you select a restaurant and the meals you want, Grubhub gives you your total. It can include standard prices, a service fee of up to 5.25%, a delivery fee, and/or a small order fee. Grubhub+ membership costs $9.99 per month, and it gets you free delivery on orders over $12 at eligible restaurants, access to exclusive deals, lower service fees, and more.
Food for Thought
In review, anyone can use this delivery service when they want to enjoy restaurant-quality meals without leaving the house. The platform updates frequently so there are plenty of new eateries becoming a partner regularly. If you order dinners and lunches often, it makes sense to join their membership program to waive the delivery charge.
These days, you have alot of choices when it comes to having a meal delivered. Postmates, UberEats, and DoorDash are only a few of the popular ones. Hopefully, this GrubHub review has made the decision easier. The perks from the company make it worth a try either way. Then, you can come up with your own rating for the service.
GrubHub meal delivery is most compatible with people looking to discover new restaurants in their city or support local businesses.
GrubHub