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14 Best Food Delivery Services To Try In 2024

Key Takeaways

  • DoorDash, popular in the U.S., offers extensive restaurant options with variable pricing and a user-friendly app for diverse choices.
  • Uber Eats provides consistent food delivery globally, slightly pricier but extensive in coverage, ideal for travelers.
  • GrubHub, known for stable pricing without surge fees, offers fewer restaurant options but is affordable during peak hours.
  • Specialty services like Goldbelly and Purple Carrot cater to niche markets with gourmet and plant-based options, respectively, though at higher costs.

The Best Restaurant Delivery Services

Restaurant delivery services are widely considered as one of the original categories of food delivery services.

Restaurant delivery service apps partner with local restaurants and act as a third party which allows you to order your favorite menu items and have them delivered by a driver to your front door.

Here are some of the top companies that provide restaurant delivery services:

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1. DoorDash

1. DoorDash

  • Over 20 million users.
  • Inflates prices when busy.
  • Fees: $1.99-$5.99 delivery.
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DoorDash is the most popular restaurant delivery service in the United States, with over 20 million users!

It works by allowing users to order food from their favorite restaurants through the DoorDash app.

DoorDash sends your order to the restaurant, which will then prepare it. Following that, the order will be picked up and delivered by a DoorDash driver once it is ready.

DoorDash is highly popular as the restaurant options on the app are seemingly endless!

However, one significant downside of DoorDash is that it inflates its pricing when the app is busier. Nevertheless, it still tends to work out as one of the cheapest delivery apps out there.

Prices vary depending on several factors; however, you can expect to pay a delivery fee of  $1.99-$5.99, a varying service charge, and a tip on top of the cost of the food itself.

DoorDash is best to use when you don’t know what you want to order and want to browse a wide range of options!

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2. Uber Eats

2. Uber Eats

  • Favored by Uber drivers.
  • Available in 45 countries.
  • Fees: $0.49-$7.99 delivery.
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Uber Eats is the offshoot of Uber. It is often more favored by the delivery drivers at Uber, as the food delivery orders tend to be more consistent.

 

Much like DoorDash, UberEats allows users to order through the app, after which the order is sent to the restaurant and an UberEats driver will pick it up and deliver it to the desired address.

Uber Eats is available across 45 countries, so it is a great choice for those who travel a lot!

However, delivery prices and service charges tend to be slightly more expensive on Uber Eats – so keep this in mind when choosing an app to use.

In terms of pricing, you will pay a delivery fee ranging from $0.49–$7.99, a service charge calculated as 15% of your order, and a tip (as well as the charge for your food).

The best time to use Uber Eats is when you’re traveling, as it is available in far more areas and countries compared to its competitors.

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3. GrubHub

3. GrubHub

  • Consistent fees, no surge pricing.
  • Fewer restaurant options.
  • Fees: $0.99-$12 delivery.
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GrubHub is another United States-based restaurant delivery service, and it is a popular choice across the country.

It works in the same manner as Uber Eats and DoorDash, meaning you order on the app and they will have it delivered to your door!

One of GrubHub’s biggest pros is that it tends to lean away from surge pricing, meaning the fees on the app are extremely consistent no matter the time of day.

However, as it is a smaller app compared to Uber Eats and DoorDash, you may find that it does not have the same number of options.

GrubHub pricing features three additional fees on top of the price of your food: a delivery charge that can range anywhere from $0.99-$12, a service fee, and a tip for your driver.

While it may not have the same variety as its competitors, GrubHub is best used during peak hours (such as lunch or dinnertime) as its lack of surge pricing may make it the more affordable option!

its lack of surge pricing may make it the more affordable option!

The Best Grocery Delivery Services

Grocery delivery services are perhaps the most convenient type of food delivery service.

They allow you to place a grocery order at a local store using a third-party app, which will then send someone to pick up, pack, and deliver your order.

Here are some of our favorite grocery delivery services:

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1. Instacart

1. Instacart

  • Offers delivery in under an hour.
  • Not available in many rural areas.
  • Fees: $7.99-$9.99 for orders under $35, $3.99-$5.99 for orders over $35.
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Instacart is one of the most popular grocery delivery apps thanks to its quick and convenient service!

Users simply use the app or website to browse the available goods at a store near them and pick what they would like in their order.

Instacart will then connect your order with a personal shopper, who will go to the store and put your order together before delivering it to your front door.

Instacart’s best feature is that delivery is at set prices, which makes it far easier for you to accurately budget for your food shop.

However, it is not available in many rural areas, and therefore may not be available to those who truly need the service!

Instacart pricing is fairly straightforward. On top of your grocery bill, you will pay between $7.99 to $9.99 for orders under $35, or $3.99 to $5.99 for orders over $35.

Instacart is best for when you need groceries in a pinch, as it offers delivery in less than an hour where possible!

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2. Amazon Fresh

2. Amazon Fresh

  • Delivers in as little as 2 hours.
  • Limited to Amazon Prime members for full service.
  • Fees: $6.95-$9.95 for orders under $100, free for orders over $100 for Prime members.
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As a part of the ever-growing services that Amazon offers, Amazon Fresh has quickly become one of the best grocery delivery services.

Using the Fresh app, you simply place an order that Amazon will pack up and send to your door in as little as 2 hours.

Because its parent company is Amazon, one of the advantages of Amazon Fresh is that it offers significantly more product lines than other grocery stores.

However, full-service use is limited to Amazon Prime members, and non-members have to pay extra fees.

Pricing for this service includes the total of the groceries, as well as a service charge ranging from $6.95-$9.95 for orders under $100. If your order exceeds $100, delivery is free – provided that you are a Prime member.

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3. Shipt

3. Shipt

  • Delivers beyond groceries.
  • Prices may be higher on the app.
  • Fees: $10 delivery fee, additional $7 for alcohol.
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Shipt is another grocery delivery service that many people use to get their weekly shopping delivered to their homes!

It operates by allowing users to make an order on their app using products from local stores and then connecting them with a personal shopper who will collect and deliver the order.

Shipt’s biggest advantage is that it provides deliveries that extend beyond groceries. The app is partnered with many other stores such as CVS and Bed Bath and Beyond to provide a comprehensive service.

However, prices may be higher using Shipt as they tend to increase item costs when listing them on the app.

Pricing includes the cost of your groceries and a delivery fee, which is $10. An additional $7 fee will be added if your order includes alcohol.

Shipt is best for the times when you want to make an order that contains more than just groceries, such as medication or stationery!

The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services

For those who lead hectic lives, cooking at the end of each day often doesn’t seem to be a viable option!

However, meal kit delivery services aim to fix this issue by offering subscription food boxes with pre-portioned and partially prepared ingredients alongside a recipe for quick and stress-free cooking,

Here are the leading meal kit delivery services currently on the market:

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1. Blue Apron

1. Blue Apron

  • Serves up to four people with 2-5 meals weekly.
  • Focuses on sustainable and hormone-free ingredients.
  • Pricing: $7.99 to $12.49 per serving.
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Blue Apron allows two to five meals to be delivered to your home each week and can cater to up to four people.

Each week, you can select your delivery day and choose from a variety of meals on offer for that week. Your selected meals and their ingredients will then be boxed up and sent to your door.

Blue Apron is a health-focused service, and it only uses sustainable and hormone-free meats and seafood and GMO-free ingredients. However, one of its major drawbacks is that it is only available for households of up to four people.

Depending on whether you get the two or four-person plan, meals come out to be about $7.99 to $12.49 per serving.

Blue Apron is best for couples or small families who are short on time but want to prioritize their health and ensure they eat a nutritious home-cooked meal every day!  

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2. Hello Fresh

2. Hello Fresh

  • Offers up to six meals weekly for four people.
  • Wide variety of menu options, including healthy and quick meals.
  • Pricing: $9.99 to $11.49 per serving.
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Hello Fresh offers numerous meals every week that their subscribers can choose from!

 You can order up to six meals for four people, and meal selections are then boxed up and sent to your front door on your delivery day – ready for you to cook whenever you wish.

Hello Fresh’s main advantage is the number of menus it offers, which include“fit and wholesome” meals that contain maximum nutrients for fewer calories, and even quick and easy meals that just need heating up.

However, some users complain that their portion size is rather small – so keep this in mind if you or your family are big eaters!

Prices vary from $9.99 to $11.49 per serving, depending on what type of meals you order and for how many.

If you are looking for a meal kit that offers a wide variety of dinnertime options, Hello Fresh is the perfect service for you.

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3. Home Chef

3. Home Chef

  • Delivers up to six meals weekly for up to six people.
  • Fewer recipe options available weekly.
  • Pricing: Around $9.99 per serving.
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Home Chef subscribers can choose up to six night’s worth of dinners for up to six people.

These will then be delivered to your doorstep on your selected delivery day, ready for you to cook throughout the week!

Home Chef’s main drawcard is that it caters to up to six people per week, allowing it to be a viable option for larger families.

However, the number of recipes on offer each week is significantly lower than other services, so you may struggle to find meals that everyone likes.

In terms of pricing, you can expect to pay around $9.99 per serving.

Home Chef is perfect for big families or households who want to ensure they have a hearty meal every evening, but don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen!  

The Best Specialty Food Delivery Services

Whether you’re a foodie who loves to cook with exotic ingredients or someone with dietary restrictions preventing you from eating typical grocery store food, a specialty food delivery service is a great way to get what you need.

Here are the leading special food delivery services:

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Goldbelly is an online store specializing in gourmet foods. From special dietary ingredients, chef-designed meal kits, and prepared baked goods from your favorite bakery, Goldbelly partners with numerous stores and restaurants to get you the food you want!

GoldBelly’s most attractive feature is just how many products it has on offer; you can even order heat-and-eat from some of your favorite restaurants outside your state.

Despite the ability to order your favorite restaurant foods, this is not an on-demand delivery service like DoorDash, and you should therefore expect to wait several days for delivery.

Pricing on Goldbelly can be rather steep as they only stock gourmet products, and the delivery fees are usually set by the restaurant or company that is providing the goods you order.

If you have an event where you need a special cake or other treats to impress your guests, Goldbelly should be your go-to service!

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Purple Carrot is a meal delivery kit with a twist: all their recipes and ingredients are 100% plant-based!

Users can order both pre-prepared meals and meal kits right at their front door. This is a great solution for families or households who are vegan or plant-based, as it takes the planning and grocery shopping out of dinner time.

One of the best features of this food delivery service is how customizable each meal is; you can truly tailor it to your liking.

However, as Purple Carrot uses high-quality (and sometimes niche) ingredients to ensure that the recipes are 100% plant-based, pricing can be a lot higher than other similar services.

You can expect to pay $11.00 – $13.25 per serving of a meal or recipe, which places this at the more expensive end of meal kit services!

If you are plant-based or want to make the jump but are stuck on how to create nutritious and fulfilling meals, this is the perfect delivery service for you.

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Much like Purple Carrot, Veestro is also a specialty food delivery service that offers pre-prepared plant-based meals.

All the meals come pre-made and have been prepared by hand by a chef, which ensures a high standard of quality and taste.

While the pre-made aspect of Veestro’s meals may be a drawcard for some, this might not be the right service for foodies who enjoy the actual cooking of their meals!

You can expect to pay between $9.90 and $11.70 per meal, which makes this a good choice for those looking for a budget-friendly option.

If you are totally lost on what to cook that complies with your plant-based diet, or are short on time and don’t have the availability to spend hours slaving in the kitchen, Veestro is a great choice.

The Best Local and Community-Based Delivery Services

If you are someone who wants to support small local businesses, there are many locally available options around you – you just need to know what to look for!

Here’s a breakdown of two of the best smaller-scale and more locally-focused types of food delivery services:

1. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs work by allowing you to purchase a share or portion of a local farm’s upcoming harvest.

You’ll then have access to this harvest – usually in the form of weekly boxes of produce that can be picked up or delivered to your house.

As this is a locally-based initiative, prices can vary greatly. However as the goods are being sold directly to the consumer, they often come out a lot cheaper than grocery store prices.

CSA programs are a great way to not only support your local farms, but also to ensure that you are eating seasonally!

2. Local Cooperative Food Delivery

As well as all the well-known and popular food delivery apps, there are many local cooperative food delivery services across the country. These support and serve just the local area that they are based in.

This type of food delivery service can take form in many different ways. It might be a restaurant that offers its own, independent delivery, or it could be a locally-owned app that offers food from several restaurants in your area.

Regardless of what it looks like, the money and services offered usually go right back into the community – making them a more ethical choice.

It is hard to judge pricing on this type of service, as it is independently done depending on where or how you are ordering. However, the fact that your money is supporting a local initiative is important to keep in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best food delivery service?

The best food delivery service depends on what type of delivery you are looking for. If you want restaurant delivery, DoorDash is the most popular option. However, if you want your groceries delivered to your door, services such as InstaCart are the best choice!

How do I pay for a food delivery service?

Most food delivery services can be paid for using the app that you used to order on, which is connected to your credit or debit card.

However, there are some delivery services that accept cash – so if this is your preferred payment method, contact the service to find out if this is an option.

Wrapping Up

As consumers, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to food delivery services. Just about every type and style of product and delivery is available at our fingertips, and there seem to be more options popping up every week.

Many of these options offer very different products, so it is important to take your personal needs into account when choosing a service. Do your research and explore each service to figure out which is the perfect one for you!

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