Uber Eats vs. DoorDash vs. Grubhub: Which Is Best for Your Restaurant?

Choosing a delivery platform is one of the most important decisions for a restaurant owner in today’s market. The rise of food delivery apps means your restaurant can reach far more customers beyond your dining room. However, this convenience comes at a cost – literally. Third-party services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub charge hefty commission fees on each order (often between 15–30%), which can eat into your already thin profit margins. Beyond fees, partnering with an external platform also means giving up some control over customer experience and data. If a delivery goes wrong or a customer has an issue, the restaurant’s reputation may suffer even if the fault was not yours. In short, the platform you choose will directly impact your bottom line, your brand image, and your relationship with customers.

Finding the best delivery solution requires balancing reach and convenience with cost and control. Below, we’ll compare the big three delivery apps and then explore an alternative approach – commission-free direct ordering – that can help you maintain more control and profit.

(Spoiler: there are new solutions that let you offer delivery without paying sky-high commissions.) 

By understanding all your options, you can decide which route is truly best for your restaurant’s success.

The Big Three Delivery Apps: Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub

Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub dominate third-party delivery. They offer restaurants access to large customer bases but at the price of steep commissions (15–30% per order) that cut into restaurant profit margins.

When it comes to third-party delivery services, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub are the household names. Each platform has its own features, fee structures, and areas of strength. Here’s an overview of how the “big three” stack up, including their fees, reach, and pros and cons for restaurants:

Uber Eats

Uber Eats is one of the largest delivery apps globally, leveraging Uber’s massive user base. Restaurants on Uber Eats gain access to millions of potential customers and benefit from an easy-to-use order management system. Uber Eats also offers marketing promotions (like special listings and discounts) to help boost a restaurant’s visibility.

However, Uber Eats is notorious for high commissions – often taking 15% up to 30% of each order in fees. That means nearly a third of the money from an Uber Eats order might never reach your restaurant’s register. Such fees can quickly erase the profits from delivery orders. Additionally, Uber Eats keeps control of the customer relationship. The platform handles ordering and customer communication, so you don’t get to interact directly with your diners or collect their contact info for marketing. If something goes wrong with a delivery, the restaurant often takes the blame but has limited ability to make it right, since Uber Eats manages the driver and support process. In short, Uber Eats offers huge reach at a high price, both financially and in terms of lost control.

DoorDash

DoorDash is another hugely popular choice, especially in the U.S. (it’s known for a strong presence in suburbs and smaller cities where it sometimes outperforms Uber Eats in market share). Listing your restaurant on DoorDash can tap you into a broad customer network, and DoorDash even provides features like DashPass (a subscription for customers that waives delivery fees) which can encourage more frequent orders at participating restaurants. One unique advantage of DoorDash is its flexible delivery options – you can use DoorDash’s fleet of drivers or use your own in-house drivers for orders, or a mix of both. This gives restaurants a bit more control in managing deliveries during busy times or within a small radius.

That said, DoorDash’s commission fees are in the same range as Uber’s. Depending on your partnership plan, DoorDash typically charges 15% to 30% commission on each order. Small restaurants often find these fees just as painful to swallow. And just like other third-party apps, DoorDash comes between you and your customer. The ordering is done through the DoorDash app, so you don’t get customer emails or phone numbers to build your own loyalty program. You also have limited branding — the look and feel of the ordering experience is DoorDash’s, not yours, which can dilute your restaurant’s unique identity. If a DoorDash driver is late or mixes up an order, your restaurant might receive the bad review even though the issue was out of your hands.

In summary, DoorDash offers reach and some flexibility, but you’ll still pay hefty fees and sacrifice control similar to Uber Eats.

Grubhub

Grubhub is an older player in the delivery space and particularly strong in many urban markets (for instance, it has long been popular in NYC and other big cities). For restaurants in dense areas, Grubhub can provide quick access to a large pool of nearby customers who already use the app. One potential advantage with Grubhub is a bit more flexibility in commissions – Grubhub has been known to negotiate rates, especially with restaurants that drive high order volume. In fact, Grubhub’s fee structure differs from the straightforward percentage that Uber and DoorDash charge. Instead of a flat commission, Grubhub usually charges a marketing fee of about 5%–15% of the order, plus an additional 10% delivery fee if you use Grubhub’s drivers for delivery. On paper these percentages can sometimes be tweaked, and a restaurant that brings in lots of business might secure a somewhat lower rate.

In practice, however, Grubhub’s fees can still be quite costly, especially for smaller restaurants. If you’re paying, say, 15% marketing + 10% delivery, that’s effectively 25% of the order total – not far off from the others. And if you try to reduce the marketing fee, your restaurant may appear lower in Grubhub’s search results (since higher-paying partners often get priority placement). Like its competitors, Grubhub also intermediates the customer relationship. They handle the ordering process and customer notifications, meaning you miss out on customer data and direct engagement. Additionally, some restaurants find that in competitive areas, visibility on Grubhub can be pay-to-play – larger chains or those that agree to higher fees get featured more, making it hard for a small independent restaurant to stand out without spending extra on promos.

Bottom line: Grubhub might offer a bit more wiggle room on fees, but most restaurants will still end up sacrificing a chunk of each sale and direct access to their customers in exchange for the platform’s reach.

Common Challenges with Third‑Party Delivery Apps

Using any of the third-party delivery marketplaces can help you get orders, but all three of these apps come with similar challenges that restaurants should be aware of. Here are some of the most common pain points with Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub and their kin:

High Commission Fees

As discussed, the big apps typically charge between 15% and 30% commission on every order. This is a huge bite out of your revenue. Restaurant profit margins are often only 5–10%, so losing an extra 20% per order to commissions can easily make delivery orders unprofitable. Some platforms also tack on additional service or marketing fees, meaning you might effectively pay even more. These fees make it tough to make money on delivery unless you raise menu prices (which can turn off customers). In short, the cost of convenience is very steep for restaurants.

Losing Direct Customer Relationships

When a customer orders through a third-party app, the app owns the customer relationship, not you. You typically don’t receive the customer’s contact information or any way to follow up with them outside the app. This means you can’t easily remarket to those customers or invite them to dine with you again. You also miss out on collecting feedback directly. As one analysis put it, the delivery platforms act as a middleman that cuts restaurants off from their own diners. Over time, this erodes customer loyalty to your specific restaurant – people start to feel loyalty to the app or just order from whoever’s listed. It’s hard to build your brand when you don’t even know who your customers are.

Inconsistent Service Quality and Brand Control

Third-party services handle the delivery logistics, but that can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you don’t have to manage drivers yourself; on the other hand, you have no control over the delivery experience. The person delivering the food is an independent contractor of the app who may be delivering orders for multiple restaurants at once. If they’re late, rude, or careless with the food, your restaurant gets the blame in the customer’s eyes. There’s also little you can do about it in the moment. Furthermore, the food arrives in generic branded bags or with the app’s branding, not your own. The overall experience is essentially outsourced. This inconsistent quality can hurt your reputation, yet you lack the ability to fix issues directly. Many owners also dislike how their restaurant is presented in these apps – often with random menu translations or without the personal touch you’d give on your own website.

Slow or Batched Payouts

Another challenge is cash flow. When customers order through an aggregator, the payment flows through that third party, and you typically get paid on a delayed cycle. For example, Uber Eats issues restaurant payouts on a weekly schedule (Monday to Monday cycles, with deposits arriving mid-week). That means you might wait over a week to actually receive the revenue from a given day’s orders. Some platforms offer faster payouts or instant transfers, but often for an extra fee. The standard is that your sales revenue is held and paid out in batches, which can hurt your cash flow and make accounting more complicated. In contrast, when customers order directly from you (as we’ll discuss next), the money can go straight to your business bank account within a day or two through normal credit card processing. Waiting a week for your own earnings is an irritation many restaurants would gladly avoid.

Direct Ordering as a Better Alternative

Given the downsides of third-party apps, many restaurant owners are looking for a better way to handle online orders and deliveries. Direct online ordering is the primary alternative – this means enabling customers to order directly from your restaurant (via your own website, a dedicated app, or even social media channels), rather than through a middleman. Instead of paying a big commission to Uber or DoorDash, you take the orders yourself (potentially with the help of a software platform), and you can either use your own delivery drivers or partner with a service that handles delivery for a flat fee. The key is that the order comes through a channel you control, not a third-party marketplace.

The benefits of shifting to a direct ordering model are compelling:

Lower Costs and Better Margins

When you process orders yourself, you’re not losing 20–30% of the revenue off the top. You might still have some costs (for example, a flat fee to a delivery provider, credit card processing, or a reasonable software subscription), but these typically amount to far less than third-party commissions. This means you get to keep more of each sale, improving your profit margin on delivery orders. For small restaurants especially, avoiding those huge commission fees can make the difference between delivery being profitable or a money-loser.

Owning the Customer Relationship

With direct ordering, you know exactly who your customers are. You collect their name, number, email – whatever info is needed – and you can build a database of your guests. This opens up opportunities to market directly to customers with email offers, loyalty programs, and personalized service. You can encourage repeat business by reaching out after the order or offering a promo for their next order. In short, you are building your own customer loyalty rather than outsourcing that to an app. Over time, this is huge for sustaining and growing your business. Customers also feel a direct connection to your restaurant, not just to a delivery app.

Full Control of the Dining Experience

When orders come through your own system, you have much more control over how your brand is presented. You can design the ordering interface (or at least customize it with your logo and style) so it feels like an extension of your restaurant. You can set menu items exactly how you want, decide what photos to show, and include your branding on packaging. If there’s a problem with an order, customers contact you directly, and you can respond in the way that best represents your hospitality. Essentially, direct ordering lets you provide a more consistent, branded experience from start to finish. Plus, you can ensure quality by setting the delivery standards (for instance, choosing a reliable delivery partner or having rules for how food is packed) instead of hoping a third-party driver does it right.

Faster Payments and Cash Flow

With a direct online ordering setup, payments typically go through your own payment processor or merchant account. That means you get the money from sales much faster – often the next business day or within 48 hours, depending on your payment provider. There’s no weekly batching delay. Faster access to funds can help with daily operational expenses and just gives better peace of mind that you’re immediately reaping the revenue from each order. You’re not waiting for a third party to reconcile and remit your earnings.

Flexibility and Independence

 Relying less on the big apps also means you’re not subject to their changing policies, fee hikes, or outages. You have greater flexibility to adjust your delivery strategy. For example, you could start offering direct online ordering for pickup (which costs you nothing in delivery fees) and only use third-party drivers when needed. Or you can turn on/off delivery areas at will. You’re crafting a solution tailored to your business, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that the delivery giants impose.

Overall, direct ordering empowers you to take back control over your delivery business. You still get to serve customers conveniently, but on terms that are more favorable to you. That said, implementing direct ordering does require some setup and choosing the right tools – which is where platforms like Sauce come in. In fact, there are now commission-free services designed specifically to help restaurants run their own online ordering and delivery without the typical third-party drawbacks. Let’s look at how a solution like Sauce works and how it can benefit your restaurant.

How Sauce Stands Apart

If you’re exploring direct ordering solutions, Sauce is a platform that offers restaurants a way to accept online orders and manage deliveries without the punishing commissions of the big apps. Sauce provides an all-in-one, commission-free delivery and pickup system for restaurants (meaning you get a full delivery network and online ordering channels, but you pay no percentage commission on orders). Here are some of the key ways Sauce stands apart from traditional third-party apps:

• 0% Commission Model – Keep All Your Revenue: Sauce operates on a commission-free model, so it doesn’t take a cut of your order totals. Unlike Uber Eats or DoorDash which siphon off up to 30%, with Sauce you keep 100% of the menu price and only pay a flat, low delivery fee (regardless of order size) when using their courier network. In other words, a $50 order through Sauce yields the full $50 (minus a small fixed fee), instead of maybe $35 after a third-party commission. This commission-free approach can save restaurants thousands of dollars that would otherwise have gone to delivery apps. No matter how large the order, you’re not penalized by higher fees – great for your profit margins.

• You Keep Your Customer Data: With Sauce’s direct ordering system, the customer is your customer. Every order placed gives you access to valuable data – who is ordering, what their contact info is, what they like to order, etc. Sauce doesn’t withhold this information; it’s provided to you so you can build your own marketing list and loyalty programs. Owning your customer data means you can re-engage diners directly, send them promotions or new menu announcements, and encourage repeat visits. It also means if someone loved your food, the next time they order, they’re doing it through your branded system (not scrolling through a marketplace). This direct relationship is something third-party apps never allow, but Sauce makes it a priority for you to maintain full ownership.

• Fast Payouts (Better Cash Flow): With Sauce, restaurants benefit from faster payments for their orders. Instead of waiting a week or more for batched payouts from a delivery app, sales made through Sauce’s ordering system are typically deposited within one to two business days (just as if the order was placed through your own POS). This means you get your money in days, not weeks, improving cash flow. Fast payouts help you pay suppliers, staff, and other expenses on time. Essentially, using Sauce feels like processing a normal credit card transaction from a customer – you get the funds quickly – as opposed to the delayed remuneration cycle of third-party apps.

• Integrated with Your POS and Systems: Sauce isn’t just a standalone tablet that you have to monitor separately. It integrates with many popular restaurant POS systems and aggregators, so orders from Sauce flow directly into your existing workflow. You can manage all your orders (including in-house, pickup, and even third-party orders) in one place. This integration means no more juggling multiple devices on the counter or manually re-entering orders from an online platform into your kitchen system. It’s a huge time-saver and reduces errors. For example, at Cuban Guys (a restaurant that uses Sauce), online orders coming through Sauce are automatically injected into their POS and a delivery driver is dispatched without any staff intervention – the process is seamless. Sauce also syncs with other tools (like Google and social media ordering buttons) to ensure everything is consolidated. The result is that adopting Sauce doesn’t disrupt your operations; it enhances them.

• White-Labeled Ordering & More Brand Control: One of Sauce’s big advantages is that it enables white-labeled online ordering for your restaurant. The ordering interface can be branded with your restaurant’s name, logo, and style, whether it’s an ordering widget on your website, a mobile ordering page, or links on your social media. Customers feel like they are ordering directly from you (because they are), rather than through a generic app. This gives you far more control over the customer experience. You can customize your menu presentation and maintain a consistent brand voice. Sauce’s platform also prioritizes a quality customer experience – for instance, it provides real-time delivery tracking on a map for your customers and 24/7 support for any delivery issues, which reflects well on your restaurant. The end result is better service for your customers and a stronger brand impression, without you having to build your own tech from scratch. You get the convenience of a modern app but on your own terms.

In short, Sauce is designed to give restaurants the best of both worlds: the reach and convenience of online delivery, without the exorbitant fees and downsides imposed by third-party marketplaces. It’s a solution that puts the restaurant first. You can take orders through your own channels, pay no commission, get fast deposits, and still have the delivery logistics handled via Sauce’s network of couriers and support. Let’s look at an example of a restaurant that made the switch and what they achieved.

Restaurant Success Story: Going Direct with Sauce

To see these benefits in action, consider the experience of Cuban Guys, a Cuban fast-casual restaurant group in South Florida. Cuban Guys partnered with Sauce to power their direct online ordering and delivery, and the results have been impressive. In fact, since launching with Sauce’s commission-free platform, Cuban Guys has seen a 140% increase in online takeout and delivery sales within 12 months. That means they more than doubled their delivery business in one year without relying on third-party marketplaces, dramatically growing their revenue.

Why such success? According to Jorge Llapur, co-founder of Cuban Guys, a big factor is that Sauce’s flat-fee, no-commission model made it financially feasible to expand delivery. “Sauce’s commission free model has made offering delivery affordable for Cuban Guys. No matter how large the order, there is only a small flat fee per order,” says Llapur, noting that with rising food and labor costs, this model allows them to serve customers at a very affordable rate. In other words, they can take big orders via direct online ordering and not worry about losing a huge percentage to fees – the larger the order, the better (contrasted with third-party apps where large orders mean paying more commission).

Operationally, Sauce also helped Cuban Guys streamline their delivery process. Sauce’s system automatically dispatches drivers on a per-order basis from a network of couriers, so the restaurant doesn’t need its own delivery staff or to depend on one service. “If I have 10 different orders going to 10 different places, Sauce can get me 10 different drivers and execute those orders flawlessly,” Llapur explains. Moreover, Sauce’s team handles issues like late drivers, missing items, or refund requests on Cuban Guys’ behalf, saving the managers hours of hassle on the phone. This level of support and efficiency allowed the restaurant team to focus on cooking great food, while Sauce took care of the logistics and customer service side of delivery.

The direct relationship with customers has grown as well. Many patrons who used to order through third-party apps have now switched to ordering directly from Cuban Guys via Sauce’s platform. The restaurant can market to them directly and provide a consistent brand experience. Given the success, Cuban Guys’ leadership aims to eventually convert all of their third-party app customers into direct customers through Sauce. This case demonstrates how a commission-free, restaurant-centric platform can transform your delivery business: lower costs, higher sales, and happier customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use both Sauce and third-party delivery apps at the same time?

 Yes. You can integrate Sauce’s direct ordering system and still keep your listings on Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc. if you choose. In fact, many restaurants adopt Sauce to build up their own direct customer base while continuing to be present on the big apps for visibility. There’s no requirement to be exclusive – you might maintain a basic presence on third-party platforms (for new customer discovery or occasional orders) but encourage your repeat customers to order from you directly via Sauce. Over time, as your direct orders grow, you may rely less on the third-party apps. Sauce is essentially a tool to reduce your dependency on marketplaces while you transition to a more profitable mix of order sources.

Is Sauce a delivery platform like Uber Eats or something else?

Sauce is a delivery solution, but it works differently than a marketplace like Uber Eats. With Sauce, your restaurant gets its own online ordering system (for your website, Google profile, social media, etc.), and Sauce manages the logistics in the background. It dispatches couriers for you on a per-order basis, using a network of delivery drivers, so you don’t have to hire your own drivers. However, unlike Uber Eats, there is no consumer-facing “Sauce app” that customers browse; customers will be ordering directly from your restaurant’s branded ordering page. In essence, Sauce provides the technology and fleet to enable direct orders and deliveries for your restaurant. Customers get their food delivered just as fast (with real-time tracking), and you get to maintain your brand throughout the process. Also, Sauce provides 24/7 support for any delivery issues, acting as an extension of your team. It’s best to think of Sauce not as a marketplace, but as your restaurant’s own commission-free delivery system powered by a third-party network.

How do I promote my direct online ordering to customers?

Promoting direct ordering is crucial to get customers using it. First, make sure everyone knows about it: announce your online ordering on your website and social media, and encourage people in-store to order directly next time (for example, put a note on receipts or a sign by the register). You can offer incentives like a small discount or a free appetizer for ordering through your site instead of a third-party app. Utilize tools like Google – for instance, Sauce can integrate an “Order Online” button directly into your Google Business profile, so customers find your direct ordering right from Google Search/Maps. This intercepts people before they go to a third-party app. Social media is another channel: share your direct ordering link on Facebook, Instagram, etc., and highlight that ordering direct supports the restaurant (and often has lower fees or specials). Email marketing or SMS messages to your customer list (if you have one from Sauce’s data capture) can also be very effective: send a “$5 off your next direct order” promo to lure customers to your online system. Lastly, provide great service on those direct orders – fast delivery, maybe a thank-you note in the bag – so customers have a positive experience and want to use it again. With time, you can train your customer base that ordering directly from you is the best way to go (for them and for you).

Does Sauce integrate with my POS and existing systems?

Yes, in most cases. Sauce is built to work with your current restaurant tech stack. It can integrate with popular POS systems so that orders from your direct online channel flow into the same ticketing system as your in-person orders. This means your kitchen doesn’t have to deal with a separate tablet or device for Sauce orders – everything prints or appears just like a normal order. Sauce also supports integrations with platforms like Google, Facebook, and others for online ordering, as well as aggregating third-party orders if needed, so it can become a one-stop hub. During setup, the Sauce team typically helps ensure that the system is synced with your menus and POS. By integrating with your existing operations, Sauce makes managing direct orders seamless and “hands-free” for you and your staff.

Will customers still use these direct ordering channels instead of the big apps?

Many will, especially if you guide them to it. Consumers ultimately want the easiest way to get their food. If your direct ordering is user-friendly and you promote it, customers are happy to order direct – it can even be cheaper or faster since there are no large markups or delays. In fact, some diners prefer ordering straight from a restaurant to support them (knowing that apps charge restaurants big fees). By highlighting that ordering from your website or links is the best way to support your business (and perhaps that you can pass on savings through better prices or deals), customers respond well. Also, Sauce’s ordering interface is designed to be simple and convenient for customers, so they won’t miss the third-party app at all. Additionally, when new customers find you via Google or your own marketing, they can go directly to your ordering page without ever visiting a delivery app. Over time, if you provide an excellent direct ordering experience (accurate orders, on-time delivery, tasty food), customers have no reason to go through a middleman. Restaurants using Sauce have noted that a lot of guests who previously ordered through third parties switched to direct once it was available. It may take a bit of habit-changing, but with the right approach, your customers will gladly use the commission-free direct option.