DoorDash charges restaurants between 15% and 30% on every order. On a $30 delivery order, that’s $4.50 to $9.00 going straight to DoorDash — not your business. Over a month of 200 orders, you could be losing $900 to $1,800 in commission fees alone.
DoorDash is one of the biggest names in food delivery, with roughly 67% of the US delivery market. That reach is valuable for finding new customers. But with average restaurant profit margins sitting between 3% and 9%, those per-order commissions and service fees can wipe out your profits on delivery orders entirely. And on platforms like DoorDash, you don’t own the customer data — so you can’t build direct relationships or run your own promotions.
The good news: there are delivery alternatives that help restaurants save money by reducing costs on every order. We compared 12 delivery apps like DoorDash — from free subscription-based commission-free platforms to full-service marketplace competitors — so you can find the best fit for your restaurant’s budget and goals.
Quick picks:
Best for affordable commission-free ordering:Menubly ($9.99/mo, zero commissions)
Best free online ordering: GloriaFood (free, no commissions)
Best marketplace alternative: Grubhub (marketing tools, flexible commissions)
Best for branded mobile app: ChowNow ($119/mo, branded iOS/Android app)
What Is DoorDash?
DoorDash is a food delivery marketplace that connects restaurants with customers through its app and website. Founded in 2013 and publicly traded since 2020, DoorDash has grown into the largest food delivery platform in the United States with an estimated 67% market share, over 37 million active customers, and partnerships with 390,000+ merchant stores.
Restaurants join DoorDash to get access to that massive customer base. DoorDash handles last-mile delivery logistics through its fleet of drivers — independent contractors who pick up and deliver orders using their own vehicles. Customers can find your restaurant, browse your menu, and place orders through the DoorDash app. In return, DoorDash takes a cut of every order — anywhere from 15% to 30% depending on your plan. The independent contractor role means DoorDash doesn’t employ drivers directly, which keeps their costs low but can lead to inconsistent delivery quality.
DoorDash also offers DoorDash Online Ordering, a separate commission-free product that lets restaurants take direct orders through their own website. This storefront widget is commission-free, though payment processing fees still apply.
DoorDash Features
Marketplace listing with access to 37M+ active customers
DoorDash Drive (white-label delivery service for direct orders)
Restaurant doesn’t own customer data on marketplace orders
DoorDash controls menu pricing, placement, and customer experience
Limited branding — your restaurant is one of thousands on the app
Customer loyalty goes to DoorDash, not to your restaurant
Restaurants must accept DoorDash’s terms, dispute processes, and policy changes
What to Look For in a DoorDash Alternative
Not all DoorDash alternatives work the same way. Some are direct ordering platforms that charge a flat monthly fee with zero commissions. Others are marketplace competitors with different commission structures and delivery solutions. Choosing the best alternative means weighing the pros and cons of each model. Here are the key factors to compare when picking the right restaurant online ordering system.
Commission structure: Does the platform charge per-order commissions or a flat monthly fee? A $9.99/month fee vs. 30% commission on a $30 order means the difference between paying $9.99 total and paying $9.00 per order. Over 200 orders, that’s $9.99 vs. $1,800.
Customer data ownership: Do you get your customers’ contact information (email, phone, order history), or does the platform keep it? Owning that data lets you run promotions, build a loyalty program, and bring customers back without paying a fee on every order.
Delivery options: Does the platform provide drivers, or do you need your own? There are different types of delivery setups: some platforms include a full driver network, others offer hybrid delivery with flexible delivery options, and some focus on pickup and dine-in only. Check the delivery radius each platform supports and whether you have control over delivery quality. If delivery is critical, look for integrations with services like Uber Direct or DoorDash Drive.
Pricing transparency: Watch for hidden fees — payment processing, tablet rental, setup charges, marketing upsells. Compare the total monthly cost, not just the headline price.
Ease of setup: Can you launch in minutes, or does it take weeks of onboarding? Small restaurants need platforms that work right away without IT support.
Marketing and discoverability: Marketplaces bring new customers but at a cost. Direct platforms protect your brand identity and give you control but require you to drive traffic. Think about what your restaurant needs more right now.
Integration with existing systems: Does it connect with your current POS, printer, and payment processor? Switching costs add up fast if you have to replace your entire tech stack.
DoorDash Alternatives: Quick Comparison
Platform
Best For
Starting Price
Commission
Delivery Drivers
Customer Data
Menubly
Affordable commission-free ordering
$9.99/mo
0%
No (pickup/dine-in/delivery ordering)
You own it
GloriaFood
Free online ordering
Free
0%
Third-party integrations
You own it
Square
Free POS + online ordering
Free
0% (2.6% + $0.15 processing)
DoorDash/Uber integration
You own it
CloudWaitress
Delivery zone management
Free–$39/mo
0%
Uber Direct, DoorDash Drive
You own it
ChowNow
Branded mobile app
$119/mo
0% (2.95% + $0.29 processing)
Flex Delivery ($3.99/order)
You own it
Restolabs
Multi-channel ordering
$55/mo
0%
DoorDash, Uber Direct
You own it
Flipdish
Branded app for chains
€49/mo
0%
Third-party integrations
You own it
Menufy
Free for restaurants
Free ($1.75 customer fee)
0%
In-house + third-party
You own it
Owner.com
SEO-driven direct ordering
$499/mo
0%
Third-party drivers
You own it
Uber Eats
Global marketplace reach
Free to join
20–30%
Yes, included
Uber owns it
Grubhub
Marketing tools
Free to join
15–30%
Yes, included
Grubhub owns it
Toast
Full restaurant ecosystem
$0/mo (hardware extra)
0% on direct (3.5% online processing)
DoorDash, Uber integration
You own it
Best Direct Ordering Platforms (Commission-Free DoorDash Alternatives)
These platforms let you take orders directly from customers with zero per-order commissions. You own the customer relationship, the data, and 100% of the revenue. Most charge a flat monthly fee instead of a percentage of each order.
1. Menubly — Best for Affordable Commission-Free Online Ordering
Menubly is an online ordering and digital menu platform built for small to medium food businesses that want to stop losing money to delivery app commissions. At $9.99 per month with zero commission fees, it’s the most affordable paid DoorDash alternative on this list. That means a single saved DoorDash commission on a $35 order pays for your entire month of Menubly.
Unlike DoorDash, where your restaurant is one of thousands competing for attention, Menubly gives you your own branded online menu, restaurant website, and ordering system. Customers order directly from you, and you keep 100% of the revenue. You also own all customer data — emails, phone numbers, order history — so you can run promotions and bring people back without paying a fee on every order.
Key Features
Commission-free online ordering for pickup, delivery, and dine-in
Interactive digital menu builder with photos, descriptions, and categories
Built-in restaurant website builder — no coding required
QR code menu generation for dine-in and table ordering
100+ payment methods worldwide, including cash on delivery
WhatsApp ordering for direct customer engagement
Instant menu updates — change prices or mark items sold out in real time
Add-ons and customization options (sizes, toppings, extras)
Custom branding with your logo, colors, and fonts
SEO-optimized menu pages for Google search visibility
Free menu conversion from PDF or paper menus
Bulk menu import from Excel or CSV files
Pros
Zero commission — keep 100% of every order vs. DoorDash’s 15–30%
$9.99/month transparent pricing — 12x cheaper than ChowNow, 50x cheaper than Owner.com
Set up your menu and start taking orders in minutes
No hardware required — works on any device
Free menu conversion service (send a PDF or photo, get a digital menu)
100+ payment methods including WhatsApp ordering
Full customer data ownership for repeat marketing
30-day free trial with no credit card required
Cons
Not a full POS system — no in-person payment terminal
No built-in delivery driver fleet (restaurant handles delivery or uses pickup/dine-in)
No inventory management or employee scheduling features
Small restaurants, cafes, food trucks, bakeries, and bars that want commission-free online ordering without the $119–$499/month price tag of platforms like ChowNow or Owner.com. If you’re losing money on DoorDash commissions and just need an affordable way to take direct orders, Menubly is the most cost-effective option available.
2. GloriaFood — Best Free Online Ordering Platform
GloriaFood is a free online ordering platform that lets restaurants accept unlimited orders with zero commissions and no monthly fees on its core plan. Backed by Oracle (acquired in 2021), it’s the strongest free DoorDash alternative for restaurants that want to add direct ordering without any upfront investment.
Where DoorDash takes 15–30% of every order, GloriaFood charges nothing on its base plan. You embed the ordering widget on your website or Facebook page, and customers order directly from you. Paid add-ons like online payment processing ($29/month), advanced promotions ($19/month), and a branded mobile app ($59/month) are available if you need them.
Features
Commission-free online ordering — unlimited orders on the free plan
QR code table ordering for dine-in with table-specific codes
Delivery management with driver tracking integration
Built-in table reservation system
Free sales-optimized website builder
Scheduled and pre-orders for pickup and delivery
Online payment processing via Stripe and PayPal (paid add-on)
Promotional tools including discounts and promo codes (paid add-on)
Integration with Wolt, Lightspeed, Shipday, and other delivery platforms
Offline mode — continues taking orders during internet outages
Pros
Free tier is genuinely usable — unlimited orders, no commissions, no per-order fees
Zero commission saves restaurants 15–30% compared to DoorDash
No contracts on the online ordering platform
Quick setup — most restaurants go live within hours
QR code ordering supports multiple areas (tables, hotel rooms, outdoor seating)
Cannot manage full menu changes from the mobile admin app
Limited customization of the online ordering widget — code is locked
Only percentage-based delivery fee discounts — no fixed dollar amounts
Oracle ownership creates uncertainty about long-term free-tier commitment
Online payment processing requires the $29/month add-on
Pricing
Core online ordering:Free (no contracts, no commissions)
Sales-optimized website: $9/month per location
Advanced promotions: $19/month per location
Online payment processing: $29/month per location
Branded mobile app: $59/month per location
Best For
Small independent restaurants and ghost kitchens that want a zero-cost way to start taking direct orders. If you already have a POS and just want to add an online ordering channel without paying DoorDash commissions, GloriaFood’s free plan is hard to beat. Looking for more options? See our full guide to GloriaFood alternatives.
3. Square for Restaurants — Best Free POS with Online Ordering
Square for Restaurants gives you a full POS system and commission-free online ordering starting at $0/month. If your restaurant needs both a point-of-sale system and an alternative to DoorDash’s commission model, Square lets you handle both from one platform without separate subscriptions.
Square’s online ordering is included free on all plans — no commissions, just standard payment processing fees (2.6% + $0.15 per transaction). Compare that to DoorDash’s 15–30% commission, and the savings are significant. Square also integrates directly with DoorDash and Uber Eats, so you can still accept marketplace orders alongside your direct orders.
Features
Free POS with unlimited items and basic reporting
Commission-free online ordering on all plans
Table-specific QR code ordering for dine-in
Square Online website builder included
Kitchen display system (Plus plan and above)
Team management with shift scheduling
DoorDash and Uber Eats marketplace integration
Contactless and mobile payment acceptance
AI-powered voice ordering for incoming calls
Customer directory and feedback tools
Pros
Free plan is a real, functional POS — not a stripped-down trial
Commission-free online ordering included on every plan
No contracts or early termination fees
Works on existing iPads and iPhones — no proprietary hardware required
Transparent flat-rate payment processing
Large app and integration ecosystem
Cons
Payment processing rates not negotiable on lower plans
Must use Square’s payment processing — no external processors
Free plan lacks floor plans and advanced reporting
Hardware: Square Reader free (first one), Stand $149, Register $799
Best For
New restaurants, small cafes, food trucks, and counter-service spots that want a functional free POS with built-in online ordering and no contract. If you need a POS and want to stop paying DoorDash commissions, Square handles both.
4. CloudWaitress — Best for Delivery Zone Management
CloudWaitress is an online ordering platform with a free plan and some of the best delivery management tools in this price range. What makes it stand out as a DoorDash alternative is its distance-based delivery fee calculation and delivery zone mapping — features that most free and budget platforms don’t include.
Like DoorDash, CloudWaitress supports pickup, delivery, dine-in, and curbside orders. But instead of charging 15–30% per order, CloudWaitress is commission-free with a paid plan at $39/month. It also integrates with third-party delivery services like Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive, so you can still get drivers without paying marketplace commissions.
Features
Commission-free online ordering for pickup, delivery, dine-in, and curbside
Distance-based delivery fee calculation and delivery zone mapping
Paid plan:$39/month — full features, higher order volumes, 1,200+ integrations
Commission: 0% on all plans
Best For
Restaurants that need real delivery management tools (distance-based fees, zone mapping, driver integrations) without DoorDash’s commission model. Good for restaurants that have outgrown basic free platforms but aren’t ready to spend $100+ per month.
5. ChowNow — Best for Branded Mobile App
ChowNow is an online ordering platform that gives each restaurant its own branded iOS and Android mobile app, commission-free. With 20,000+ restaurants and over $700 million in claimed commission savings, ChowNow is designed for independent restaurants that want to shift customers away from DoorDash and onto their own branded ordering channel.
Instead of paying 15–30% per order on DoorDash, ChowNow charges a flat monthly fee starting at $119/month. That fee includes your branded app, website ordering, and access to ChowNow’s Order Better Network — which lists your restaurant on Google, Apple Maps, Yelp, and Tripadvisor for additional discovery. ChowNow also integrates with 14+ POS systems after its 2024 acquisition of Cuboh.
Premier: $298/month (annual) or $328/month (monthly)
Setup fee: $119–$499 one-time
Processing: 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction
Best For
Independent restaurants and fast-casual spots that want their own branded mobile app and need to consolidate third-party delivery orders into one dashboard. Best for restaurants handling high order volumes that want to shift customers from DoorDash to direct ordering.
6. Restolabs — Best for Multi-Channel Ordering
Restolabs lets restaurants take commission-free orders from their website, Facebook page, and mobile devices — all managed from a single dashboard. With over 2,000 restaurants across 10+ countries, it’s a solid mid-range DoorDash alternative that includes a loyalty program in its base plan.
Where DoorDash limits your ordering to their app and takes a cut of every order, Restolabs gives you multiple ordering channels with zero commissions. The base plan at $55/month includes loyalty rewards, delivery zone mapping, and real-time analytics — features you’d pay extra for on most competing platforms.
Features
Commission-free ordering via website, Facebook, and mobile
Delivery zone mapping and delivery charge calculation
Built-in loyalty/rewards program (included in base plan)
Real-time analytics dashboard
QR code ordering (Premium plan)
DoorDash and Uber Direct delivery integrations (Premium plan)
Coupon builder and promotional tools
Multi-location management (Enterprise plan)
Stock counter and sold-out item management
POS integrations with Toast, Clover, Revel, and PAR
Pros
Loyalty program included in the base plan — most competitors charge extra
Multi-channel ordering from one dashboard
Commission-free on all direct orders
Delivery zone mapping included
30-day free trial, no credit card required
Supports 10+ languages
Cons
QR ordering and delivery integrations require the $75/month Premium plan
Some users report occasional bugs and glitches
Small number of reviews mention billing issues
Limited branded app options compared to Flipdish or ChowNow
Support quality varies with some slow resolution times reported
Premium: $75/month — adds QR ordering, SMS, delivery integrations
Enterprise: $165/month — multi-location, white-label, dedicated support
Annual billing: 20% savings available
Best For
Restaurants wanting commission-free ordering across multiple channels (website, Facebook, mobile) with loyalty built in at a mid-range price point. Also a good best fit for restaurants that handle catering orders and need multi-channel order management. A solid middle ground between free platforms and expensive solutions like ChowNow.
7. Flipdish — Best for Multi-Location Restaurant Groups
Flipdish gives restaurant groups and chains their own branded mobile app, website, and even self-service ordering kiosks — all commission-free. With a 98% satisfaction rating across 224+ reviews and growing operations in the US and Europe, Flipdish is built for restaurants that have outgrown single-location platforms.
Where DoorDash treats every restaurant the same way in its marketplace, Flipdish lets you build a branded ordering experience across multiple locations managed from one dashboard. Starting at €49/month for website-only or €79/month with a branded app, it’s far cheaper than building a custom app from scratch.
Website + Mobile App: From €79/month (annual billing)
Kiosk: From €59/month (annual billing)
Commission: 0% on all direct orders
Best For
Multi-location restaurant groups, franchises, and growing chains that want a branded app and website at a predictable monthly cost instead of paying DoorDash commissions on every order across every location.
8. Menufy — Best Free Platform for US Restaurants
Menufy (by HungerRush) is a free-for-restaurants online ordering platform used by 16,000+ independently owned US restaurants across 3,000+ cities. Restaurants pay $0 per month — instead, customers pay a flat $1.75 convenience fee per order. That makes Menufy one of the only truly zero-cost DoorDash alternatives for the restaurant.
The trade-off compared to DoorDash is clear: instead of losing 15–30% of every order to DoorDash’s commission, your customer pays a small flat fee that doesn’t scale with order size. On a $30 order, DoorDash might take $4.50–$9.00 from the restaurant. Menufy takes $0 from you and $1.75 from the customer.
Features
Commission-free online ordering ($0/month for restaurants)
In-house delivery management with driver tracking app
Customer fee: $1.75 per order (restaurants can choose to absorb this)
Commission: 0% to the restaurant
Best For
US-based independent restaurants that want $0/month online ordering and are okay with the customer-facing $1.75 fee. Especially well-suited for restaurants already using or considering HungerRush 360 POS.
9. Owner.com — Best for High-Volume Restaurants
Owner.com is a premium direct ordering platform that combines commission-free online ordering with AI-powered SEO, a branded mobile app, and automated marketing. At $499/month, it’s the most expensive DoorDash alternative on this list — but for high-volume restaurants, the ROI math can work out.
Owner.com’s pitch is that it aggressively grows your direct orders through SEO. The platform creates custom SEO pages for each delivery city you serve, drives organic traffic, and converts visitors into direct customers instead of sending them to DoorDash. Some restaurants report going from $2,000/month to $10,000+/month in direct orders.
Established restaurants with high online order volume that want to aggressively grow direct orders through SEO and automated marketing. Not suitable for startups or small independents where $499/month doesn’t make financial sense. At that price, you’d need roughly 50+ orders per month at $30 average to match DoorDash’s commission cost — beyond that, every order is pure savings.
Best Marketplace DoorDash Alternatives
These platforms work like DoorDash — they list your restaurant on their marketplace app, provide delivery drivers, and charge commission fees. The trade-off: you get access to millions of potential customers, but you pay a percentage of every order and don’t fully own the customer relationship. They’re best used alongside a direct ordering platform as part of a hybrid marketing strategy.
10. Uber Eats — Best for Global Marketplace Reach
Uber Eats is DoorDash’s closest competitor with an estimated 28% US market share and global operations in 45+ countries. Built on Uber’s ride-sharing infrastructure, it offers the widest international reach of any food delivery platform — making it the best delivery platform for restaurants that want customer discovery beyond the US. Uber also acquired Postmates in 2020, folding its customer base into the Uber Eats app and expanding into grocery delivery alongside restaurant orders.
As of March 2026, Uber Eats raised its fees: the Lite tier went from 15% to 20%, and pickup orders increased from 6% to 7%. This makes Uber Eats comparable to — or more expensive than — DoorDash for most restaurants. Since Postmates was acquired by Uber, former Postmates restaurant partners now operate through Uber Eats. Uber Eats also offers a Webshop product for commission-free direct ordering at 2.5% + $0.29 per transaction.
Features
Marketplace listing with global customer reach across 45+ countries
Built-in delivery fleet using Uber’s driver network
Uber One membership program (customer subscription for free delivery)
Self-delivery option (use your own drivers, lower commission)
Uber Eats Webshop (commission-free direct ordering widget)
Real-time order tracking for customers and restaurants
Merchant analytics and performance reporting
Sponsored listing and promotional tools
POS integrations with major systems
Pros
Global reach across 45+ countries — broadest international coverage
Large existing customer base from ride-sharing app overlap
No upfront subscription fees to join
Self-delivery option lowers commission if you have your own drivers
Uber One membership drives repeat orders
Webshop available for commission-free direct ordering
Cons
20–30% commission on marketplace delivery orders (raised March 2026)
Pickup fee increased to 7% (up from 6%)
Restaurant doesn’t own customer data on marketplace orders
Limited control over delivery quality — negative reviews for driver issues
Menu pricing and placement controlled by Uber Eats
Plus tier charges additional 5% for Uber One member orders
Self-delivery: 15% (own drivers) or 25% (Uber’s network)
Webshop: 2.5% + $0.29 per transaction (commission-free)
Best For
Restaurants that need global marketplace exposure or want access to Uber’s large customer base for discovery. Like Uber Eats, other marketplaces like Grubhub offer a delivery opportunity for customer acquisition — but both are best used alongside a commission-free direct ordering platform, not as your primary ordering solution.
11. Grubhub — Best for Marketing Tools and Promotions
Grubhub partners with over 375,000 restaurants in 4,000+ US cities and also operates Seamless, its sister platform focused on New York City and other major metro areas. Grubhub stands out from DoorDash with stronger built-in marketing tools. Where DoorDash charges a flat commission percentage, Grubhub separates its fees into a marketing commission (5–20%) and a delivery fee (10%), giving restaurants more flexibility in how they structure costs.
Grubhub also offers features that DoorDash doesn’t include in its standard plans: email promotions to customers who’ve ordered from you, targeted coupon campaigns, and sponsored listings. For restaurants that want marketplace exposure with more marketing control, Grubhub can be a better fit than DoorDash — though you’ll still pay 15–30% total fees.
Features
Marketplace listing across 4,000+ US cities
Built-in delivery fleet (or self-delivery option)
Email marketing campaigns to past customers
Targeted coupon and promotional tools
Sponsored listing placements for increased visibility
Flexible commission structure (marketing + delivery as separate fees)
Lower pickup fees (marketing commission only, no delivery fee)
Corporate ordering program brings high-value catering and group orders
Web-ready ordering links available with or without Grubhub branding
Amazon partnership expands customer reach
Cons
Total fees still reach 15–30% when combining marketing + delivery commissions
Processing fees of 3.05% + $0.30 per order on top of commissions
Restaurant doesn’t own customer data on marketplace orders
Support can be slow and opaque for issue resolution
Sponsored listings cost an additional 5% commission
Restaurants held financially responsible for issues outside their control (driver delays, app errors)
Pricing
Marketing commission:5–20% per order (depends on plan)
Delivery fee: 10% per order (when using Grubhub drivers)
Processing fee: 3.05% + $0.30 per order
Sponsored listings: Additional 5% commission
Pickup orders: Marketing commission only (5–20%)
Best For
US restaurants that want marketplace exposure with more marketing control than DoorDash offers. Between Grubhub and Uber Eats, Grubhub’s email campaigns, coupon tools, and corporate ordering program make it better for restaurants that want to actively market through the platform — especially for managing delivery operations during peak times. Platforms like Grubhub are still best used as a customer acquisition tool alongside a commission-free direct ordering solution.
12. Toast — Best Full Restaurant Ecosystem
Toast is a full restaurant management platform that bundles POS, online ordering, payroll, marketing, and delivery into one ecosystem. With 200+ integrations and purpose-built features for the restaurant industry, it’s the most complete DoorDash alternative for restaurants that want to manage everything — ordering, operations, and staff — from a single platform.
Toast’s online ordering is commission-free for direct orders (though it’s a $75/month add-on). Payment processing fees of 3.5% apply to online orders, which is higher than Square but far less than DoorDash’s 15–30% commission. The catch: Toast requires proprietary hardware ($800–$8,000+) and locks you into 2–3 year contracts. For a full breakdown, see our guide to Toast alternatives.
Purpose-built for the restaurant industry with deep features
200+ integrations available
Commission-free on direct online orders
Widely adopted — easy to hire staff already trained on Toast
24/7 customer support
Cons
Proprietary hardware required — cannot use existing devices ($800–$8,000+)
2–3 year contracts with early termination fees
Payment processor lock-in (Toast Payments only)
Total cost of $150–$400+/month for a single location
Online ordering is a $75/month add-on — not included in base plans
3.5% processing fee on online orders is higher than competitors
Processing fees can increase mid-contract
Pricing
Starter:$0/month (pay-as-you-go with higher processing fees: 3.09% + $0.15)
Core: $69/month (2.49% + $0.15 processing)
Growth: $165/month
Online ordering add-on: $75/month
Online processing: 3.5% + $0.15
Hardware: $800–$8,000+ (proprietary, required)
Best For
Mid-to-large full-service restaurants that need a complete restaurant management platform and are willing to commit to multi-year contracts. Toast makes sense if you need POS, payroll, scheduling, and online ordering in one system — but it’s overkill (and overpriced) for restaurants that just need to stop paying DoorDash commissions.
How to Choose the Right DoorDash Alternative
With 12 options to consider, picking the right delivery alternative depends on your budget, restaurant type, and what matters most to your business. Making the switch from third-party platforms doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Here’s a quick framework to narrow down your choice.
By Budget
Free: GloriaFood, Square for Restaurants, Menufy
Under $50/month: Menubly ($9.99), CloudWaitress ($39)
Small independent restaurant: Menubly or GloriaFood
Food truck or pop-up: Menubly (mobile-friendly, QR code menus)
Multi-location chain: Flipdish or Toast
High-volume delivery restaurant: Owner.com or ChowNow
Ghost kitchen: GloriaFood or CloudWaitress
Restaurant wanting marketplace exposure: Grubhub or Uber Eats (supplement with a direct ordering platform)
By Primary Need
I just need affordable online ordering: Menubly ($9.99/month)
I need a free solution: GloriaFood or Square
I need my own branded app: ChowNow or Flipdish
I need a full POS system too: Square or Toast
I need maximum customer reach: Uber Eats + a direct ordering platform
I need the right delivery setup with drivers: CloudWaitress or ChowNow (with delivery integrations)
For most small to mid-size restaurants, the smartest strategy is combining a low-cost direct ordering platform with selective marketplace presence. Regardless of order size, this approach simplifies your delivery operations while keeping more revenue in-house. Use a commission-free platform like Menubly ($9.99/month) for your direct orders, and keep DoorDash or Grubhub running for new customer discovery. That way, you increase restaurant sales from both channels while keeping 100% of revenue on direct orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best DoorDash alternative for restaurants?
It depends on your goals. For affordable commission-free ordering, Menubly at $9.99/month is the most cost-effective option. For a free platform, GloriaFood offers unlimited commission-free orders. For marketplace reach with marketing tools, Grubhub offers flexible commission tiers and email campaigns.
How much does DoorDash charge restaurants per order?
DoorDash charges 15% (Basic), 25% (Plus), or 30% (Premier) on every marketplace delivery order. Pickup orders are charged 6% across all plans. On a $30 order, that’s $4.50 to $9.00 per delivery and $1.80 on pickup.
Can I use DoorDash and a direct ordering platform at the same time?
Yes, and this is the approach many successful restaurants take. Keep DoorDash for customer discovery, but use a commission-free platform like Menubly for direct orders from repeat customers. You can redirect customers to your direct ordering link through QR codes, social media, and in-store signage. This alternative delivery channel runs alongside DoorDash so you get the best of both. Learn how to set up online ordering alongside your existing channels.
What is commission-free online ordering?
Commission-free platforms charge a flat monthly fee instead of a percentage per order. Menubly charges $9.99/month regardless of how many orders you take, while DoorDash takes 15–30% of every single order. The more orders you get, the more you save with a flat-fee model.
How do I switch from DoorDash to direct ordering?
You don’t have to fully switch. Start by signing up for a direct ordering platform, then gradually redirect customers. Put your direct ordering QR code on tables and receipts. Add the ordering link to your website, Google Business Profile, and social media bios. Over time, more customers will order directly — and you’ll keep 100% of those orders.
Is Uber Eats cheaper than DoorDash for restaurants?
Not anymore. As of March 2026, Uber Eats raised its Lite tier to 20% (from 15%), and pickup fees went from 6% to 7%. Both platforms now charge 20–30% on delivery orders. The real savings come from commission-free direct ordering platforms, not from switching between marketplaces.
Do I need delivery drivers to use a DoorDash alternative?
Not necessarily. Many alternatives support pickup and dine-in ordering without delivery. Menubly, GloriaFood, and Square all let you take orders for in-store pickup or table ordering. If you need delivery, platforms like CloudWaitress and ChowNow integrate with third-party delivery services like Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive.
What is the cheapest DoorDash alternative?
GloriaFood and Square for Restaurants both offer free plans with commission-free ordering. Menufy is free for restaurants (customers pay $1.75 per order). Among paid platforms, Menubly at $9.99/month is the cheapest. Among marketplaces, Grubhub’s pickup commissions start at 5%.
Start Keeping More of Your Revenue
DoorDash’s 15–30% commissions make sense as a customer discovery tool, but they shouldn’t be your only ordering channel. The math is straightforward: on 200 orders at $30 average, DoorDash’s 25% commission costs $1,500/month. A direct ordering platform like Menubly costs $9.99/month for the same orders — that’s over $1,400 back in your pocket every month.
Quick recap:
Most affordable commission-free ordering: Menubly ($9.99/month)
Best free ordering platform: GloriaFood
Best free POS + ordering: Square for Restaurants
Best branded mobile app: ChowNow ($119/month)
Best marketplace alternative: Grubhub
The smartest restaurant owners aren’t choosing between DoorDash and alternatives — they’re using both strategically. Keep DoorDash for reaching new customers, but redirect repeat customers to your own commission-free ordering channel where you keep 100% of the revenue and own the customer relationship.
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