Uber Eats vs DoorDash Compared: Which Is Better to Use?

Uber Eats Vs DoorDash [Side-By-Side]

Category	Uber Eats	DoorDash
Company Background	Started in 2014 in Santa Monica as UberFRESH. Became Uber Eats in 2018.	Began in 2013 in Palo Alto by Stanford students.
Service Availability	Operates across the US, offering food and alcohol delivery.	Similar US-wide availability, with food and alcohol delivery. No more foot deliveries since 2023.
Restaurant Partnerships	Expansive cuisine options, recent partnership with Domino’s Pizza.	Wide variety of cuisine, including specialty foods, partnerships with Little Ceasars Pizza and Blue Apron.
Pricing Structure	Various fees including service, delivery, small order fees, and optional busy fee. Pickup option to avoid delivery fees.	Charges expanded range fee, express fee, and regulatory response fee. Pickup option available.
User Interface	Seamless design with filters and personalized recommendations.	Straightforward UI, with category view and daily deals.
Delivery Time	Approximately 30-45 minutes, with the option for scheduled delivery.	Around 40 minutes on average, with scheduled delivery option.
Customer Service	Support via in-app page and social media. No direct phone line or live chat.	Superior customer support with hotline, email, and live chat.
Loyalty Programs	Offers promo discounts, up to 30% for new users, and Uber One membership.	Discounts for new customers, referral credits, and DashPass membership with exclusive offers.
Pros and Cons	Pros: Wide food options, easy app navigation, real-time tracking. Cons: Higher fees in suburban areas, surge pricing.	Pros: Extensive Dasher network, smooth app experience, better customer service. Cons: More extra fees, fewer promotions.
Overall Recommendation	Preferred for larger orders, offers various deals and promotions.	Better for small orders and nearby restaurants, generally cheaper in urban areas.

Company Backgrounds

Uber Eats started as an add-on service of the ride-hailing giant Uber. It went by the name UberFRESH when it first hit the food delivery scene in 2014 in Santa Monica, California.

It was such a hit it got its separate app and officially became Uber Eats in 2018.

Here’s how Uber Eats works:

1. Signing Up: Open the Uber Eats app or website and create an account. Then, input your location to see nearby restaurants.
2. Ordering: Scroll through the selections, pick your food, and hit the order button.
3. Payment: Pay through the app using your preferred method.
4. Preparation: The restaurant preps your meal once they receive your order.
5. Tracking: Track your order in real-time through the app.
6. Pickup and Delivery: Your delivery driver picks up your food and drops it off at your location.  
7. Rating: Rate your experience, leave feedback, and help your fellow foodies make delightful choices.

Meanwhile, DoorDash kicked off in 2013 in Palo Alto, California. Stanford students Tony Xu, Evan Moore, Stanley Tang, and Andy Fang secured funding for the app from Y Combinator, a US startup accelerator.

Bloomberg Second Measure’s data shows DoorDash gets 66% of the food delivery market. Uber Eats is a distant second with only 23%.

How DoorDash works is similar to Uber Eats’ business model. DashDoor drivers, aka Dashers, accept your delivery request through the Driver app.

They’ll check your details and specific delivery instructions to complete the drop-off.

Service Availability and Coverage

Uber Eats and DoorDash operate a network of delivery drivers totaling several hundred thousand.

Both food delivery services are available in numerous cities across the US. Aside from food, both offer alcohol delivery, provided you have proof of age. You can also find 24-hour deliveries through either app.

But there’s more good news for Uber Eats and DoorDash customers.

The companies have expanded to cover nationwide shipping. Several merchants have joined the food delivery services over the years.

Expect your order in a few days, but please note delivery dates aren’t guaranteed. Your food will be frozen or chilled, so ensure you’re home when your order arrives.

In other news, DoorDash has phased out foot deliveries in 2023. The platform now exclusively supports cars, motorcycles, and scooters.

That said, bicycles and e-bikes remain an option for short-distance orders in select cities.

Meanwhile, Uber Eats still allows walking couriers. But due to some algorithm changes, they get fewer deliveries these days. This recent update encourages couriers to bike to ensure faster delivery times.

Restaurant Partnerships and Variety

Both Uber Eats and DoorDash offer an expansive selection of cuisine. However, the availability of specific restaurants can differ based on your location.

You can order any food you can think of using either app. Yet, you have better luck finding specialty or niche food options with DashDoor.

The food delivery war continues, with Uber Eats and DoorDash competing for partnerships. New restaurants may appear on your homepage in the first few weeks.

Over the years, both companies have secured deals with food chain giants like McDonald’s and Starbucks. The Covid-19 crisis also saw an influx of smaller restaurants joining these platforms.

DoorDash teamed up with Little Ceasars Pizza in 2020 and Blue Apron’s Heat and Eat in 2023. Uber Eats recently partnered with Domino’s Pizza.

Remember, these companies previously shunned working with food delivery companies.

Pricing Structure and Fees

Besides your order subtotal, the cost of Uber Eats includes the following:

• Taxes: Applicable sales tax specific to your area
• Service Fee: A percentage of your food bill before discounts and promotions
• Delivery Fee:  A charge based on your location
• Small Order Fee: A fee set by the restaurant that applies to orders below a specific amount

Below are other optional fees:

• Busy Fee: An additional fee during peak hours when demand surpasses driver availability
• Changed Order and Cancellation Fee: An extra charge for disruptions after the driver has picked up your order
• Tip: The entire amount goes to your driver

Tipping the driver is a common courtesy. A 2023 survey found that people are most likely to tip for food delivery next to sit-down restaurants.

Do you want to avoid paying the delivery and service fees?

Here’s how: Order your food through the app and pick up the order instead. Don’t worry; you’ll still get updates while waiting.

Now, on to DoorDash.

Aside from the basics, the cost of DoorDash deliveries may cover the following:

• Expanded Range Fee: The extra amount you pay for long-distance deliveries
• Express Fee: Optional fee for guaranteed quick restaurant delivery
• Regulatory Response Fee: Fixed operational fees to comply with local regulations

With DoorDash, you can set your custom tip or choose from the default amounts on checkout.

In New York City, the tipping prompt for both Uber Eats and DashDoor appears after checkout.

User Interface and App Experience

Uber Eats has a seamless design from start to finish. Thumbnails offer info on food type, pricing, and ratings without overwhelming the screen.

Specify what you’re looking for to narrow your selections, and the app will show nearby options.

Or, you can filter your search by the following categories:

• User ratings
• Delivery time
• Price
• Dietary preferences (vegan, gluten-free, halal)

Also, you can find the closest restaurants on the in-app map if you prefer to pick up your order.

Uber Eats offers a personalized experience based on your previous orders and preferences. For instance, new Mexican restaurants may appear on your recommendations if you like to order tacos.

At check out, you can instruct the driver to drop your food at the door, meet you outside, or come to your doorstep.

Like Uber Eats, the DoorDash user interface is pretty straightforward. Only with DoorDash, you must scroll down to get more info.

You can switch your search to category view to find items without going through the whole menu. You can also look for daily deals near you.

The user experience is smoother with loading spinners embedded into list views. That means only portions of the screen will load instead of the entire page.

For your convenience, both apps offer several payment methods, including:

• Debit cards
• Credit cards
• PayPal
• Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo)
• Gift cards

You can download Uber Eats and DoorDash from Google Play or App Store. Both apps work on iOS and Android devices.

Delivery Time and Reliability

For Uber Eats, the typical waiting time is about 30–45 minutes. But you can receive your order in as fast as 15 minutes when ordering from nearby locations.

In comparison, the average delivery time for DoorDash is 40 minutes for restaurants farther afield. Meanwhile, you can expect your order in 16 minutes from places across the street.

Here’s a feature both apps share: scheduled delivery. You can set a desired date and time for delivery before placing your order.

Upon checkout, you can add delivery instructions and other helpful details. That way, your delivery partner can find you faster.

A heads-up: Tipping matters!

Delivery drivers may pass up on your order if tipping isn’t included. As a result, your food may sit longer in the kitchen.

Customer Service and Support

Uber Eats and DoorDash offer customer service through various channels.

With Uber Eats, you can access customer service using the in-app page or social media support. The Uber Eats Twitter page delivers quicker responses to customer inquiries.

Unfortunately, Uber Eats lacks customer support through traditional means. That means they don’t have a direct phone line or live chat.

Now, customer service is where DoorDash scores massive points.

The platform offers a better customer support system. It has a customer hotline, email support, and live chat.

Besides, the live chat option is available for extended hours. You can expect immediate assistance for urgent situations.

That said, customer experiences may vary depending on location, individual cases, and specific issues encountered.

Loyalty Programs and Promotions

You can get loyalty rewards and promo discounts from both apps.

How to Get Discounts and Rewards from Uber Eats

New users can grab up to 30% discount on their first order. Relax—you won’t miss out if you’re an existing customer.

Daily promo codes are available for all on news portals and discount platforms like Groupon.

You can apply an Uber Eats promo code in the payment section. You can’t stack codes, but you can mix them with available credits, special deals, and other discounts.

Meanwhile, Uber One members can get up to 10% discount from participating restaurants. That’s on top of unlimited free delivery!

How to Get Discounts and Rewards from DoorDash

There are many ways to get free DoorDash.

For starters, new customers can enjoy free delivery on orders over $15.

The referral program is another way to get discounts. You can earn bonuses by inviting new customers to the platform.

Here’s how to qualify for referral credits:

• Your referrals must sign up using your unique link.
• Their first order should meet the minimum basket subtotal.

After a successful referral, enjoy the credits on your next order.

What’s more, you can win gift cards by joining the DoorDash Sweepstakes. Make sure to check the website for the official rules of specific events.

That’s not all; DashPass members receive exclusive discounts and priority customer support. DoorDash also regularly offers five-week promotions via its subscription program.

Pros and Cons Summary

Let’s put an end to this food delivery war by summing up the perks and pitfalls of each delivery service:

Uber Eats Pros and Cons

Below are the positives of Uber Eats:

• Countless food options
• Easy-to-navigate app
• Real-time tracking of orders (the in-app map shows the current location of your delivery partner)
• Easy discovery of new restaurants based on your preferences and order history
• Frequent deals and promotions

Now, here are the downsides:

• Quicker delivery in suburban areas but at the cost of higher fees
• Surge pricing during peak hours

DoorDash Pros and Cons

DoorDash boasts the following benefits:

• Extensive network of Dashers
• Smooth app experience with home screen carousels and faster loading
• More niche cuisines
• Better customer service
• Transparent pricing

Meanwhile, DoorDash has the following drawbacks:

• Lower rates but more extra fees
• Fewer promotional deals