Grubhub Plus vs DoorDash DashPass: 2026 Food Delivery Comparison
Updated
Quick Comparison
Grubhub+ and DoorDash DashPass offer nearly identical pricing and benefits. The major differentiator: Grubhub+ is free with Amazon Prime, making this comparison simple for the 180+ million Prime members.
Feature
Grubhub+
DoorDash DashPass
Monthly cost
$9.99
$9.99
Free with Prime
Yes
No
Annual option
No
$96/year
Free delivery minimum
$12+
$12+
Reduced service fee
Yes
Yes
Cashback/rewards
5% back on pickup
Member exclusives
US coverage
Strong in urban
Stronger overall
Bottom line: If you have Amazon Prime, use Grubhub+ (it’s free). If you don’t have Prime, DoorDash often has better restaurant selection outside major cities.
The Prime Factor: Grubhub’s Secret Advantage
Grubhub+ Free with Amazon Prime
Amazon includes Grubhub+ as a Prime benefit:
What You Get
Details
Full Grubhub+
All standard benefits
Cost
$0 (included with Prime)
Activation
Link accounts in Prime benefits
Duration
Continues with Prime membership
Value
$120/year ($9.99 × 12)
How to Activate
Go to Amazon Prime benefits
Find “Grubhub+ membership”
Link your Grubhub account
Grubhub+ activates immediately
Impact on Comparison
Scenario
Grubhub+ Cost
DashPass Cost
With Prime
$0
$9.99/month
Without Prime
$9.99/month
$9.99/month
Prime + DashPass
$0 + $9.99 = $9.99
—
For Prime members, this isn’t a close comparison—Grubhub+ wins on price by being free.
Subscription Details
Grubhub+ Benefits
Benefit
Details
Free delivery
On $12+ orders from eligible restaurants
Reduced service fees
Lower percentage
5% back on pickup
Credit toward future orders
Member perks
Exclusive deals and offers
Donation matching
Community contribution
DashPass Benefits
Benefit
Details
Free delivery
On $12+ orders from eligible restaurants
Reduced service fees
Lower percentage
Member exclusives
Special deals and pricing
DashMart access
Convenience store delivery
Annual option
$96/year saves $24
Side-by-Side Subscription Comparison
Feature
Grubhub+
DashPass
Monthly
$9.99
$9.99
Annual option
No
$96/year
Student discount
$5/month
$4.99/month
Free trial
14 days
30 days
Prime bundle
Free
No
Chase bundle
No
Free with Sapphire Reserve
Delivery Fee Savings
Grubhub+ Fees
Fee Type
Without Grubhub+
With Grubhub+
Delivery fee
$0.99-7.99
$0 on $12+
Service fee
10-15%
Reduced
Small order fee
$2-3 under $12
Still applies
Priority delivery
Extra
Available
DashPass Fees
Fee Type
Without DashPass
With DashPass
Delivery fee
$1.99-7.99
$0 on $12+
Service fee
10-15%
Reduced
Small order fee
$2 under $12
Still applies
Priority delivery
Extra
Available
Typical Order Savings
Order Size
Grubhub+ Saves
DashPass Saves
$12 order
$3-5
$3-5
$20 order
$4-6
$4-6
$30 order
$4-7
$4-7
$50 order
$5-8
$5-8
Savings are nearly identical between services.
Restaurant Selection Comparison
Grubhub Coverage
Metric
Details
Restaurant partners
365,000+
Geographic strength
Major metros, urban areas
Cities served
4,000+
Chain partnerships
Strong (McDonald’s, Taco Bell, etc.)
DoorDash Coverage
Metric
Details
Total merchants
600,000+ (including non-restaurant)
Geographic strength
Nationwide, including rural
Cities served
7,000+
Chain partnerships
Strong
Convenience stores
Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven
Coverage Winner by Area
Area Type
Better Selection
Major urban (NYC, Chicago, LA)
Tie or Grubhub often
Suburban
DoorDash often
Small cities
DoorDash
Rural
DoorDash
College towns
Varies
General rule: DoorDash has broader reach; Grubhub is competitive in dense urban areas.
Order Minimums and Fees
Minimum Order Comparison
Threshold
Grubhub+
DashPass
Free delivery minimum
$12
$12
Small order fee
$2-3 under min
$2 under min
No minimum restaurants
Some
Some
Both services have identical $12 minimums for free delivery benefits.
Service Fee Comparison
Order Size
Grubhub+ Service Fee
DashPass Service Fee
$15 order
~$1.80 (reduced)
~$1.50 (reduced)
$25 order
~$2.75 (reduced)
~$2.50 (reduced)
$40 order
~$4.00 (reduced)
~$3.50 (reduced)
DashPass typically has slightly lower service fees, but the difference is marginal.
Additional Benefits
Grubhub+ Extras
Perk
Details
5% back on pickup
Credit for future orders
Donation matching
Grubhub matches community donations
Perks program
Rotating member deals
Elite status
Based on order frequency
DashPass Extras
Perk
Details
DashMart delivery
Convenience store included
Member pricing
Lower prices at some restaurants
Exclusive access
New restaurant launches
Priority support
Faster customer service
Unique Strengths
Feature
Grubhub+
DashPass
Pickup rewards
5% back
None
Convenience stores
Limited
Extensive (Walgreens, CVS)
Grocery add-on
No
DashMart
Credit card integration
Prime (free)
Chase (free)
Delivery Experience
Grubhub Delivery
Factor
Details
Delivery times
30-50 minutes typical
Driver tracking
Real-time GPS
Communication
In-app chat
Driver pay model
Base + tips
Reliability
Good in urban areas
DoorDash Delivery
Factor
Details
Delivery times
25-45 minutes typical
Driver tracking
Real-time GPS
Communication
In-app chat/call
Driver pay model
Base + tips + peak pay
Reliability
Good overall
Speed Comparison
Time of Day
Grubhub
DoorDash
Weekday lunch
Similar
Similar
Friday dinner
Slightly slower
Slightly faster (more drivers)
Late night
Similar
Often more availability
Weekend brunch
Similar
Similar
DoorDash often has more drivers available due to larger market share, potentially meaning faster delivery during peak times.
Credit Card and Partner Benefits
Grubhub+ Free Access
Source
Benefit
Amazon Prime
Free Grubhub+
Bank of America
Occasional promotions
Lyft Pink
Partnership offers
DashPass Free Access
Source
Benefit
Chase Sapphire Reserve
1 year free
Chase Sapphire Preferred
3 months free
Capital One
Promotional offers
Mastercard
Various promotions
Best Credit Card Pairing
Your Credit Card
Best Choice
No premium cards
Grubhub+ (if Prime member)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
DashPass (free)
Amazon Prime Card
Grubhub+ (Prime includes it)
Amex Platinum
Uber One (Uber credits)
Student Pricing
Grubhub+ Student
Feature
Details
Cost
$5/month
Verification
Student ID or .edu email
All benefits
Yes
Duration
4-year maximum
DashPass Student
Feature
Details
Cost
$4.99/month
Verification
SheerID
All benefits
Yes
Duration
4-year maximum
Student Recommendation
Situation
Best Choice
Has Prime Student ($69/year)
Grubhub+ (free with Prime)
No Prime
DashPass ($4.99 slightly cheaper)
Prime Student includes Grubhub+, making it the better overall value for students.
Cost Analysis: Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Prime Member, 4 Orders/Month
Factor
Grubhub+
DashPass
Subscription
$0 (Prime)
$9.99
Delivery fees saved
$16
$16
Service fee savings
$6
$8
Net monthly savings
$22
$14.01
Grubhub+ saves $8/month more because subscription is free.
Scenario 2: No Prime, 6 Orders/Month
Factor
Grubhub+
DashPass
Subscription
$9.99
$9.99
Delivery fees saved
$24
$24
Service fee savings
$9
$12
Net monthly savings
$23.01
$26.01
Without Prime, DashPass saves slightly more due to lower service fees.
Scenario 3: Pickup-Focused User, 8 Orders/Month
Factor
Grubhub+
DashPass
Subscription cost
$0 (Prime)
$9.99
Pickup rewards (5%)
$8 back (on $160 orders)
$0
Net monthly benefit
$8 earned
-$9.99
For pickup orders, Grubhub+ provides value while DashPass costs money.
When to Use Each Service
Best Uses for Grubhub+
Situation
Why Grubhub+
Prime member
It’s free
Urban dweller
Strong restaurant selection
Pickup orders
5% back rewards
Chain restaurants
Good partnerships
Best Uses for DashPass
Situation
Why DashPass
Chase Sapphire holder
Free with card
Suburban/rural
Better coverage
Need convenience stores
Walgreens, CVS, 7-Eleven
Lower service fees
Slightly cheaper per order
No Prime
Similar value to Grubhub+
Many Users Have Both
Strategy
How It Works
Prime + free DashPass
Grubhub+ free, DashPass via Chase card
Compare per order
Check both apps for restaurant/price
Exclusive restaurants
Some restaurants only on one platform
Platform Reliability and Issues
Common Grubhub Complaints
Issue
Details
Driver availability
Can be limited in some areas
Order accuracy
Varies by restaurant
Customer service
Mixed reviews
App issues
Occasional bugs
Common DoorDash Complaints
Issue
Details
Surge pricing
Fees increase during busy times
Driver pay concerns
Some driver quality issues
Customer service
Generally responsive
Order accuracy
Varies by restaurant
Customer Service Comparison
Factor
Grubhub
DoorDash
Refund ease
Moderate
Good
Response time
Varies
Generally good
Resolution
Usually fair
Usually fair
In-app support
Available
Available
Decision Matrix
Choose Grubhub+ If:
Factor
Why It Matters
You have Prime
Grubhub+ is literally free
You order pickup
5% back on pickup orders
You’re in a major city
Strong urban coverage
You value simplicity
No separate subscription
Choose DashPass If:
Factor
Why It Matters
You have Chase Sapphire
DashPass is free
Better local selection
Check your address
You need convenience stores
DashMart, Walgreens, etc.
You’re in suburbs/rural
Better coverage
You don’t have Prime
Similar value, more reach
Verdict
Category
Winner
Price (with Prime)
Grubhub+ (free vs $9.99)
Price (without Prime)
Tie
Restaurant coverage
DashPass (nationwide)
Urban coverage
Tie or Grubhub
Convenience stores
DashPass
Pickup rewards
Grubhub+ (5% back)
Student value
Grubhub+ (free with Prime Student)
Credit card integration
Tie (different cards)
Our Recommendation
If you have Amazon Prime: Use Grubhub+. It’s free. That’s the entire analysis. DashPass costs $120/year; Grubhub+ costs $0 with Prime.
If you don’t have Prime but have Chase Sapphire Reserve: Use DashPass. It’s free with your card.
If you have neither Prime nor premium credit cards: Compare restaurant selection in your area. DoorDash typically has broader reach, but Grubhub may be competitive in major cities.
If you have Prime AND Chase Sapphire Reserve: Use both for free. Check both apps for each order—one may have better restaurant options, faster delivery, or current promotions.
The Real Answer for Most People
Prime members: Grubhub+ is free. Use it. Also get DashPass free if you have Chase Sapphire. Use whichever has the restaurant you want.
Non-Prime members: DoorDash probably has better selection in your area. But at $9.99/month, these services are nearly identical—pick based on local restaurant availability.