If you’re an American, it’s hard to ignore the Grubhub name when you’re looking for online eating options. Here’s what you need to know before placing your first order.
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What is Grubhub?
How does Grubhub work?
How to sign up for Grubhub
How to use Grubhub
What is Grubhub Plus?
What is Grubhub?
Grubhub is an app- and web-based meal delivery service founded in 2004. While its full history is more complex, the short version is that it grew its reach through a merger with Seamless and a series of takeovers, eventually getting bought itself by the Netherlands’ Just Eat Takeaway.
Just Eat operates in many countries around the world, but the Grubhub brand exists mainly in the US, where it covers over 4,000 cities across all 50 states. There are over 300,000 participating restaurants in the country.
How does Grubhub work?
Once users create an account (see below), they can use the Grubhub website or mobile app (for Android and iOS) to browse local restaurants, add menu items to a cart, then select a payment method and check out. While the service is of course focused around delivery, you can skip an associated fee if you opt to pick up food yourself.
Note that partner restaurants don’t handle delivery. Instead your food is picked up by Grubhub drivers, who get paid on a gig basis, much like Uber drivers or Instacart shoppers. For this convenience, restaurants pay Grubhub a portion of their revenue. That’s why it often costs more for online orders than it does for dine-in or take-out.
How to sign up for Grubhub
The app and website offer a variety of ways to sign up. If you want to sign up with your email address, you’ll be prompted to enter your first and last name and create a password. You can also sign up by linking an existing Amazon, Apple, Google, or Facebook account. Either way, you’ll be asked to set a default delivery address.
Be prepared to attach a online payment method to your account, too. Options include credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or PayPal. If a restaurant supports it, you may be able to use cash, but don’t count on it.
Assuming you’re using the mobile app, the first thing to do is adjust your filters via the Home tab. You can switch between Delivery and Pickup, and if you hit the Preorder tab, you can schedule an order up to 4 days in advance. If you don’t preorder, Grubhub assumes you want your food ASAP.
In the top bar you’ll see your current delivery address next to a map pin. Tap on this to change where orders go. Make sure your address is as precise as possible, conforming to what you’d find in an app like Google Maps — drivers don’t have time to wander around a neighborhood looking for you.
Use the Sort button to filter local restaurant listings. The app defaults to a “recommended” view, but you can also search by price, rating, distance, or delivery speed. Of these, speed and price (low-to-high) are probably the most useful.
Tap in the Search field to look for something more specific, such as doner kebabs or a particular restaurant.
Once results pop up, select a restaurant to see its menu and add items to your cart. Once you’re ready, continue to checkout, making sure order details are correct. You also get a chance to add special delivery instructions, which can be essential if you live in an apartment or condo complex, or you’re staying at a hotel.
Once you select a payment method, you’re ready to place your order. The order is confirmed by email, and you can keep track of its progress via app notifications and the Orders tab.
What is Grubhub Plus?
Grubhub Plus is a monthly subscription plan that waives delivery fees on orders over a certain minimum ($12 before taxes, tips, and fees). You also get improved customer support, and various perks and rewards, such as charitable donations or occasional free meals.
There are limitations. Restaurants must specifically be participating in Plus, something marked by a listing badge. And even when a restaurant is part of the Plus network, your order loses free delivery if it includes alcohol.
Plus costs $9.99 US per month after a free trial. The trial period can vary, but lasts no more than 30 days.
Read more:How does Uber Eats work
FAQs
Yes, albeit with a giant asterisk next to that. It’s supported only a on per-restaurant basis, and there’s no way of telling ahead of ordering. Assume you’ll be using online payments for most if not all orders.
The answer to this could change at any moment, but DoorDash is typically cheaper for small orders, i.e. ones under $20. If your order is $50 or higher, you should automatically go with Grubhub.
The service is now owned by a Dutch company, Just Eat Takeaway, which completed a $7.3 billion acquisition in 2021.
No. In fact, you’re not allowed to use them with many of Grubhub’s rivals either, since SNAP benefits are intended for groceries, not restaurant food. You can use them with some grocery delivery services.
Grubhub is a part of Just Eat Takeaway.com, a leading global online food delivery marketplace, and features 375,000 merchants in over 4,000 U.S. cities. We help restaurants grow their businesses and experiment with new concepts. We provide drivers flexible opportunities to work and earn.
Based on this, to make $200 per day with GrubHub on an average hourly rate, you'll likely need to work around 13+ hours per day or around 66 hours per week. We should also point out here that the average worker in the US works for around 34.4 hours per week, according to Zippia.com.
Remember, guaranteed minimum earnings are determined before tips. This means delivery partners still keep 100% of tips in addition to the minimum pay rate. *Extra earnings may come through order bonuses, increased offer pay, and/or an Appreciation bonus.
For smaller midsized orders of around $25 or $30, Uber Eats was typically less, but only by a dollar or so. If you're consistently ordering for two or three people, your bill is probably in the range that would make Grubhub the cheapest option.
Grubhub Contribution (available in select markets) will be available the day after they are earned, generally around 12pm (Local Time). Adjustment pay may take additional time to be eligible. How much can I cash out in a day with this feature? You can instantly cash out up to $500 dollars a day.
Delivery partners can select direct deposit for payment on Thursdays or use Instant Cashout when money is needed sooner! Payments and tips are available in the Driver App just 15 minutes after a delivery is completed, making same-day earnings easy.
It's clear that salary data shows that DoorDash pays more than Grubhub on average. DoorDash also states drivers earn $23 per hour on average based on all of the data it has, so it's clear that DoorDash pays more than Grubhub based on all the numbers.
Availability is market specific and Grubhub engages waitlisted applicants on a first come, first served basis. Should your wait exceed 30 days, Grubhub will check in with you to see if you'd like to remain on the waitlist or have your application removed.
Grubhub is a good job if you want a side hustle to make extra money in your spare time and have access to a car and a data plan on your phone. Grubhub isn't a good job if you're expecting it to be your only job. It's difficult to make enough money in most cities with the amount of competition and orders available.
Yes, Grubhub drivers are able to see their total payment amount they will recieve for each order, which includes 100% of the diner's tip. For more information about how Grubhub drivers are paid, visit our Pay page.
Grubhub Delivery partners are classified as independent contractors. Grubhub does not withhold any federal, state, or local taxes from your income, nor are we able to change your classification. You are solely responsible for paying the taxes on your earnings.
DoorDash: Popular in the United States and Canada, DoorDash provides food delivery from various local stores and restaurants. Grubhub: Primarily serving the United States, Grubhub connects users with nearby restaurants for delivery or pickup.
Grubhub charges various fees to restaurants and customers. These fees may include marketing, delivery, processing, and tablet rental fees for restaurants. Customers may encounter delivery fees, service fees, and small order fees. The fees vary depending on location, order size, and the services utilized.
Enter your delivery address on the left-hand side of the Grubhub homepage, and use the search bar on the right-hand side to type in a restaurant name, food item, allergen, or cuisine. You can also use the filters below to select delivery or pickup, cuisine and more to browse available restaurants.
Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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