11 Hacks to Score the Best Deals on Food Delivery Apps

Delivery apps are everywhere, and the small fees add up fast. This guide gives eleven practical hacks you can use right away to lower what you pay for delivered meals and aggregated grocery deals. We'll cover membership value, smart timing, lesser-known rescue apps, and ways to combine offers so savings stack. Some tips are platform-specific—like when a DashPass or Uber One membership makes sense—and others are universal, such as choosing pickup when it cuts fees. You’ll get steps to compare membership costs against your order frequency, tactics for stacking promo codes and in-app credits, and a few clever habits that feel like second nature after the first try. Think of these as kitchen-tested shortcuts: small changes that protect your wallet without making ordering a chore. If your family uses multiple apps, there’s a referral trick you can try. If you prefer grocery deals, you’ll find pointers toward apps that rescue marked-down items so you can save while reducing waste. The voice here is friendly and practical—like a neighbor who’s tried the apps for a month and will tell you what worked. Try two hacks this week and see the difference in your next bill. These ideas focus on US platforms and currency, and they aim to be clear and useful whether you order lunch for one or manage family deliveries.

1. Join the Right Memberships (DashPass, Uber One, Grubhub+)

Memberships can save you more than the monthly fee if you order often. DashPass, Uber One, and Grubhub+ typically offer free delivery or reduced fees on qualifying restaurants and sometimes give member-only discounts. The key is to run a simple math check: add up your average monthly delivery fees and compare that with the subscription price. If your delivery fees exceed the membership cost, it usually pays for itself. Use free trials before committing so you can test whether the app’s partner restaurants match where you actually order from. Also look for seasonal promotions—platforms sometimes bundle a gift credit or a discounted first month that increases short-term value. Another tip is to pause or cancel membership when you know ordering will drop, like during a vacation. Some memberships include perks beyond free delivery, such as price drops on grocery orders or exclusive offers at chains, so factor those into your estimate. If multiple household members order, consider sharing an account where allowed or rotating the trial among family members to maximize trial promotions. Finally, watch membership terms: savings apply only to qualifying orders, so check the minimum order size and restaurant participation before you assume you’ll save.