Grubhub brings restaurants orders from diners who are already in the app, and for many operators it is a useful discovery channel. It is priced as a percentage of each order: marketplace plans carry a 5%, 15% or 20% marketing commission, delivery through Grubhub’s drivers adds fees that “start at 10%,” and pricing “in select markets may differ,” according to Grubhub’s pricing page. Grubhub also offers Grubhub Direct, a commission-free ordering page for Marketplace partners, with per-order processing fees.

Restaurants usually search for a Grubhub alternative when they want a second channel priced differently: a flat monthly fee rather than a percentage, and a customer list they own and can market to. The good news is that this is not an either/or decision. ChowNow integrates with Grubhub, so you can keep it for discovery and add a direct channel for regulars.

This guide covers five options, what each one is best for, and a practical way to run Grubhub and direct ordering side by side.

Why restaurants look for an alternative to Grubhub

Percentage pricing. The marketing commission is 5% (Basic), 15% (Plus) or 20% (All-Access), and Grubhub delivery fees start at 10% on top. Self-delivery avoids the delivery fee. As order volume grows, some restaurants prefer a flat monthly fee for the orders that come from regulars.

Building your own customer list. Restaurants that want to run their own email, SMS and rewards programs need a channel where every order adds a contact to a list they own.

Grubhub Direct is a companion product. Grubhub states that Direct is available to Grubhub Marketplace partners, so it works alongside the marketplace rather than as a standalone direct platform.

Multiple devices. Each ordering platform typically comes with its own tablet and menu to maintain. Consolidating them onto one device saves time at the counter.

The right addition gives you a differently priced channel and a customer list, and it should make the counter simpler, not busier.

The 5 best alternatives to Grubhub

Platform Best for Commission on direct orders Customer data ownership Website included Branded app Marketing tools Works with Square POS
ChowNow Independents that want commission-free ordering plus diner reach 0%, flat monthly fee Yes, every order adds a contact you own Yes, SEO-optimized Yes, included Email, SMS option, rewards included Yes, direct integration
Online Ordering by DoorDash (Commerce) Restaurants already committed to DoorDash 0% commission, payment processing fee applies Varies; check terms No, ordering page Toast TakeOut (shared app); branded app as an add-on Toast Marketing add-on No, requires Toast POS
Uber Eats Webshop Restaurants already committed to Uber Eats 2.5% + 29¢ per order processing Varies; check terms No, ordering page No Email and gift cards Limited
Toast Online Ordering Restaurants on Toast POS Flat fee, tied to Toast POS Yes, inside Toast Yes No 0%, flat monthly fee Limited

Pricing and features for third-party platforms are from each provider’s public site as of September 2026 and change often. Confirm current terms with each vendor.

1. ChowNow: best for independents that want a commission-free channel plus new-diner reach

ChowNow replaces the commission with a flat monthly fee. Plans start at $229 per month on an annual term with processing at 2.95% + 29¢ per transaction (pricing), and every plan includes a website, a branded mobile app,email and SMS, rewards, and fraud and chargeback coverage.

Two things make it a strong complement to Grubhub.

First, reach. TheDiscovery Network puts your ordering link on Google, Yelp and Apple Maps, and the ChowNow Marketplace lists you for local diners. Orders from those channels are commission-free with Profit Protector enabled, so new diners can find you through a channel priced on a flat fee.

Second, you do not have to leave Grubhub to start. ChowNow’s Grubhub integration and Order Aggregation pull Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats orders onto one device, auto-accept them, send them to your POS and printers, and let you manage every platform’s menu from one dashboard. Keep Grubhub for discovery, run it from the same screen as your direct orders, and invite regulars to order direct over time. We wrote up exactly how that works in how ChowNow turns third-party delivery customers into direct regulars.

For delivery, Flex Delivery dispatches direct orders through Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive at a flat $7.98 per order with no percentage commission. Split it 50/50 with the diner and the restaurant pays $3.99.

Proof point: Sicilian Pizza & Pasta keeps the volume and the margin in house on this model.

Consider it if: Grubhub is a meaningful share of your orders and you want to keep the demand while owning the customer and the margin.

Skip it if: you prefer no monthly fee and do not plan to run your own marketing yet.

2. Online Ordering by DoorDash: best if you are already all-in on DoorDash Commerce

DoorDash Commerce says orders through Online Ordering by DoorDash are commission-free across its plans, with a payment processing fee. It is a similar structure to Grubhub Direct: a commission-free page offered alongside the marketplace. A good fit if DoorDash Commerce Platform is already your main channel.

See our DoorDash alternatives guide for the full picture.

3. Uber Eats Webshop: best if you are already all-in on Uber Eats

Uber Eats Webshop charges a 2.5% + 29¢ per-order processing fee instead of the 20% to 30% marketplace fee (Uber Eats pricing). Like the DoorDash option, it is a low-cost page offered alongside the marketplace. Our Uber Eats alternatives guide covers it in more depth.

4. Toast Online Ordering: best if you run Toast POS

If Toast is your POS, its built-in online ordering keeps everything in one system. It requires Toast POS, so it is not an option on Square, Clover, Revel or SkyTab. Read the Toast alternatives guide if you are weighing that decision.

Do you have to leave Grubhub?

No, and most restaurants do not. A common setup:

  1. Turn on a commission-free direct channel and put the link where your regulars already are: your Google Business Profile, your Instagram bio, your receipts and bag stuffers.
  2. Aggregate Grubhub onto the same device as your direct orders so the counter gets simpler.
  3. Use email, SMS and rewards to invite first-time diners to order direct next time.
  4. Choose the Grubhub plan that matches the role it plays for you once direct is carrying the regulars.

Want to see how ChowNow runs alongside Grubhub? Book a demo.

FAQ

How much does Grubhub charge restaurants?

Grubhub’s marketplace plans charge a 5% (Basic), 15% (Plus) or 20% (All-Access) marketing commission. Using Grubhub’s drivers adds delivery fees that start at 10%. Self-delivery has no delivery fee. Pricing can differ by market, including New York City. Source: Grubhub’s pricing page.

Is Grubhub Direct really commission-free?

Grubhub says Direct has zero marketing commission, zero setup fees and zero hosting fees, with per-order processing fees. It is available to restaurants on the Grubhub Marketplace, so it works as a companion to Grubhub, not a replacement for it.

What is the cheapest alternative to Grubhub?

It depends on volume. Percentage pricing costs less at low volume; a flat monthly fee costs less as volume grows. At a 20% marketing commission, $5,000 a month in orders is about $1,000 in commission, which is the number to compare against a flat-fee plan plus card processing.

Can I keep Grubhub and add ChowNow?

Yes. ChowNow’s Grubhub integration brings Grubhub orders onto the same device as your direct orders, auto-accepts them, and sends them to your POS. Many restaurants keep Grubhub for discovery and move regulars to direct.

Which alternative gives me my customer data?

ChowNow adds every order to a contact list you own and includes email, SMS and rewards to use it. Grubhub says Direct gives restaurants access to customer data profiles. Check each platform’s current terms for what is included.