7 Food Delivery Apps to Try

Although restaurants’ doors across the Northeast are currently closed, pick-up and delivery is still an option for many. Thankfully, there are food delivery apps that can bring everything from restaurant meals and groceries to medicines and other household essentials right to your door.

Social distancing is the new normal; however, businesses everywhere are adjusting to these unique times and bringing customers the goods they need. Food delivery services have adopted no-contact delivery methods, with several participating in the “Open For Delivery” campaign, which aims to connect consumers with restaurants that are still open for business.

The restaurant industry is being hit especially hard by the COVID-19 crisis. By supporting small businesses and local restaurants, consumers can help workers, their communities and the economy.

Here are the most popular food delivery apps available for free for both iOS and Android.

1. DoorDash

DoorDash connects consumers to over 300,000 local restaurants and national food chains from across the U.S. and Canada. This service offers no-contact delivery with “leave it at my door” as the new default option.

In addition to participating in the #OpenForDelivery movement, the company is promising commission relief and marketing support for new and existing DoorDash restaurant partners.

In addition, DoorDash is offering two weeks of financial assistance for eligible U.S. “Dashers” – delivery personnel – who are quarantined or diagnosed with COVID-19. 

2. Uber Eats

Uber Eats connects users to hundreds of nearby restaurants and allows you to track your order with the app. No-contact delivery is available by selecting “leave at door.”

Uber Eats is waiving delivery fees for customers ordering from locally owned, independent restaurants and pledging 10 million free rides and food deliveries for front-line health care workers, seniors and others in need. It is also a founding partner of the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Employee Relief Fund and will match users’ contributions up to $5 million.

3. GrubHub

The GrubHub website and app feature over 350,000 restaurants and a contact-free delivery option, where drivers will call/text when they arrive and drop off your order wherever you designate.

The company is giving consumers the option to donate their change to the GrubHub Community Relief Fund and is also deferring commission fees for impacted independent restaurants.

4. Instacart

Instacart is for shoppers looking to avoid going to the store. Instacart connects its users to supermarkets and retail stores to provide access to thousands of products.

“Leave at my door” is now the default, but this service offers other delivery options. With fast and flexible delivery, users get an estimated delivery range (e.g. Monday to Wednesday) and notified when their order is picked up by a shopper and scheduled for delivery. The group cart option lets users work together with a family member or friend they invite to their cart, allowing both to add items they need, and then ships them to their preferred address. Customers can also order ahead up to two weeks in advance. 

5. Postmates

Postmates is used for ordering food, drinks and groceries. It allows users to watch their deliveries in real time and offers a contact-free delivery option. Customers using smartphones can also text their Postmate/delivery person a photo and/or specific instructions for where to leave their order.  

To aid their workers, Postmates launched a Fleet Relief Fund to help cover the costs of fleet members’ medical expenses related to COVID-19. 

6. Seamless

An offshoot of GrubHub, Seamless focuses on connecting people to local restaurants and food chains. Seamless also offers contact-free delivery.

While checking out, customers can donate their change to the Seamless Community Relief Fund. These donations will be going to charitable organizations supporting drivers as well as local restaurants impacted by COVID-19.

7. Shipt

Shipt allows its users to get groceries and other household essentials from their go-to stores, like Costco, CVS, Petco, Target and more. Shipt’s “leave my order at my door” option is now the default, prioritizing no-contact deliveries and door drops-offs.

Consumers can communicate with their shopper directly through the app. Minute-to-minute updates let users add an item to their shopping list if they accidentally forgot something. Shipt also has a new early delivery option, where users can receive their order anytime between store opening hours and the end of their requested delivery window.

Shipt is donating $150,000 to Feeding America, hiring new shoppers and giving up to two weeks of financial assistance to current employees placed under quarantine or diagnosed with COVID-19.

When using a food delivery app, make sure to leave a good rating for good service, and don’t forget to tip. 

Which food delivery app is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.