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Online Food Delivery War: Postmates vs DoorDash

Who wins when it comes to availability, fees, and user convenience?

By Robert Earl Wells III Updated on September 11, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Overall Findings Availability Fees Customer Experience Final Verdict When it comes to food delivery apps, you can't go wrong with Postmates or Doordash, but which is better? We've tried both to see how the two services compare in terms of availability, fees, and convenience to help you choose between Postmates vs DoorDash.

Overall Findings Postmates vs Doordash

Postmates More flexible. Get free delivery and other perks with Postmates Unlimited. Earn perks for referring friends. DoorDash More widely available. Get free delivery and other perks with DoorDash DashPass. Earn perks for referring friends. From the customer's perspective, Postmates and DoorDash are pretty similar. If you've used one, you'll find it easy to use the other. The main thing that sets PostMates apart is that it delivers more than food. You can get almost anything delivered from anywhere, including grocery stores. Still, DoorDash is sometimes cheaper, so you should compare prices if you only occasionally order out. While you can place orders using a web browser, you need a phone with text-messaging capabilities to use either service.

Availability It Depends on Where You Live

Postmates Delivers in over 4,000 cities in North America. Get food or anything else delivered from almost anywhere. Alcohol delivery from almost anywhere. DoorDash Delivers in over 5,000 cities in North America. Limited to restrurants that partner with DoorDash. Alcohol delivery available from select vendors. Both DoorDash and Postmates now deliver in all 50 states, but they are not available in some areas. If you live in or near a city, you likely have a choice between the two. Your options may be more limited if you live in a rural area, but both companies are always expanding. Postmates will deliver from any local restaurant, even those not listed as an option on their website. You can find usually find what you want on DoorDash, but it's not as flexible. Alcohol delivery is also offered by both services in certain places; however, DoorDash only delivers from specific stores, so Postmates is still the better option.

Fees Get Free Deliveries When You Order Out a Lot

Postmates No delivery fee on orders over $20 No delivery charges with Postmates Unlimited. Fee structures lack transparency. DoorDash Free deliveries on orders over $15 from select merchants. No delivery charges with DoorDash DashPass. Fee structures lack transparency. On top of delivery and service charges, both services add extra fees during peak times. Fees can vary based on where you live and the current demand. Both services also prompt you to tip your delivery driver. The price you actually pay for your food will be the same as you would pay when visiting the restaurant. With Postmates Unlimited and DoorDash DashPass, you can get unlimited deliveries with no delivery fees. If you order out more than once a month, they quickly pay for themselves. Additionally, some restaurants may offer exclusive promotions for one service or the other, so either one might be cheaper in specific situations.

Customer Experience It' s a Tie

Postmates Order on your PC or mobile device. Regular promotions and discounts. No customer support hotline. DoorDash Order on your PC or mobile device. Regular promotions and discounts. No customer support hotline. DoorDash and Postmates are pretty evenly matched when it comes to ease-of-use and customer service. The process for placing orders is the same, and you get real-time updates on your order. Before you can use the mobile apps, you must create a user name and password, but no payment information is required until you finalize your order. On the downside, neither service offers a customer support phone number. Your driver has the ability to contact you, but if you have problems with an order, you'll have to contact the restaurant directly. Menus are sometimes out-of-date, but that's usually the fault of vendors.

Final Verdict

Where you live plays the biggest role in whether Postmates or DoorDash is the better option. If you have the luxury of choosing between the two and order out often, your best bet is to pay for PostMates Unlimited since you can get a wider variety of items delivered. That said, it doesn't hurt to check both to see which is currently cheaper since delivery fees can fluctuate. If you can't find what you want on either service, don't forget about alternatives like Uber Eats and Grubhub. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 8 Best Online Grocery Shopping Sites in 2022 Food Delivery App Wars: Grubhub vs. Uber Eats Restaurant Delivery Service War: Uber Eats vs DoorDash What Is Uber Eats And How Does It Work? Food Delivery Service War: Grubhub vs. DoorDash What Is Amazon Prime? 6 Popular Food Delivery Service Apps How to Use Google Delivery to Order in From Local Restaurants How Does Instacart Work? What Are Amazon Lockers and Hubs? How Does Shipt Work? The 10 Best Alcohol Apps in 2022 What is Amazon Prime Student? 21 Free Redbox Codes (and 7 Ways to Get More) How to Get Free Stuff on Amazon How to Get Free Photo Books and More From Shutterfly Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies