Cartwheel

Cartwheel is enterprise delivery management software for restaurant chains and catering brands coordinating in-house drivers with outside fleets. It suits operators that need granular dispatch rules, catering-specific proof of delivery, and customer-facing tracking across multiple locations. Smaller businesses may find its per-location allowance and paid structure more than they need.

Overview

Cartwheel combines dispatch, driver operations, third-party delivery connections, and live tracking in one platform. Its Hybrid Delivery engine sends each order to an in-house or external driver in under a second, which can help chains use their own capacity first while preserving outsourced coverage during peaks.

The company grew from a Los Angeles delivery restaurant into an operation serving hundreds of restaurants. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Cartwheel operates in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. See Restaurant Delivery Management Software for a wider category view.

Key features

Dispatch rules can account for time of day, order size, driver availability, per-driver order limits, and delivery areas drawn as polygons or radii. That level of control is valuable for multi-location teams with changing staffing and service zones, but unnecessary complexity for a restaurant using one small fleet.

Catering workflows support scheduled dispatch, pre-delivery checklists, vehicle-type routing, and photo and signature proof. Driver tools add route planning, order checklists, proof of delivery, ID verification, and photo or signature capture. These controls address scheduled, high-value catering handoffs better than a basic on-demand dispatch tool.

One integration connects to Uber Direct, DoorDash Drive, Grubhub, Skipcart, and more than 50 local fleets. Named ordering and marketplace connections include Toast, PAR, Olo, Qu, ChowNow, ezCater, and Uber Direct. Pre-negotiated third-party rates can be up to 27% below direct rates, and Cartwheel can file refund claims automatically for late or cancelled deliveries; the saving depends on the rates and order mix an operator actually receives.

Branded tracking pages, promotional banners, and Google Reviews integration extend the customer experience beyond dispatch. Store and Dispatch mobile tools run on phones and tablets, with iOS and Android support. Cartwheel also cites a SOC 2 audit covering security and reliability, white-glove rollout, dedicated enterprise account management, and 24/7 live support.

Pricing

Cartwheel starts at $65/mo, while the published Cartwheel plan costs $99 a month, billed monthly. It includes 400 deliveries, then charges $0.25 per order after the allowance. That structure fits a location with predictable volume near 400 monthly deliveries; high-volume sites should model the overage rather than treating the base fee as the full cost.

The Cartwheel Demo page plan is also $99 a month, billed per location. It includes 400 deliveries, $0.25 per order after the allowance, full feature access, self-onboarding with a setup guide, and email support in under 24 hours.

Platforms

Cartwheel runs on web, iOS, and Android. Its driver app and mobile Store and Dispatch tools support phone and tablet workflows, while route optimization, automated dispatch, and custom delivery-zone rules cover multi-channel order sources.

Who it's for

Cartwheel is a strong fit for restaurant chains and catering brands balancing owned drivers with several delivery providers, especially when scheduled catering, signatures, vehicle requirements, and branded tracking matter. It is less suitable for a single location that only needs simple order handoff or a free plan.

Pros and cons

• Pros: sub-second hybrid routing; detailed zone and capacity rules; catering checklists and proof; broad fleet and ordering integrations; branded tracking; enterprise rollout and 24/7 support.
• Cons: the 400-delivery allowance can create recurring overage charges; published plans are paid rather than free; per-location billing can become significant across a large estate; the richest workflows may exceed the needs of a simple operation.

Alternatives

Choose GoSufra if a free forever plan with one branch, up to five users, and core POS, kitchen, inventory, and recipe tools is the priority. APPY Delivery suits businesses starting with a free QR menu for one location and up to 50 products, with a 7.50 EUR monthly annual-billing upgrade.

MyOrderBox offers free own-website orders and one-terminal POS, with a 29.00 GBP monthly Basic plan. Lunchbox has free offerings for one or two locations and a zero-commission SMB option. Shipday provides a 14-day full trial and a free tier for up to 300 orders monthly.

Captain is an alternative with pricing discussed through a demo. Grafterr Delivery Management offers freemium plans including unlimited orders on its Standard tier. Olo Dispatch is another paid option requiring a sales conversation. For broader comparisons, see Delivery Management Software.

Verdict

Cartwheel is a compelling choice for chains and catering operators that need fast hybrid dispatch, enforceable delivery rules, and documented handoffs across multiple fleets. Look elsewhere if you need a free entry plan, a very small operation has low delivery volume, or the 400-order allowance and per-location overages do not fit your economics.