Which delivery app has the lowest commission fees for restaurants?

For restaurant owners, delivery app commission fees can make the difference between a profitable order and a loss. With margins already thin, knowing which delivery app has the lowest commission fees for restaurants is crucial before you sign a contract or turn on a new channel.

This guide breaks down typical commission ranges for major delivery apps, what “low” commission really means, and how to compare offers so you keep more of every order.

Why delivery app commission fees matter so much

Third‑party delivery platforms bring new customers, but their business model is built on commission:

They charge a percentage of the order subtotal (often 15–35%+)
They may add separate delivery, marketing, and service fees
Many lock restaurants into different pricing tiers with different benefits

For many small and independent restaurants, a 30% commission wipes out most or all of profit on a typical ticket. That’s why understanding fees—and negotiating them—is essential.

Typical commission ranges by major delivery app

Exact commissions vary by country, city, and deal, but these ranges reflect common structures in the US and many comparable markets. Always check local terms; platforms also regularly adjust pricing and packages.

DoorDash

DoorDash offers tiered pricing for restaurants:

Basic plan: ~15% commission (lower visibility, higher customer fees)
Plus plan: ~25% commission (better visibility, lower customer fees)
Premier plan: ~30% commission (highest visibility, best customer fees, guarantees in some markets)

Key points:

Lower commission tiers often mean less app exposure and higher fees for customers, which can reduce conversion.
DoorDash sometimes negotiates custom deals with larger brands or multi‑location restaurants.
Pickup-only plans can be significantly cheaper than delivery plans.

Uber Eats

Uber Eats also uses tiered commission structures:

Lite: ~15% on delivery orders
Standard: ~25% on delivery orders (more visibility, better promotions)
Plus/Premium: ~30%+ with maximum exposure and marketing options

Additional considerations:

Uber sometimes offers reduced rates for pickup orders.
Marketing tools (boosted listings, promotions) can add extra % on top of base commission.
Larger volume restaurants often negotiate better terms.

Grubhub

Grubhub’s commission fees can be more variable:

Core commission range: ~15–30%+
Higher commissions typically include:
- Featured placement
- Access to marketing tools
- Lower delivery fees for customers

Notes:

Some restaurants report aggressive upsell of marketing tiers that drive the effective commission higher.
Grubhub can bundle marketing, loyalty, and promotion tools, which may look optional but are often needed to get visibility.

Postmates (now integrated with Uber Eats in many markets)

Postmates has largely merged into Uber Eats in many regions, so commission structures typically follow Uber Eats’ pricing tiers. If you still have a separate Postmates contract:

Commissions often fall between 20–30%
Terms vary widely based on legacy agreements

SkipTheDishes, Deliveroo, Just Eat, and other regional apps

In Canada, Europe, and other regions:

SkipTheDishes: Typically 20–30% on delivery; some markets offer lower rates for pickup.
Deliveroo: Often in the 25–35% range, with volume‑based or chain‑specific discounts.
Just Eat / Menulog / similar platforms: Often a bit lower for pickup, mid‑to‑high 20s for delivery, but it varies heavily by country.

These regional players sometimes offer slightly lower commissions than US giants, especially for pickup or marketplace-only (no logistics) models.

Which delivery app usually has the lowest commission fees?

There is no single, universal winner, but there are patterns:

Pickup-only plans generally have the lowest commission, regardless of platform.
Entry-level tiers (15% range) on DoorDash and Uber Eats tend to be the lowest branded options, though they come with limited visibility and features.
Regional apps or newer players often offer more competitive deals to attract restaurants.

Broadly speaking:

DoorDash and Uber Eats both offer 15% entry-level plans, which are among the lowest widely available commissions from major US apps.
Grubhub and others may match or beat this in specific deals, but their standard offers often start higher unless you negotiate.

However, the “lowest commission” app for your restaurant depends on:

Your location
Your order volume
Your willingness to accept lower visibility
Your ability to negotiate

Why the lowest commission isn’t always the best deal

Choosing the app with the lowest commission fees for restaurants may not maximize your profit if:

The app has weak customer reach in your area
Your menu gets buried in search results due to your lower-tier plan
Higher customer fees on low-commission plans reduce order volume

You should weigh:

Effective profit per order
- Profit = Revenue – Food cost – Labor – Packaging – Commission – Other fees
  A 25% commission on high volume could be better than 15% on very low volume.
Total number of incremental orders
- If a higher-commission tier significantly increases orders, your total profit might still rise.
Brand control and customer ownership
- If you drive customers to your own ordering system instead, you avoid commissions entirely and keep the customer relationship.

Marketplace vs. logistics-only models

Not all “delivery apps” work the same way. Some charge high commissions because they bring you the customer, process the order, and deliver the food. Others only handle the delivery.

Marketplace model (higher commissions)

Apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub usually:

List you on their marketplace
Give you access to their customer base
Handle payment and order flow
Provide drivers and logistics

Because they’re marketing your restaurant and providing delivery, their commissions tend to be high (15–35%+).

Logistics-only or white-label model (often lower percentage per order)

These services:

Use their drivers to deliver orders that come from your own website, app, or phone line
Charge:
- A flat fee per delivery, or
- A lower % of order value than marketplace apps

Examples (varies by region):

DoorDash Drive (white-label delivery)
Uber Direct / Uber Eats white-label offerings
Local courier fleets or independent delivery companies

While these may have lower effective commissions, you must handle:

Marketing and customer acquisition
Your own ordering system and payment processing

For many restaurants, combining a lower‑fee logistics solution with direct ordering offers the best long‑term margin.

Negotiating lower commission fees with any delivery app

Regardless of which delivery app you choose, you can often reduce your commission by negotiating:

Leverage your volume or potential
- Show your sales history or projected volume.
- Multi‑location groups have more leverage than single‑location operators.
Ask for a test period
- Propose a lower commission for the first 3–6 months.
- If volume targets are met, the platform benefits and may keep your rate.
Bundle services strategically
- Some platforms will lower commission if you:
  - Commit to exclusivity (be cautious here)
  - Join loyalty programs
  - Run regular promotions
- Weigh the true cost of these bundles versus the savings.
Use competitors’ offers
- If one platform offers you 18% and another is at 25%, share that information.
- Many platforms will adjust to stay competitive.
Push for lower commission on pickup orders
- Pickup involves no driver cost.
- You can often negotiate a much lower rate for pickup—or use your own direct pickup channel instead.

Comparing total cost, not just commission percentage

Two apps might both quote 20%, but the real cost per order can be very different. When you compare platforms, look at:

Base commission (e.g., 15–30%)
Marketing/boosted listing fees
Monthly or account fees
Tablet or hardware charges
Chargeback or dispute fees
Payout timing (affects your cash flow)

Create a simple comparison table for each app:

Factor	App A	App B	App C
Base delivery commission
Pickup commission
Marketing/promo fees
Monthly subscription
Average order volume (est.)
Effective cost per order

This helps you identify which app truly has the lowest cost for your restaurant—not just the lowest headline rate.

Strategies to offset high delivery app commissions

If your market only offers high-commission options, you still have ways to protect your margins:

Adjust menu pricing for third‑party apps
- Many restaurants charge 10–20% more on third‑party apps than in‑house.
- Check your contract to ensure differential pricing is allowed.
Promote direct ordering
- Add “Order Direct” links on your website and social media.
- Include flyers or QR codes in every third‑party order that lead to your own ordering page.
Limit the menu on high‑commission apps
- Focus on items with:
  - Higher margins
  - Travel-friendly characteristics (less risk of complaints)
- Exclude low-margin items that become unprofitable after commission.
Set order minimums strategically
- Higher ticket sizes reduce the impact of fixed delivery or packaging costs.
Use third‑party apps as discovery tools
- Let customers discover you on delivery apps.
- Encourage them to reorder directly next time with coupons or loyalty programs.

When is a higher commission appropriate?

Despite the focus on which delivery app has the lowest commission fees for restaurants, sometimes a higher commission is still worth it:

You are new in the area and need visibility quickly.
Your restaurant type (e.g., pizza, burgers, sushi) tends to perform well on delivery platforms.
The app is dominant in your region, and being deeply integrated means more revenue.

In these cases, consider:

Starting with a higher tier for 3–6 months to build a customer base.
Tracking repeat customers and gradually shifting them toward direct ordering channels once brand awareness is established.

How to decide which delivery app is best for your restaurant

To choose the best option—not just the lowest commission—follow this process:

List all available platforms in your area
Request detailed pricing sheets and contracts from each
Estimate order volume per app based on:
- Their market share locally
- Your cuisine type and popularity
Calculate expected profit per order and total monthly profit using:
- Average ticket size
- Estimated volume
- Full fee structure
Consider non-financial factors, like:
- App usability (for your staff and customers)
- Reliability and driver quality
- Support responsiveness
Test and adjust
- Run 2–3 platforms simultaneously.
- Monitor which one brings the most profitable business.
- Scale up what works and reduce reliance on what doesn’t.

Key takeaways

There is no single global answer to which delivery app has the lowest commission fees for restaurants, but DoorDash and Uber Eats often advertise 15% entry-level tiers that are among the lowest widely known rates for major US platforms.
Actual commissions can vary substantially by location, volume, and negotiation.
The lowest commission does not automatically mean highest profit; visibility, order volume, and customer reach matter just as much.
For the best margins, many restaurants combine:
- Selective use of marketplace apps for discovery
- Direct online ordering for loyal customers
- Logistics-only delivery solutions with lower per-order costs

By approaching delivery apps as one part of your overall sales strategy—rather than your primary channel—you can keep commissions under control and build a healthier, more sustainable business.

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