The 6 Best Delivery Apps

Modern life has a funny rhythm: you’re too busy to cook, too tired to grocery shop, and somehow still expected to be a functioning adult
who remembers to buy toothpaste before it becomes an archaeological artifact. Delivery apps didn’t just become popularthey became a
coping mechanism with push notifications.

But not all delivery apps are created equal. Some are unbeatable for restaurant variety, some shine for groceries and household essentials,
and a few are basically the “emergency hotline” for snacks at 11:47 p.m. This guide breaks down the best delivery apps in the U.S.
with real-world pros/cons, fee realities, subscription perks, and practical tips that can save you money (or at least save your dignity).

How We Picked the Best Delivery Apps

To keep this useful (and not a “download everything and hope for the best” situation), we judged apps by what actually affects your order:

• Coverage & selection: Restaurants, grocery partners, convenience options, and how widely the app operates.
• Total cost: Delivery fees, service fees, small-order fees, and how subscriptions change the math.
• Speed & reliability: Accuracy, tracking, substitution handling, and “will my fries arrive as fries?” factors.
• Membership value: Whether a subscription pays for itself for frequent users.
• User experience: App flow, search/filters, and features that reduce ordering chaos.

Quick Comparison

Fees and availability vary by city and merchant, but this snapshot helps you match the app to your lifestyle. (Translation: your ordering habits.)

1) DoorDash

If delivery apps had a “most likely to be installed on everyone’s phone” award, DoorDash would at least be nominated. It’s a strong pick for
restaurant delivery, but it’s also built out convenience and grocery-style optionsespecially when you need basics without committing to
a full grocery adventure.

Best for

• People who order food delivery often and want consistent coverage
• Mixing restaurants with convenience items in the same ecosystem
• Households that benefit from a membership like DashPass

What makes it great

DashPass is DoorDash’s membership play: on eligible orders, it’s designed to cut delivery fees to $0 and lower service feesexactly the
kind of thing that matters if you order more than once in a blue moon. DoorDash also operates DashMart, an in-app shop for “oops, we’re out of”
groceries and household essentialsthink fresh basics, pantry staples, and practical stuff like medicine and paper towels. It’s the digital version of a
convenience store run, minus the part where you put on shoes.

What to watch out for

DoorDash pricing is highly situational: merchant policies, distance, peak demand, and local regulations all shape the final total. Translation: the same
burrito can cost different amounts depending on where you are and when hunger strikes.

Smart ways to save

• Use DashPass strategically: If you order frequently, focus orders on DashPass-eligible merchants to maximize savings.
• Bundle essentials: If you’re already paying fees, add the “small stuff” (drinks, dessert, paper towels) to avoid a second order later.
• Check DashMart first for basics: It can be faster than a retail grocery order for a midweek restock.

2) Uber Eats

Uber Eats has become the “one app, many cravings” optionrestaurants, convenience items, and grocery partners in a single interface. If you already use Uber
for rides, the ecosystem effect can be real, especially with the Uber One membership.

Best for

• People who want food and grocery delivery in one app
• Users who like a polished app experience with strong tracking
• Households that can benefit from Uber One across delivery (and sometimes rides)

What makes it great

Uber One is built around lowering delivery costs on eligible orders (often $0 delivery fee, with discounts or credits depending on the offer and market).
Uber Eats has also been investing in grocery featureslike tools meant to simplify building a cart from partner retailers. In practice, that helps when you’re doing
the “I need ingredients, not a PhD in aisle navigation” kind of order.

What to watch out for

Eligibility rules matter. Minimum subtotals, participating stores, and distance requirements can decide whether you get the advertised membership benefits.
If you’re trying to save money, it’s worth scanning the checkout line items rather than trusting vibes.

Smart ways to save

• Meet the minimum: If the Uber One threshold is $15, don’t place a $14.76 order and act surprised by the fee math.
• Try pickup when convenient: Sometimes the best delivery hack is… walking 6 minutes and keeping your money.
• Build a “regulars” list: Reordering from favorites reduces decision fatigue and helps you spot price/fee patterns faster.

3) Grubhub

Grubhub is a classic in the U.S. delivery space and still a top contender for restaurant deliveryespecially if you care about pickup perks and want a
membership program that’s straightforward. The bigger plot twist: some users can access Grubhub+ through other memberships.

Best for

• Restaurant delivery (and pickup) in cities where Grubhub has strong merchant depth
• People who want membership savings without overthinking it
• Amazon Prime members who may be eligible for Grubhub+ perks

What makes it great

Grubhub+ is designed to reduce delivery fees to $0 and lower service fees on eligible orders that meet subtotal minimums. One standout perk:
Grubhub+ also promotes a pickup credit on eligible pickup orders, which can be a sneaky-good value if you’re near the restaurant and want to skip delivery fees.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, there are offers in the U.S. that may include Grubhub+ access as part of Prime (terms and eligibility apply).
If you already pay for Prime anyway, that’s basically found moneylike discovering fries at the bottom of the bag, but in subscription form.

What to watch out for

Grubhub is not equally strong in every market. In some areas, selection and delivery time can be excellent; in others, it can feel like the app is politely
suggesting you learn to cook.

Smart ways to save

• Activate any included membership perks: If Prime (or another partner) offers Grubhub+ access, turn it on and actually use it.
• Use pickup credits: Pickup can be cheaper, faster, and still earns you a little back when eligible.
• Order from “Grubhub+ eligible” spots: Membership savings depend on it.

4) Instacart

Instacart is the heavyweight for grocery delivery. It’s built for full cart shoppingfresh produce, pantry staples, household itemsand it works
with a wide range of retailers. If you want a true “weekly groceries without leaving home” solution, Instacart is often the first stop.

Best for

• Weekly grocery runs and big household restocks
• Families managing lots of items, substitutions, and preferences
• People who can benefit from Instacart+ on repeated orders

What makes it great

Instacart+ is positioned around $0 delivery fees on eligible orders (often with minimums) while still charging service fees. In other words:
it can reduce one chunk of the total, but it doesn’t magically make every fee disappear. Instacart also frequently runs partner offers (like card-linked trials),
which can be worth grabbing if you’re on the fence about subscribing.

What to watch out for

Grocery delivery is where “fine print” lives. Service fees, retailer pricing policies, and how refunds/credits are handled can affect your final cost.
A helpful habit: treat the final checkout screen like a receipt preview, not a formality.

Smart ways to save

• Plan fewer, bigger orders: Small orders can trigger extra fees; a weekly or biweekly cart often wins.
• Set substitution preferences: Choose “refund” for items where substitutes would be annoying (like the one yogurt your kid will eat).
• Use store filters: Some retailers offer better pricing or promotions; it pays to compare.

5) Shipt

Shipt is the “same-day delivery with a personal shopper feel” option, especially strong inside the Target universe and its broader marketplace.
If Instacart feels like “big grocery network,” Shipt feels like “your dependable shopper who knows you always forget batteries.”

Best for

• Target fans and households doing regular retail + grocery top-ups
• People who like shopper continuity (Preferred Shoppers)
• Same-day delivery across multiple retail categories

What makes it great

Shipt’s membership pitch is simple: on qualifying orders (commonly $35+), the delivery fee can be $0. The standout feature is the ability to create a list of
Preferred Shoppers, which can improve consistency if you order frequently. Shipt is also tied closely to Target’s same-day delivery strategy,
and Target has promoted membership-based same-day delivery that expands beyond Target into a larger marketplace of retailers.

What to watch out for

Shipt is very order-minimum sensitive. If you frequently place smaller carts, you’ll feel fees more often than someone who shops in “full basket” mode.

Smart ways to save

• Batch your orders: Make it a $35+ cart whenever possible.
• Lean into retail versatility: If you’re already ordering groceries, add household items to avoid a separate run.
• Use Preferred Shoppers: Over time, better substitutions and communication can reduce “why did I receive 14 limes?” moments.

6) Gopuff

Gopuff is what you use when you don’t want a restaurant meal and you don’t need a full grocery cartyou need stuff. Snacks. Drinks. Cold medicine.
Ice cream. Paper towels. The “I forgot to prepare for being alive” essentials. It runs on a convenience-warehouse model, which is why it can be fast
in areas where it operates.

Best for

• Late-night cravings and quick essentials
• People who want a convenience store delivered
• Users in covered areas who value speed

What makes it great

Gopuff is unusually direct about its fee structure: it often uses an order fee (commonly a few dollars) rather than the “mystery math” vibe some
apps can create. It also offers a membership (often branded as FAM) that can reduce or remove certain fees and sometimes improves priority delivery
pricing. If you regularly order snacks, drinks, or household basics, it can be a strong value.

What to watch out for

Coverage mattersGopuff is excellent where it’s available and irrelevant where it’s not. Also, regulated products (like alcohol or nicotine, where available)
can come with extra fees, and local rules can affect what you can order.

Smart ways to save

• Use it for “convenience baskets”: Combine items to justify the order fee.
• Watch membership break-even: If you order weekly, membership savings can add up fast.
• Skip peak impulse ordering: The best deal is the one you don’t place at midnight because you saw a cookie video.

Choosing the Right App for You

Here’s the honest truth: the “best delivery app” depends less on brand loyalty and more on your habits.

• If you order restaurant delivery 2–4+ times a month: DoorDash (DashPass) or Uber Eats (Uber One) can be worth it.
• If you already pay for Amazon Prime: Check whether the Grubhub+ offer appliesyou might get meaningful perks with no extra subscription.
• If you do real grocery runs: Instacart is built for it; set substitution rules and plan bigger carts.
• If you love Target + same-day retail delivery: Shipt is the natural fit, especially for consistent household ordering.
• If you want fast essentials more than meals: Gopuff is the convenience MVP in supported areas.

of Experience-Based Tips to Get More Value From Delivery Apps

People who feel “delivery apps are too expensive” are usually not wrongyet the people who swear they save money with them aren’t necessarily lying either.
The difference is rarely the app. It’s the approach. The most common mistake is treating delivery like a spontaneous decision instead of a tiny logistics system.
Once you reframe it, you stop paying “panic fees.”

First: batching beats bouncing. Two small orders in one night almost always cost more than one slightly larger order. If you’re already paying an order fee,
delivery fee, or service fee, squeezing more utility into that order matters. That doesn’t mean buying random items; it means adding the boring essentials you’ll need
tomorrow anywaydrinks, paper products, breakfast itemsso tomorrow doesn’t become a second checkout screen.

Second: memberships only work when you aim them. DashPass, Uber One, Grubhub+, Instacart+, Shipt membershipthese aren’t magic wands. They reduce specific costs
on specific eligible orders. The “experienced” move is simple: if you subscribe, prioritize eligible merchants and meet minimums. Otherwise you’re paying a monthly fee
for the emotional comfort of a logo. And logos, while cute, do not pay your service fee.

Third: for groceries, substitution rules are your sanity. People who love grocery delivery usually do three things: they set “refund” on items where substitutes
would be annoying, they pick acceptable backups for essentials, and they avoid ultra-specific produce requests unless they’re willing to message. Grocery delivery is a
collaboration. If you disappear and then get mad you received “the wrong apples,” the universe will not apologize.

Fourth: pickup is a cheat code when it fits your life. If you’re already driving past the restaurant, picking up can eliminate delivery fees and sometimes earn
credits (depending on the program). It’s also a stealth way to avoid cold food and reduce the “where is my driver?” anxiety spiral. Not every night is a pickup nightbut
if you can do it once or twice a month, it noticeably lowers your average cost.

Fifth: don’t be shy with the checkout breakdown. The most reliable “experienced user” habit is reading the line items before placing the order.
If the fees look wild, switch merchants, switch apps, or switch to pickup. That’s not being cheap; that’s being awake.

Finally: be a good tipperstrategically. Delivery is labor. If you can afford the service, you can afford to tip reasonably for time, weather, distance,
and complexity (especially big grocery orders). The best long-term “hack” is not gaming the systemit’s being the kind of customer shoppers and couriers don’t dread.
Reliable service has a funny way of showing up for people who treat other humans like humans.

Conclusion

The top delivery apps each win in a different lane. DoorDash and Uber Eats are strong all-rounders for restaurant delivery and convenience.
Grubhub can be a value playespecially if you’re eligible for Grubhub+ through Prime. Instacart is built for full grocery runs, Shipt shines for same-day retail
(especially in the Target ecosystem), and Gopuff is the speedy essentials specialist.

Pick one or two apps that match your habits, learn their membership rules, and treat checkout like a decisionnot a surrender. Your wallet will notice.
Your future self will also notice when toothpaste shows up before it becomes a crisis.