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Home › Pay › Common problems › Food delivery fees
Fees and services

Food delivery fees

Food delivery apps are convenient, but the price on the menu is often not what you pay. Delivery fees, service fees, small-order fees, busy-time fees and higher menu prices can add up quickly. Paid memberships promise savings but renew automatically. This page shows what to watch for and how to keep costs down.

Common problems to watch for

  • Menu prices in the app set higher than the restaurant's own menu
  • Service and small-order fees revealed only at the last checkout screen
  • 'Free delivery' that still includes a service fee
  • Busy-time or long-distance fees added when demand is high
  • Membership free trials that turn into automatic monthly charges
  • Tip prompts that are pre-set or confusing to change

Had one of these happen? Telling others what you were charged helps them avoid it.

Report it

Free and low-cost alternatives

Pick it up yourselfOrdering ahead and picking up your food skips delivery and service fees entirely. Many restaurants offer this on their own website or by calling.
Order from the restaurant directlySome restaurants run their own ordering or delivery, which may cost less than a third-party app. Compare the menu prices and fees.
Cook a simple mealFree recipe sites like USDA's MyPlate Kitchen offer quick, low-cost meals when you would otherwise order out.

Availability depends on your device and model. AblePro has no relationship with any company named here.

How companies charge more here: Add-ons with no price · Drip pricing · Restaurant surcharges · Tip requests everywhere · App price markups · Pay-to-shop memberships

What fair pricing looks like

A fair order shows the menu price, every fee and the total before you tap pay, with clear labels for what each fee is for. If fees and higher menu prices make up a large share of your bill, picking up the food yourself usually costs less.

Before you pay

  • Compare the app's menu price with the restaurant's own menu.
  • Check the full total, including every fee, before ordering.
  • See if pickup is available and how much it saves.
  • Know when any membership trial ends and what it costs after.
  • Review the tip amount and set it yourself.

How to cancel

  1. Cancel delivery memberships in the app's account or membership settings, or on the company's website.
  2. If you subscribed through the App Store or Google Play, cancel in your phone's subscription settings. Deleting the app does not cancel it.
  3. Cancel trials at least a day before they end to avoid the first charge.
  4. Check for a confirmation email and watch your next statement.

Step-by-step cancel guide for iPhone, Android and PayPal →

Common questions

Why is my food delivery total so much higher than the menu?

Delivery apps may add a delivery fee, a service fee, a small-order fee and sometimes a busy-time fee. Menu prices in the app may also be higher than at the restaurant. Taxes and the tip come on top. Look at the itemized total before you pay to see where the money goes.

Do delivery memberships really save money?

They can if you order often and your orders qualify for reduced fees. Many memberships still charge service fees or require a minimum order. Add up what you paid in fees last month and compare it to the membership price before deciding. Set a reminder before any free trial ends.

What can I do if my order is wrong or missing?

Report it right away through the app's order help section, with photos if you can. Most apps have a process for refunds or credits. If the company will not fix a charge for food you did not get, you can contact your card issuer about disputing it.

General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports reflect the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc. We check reports against our posting rules but do not verify them.