If COVID-19 taught us anything it’s how to have the items we want to be delivered to us, including food. Food was the one thing that got most people through the quarantine periods – knowing they could have their favorite food delivered to them made Grubhub and other delivery services busier than ever.
Now Grubhub offers a service called Grubhub+. It’s still the same delivery service but in a subscription-style. Is it worth the money or is it yet another service you’ll sign up for, not use, and yet continue to waste money on each month?
We dig into what Grubhub+ is, how it works, and if it’s worth it below.
What is Grubhub+?
If you love having your favorite restaurant food delivered to you via Grubhub, you know the cost of delivery and how fast it adds up.
Enter Grubhub+ a monthly subscription that provides unlimited Grubhub delivery right to your doorstep. The best news? The delivery is free from ‘most’ restaurants. You can even order from different restaurants at once and still not pay for delivery.
All it takes is a monthly subscription, but is it worth it?
How Does it Work?
Anyone can order from Grubhub, you don’t need a subscription. But, if you aren’t a member, you’ll pay the following fees:
- Service fee – This covers Grubhub’s cost of screening drivers, insuring them, and everything else that goes along with running a business. The service fee is usually 5% of your order.
- Delivery fee – This is the fee to deliver the food to you. It varies based on the distance of the restaurant to your location.
- Small order fee – If your order is for less than $10, they’ll charge you another $2.
If you sign up for Grubhub+, you’ll pay the service fee, but not the delivery fee if your order is over $12 – all Grubhub Plus members get free unlimited delivery.
Here’s the catch – it’s not available at all restaurants. Even though Grubhub has a huge database of over 300,000 restaurants, they aren’t all a part of the Grubhub+ program. You can only use your subscription (and get free shipping) at participating restaurants which varies by area. Fortunately, Grubhub makes it easy to tell which restaurants participate – they mark it with a GH+ on the restaurant listing page so you can tell right away.
If you order from a restaurant not in the Grubhub+ lineup, you’ll pay for delivery (plus the $9.99 monthly fee you paid). Before you sign up, check out the restaurants that allow it in your area to see if they are your favorites or if the restaurants you usually order from aren’t on it.
What Does Grubhub+ Cost?
Grubhub+ is $9.99 a month. Most Grubhub deliveries cost between $2.50 – $7.50 depending on where you order from and the size of the delivery. If you order at least twice a month, it may seem like a good deal.
If you want to try Grubhub+ to see if you like it, they offer a 14-day free trial. You do have to provide your credit card number, though, so make sure you cancel it before the 14 days are up if you don’t like it.
What are the Benefits of Grubhub+?
- Unlimited free delivery from select restaurants
- Access to Elite Care (their VIP customer service)
- First to hear about the newest perks (deals)
- Access to exclusive events and experiences
- Grubhub will match your donations to No Kid Hungry
What are the Downsides of Grubhub+?
- You pay the monthly fee whether you use the service or not
- It’s not available at all restaurants
How to Cancel Your Grubhub+ Membership?
You can cancel Grubhub Plus at any time. Just log into your account on the app or a PC and navigate to your Grubhub Plus membership page. Click the ‘cancel membership’ link and follow the prompts.
Be careful about when you cancel your subscription, though. Grubhub requires you to cancel 24 hours before your next renewal for it to be effective immediately. If you happen to cancel in the window, your cancelation will be effective the following month.
How does Grubhub+ Compare?
Grubhub+ vs Dashpass
Both Grubhub+ and Dashpass (DoorDash’s pass) are $9.99 a month and offer free delivery on orders over $12. Dashpass also offers reduced service fees to its members. Like Grubhub+, you get VIP customer service treatment and access to exclusive deals. You can use Dashpass on DoorDash and Caviar.
Grubhub+ vs UberEats Pass
UberEats Pass is another subscription service for free food delivery. Like Grubhub+, you get free delivery on orders from eligible restaurants. UberEats Pass also provides a 5% discount on orders over $15 from certain restaurants. UberEats Pass isn’t available in all cities and costs $9.99, just like its competitors.
Grubhub Plus FAQs
Can you cancel Grubhub+ at any time?
Grubhub+ offers a free 14-day trial for you to try it without paying anything. You can cancel before the 14 days are up and not pay anything for it. If you keep the service, you can cancel at any time since it’s a month-to-month subscription, but you must cancel over 24 hours before your next billing cycle for it to be effective immediately.
Is Grubhub Plus free for students?
Grubhub+ Student Membership is a special membership for college students at certain colleges that use Grubhub Campus Dining. If your college participates, you have access to free delivery on orders over $12 from certain off-campus restaurants. You also get free VIP care from customer service, but for no monthly fee.
Is Grubhub cheaper than DoorDash Dashpass?
Grubhub+ and DoorDash Dashpass both cost $9.99 a month. You can cancel either service at any time too.
What you can not order with Grubhub+?
Any order containing alcohol does not qualify for the Grubhub+ program. You can still order your food and alcohol, but you must pay the delivery fee even if you order from a participating restaurant.
Grubhub+ – is it Worth the Hype?
If you use food delivery services often, Grubhub+ may be worth it, but only if the restaurants you frequent are in the program. We love that they give you a 14-day free trial so you can check it out for yourself.
If you don’t order takeout often, the $9.99 fee isn’t worth it or if you order for yourself and rarely order more than $12 in food.
It’s important to remember that you’ll still be on the hook for the service fee and you should tip your driver, so it’s not free – you just get a discount on the service by them not charging you a delivery fee but instead charge the monthly fee.
