Enter your search term

Search by title or post keyword

Postmates vs Caviar: Which Is Better For Customers In 2023?

Food delivery apps have become increasingly popular in recent years.

However, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you with so many options to choose from.

Deciding between Postmates and Caviar can be especially tricky, as they both have their own unique features and benefits.

Understanding the key differences between the two can help you decide which one is right for you.

Customers consider a few different factors when choosing a food delivery app.

These include:

  • Ease of use: How easy is it to use the app and place an order?
  • Delivery time: How long does it take for the food to be delivered?
  • Cost: How much does the app charge for delivery?
  • Customer service: How responsive is the customer service team if there are any problems with an order?

To help you make the best decision for your needs, we’ve put together a Postmates vs. Caviar comparison.

Keep reading to learn more about these two food delivery apps.

Postmates vs. Caviar: An Overview

Let’s start with a quick overview of Postmates and Caviar to kick us off.

What Is Postmates?

Postmates is a food delivery and courier service that operates in major cities across the United States.

Customers can use the Postmates app to order food from local restaurants and have it delivered to their doorsteps.

The app also allows customers to order items from stores that don’t traditionally offer delivery, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.

Founded in San Francisco in 2011, Postmates has since evolved into one of the country’s most popular food delivery apps.

Postmates Merger With UberEats

In 2020, Postmates merged with UberEats to create one of the largest food delivery services in the world.

The deal, spearheaded by Uber CEO Dara Khosrwoshahi, was one of the largest in the food delivery industry.

The merger has been beneficial for both companies, as it has allowed them to reach a wider audience and scale their operations more effectively.

Postmates now boasts nationwide coverage and a fleet of more than 600,000 couriers.

What Is Caviar?

Caviar is a food delivery service specializing in delivering high-quality meals from local restaurants.

Founded in 2012, Caviar is one of the newer food delivery services on the market.

Caviar is available in major cities across the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The company was first acquired by Square in 2014 and then by DoorDash in 2020.

Each subsequent acquisition has helped Caviar to grow and expand its operations.

Caviar’s focus on quality has made it a favorite among foodies and restaurant-goers alike.

The app offers an extensive selection of restaurants, many of which are not available on other delivery apps.

Postmates vs. Caviar: How They Work

With each food delivery service commanding a large market share, it’s important to understand how they work.

How Does Postmates Work?

To better offer its customers a range of options, Postmates has partnered with over 600,000 merchants.

Customers can use the app to order food from any of these merchants and have it delivered to their doorsteps.

Postmates fulfills client orders in a straightforward, five-step process:

1. Browse

The Postmates platform has a comprehensive list of restaurants and local merchants enlisted on the app.

Customers can scroll through the available options and read menus before making their selection.

Scrolling can be done using either the Postmates web app or the mobile app.

Once the desired items have been selected, customers can add them to their ‘cart.’

2. Pay

Postmates only acknowledges receipt of an order once the customer has made a full payment.

The company employs a secure payments system compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

The total payment includes the cost of the food and a delivery fee, and a service fee.

3. Match

Once the order has been acknowledged, it is then assigned to a nearby ‘Postmate.’

The company uses an algorithm to determine the best courier for the job, taking into account factors such as distance and estimated delivery time.

The Postmate is informed of the order specifics and the delivery location via the app.

Once assigned an order, the Postmate is required to fulfill it within one hour.

4. Track

Customers can track the progress of their orders in real-time using the Postmates app.

The app also provides estimated delivery times, so customers always know when to expect their food.

The app will also send notifications if there are any changes to the order or expected delivery time.

5. Deliver-Rate-Tip

Once the order has been delivered, the customer is given the opportunity to rate their experience.

They can also tip the Postmate through the app.

Tipping is optional, but it is encouraged as it motivates couriers to provide a better service.

How Does Caviar Work?

Caviar works in a similar way to Postmates, but there are some key differences.

Like Postmates, Caviar is a food delivery service that allows customers to order meals from local restaurants.

The order fulfillment process is also similar, with customers able to track their orders in real-time using the Caviar app.

The company offers efficient meal delivery times and employs a secure payment system.

Caviar also allows customers to tip their couriers through the app.

Another feature of the Caviar business model is the Caviar Pickup, a system that enables customers to order ahead and collect their food from the restaurant.

This is a convenient option for customers who want to avoid the delivery fee or those who are short on time.

Postmates vs. Caviar: Availability

vector graphic showing a confused-looking woman wondering about the postmates vs caviar debate

Where Is Postmates Available?

The San Francisco-based company is available in all 50 states of America and Washington D.C.

It serves at least 3500 cities in all the states, with more than 500,000 restaurants on the app.

Postmates also operates in Mexico City.

Where Is Caviar Available?

On the other hand, Caviar is available in 20 service regions, including Washington DC Metro, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

The company has plans to expand its operations to more regions in the future.

Postmates vs. Caviar: Products

While both companies offer delivery services for restaurants, there are some key differences in their products.

What Can You Get With Postmates?

  • Food: Customers can order meals from any restaurant enlisted on the app. This includes fast-food chains, casual dining restaurants, and even high-end establishments.
  • Groceries: In addition to food, Postmates also delivers groceries from local stores. Customers can order anything from fresh produce to cleaning supplies.
  • Drinks: The company also delivers alcohol and other drinks from local stores.
  • Other: Postmates will also deliver other items, such as pet food, flowers, and gifts.

What Can You Get With Caviar?

Restaurant Delivery: Caviar is primarily a food delivery service, with customers able to order meals from local restaurants.

They have a wide range of restaurants available, from fast food to high-end dining.

Postmates vs. Caviar: Cost

With each company offering different products, it’s no surprise that their prices vary as well.

How Much Does Postmates Cost?

If ordering from an enlisted Postmates partner, customers will be charged a service fee, the percentage of which depends on the customer’s location.

The company also charges a delivery fee, which ranges between $1.99 and $3.99 for enlisted Postmates partners.

Delivery fees for all other orders range between $5.99 and $9.99.

During peak times, a “Blitz” pricing fee may also be applied.

Are Food Prices Marked Up on Postmates?

The prices of food items are not marked up when ordered through Postmates.

However, the total cost of the food will be higher than the restaurant price, as it includes the service and delivery fees.

Delivery Fees

For Enlisted Partners:

  • Service fee: Varies by location (typically around nine percent)
  • Delivery fee: $1.99- $9.99 (discounted for certain accounts)
  • Blitz pricing: Applied during peak times, resulting in higher delivery fees

Tips

If you would like to tip your courier, you can do so in cash.

The company also allows customers to add a tip when rating their experience after completing the delivery.

The default tip rate on the app is 20%.

How Much Does Caviar Cost?

Caviar delivery prices are very straightforward.

However, delivered meal prices may be a little higher than the normal restaurant price, which Caviar treats like a restaurant up-charge to cover bagging, packaging, and other related costs.

Are Food Prices Marked Up on Caviar?

The prices of food items are not marked up when ordered through Caviar.

However, the total cost of the food will be higher than the restaurant price, as it includes the service and delivery fees.

Delivery Fees

On top of that, Caviar tacks on a delivery fee for every order.

The size of the delivery fee depends on how far away the restaurant is from the customer, with a minimum delivery fee of $1.99 and a maximum of $8.99.

Service Fee

There is also a service fee, with the percentage varying depending on the service region.

This fee goes to cover Caviar overheads such as customer support, Caviar courier payments, and other logistics.

Tips

Caviar allows tipping within the app.

Listed on the checkout page as “Courier Tip,” the customer is free to add any amount for the tip, and the company ensures that 100% of the tip goes to the courier.

Postmates vs. Caviar: Ease of Use

A major point of comparison between the two companies is how easy they are to use, both for customers and couriers.

How Easy Is It to Order With Postmates?

The Postmates business model is configured to make ordering easy for customers.

The app is designed for a quick and seamless ordering experience.

Customers can order food, groceries, and other items with just a few taps on their smartphones.

Customers can easily add items to their cart and checkout within minutes with a clearly defined ordering process.

The app also offers a tracking feature, so customers can see where their order is in real-time.

How Easy Is It to Order With Caviar?

Caviar’s focus on restaurants makes the ordering process slightly more complicated than Postmates.

Customers have to search for specific restaurants in their area that are partnering with Caviar.

However, once a customer has found a compatible restaurant, the ordering process is relatively straightforward.

Similar to Postmates, Caviar offers a tracking feature so customers can see where their order is in real-time.

Which Is Better: Postmates or Caviar?

Ultimately, the customer will have to decide which company is better for them.

Both Postmates and Caviar offer a food delivery service that is convenient and easy to use.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each company to help you make a decision.

Postmates: Pros and Cons

Here are some pros and cons of Postmates.

Pros

  • Easy to use app: The app is designed for a quick and seamless ordering experience. This makes it easy for customers to add items to their cart and checkout within minutes.
  • Tracking feature: Customers can see where their order is in real-time, and this feature is helpful in keeping track of orders.
  • Order matching: With each order, Postmates matches the customer with the best courier for the job, which helps to ensure that orders are delivered quickly and efficiently.
  • Timely delivery: Postmates guarantees that orders will be delivered within the specified delivery window, usually within an hour.
  • Customer support: There is a dedicated customer support team that is available 24/hours a day, seven days a week.
  • No markup on food prices: The prices of food items are not marked up when ordered through Postmates.
  • Nationwide coverage: Postmates is available in all 50 states in the U.S.
  • Order variety: Customers can order more than just food items. They can also order groceries, drinks, and other items that will be delivered to their doorsteps.

Cons

  • Delivery fee: There is a delivery fee for every order, which can be costly depending on the distance of the delivery, merchant, and region of service.
  • Service fee: In addition to the delivery fee, there is also a service fee that goes towards Caviar’s overheads.

Caviar: Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of Cavier.

Pros

  • No markups on food prices: The prices of food items are not marked up when ordered through Caviar.
  • 100% of tips go to couriers: Caviar allows tipping within the app, and 100% of the tips go directly to the courier.
  • Tracking feature: Customers can see where their order is in real-time, which is helpful in keeping track of orders.
  • Customer support: There is a dedicated customer support team that is available 24/hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Referral program: Customers can benefit from Caviar’s referral program, which gives them Caviar credit for every new customer that they refer.

Cons

  • Limited to food orders: Caviar only offers food delivery, which may be limiting for some customers.
  • Limited coverage: The company is only available in major cities, so customers in rural areas may not be able to use the service.
  • Minimum orders: Caviar usually requires a minimum order quantity for deliveries. While this helps cover the delivery cost, it may be inconvenient for customers who only want a few items.

Conclusion

While comparing Postmates vs. Caviar, it is important to consider your needs as a customer.

If you’re looking for a food delivery service that is easy to use and has nationwide coverage, then Postmates may be the better option.

However, if you’re looking for a service that doesn’t markup food prices and offers referral programs, then Caviar may be a better choice.

Ultimately, the customer will have to decide which company is better for them.

Leave a Comment

vector graphic showing an amazon flex bot lifting amazon flex packages from a computer screen
  • Basics

What Sets Amazon Flex Apart From Other Delivery Services

March 25, 2024
7 min read
screenshot of ASAP food delivery
  • Basics

What Is the ASAP Food Delivery App?

March 25, 2024
6 min read
vector graphic showing an amazon fresh driver in the middle of a delivery with a customer
  • Basics

Where Your Amazon Fresh Order is Sourced From

March 25, 2024
6 min read