{"source":"CiteHawk AI Index","record":"food delivery apps — 2026-07","url":"https://www.citehawk.com/leaderboards/editions/2026-07/food-delivery-apps/us","immutable":true,"snapshotId":"59fd56aa-5914-4136-b5d3-37860d228719","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:33.024+00:00","region":"us","prompt":"What are the best food delivery apps in the United States? Recommend the top brands or products that people actually use.\n\nAnswer as if the user is in the United States.","providers":["openai","claude","gemini","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_aio"],"models":{"grok":"grok-3","claude":"claude-sonnet-5","gemini":"gemini-2.5-flash","openai":"gpt-4.1-mini","deepseek":"deepseek-v4-flash","google_aio":"google_aio","perplexity":"sonar","bing_copilot":"bing_copilot"},"runsPerProvider":1,"totalCalls":16,"ranking":[{"rank":1,"brand":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","score":75.3,"mentions":8,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","gemini","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_aio"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":1,"claude":1,"gemini":1,"openai":1,"deepseek":1,"google_aio":1,"perplexity":1,"bing_copilot":1}},{"rank":2,"brand":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","score":75.3,"mentions":8,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","gemini","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_aio"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":2,"claude":2,"gemini":2,"openai":2,"deepseek":2,"google_aio":2,"perplexity":2,"bing_copilot":2}},{"rank":3,"brand":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","score":75.3,"mentions":8,"recommendedBy":["openai","claude","gemini","perplexity","deepseek","grok","bing_copilot","google_aio"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":3,"claude":3,"gemini":3,"openai":3,"deepseek":3,"google_aio":3,"perplexity":3,"bing_copilot":3}},{"rank":4,"brand":"Instacart","domain":"instacart.com","score":32,"mentions":3,"recommendedBy":["perplexity","grok","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"grok":4,"perplexity":4,"bing_copilot":9}},{"rank":5,"brand":"Postmates","domain":"postmates.com","score":32,"mentions":3,"recommendedBy":["perplexity","deepseek","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"deepseek":5,"perplexity":5,"bing_copilot":4}},{"rank":6,"brand":"Seamless","domain":"seamless.com","score":21.3,"mentions":2,"recommendedBy":["gemini","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"gemini":4,"bing_copilot":6}},{"rank":7,"brand":"Caviar","domain":"caviar.com","score":21.3,"mentions":2,"recommendedBy":["perplexity","bing_copilot"],"averagePositionByProvider":{"perplexity":6,"bing_copilot":5}}],"answers":[{"provider":"bing_copilot","run":1,"model":"bing_copilot","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"The top food delivery apps in the US include DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates, and Caviar, offering reliable service, wide restaurant selection, and a variety of delivery options depending on your needs.\n\nTop Food Delivery Apps\n\n1. DoorDash – DoorDash is one of the most popular apps in suburban and urban areas. It provides access to a wide range of restaurants, with real-time delivery tracking, scheduled orders, and a “Delight Score” rating to help choose restaurants Top10.com+1 . DoorDash also offers DashPass, a subscription program for free delivery on eligible orders.\n\n2. Uber Eats – Widely available across the US, Uber Eats delivers not only restaurant meals but also groceries, convenience items, and even pharmacy products. The app supports cashless payment, real-time tracking, and scheduling options. Subscription via Uber One gives perks like $0 delivery and discounts on orders MobileAppDaily .\n\n3. Grubhub – Known for its broad coverage and restaurant selection, Grubhub allows pre-ordering and provides free delivery with certain restaurants (restaurant-set fees may apply). Grubhub+ offers unlimited free delivery and cashback rewards, making it convenient for frequent users MobileAppDaily .\n\n4. Postmates – Popular for flexibility beyond food, Postmates delivers groceries, alcohol, and other essentials in addition to restaurant meals. Its Postmates Unlimited subscription reduces delivery fees and item charges, and the app supports real-time order tracking MobileAppDaily .\n\n5. Caviar – Focused on upscale and curated dining experiences, Caviar works well for ordering from premium restaurants and planning ahead for large orders. Delivery and service fees tend to be higher, but it’s ideal for special occasions or high-quality meal selections MobileAppDaily .\n\nOther notable apps include Seamless (good variety and no delivery fees for participating restaurants), Delivery.com (covers food, alcohol, groceries, and laundry), BeyondMenu (local eateries), and Instacart (primarily groceries and essentials, great for scheduled same-day delivery) for those seeking non-restaurant items Top10.com+1 .\n\nChoosing the Right App\n\nAvailability: Check if the app services The Woodlands, TX, as some apps focus more on urban hubs 1 .\nDelivery speed and tracking: Apps like Uber Eats and Caviar offer fast delivery with accurate in-app tracking.\nSubscription benefits: Consider DashPass (DoorDash), Uber One (Uber Eats), or Postmates Unlimited for discounted delivery fees if ordering frequently.\nRange of items: If you need groceries, alcohol, or essentials alongside meals, Postmates, Uber Eats, Delivery.com, and Instacart are recommended 1 .\nBudget and fees: Comparison of delivery and service fees can save money, especially for multiple items or frequent orders. Apps like Seamless or Grubhub may offer delivery-free options depending on the restaurant.\n\nIn summary, DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates are widely used across the US for reliable meal and grocery delivery, with Caviar providing a premium dining experience. Choosing the best app often depends on your location, order frequency, and whether you also want groceries or other essentials delivered +2 .","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3},{"name":"Postmates","domain":"postmates.com","position":4},{"name":"Caviar","domain":"caviar.com","position":5},{"name":"Seamless","domain":"seamless.com","position":6},{"name":"Delivery.com","domain":"delivery.com","position":7},{"name":"BeyondMenu","domain":"beyondmenu.com","position":8},{"name":"Instacart","domain":"instacart.com","position":9}]},{"provider":"claude","run":1,"model":"claude-sonnet-5","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"## Best Food Delivery Apps in the US (2026)\n\nBased on current market data, here's what Americans are actually using:\n\n### 🥇 DoorDash — The Clear Market Leader\nDoorDash has the most market share by some distance in the United States, with Uber Eats in second and Grubhub third, having rapidly ascended to the first spot while Grubhub has declined over the past half a decade. Estimates put its share anywhere from 56–67% depending on the source, but every report agrees it's the dominant player. It's the top food delivery app in the US, with a DashPass subscription for free delivery and the largest restaurant selection of any delivery platform.\n\n**Best for:** Widest restaurant selection, especially in suburban and smaller markets — DoorDash has push especially strong outside major cities.\n\n### 🥈 Uber Eats — Strong #2, Best for Big Cities\nUber Eats is available in 6,000+ cities across 45 countries, with Uber One membership, live GPS tracking, and integration with Uber rides. If you already use Uber for rides, the combined **Uber One** membership covering both rides and food delivery is a nice perk.\n\n**Best for:** People who want rides + delivery in one app/subscription; strong in dense urban areas.\n\n### 🥉 Grubhub — Good If You Have Amazon Prime","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3}]},{"provider":"deepseek","run":1,"model":"deepseek-v4-flash","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"Here are the top food delivery apps in the United States, based on current market share, user popularity, and real-world usage as of 2024. I’ve ranked them by what people actually use and why:\n\n---\n\n### 1. **DoorDash** – The Overall King\n- **Why people use it:** It’s the #1 delivery app in the U.S. by market share (roughly 65%+). It covers the widest range of restaurants, including local spots, fast food, and upscale places.\n- **Best for:** Reliability, speed, and selection. Their “DashPass” subscription ($9.99/month) waives delivery fees on orders over $12.\n- **Pro tip:** If you want one app that works almost everywhere, this is it.\n\n### 2. **Uber Eats** – The Runner-Up & Travel Ally\n- **Why people use it:** Integrated with the Uber ride-hailing app, so you can order food while booking a ride. Strong in dense urban areas. Also offers grocery and alcohol delivery in many cities.\n- **Best for:** People who already use Uber, or want seamless pickup/delivery from chain restaurants (McDonald’s, Taco Bell, etc.).\n- **Pro tip:** Frequent Uber users get “Uber Cash” rewards that can apply to both rides and food.\n\n### 3. **Grubhub** – The Old Reliable (Now Owned by JET)\n- **Why people use it:** Long history, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Often offers “free delivery” promotions for first-time users or for orders over a certain amount.\n- **Best for:** Loyal customers who want to avoid the “service fee” games (still has them, but some find them more transparent). Also good for “Seamless” integration (Seamless is the same company, same app, just a different name in some cities).\n- **Pro tip:** If you have an Amazon Prime membership, check for “Grubhub+” perks (free delivery on eligible orders).\n\n### 4. **Postmates** (Now Part of Uber Eats)\n- **Why people use it:** Actually, Postmates is now essentially *inside* the Uber Eats app. If you see “Postmates” on a website, you’ll be redirected. But some users still prefer its legacy “order anything” feature (including non-restaurant items like convenience","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3},{"name":"JET","domain":"jet.com","position":4},{"name":"Postmates","domain":"postmates.com","position":5}]},{"provider":"gemini","run":1,"model":"gemini-2.5-flash","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"In the United States, several food delivery apps dominate the market, offering a convenient way to get meals from your favorite restaurants delivered right to your door. The top brands widely used by people across the country include DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub (which also owns Seamless).\n\nHere are the top recommendations:\n\n*   **DoorDash** is widely considered the leading food delivery service in the U.S., holding a significant market share of 65-67%. It's particularly recognized for its extensive reach, serving both urban and suburban areas, and offering a broad selection of restaurants. DoorDash connects numerous cafes and businesses with delivery services and provides features like DashPass for reduced fees on eligible orders.\n\n*   **Uber Eats** stands as a strong competitor to DoorDash. It's known for providing a wide variety of restaurant options and often offers fast delivery, especially in major metropolitan areas. Uber Eats has expanded its services to include food delivery in urban and increasingly in rural communities across the U.S. Uber Eats acquired Postmates in 2020, making the two apps very similar in their offerings, including the ability to order food, groceries, and even pharmacy items.\n\n*   **Grubhub** is another one of the three main food delivery services in the U.S. It is particularly noted for its ability to help users find deals and promotions from restaurants. Grubhub performs strongly in northeastern states, such as New York.\n\n*   **Seamless**, owned by Grubhub, has been a long-standing player in the food delivery space. It offers quick service, an intuitive ordering system, real-time order tracking, and automatic integration of coupons to provide discounts.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3},{"name":"Seamless","domain":"seamless.com","position":4}]},{"provider":"google_aio","run":1,"model":"google_aio","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"DoorDash: Market leader in the U.S. with the largest restaurant selection and extensive coverage in suburban and rural areas.\nUber Eats: Second-largest platform, popular for real-time tracking, integration with the Uber ecosystem, and diverse food options.\nGrubhub: Strong regional presence, especially in major Northeastern cities like New York, featuring integrated loyalty rewards. Bloomberg Second Measure +4","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3}]},{"provider":"grok","run":1,"model":"grok-3","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"**The top food delivery apps in the United States, based on actual usage and market data, are DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.** These three dominate the market, with DoorDash leading by a wide margin.[[1]](https://oysterlink.com/spotlight/food-delivery-market-share-statistics/)\n\n### 1. DoorDash (Clear Leader)\nDoorDash holds the largest share of the U.S. food delivery market—typically estimated at 56–67% depending on the source and exact metric (e.g., sales or orders).[[2]](https://www.trustpiple.com/blog/top-15-food-and-grocery-delivery-apps-in-the-usa) It’s the most widely used app across urban, suburban, and even some rural areas, with the broadest restaurant and merchant selection (hundreds of thousands of partners). \n\nPeople use it most frequently for everyday restaurant meals, and it has expanded into groceries, convenience items, and more via options like DashMart. It offers a subscription (DashPass) for reduced fees and faster delivery. It consistently ranks highest in consumer consideration scores.[[3]](https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/51282-exploring-americas-appetite-for-food-delivery-apps)\n\n### 2. Uber Eats (Strong Runner-Up)\nUber Eats captures roughly 23% of the market and is the second-most popular option.[[4]](https://www.imarcgroup.com/united-states-online-food-delivery-market) It benefits from Uber’s existing driver network, often resulting in quick delivery and solid coverage. Users frequently praise its clean app interface, tracking, and search features. It’s especially convenient if you already use Uber for rides. It pairs well with Uber One for perks.\n\n### 3. Grubhub (Niche but Relevant in Key Cities)\nGrubhub has a smaller share (around 6–16%) but remains competitive in major metros like New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia due to strong local restaurant ties.[[5]](https://owndeliv.com/best-food-delivery-apps-2026-ranked-and-compared) It offers value through its subscription (Grubhub+), including benefits like cashback for some users, and free access for Amazon Prime members. It’s less dominant nationally but still sees steady use in its strongholds.\n\n### Other Notes\n- **Restaurant-specific apps** (e.g., Domino’s, McDonald’s own apps) are popular for direct orders from chains but don’t compete with the big three for general use.\n- Grocery-focused services like Instacart are separate and widely used for supermarket delivery, though DoorDash and Uber Eats also handle some grocery orders.\n- **Factors people consider**: DoorDash wins on selection and reach for most users; Uber Eats on app experience; Grubhub on value in specific cities. Fees, delivery times, and promotions vary by location and time—many users have multiple apps installed and switch based on deals or availability.\n\nThese rankings align with recent 2025–2026 market share data, download stats, and consumer surveys. Availability and performance can vary by city or zip code, so checking the apps directly for your area is recommended. DoorDash is the default choice for the majority of Americans ordering food delivery.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3},{"name":"Instacart","domain":"instacart.com","position":4},{"name":"Domino's","domain":"dominos.com","position":5},{"name":"McDonald's","domain":"mcdonalds.com","position":6}]},{"provider":"openai","run":1,"model":"gpt-4.1-mini","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"As of July 2026, the leading food delivery apps in the United States are DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Here's an overview to help you choose the best option for your needs:\n\n\n[‎DoorDash: Food, Grocery, More App - App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doordash-food-grocery-more/id719972451?utm_source=openai)\n**DoorDash**  \nDominating the U.S. market with approximately 67% share, DoorDash offers extensive coverage, including suburban and rural areas. It partners with over 590,000 restaurants and grocery stores nationwide. The DashPass subscription, at $9.99/month, provides $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders. ([comfygen.com](https://www.comfygen.com/blog/top-food-delivery-apps-in-usa/?utm_source=openai))\n\n\n\n[【Uber Eats】iOS16でのライブアクティビティが登場！ | iPhoneドクター稲毛店のブログ](https://ameblo.jp/iphonedr-inage/entry-12778076140.html?utm_source=openai)\n**Uber Eats**  \nHolding around 23% of the market, Uber Eats excels in major urban centers and offers rapid delivery times. The Uber One membership, also at $9.99/month, includes $0 delivery fees and up to 10% off eligible orders. Additionally, Uber Eats integrates with Uber's ride-hailing service, providing a seamless experience for users. ([comfygen.com](https://www.comfygen.com/blog/top-food-delivery-apps-in-usa/?utm_source=openai))\n\n\n\n\n**Grubhub**  \nWith a market share of approximately 8%, Grubhub maintains a strong presence in cities like New York and Chicago. The Grubhub+ subscription, at $9.99/month, offers $0 delivery fees and exclusive deals. Grubhub is known for its loyalty rewards program and a wide selection of local restaurants. ([eddy.delivery](https://eddy.delivery/blog/best-food-delivery-apps-compared?utm_source=openai))\n\n\nWhen selecting a food delivery app, consider factors such as your location, preferred restaurants, delivery fees, and available subscriptions to find the best fit for your dining preferences. ","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3}]},{"provider":"perplexity","run":1,"model":"sonar","capturedAt":"2026-07-22T18:10:32.385Z","text":"For most people in the United States, the **top food delivery apps** are **DoorDash**, **Uber Eats**, and **Grubhub**. DoorDash is the most widely cited **best overall** option because of its broad restaurant selection and strong nationwide coverage, while Uber Eats is usually the best alternative for major cities and late-night orders.[1][4][11][12]\n\nThe most useful brands to know are:\n\n- **DoorDash** — best overall; widest restaurant coverage and strong suburban reach.[1][4][11][12]\n- **Uber Eats** — best in cities; good for fast delivery and access to restaurants, groceries, and some retail items.[4][9][11][12]\n- **Grubhub** — good for restaurant deals and certain metro areas, especially in the Northeast.[4][9][12]\n- **Instacart** — best if you mean **grocery delivery** rather than prepared meals.[9][11][14]\n- **Postmates** — useful in places where it still operates, especially for food plus convenience items.[5][9][14]\n- **Caviar** — better for **upscale/fine-dining** delivery in select markets.[1][3][9]\n- **ChowNow** — a strong choice if you want to support **local restaurants** directly.[9][16]\n\nIf you want the simplest recommendation:\n- **Best overall:** DoorDash.[1][4][11][12]\n- **Best for cities:** Uber Eats.[4][9][11][12]\n- **Best for groceries:** Instacart.[9][11][14]\n- **Best for local restaurants:** ChowNow.[9][16]\n\nIf you want, I can also rank these by **cheapest**, **fastest**, or **best for suburban areas**.","extractedBrands":[{"name":"DoorDash","domain":"doordash.com","position":1},{"name":"Uber Eats","domain":"ubereats.com","position":2},{"name":"Grubhub","domain":"grubhub.com","position":3},{"name":"Instacart","domain":"instacart.com","position":4},{"name":"Postmates","domain":"postmates.com","position":5},{"name":"Caviar","domain":"caviar.com","position":6},{"name":"ChowNow","domain":"chownow.com","position":7}]}]}