ChowNow

Best food delivery apps in the U.S. — the ones people actually use

Short answer: Start with DoorDash and Uber Eats. Keep Grubhub as a backup. If you also order groceries, add Instacart. For pizza/fast food, the restaurant’s own app can sometimes be cheaper.

Top recommendations

My practical recommendation

If you’re in the U.S., install these:

1. DoorDash — best first choice for most people.
2. Uber Eats — keep it to compare price, promos, delivery time, and restaurant availability.
3. Grubhub — useful backup, especially if you have Grubhub+ or live in a market where it’s strong.
4. Instacart — mainly for groceries, but now also useful for some restaurant delivery.

Best subscriptions

• DashPass: Good if you use DoorDash frequently; DoorDash says DashPass offers $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. (about.doordash.com)
• Uber One: Good if you use both Uber rides and Uber Eats; Uber says members get $0 delivery fee plus discounts on eligible restaurant/store orders. (help.uber.com)
• Grubhub+: Worth considering if you already get it free or discounted, or if Grubhub has strong restaurants near you; Grubhub advertises $0 delivery fees and other perks for members. (grubhub.com)

Bottom line

Use DoorDash as your main app, Uber Eats as your comparison app, and Grubhub as a backup. Before ordering, compare the final checkout total — menu prices, service fees, delivery fees, promos, and tips can make the “best” app change from one restaurant to another.

Best Food Delivery Apps in the U.S.

🥇 DoorDash — The Market Leader

DoorDash is the most-used food delivery app in the United States, holding approximately 67% of the national market, with 450,000+ restaurant partners, more coverage than any competitor, including most suburban and rural areas the others don't reach. It accounts for more than 65% of the market share and is partnered with over 450,000 merchants across the country.

Why people use it: Widest selection, strongest presence outside big cities, and its DashPass subscription (free delivery/lower fees) keeps users loyal. It's also expanded well beyond restaurants.

🥈 Uber Eats — Best for Cities

Uber Eats launched in 2014 as a spinoff of Uber's ride-hailing business and has grown into the second-largest US delivery platform, with particular strength in dense urban markets where it draws delivery drivers from the same pool as Uber's rideshare business. It currently holds roughly 23% market share.

Why people use it: Fast delivery in urban areas, integration with Uber One membership (combines rides + food delivery discounts), and strong presence in major metro areas.

🥉 Grubhub — Best for Specific Cities

Grubhub is the original US food delivery platform, founded in 2004, though its national market share has fallen to roughly 7% after peaking near 70% in 2016. It remains genuinely competitive in a small number of dense East Coast cities, particularly New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Why people use it: Loyal following in a handful of legacy-strong cities; now owned by Wonder Group, Grubhub maintains strong relationships with independent restaurants and often has partnerships with local favorites that are not available on larger platforms.

🛒 Instacart — Best for Groceries (Not Just Restaurants)

While primarily known for groceries, Instacart is a major player in the broader delivery space. Instacart achieved 14% growth in gross transaction value in 2026, with consumer interest remaining strong despite increasing competition from Amazon, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. If you want pantry staples, fresh produce, or last-minute dinner ingredients (not just prepared meals), this is the go-to.

Quick Recommendation Guide

Bottom Line

For most Americans, DoorDash is the safest default — DoorDash has the most market share by some distance in the United States, with Uber Eats in second and Grubhub third. But many people "multi-app" — keeping 2-3 apps installed and comparing prices/delivery times before ordering, since fees and speed can vary significantly by restaurant and time of day even within the same city.

If you are living in the United States, food delivery is likely a regular part of your routine. The U.S. food delivery market is incredibly mature, and while there are dozens of regional players, a few massive brands dominate the landscape.

These are the best food delivery apps in the United States, categorized by what they do best, along with tips on how to save money on them.

The "Big Three" (Everyday Meal Delivery)

These are the giants that cover almost every restaurant in your area, from local mom-and-pop shops to national fast-food chains.

1. DoorDash (The Undisputed Market Leader)

• The Vibe: The most popular delivery app in the country. It has the largest geographic footprint, meaning if you live in the suburbs, a mid-sized town, or a major city, DoorDash is almost guaranteed to have the best selection of restaurants.
• Why people actually use it: It is incredibly reliable, has a highly intuitive interface, and has expanded heavily into grocery, convenience, and alcohol delivery (partnering with places like Target, CVS, and local liquor stores).
• The Subscription: DashPass ($9.99/month) gives you $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders.
• Pro-Tip: If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve credit card, you can get DashPass for free, along with monthly statement credits.

2. Uber Eats (The Ecosystem King)

• The Vibe: DoorDash’s biggest rival. Uber Eats is highly popular in major metropolitan areas and is seamlessly integrated into the broader Uber rideshare app.
• Why people actually use it: If you already use Uber to get around, keeping everything in one app is incredibly convenient. Uber Eats is also a leader in tech innovation, frequently testing AI-powered restaurant recommendations and autonomous drone/robot deliveries in select cities.
• The Subscription: Uber One ($9.99/month). This is widely considered the best subscription value because it gives you $0 delivery fees and discounts on both food delivery (Uber Eats) and rides (Uber).
• Pro-Tip: The American Express Gold Card gives you $10 in Uber Cash every month, and the Amex Platinum gives you $15/month, which automatically applies to Uber Eats orders.

3. Grubhub (The City Classic & Best Budget Perk)

• The Vibe: One of the original pioneers of online food ordering. While it has lost market share nationally to DoorDash and Uber Eats, it remains incredibly popular in legacy urban markets like New York City, Chicago, and Boston. It was acquired by the "fast fine" virtual food hall company Wonder Group, which is integrating unique multi-restaurant ordering capabilities into the platform.
• Why people actually use it: The biggest draw for most Americans is its partnership with Amazon.
• The Subscription: Grubhub+ ($9.99/month) offers $0 delivery fees and exclusive deals.
• Pro-Tip: If you have Amazon Prime, you get Grubhub+ for free. This makes Grubhub the default choice for millions of Americans who want to avoid paying for a delivery subscription.

Specialty & Convenience Apps (When You Want More Than Takeout)

Sometimes you aren't looking for a restaurant meal, but you still need something delivered to your door fast.

4. Gopuff (Best for Late-Night & Convenience)

• The Vibe: The ultimate app for late-night cravings, household emergencies, or party supplies.
• Why people actually use it: Unlike DoorDash or Uber Eats (which send drivers to local stores), Gopuff operates its own micro-fulfillment centers stocked with thousands of items. If you need a pint of ice cream, a bag of chips, some Advil, or a six-pack of beer at 1:00 AM, Gopuff can usually get it to your door in 15 to 30 minutes with very low fees.

5. Instacart (Best for Groceries & Meal Prep)

• The Vibe: The undisputed heavyweight of grocery delivery.
• Why people actually use it: If you want to order a full week’s worth of groceries from Costco, Aldi, Kroger, or Safeway, Instacart is the gold standard. They also have a partnership with Grubhub, allowing you to order ready-to-eat restaurant meals directly inside the Instacart app, making it a highly versatile food app.

6. Goldbelly (Best for Nationwide Gourmet Shipping)

• The Vibe: Not for your average Tuesday night pizza, but for when you want the absolute best food in the country.
• Why people actually use it: Goldbelly partners with iconic, legendary restaurants across the US to ship their food nationwide, frozen and ready to heat. You can order authentic Philly cheesesteaks from Jim's, deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati's in Chicago, or Texas brisket from Snow’s BBQ, and have it delivered to your door anywhere in the country.

How to Get the Best Deals in the US

1. Double-Check Your Credit Cards: Many U.S. credit cards (Chase, Amex, Capital One) offer free subscriptions or monthly credits for DoorDash or Uber Eats. Don't pay for these subscriptions out of pocket until you check your card benefits.
2. Watch the "Menu Markup": Restaurants often raise their prices on delivery apps to offset the commissions the apps charge them. If you live close to the restaurant, ordering directly through the restaurant's website for pickup is almost always 15% to 30% cheaper.
3. Use Amazon Prime: If you are one of the 180+ million Americans with Amazon Prime, make sure to link your account to Grubhub to activate your free Grubhub+ membership immediately.

If you want the most-used food delivery apps in the U.S., the top names are DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. DoorDash is the clear market leader, with one source calling it the largest U.S. platform and another citing about 65% market share; Uber Eats is typically the next biggest, and Grubhub remains a major option in many cities.

Here are the best brands to know if you want apps people actually use:

If you want a simple recommendation:

• Best overall: DoorDash
• Best alternative: Uber Eats
• Best for cheaper orders in some areas: Grubhub
• Best for groceries: Instacart

A few practical notes:

• “Best” depends a lot on your city, because restaurant coverage and fees vary by location.
• DoorDash appears to have the broadest reach and strongest brand recognition in the U.S.
• Grubhub can be a smart pick if you care most about price transparency or lower cost in your area.

If you want, I can also rank these by lowest fees, best subscription value, or best for suburban vs. urban areas.

If you’re in the U.S., the food-delivery market is basically a three-horse race: DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Start with those. Then add niche apps depending on what you order.

The big three people actually use

1. DoorDash — best overall

   • Largest U.S. market share by far.
   • Best restaurant selection, especially in suburbs and smaller cities.
   • Strong subscriptions with DashPass.
   • Owns Caviar, its premium/high-end brand, in select cities.

2. Uber Eats — best runner-up

   • Very strong in cities and late-night.
   • Good for restaurants, groceries, and convenience items.
   • Uber One bundles Uber Eats and ride discounts.
   • Postmates has largely been folded into Uber Eats, so don’t bother with Postmates as a main app anymore.

3. Grubhub — best in NYC, Chicago, and college towns

   • Still a major player, especially in dense cities and campus areas.
   • Owns Seamless, which is basically the same network under a different brand in NYC/Philly.
   • Grubhub+ is often free or discounted with Amazon Prime—check current terms.

Other apps worth knowing

• Caviar — DoorDash-owned, best for fancy/high-end restaurants in select cities.
• Seamless — Grubhub’s NYC-centric brand. Use it if that’s what’s popular in your area.
• Slice — Best for local pizza delivery. Simple and pizza-focused.
• ChowNow — Not a traditional marketplace; lets you order directly from local restaurants, often cheaper and more restaurant-friendly.
• Gopuff — Great for snacks, drinks, and convenience-store stuff, with some prepared food.
• Instacart — Mostly groceries and ready-made meals, not classic restaurant delivery.
• Regional apps — EatStreet in the Midwest, Waitr/ASAP in smaller Southern markets, Delivery.com in some cities. Availability depends on your ZIP code.

How to choose

• Check your ZIP code first. Availability varies a lot by city and suburb.
• Compare the final total. Menu markups, delivery fees, service fees, and tips can make the same order cost very different across apps.
• Subscriptions only pay off if you order often. DashPass, Uber One, and Grubhub+ are worth it if you order 2+ times a month.
• For chains and local spots, check their own app/website. McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, local pizza places, etc., often have better prices and rewards directly.

Bottom line: Download DoorDash and Uber Eats first. Add Grubhub/Seamless if you’re in a big city or college town. Then add Slice for pizza, Caviar for upscale, ChowNow for local restaurants, and Gopuff for snacks. That’s what Americans actually use.

DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub (including Seamless) are the top food delivery apps that most Americans actually use, with DoorDash dominating by a wide margin.

These three account for the vast majority of the market based on order volume, market share data (DoorDash ~60-67%, Uber Eats ~23-26%, Grubhub ~6-9% or lower in recent estimates), app downloads, and user consideration. Other services exist for niches like groceries or speed, but the big three are the everyday go-tos for restaurant delivery across the US.

Top Recommendations

Here’s a breakdown of the leaders, based on coverage, reliability, fees, and real-world usage:

• DoorDash (Best overall for most people): It leads with the widest restaurant selection (hundreds of thousands of partners), broadest geographic coverage (including suburbs and smaller cities where others are weaker), and strong performance on order accuracy and variety (restaurants, groceries, convenience items, alcohol, etc.). It operates in thousands of US cities and consistently ranks as the most-used or most-downloaded app. DashPass ($9.99/month or annual option) offers perks like $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. Many sources call it the default choice for reliability and selection.

• Uber Eats (Strong runner-up, especially in cities): It’s a close second with solid urban coverage, fast delivery times in dense areas (leveraging the same driver network as Uber rides), and a clean app experience. It integrates well if you already use Uber. Uber One membership (~$9.99/month) provides similar free-delivery benefits. It’s often praised for speed and interface but trails DoorDash in overall market share and suburban reach. Postmates is now part of it.

• Grubhub (including Seamless) (Best value in certain markets): It has a smaller but loyal user base, particularly in Northeast cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia. It sometimes offers lower or more transparent fees, and Grubhub+ ($9.99/month) is free for eligible Amazon Prime members—a big perk. It’s a solid backup or primary option where it has strong local restaurant partnerships.

Other Notable Apps

• Instacart: Excellent if you want groceries alongside or instead of restaurant food; it’s more grocery-focused but useful for combined orders.
• Gopuff: Great for quick (often under 20-30 minutes) delivery of convenience items, snacks, drinks, and everyday essentials rather than full restaurant meals.
• Specialty options: ChowNow (commission-free, supports local restaurants directly), Slice (pizza-focused, independent spots), or Caviar (premium/upscale dining, now tied to DoorDash).

Tips for Using These Apps in the US

Availability, fees, restaurant selection, and delivery times vary significantly by city, neighborhood, and even specific restaurant—so download a couple and compare for your area. Subscriptions can save money if you order frequently (they waive or reduce delivery fees on qualifying orders). Watch for promotions, as new users or occasional deals are common. Fees (delivery + service) add up, especially on small orders, and tipping is standard.

For the best experience, check multiple apps for the same order, as the same restaurant might appear with different pricing/availability. DoorDash is the safest default bet for most US users due to its scale, but Uber Eats or Grubhub can be better depending on your location and priorities (e.g., Prime membership or urban speed).

These rankings draw from recent 2025–2026 analyses of market share, user data, and comparisons. Preferences can shift with local factors, so real-world testing in your area is key.