Key Takeaways
- Grubhub and Seamless operate independently under the same company since 2013.
- Both platforms offer a vast selection of restaurants and identical menus.
- Users enjoy similar costs, delivery fees, and access to promotional deals.
- Seamless is particularly popular in New York, despite Grubhub’s broader reach.
Are Grubhub and Seamless the Same Company?
Seamless and Grubhub are part of the same company, but they have their own identities and operations.
If you use both platforms interchangeably, you may have noticed that the Seamless brand’s colors bear a striking similarity to Grubhub’s. The reason for the similarity is that the two services merged in 2013.
Following the merger, Grubhub and Seamless became two sides of the same service. Seamless’s brand color change is a reflection of their union. However, despite being under the same Grubhub umbrella, the two food delivery services operate independently of one another.
What Is Grubhub?
Grubhub is one of the best-known food delivery platforms in the US. Established in 2004, this app lets customers order delicious food from local restaurants.
Having food delivered to your doorstep is as easy as making an order on the service’s dedicated app via your smart device. The Grubhub brand is a subsidiary of Just Eat Takeaway, having been acquired in 2021.
Check out our overview of this platform to learn more about it.
What Is Seamless?
The Seamless app has facilitated food delivery to customers in the US and UK since 1999.
Originally a website established by Jason Finger, Todd Arky, and the Appelbaum brothers Paul and Andy, SeamlessWeb was used by law firms, banks, and other businesses to order food for their employees and clients. Seamless’ customers couldn’t enjoy personal orders until 2005, though.
In 2013, the company merged with Grubhub, operating under the combined Grubhub brand since then.
| Feature | Grubhub | Seamless |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Company | Just Eat Takeaway (since 2021) | Just Eat Takeaway (since 2021) |
| Established | 2004 | 1999 |
| Availability | All 50 US states and over 4,000 cities | All 50 US states and over 4,000 cities |
| Popularity | More popular, #11 in Google Play Store’s food category | Popular in New York, #72 in Google Play Store’s food category |
| Restaurants | Over 365,000 partners | Shares Grubhub’s restaurant partnerships |
| Menu Options | Extensive options across various cuisines | Extensive options across various cuisines |
| Operating Hours | Matches the operating hours of partnered restaurants | Matches the operating hours of partnered restaurants |
| Market Share | 8% (Third in market share after DoorDash and Uber Eats) | Shares Grubhub’s market share |
| Ease of Use | Straightforward online ordering, identical UI to Seamless | Straightforward online ordering, identical UI to Grubhub |
| Costs | Free to download, variable delivery costs | Free to download, variable delivery costs |
| Promotions | Offers “Perks” for discounts and deals | Offers “Perks” for discounts and deals |
| Customer Service | help_me@Grubhub.com | 1-877-585-7878 or Seamless website help page |
Grubhub and Seamless: A Side-By-Side Comparison
Being under the same umbrella, Grubhub and Seamless share several similarities. Let’s compare them side-by-side to see if we can identify any differences.
Availability
Before merging into one company with Grubhub, Seamless wasn’t as widely available. You couldn’t process a food order with the app if you didn’t live in the following locations:
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Boston
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Miami
- Washington
- DC
- Austin
- Seattle
- London
In contrast, Grubhub began with a mission to expand its operations throughout the country, something it continued to do before its merger with Seamless.
Currently, Grubhub and Seamless operate in all 50 US states and over 4,000 cities. You can get food deliveries from any local restaurant that has partnered with the two apps, as long as they’re near your location.
You can find a list of cities Seamless serves on its website. Also, check whether Grubhub operates in your area here.
Popularity
The biggest difference between Grubhub and Seamless is their popularity among customers.
Grubhub is more popular. According to Similarweb, the app ranks #11 in the Google Play Store’s food and drink category. These stats pertain to usage, as of February 25th, 2024. Overall, it ranks #282 in all categories.
In contrast, Seamless ranks #72 in the same category and #3,352 overall. The gulf in rankings notwithstanding, Seamless takes pride in the fact that its service is especially popular with New Yorkers.
Restaurants
As a Grubhub or Seamless customer, you get access to the same selection of restaurants and menus. The two services are intertwined to the point that a restaurateur whose business is on Seamless can sign into their account through Grubhub.
Both platforms deliver meals from well-known fast food chains, like:
- Panera Bread
- Papa John’s Pizza
- Boston Market Rotisserie Kitchen
- Chick-fil-A
- Burger King
- Pizza Hut
Grubhub estimates that it has partnered with over 365,000 restaurants.
Menu Options
The merger also means that Seamless diners get an expanded menu. You can order Chinese takeout, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, Thai, Italian cuisine, and more. As both platforms have similar user interfaces, you can browse through the menus in the same way.
Operating Hours
Grubhub and Seamless’s opening hours match the times of the restaurants they serve. If a restaurant is open 24/7, you can order from it using either platform at any time of the day. Please note that the availability of delivery drivers at such times will affect how quickly you receive your order.
We have an in-depth article that covers everything you need to know about Grubhub’s operating hours. Check it out to learn more.
Alternatives and Competitors
According to Bloomberg’s Second Measure, Grubhub/Seamless has a smaller market share than the other delivery apps it competes with.
The publication’s data reveals that, as of January 2024, DoorDash has the largest share of delivery sales (at 66%). Uber Eats takes second place with 23% of the sales, with Grubhub coming in third with 8%. Finally, Postmates takes 4th place with 2% of the delivery sales.
What the above data means for you is that DoorDash and Uber Eats are excellent alternatives to Grubhub and Seamless. If you ever feel the need to switch apps, try them. Curious about which alternative is better? We compare Uber Eats and DoorDash elsewhere in this post.
Also, check out our list of Grubhub alternatives for more options.
Ease of Use
Placing online orders on both apps is straightforward. Both give you access to your favorite restaurants in your vicinity through near-identical user interfaces. The two apps share the same features while offering identical benefits to customers.
After placing an order on either app, you can track it using the built-in map. The apps also have in-app text and phone communication features that let you contact the restaurant or delivery driver.
Both apps send you notifications via text or email informing you of your order’s status. When you receive your order, you can use their star rating system to rate your driver/experience.
Costs
Seamless and Grubhub are free to download. Both have identical delivery costs that vary based on factors like the trip’s distance and the order amount.
You may incur extra delivery fees if traffic conditions lengthen the trip’s duration. Additionally, if you’re happy with your delivery driver, both platforms let you tip them for their service. The tip is added to the order’s final cost.
Promotions
Both services offer promotions that let you save money on your orders through a feature called “Perks.”
You can search their websites for restaurants that are offering free food, price slashes, coupons, deals, promos, and more. Also, you can earn money on either service through referral bonuses. Grubhub or Seamless will reward you for every friend you refer to their platform.
Customer Service
If you experience issues with your order, both platforms offer different ways to contact customer service.
You can contact Grubhub’s team at help_me@Grubhub.com. Grubhub also has a help center you can visit for more inquiries.
Similarly, you can contact the Seamless Customer Care team at 1-877-585-7878. Alternatively, you can visit the Seamless website help page to report issues with your order, check its status, and so on.
We reveal additional ways to contact Grubhub in another article.
Final Thoughts
Grubhub and Seamless aren’t different companies, which means you can enjoy the same excellent service on either platform. Both are widely available across the US and share the same restaurant partnerships. Additionally, you’ll pay roughly the same for your orders, and you can use the same promos to get discounts and free meals.
