Grubhub is mainly a restaurant-discovery marketplace; ChowNow offers both a marketplace and direct ordering through participating restaurants’ websites or apps. For diners, compare which service lists the restaurant and the full checkout total. For restaurant operators, compare current written fees, delivery arrangements, and whether marketplace discovery or direct repeat ordering better fits the business.
How Grubhub and ChowNow differ
| What to compare | Grubhub | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering model | Marketplace discovery and ordering through Grubhub’s app or website. Grubhub for Restaurants | A marketplace plus direct ordering through participating restaurants’ own websites and apps. ChowNow |
| Restaurant-side costs | May include marketing, order processing, and delivery fees. Published rates vary by package and market. | ChowNow describes its restaurant model as commission-free; delivery and other channel costs still need to be considered. |
| Diner fee established in the cited sources | No platform-wide diner fee was established; check the specific order’s checkout total. | A 7.5% Support Local Fee applies to the subtotal when ordering through the ChowNow app or eat.chownow.com. |
| Delivery detail established in the cited sources | Grubhub says restaurants using its delivery service may pay a delivery fee; availability and order pricing are local. | ChowNow says partner delivery is priced at $7.98 for a maximum range of 8 miles; the restaurant can choose how much of the cost to pass to the diner. |
What diners should check before ordering
Start with the restaurant, not the platform
Search the restaurant on both services, if available, and check whether it also accepts direct orders on its own website or app. Availability, menus, and delivery options can differ by restaurant and location; the sources do not establish a universal winner for selection, speed, or satisfaction.
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Compare the complete checkout total
On ChowNow, orders placed through its app or eat.chownow.com carry a Support Local Fee equal to 7.5% of the subtotal, according to its diner support page. That fee is distinct from any delivery charge. ChowNow says partner delivery costs $7.98 for a maximum range of 8 miles, while restaurants may decide how much to charge the diner; its suggested $3.99 diner share is a recommendation, not a universal price. ChowNow’s delivery support page notes regional fee rules affecting California, New York City, and Seattle beginning June 11, 2024, so check the current local checkout details.
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The cited sources do not establish one platform-wide Grubhub diner fee. Compare the specific order’s subtotal, taxes, delivery charge, service or other fees, and any applicable discounts at checkout. A restaurant’s own ordering channel may have a different total, but the available evidence does not establish that direct ordering is always cheaper.
#1 Best Overall
- Get thousands of restaurants, convenience stores, pet stores, grocery stores, gifts, and more at your fingertips.
- Easy ordering, order customizations, and real-time tracking
- Pickup, group order, and scheduled delivery options available
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
What restaurant operators should compare
Separate Grubhub’s types of charges
Grubhub says there is no monthly or ongoing fee simply to be listed in its marketplace. That does not make marketplace orders free: charges may include marketing fees when an order is placed, order-processing fees for payment processing and fraud-related services, and a delivery fee when the restaurant uses Grubhub delivery. Grubhub for Restaurants describes these categories.
Grubhub’s detailed pricing FAQ, dated February 2, 2022, lists marketing commission of 5%–20% depending on package and a 10% delivery fee when using its delivery service. Grubhub’s FAQ is a dated published description, not a guaranteed current quote. ChowNow’s company-authored comparison, published September 12, 2026, describes Grubhub marketing rates of 5%, 15%, or 20%, with delivery fees starting at 10%, and says rates can vary by market. ChowNow’s comparison is a vendor’s account of a competitor’s pricing, not an independent rate survey. Request current written terms for the relevant market, package, order channel, and fulfillment method before relying on a percentage.
Rank #2
- A huge selection fulfilling all your needs - food and more!
- Easy ordering & real-time tracking
- Customize your orders
- Pickup & group order options
- Physical gift cards are delivered active via mail.
Understand what “commission-free” does and does not mean
ChowNow presents its platform as supporting restaurant discovery and marketplace orders as well as direct ordering through a restaurant’s own website or app, with marketing, integrations, and customer-data features. These are ChowNow’s descriptions of its product, not an independent assessment of performance or a statement of contractual data rights. ChowNow describes the platform, while its diner support page explains the 7.5% fee on orders through its app and eat.chownow.com.
For partner delivery, ChowNow’s restaurant support page states a price of $7.98 for a maximum 8-mile range. The restaurant can choose how much it or the diner pays; the company recommends a $3.99 diner share, but actual charges and regional rules may differ. Confirm the current arrangement and local terms. ChowNow’s partner-delivery guidance
Rank #3
- This card is redeemable via the Uber app within the U.S. in cities where Uber is available.
- Redemption: Mobile App
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Compare total cost and business fit
- Ask for current written pricing by order channel, package, market, and fulfillment method.
- Model the total cost for marketplace orders, direct orders, pickup, and delivery separately, including processing and any diner-paid delivery share.
- Decide whether marketplace discovery or a direct ordering route for repeat customers matters more to the restaurant.
- Review the contract for customer-data access and use; marketing claims about customer data do not establish ownership or contractual rights.
- Verify local diner fees, delivery coverage, and checkout behavior with actual restaurant listings before choosing a setup.
Which service is the better fit?
For diners
Choose based on the restaurant you want, the ordering channel available, and the final price shown for that particular order. ChowNow’s app and website fee is a concrete consideration; the cited sources do not support a platform-wide price or delivery-speed verdict for either service.
For restaurant operators
Grubhub may be relevant when marketplace discovery is a priority, while ChowNow’s mix of marketplace and direct-ordering options may suit businesses weighing a direct channel for repeat orders. These are differences in the services’ stated models, not a guarantee of customer acquisition, savings, or performance. The meaningful comparison is the current contract and total cost for the restaurant’s actual order mix.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Get thousands of restaurants, convenience stores, pet stores, grocery stores, gifts, and more at your fingertips.
- Easy ordering, order customizations, and real-time tracking
- Pickup, group order, and scheduled delivery options available
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Rank #4
- This card is redeemable via grubhub.com or the Grubhub app in markets where Grubhub is available within the U.S. only.
- To redeem, log into your account online or in the app, select "gift cards", select "add a new gift card" and enter in the gift card number to add the balance to your account.
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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