Both charge restaurants a commission per order rather than a monthly fee. DoorDash publishes clear rates: 15%, 25% or 30% on delivered orders depending on the plan, and 6% on pickup. Uber Eats sells Lite, Plus and Premium plans, with Lite starting at 15% for delivery in select cities. Many restaurants list on both; start with whichever your local customers already use.
I read DoorDash's merchant pricing page and Dasher page, and Uber Eats' merchant pricing, merchant and courier pages. This comparison is written for restaurant owners deciding where to list, with a short section for anyone thinking of delivering. Every percentage below is from the companies' own pages, as of October 2026, for the US.
DoorDash and Uber Eats for merchants
| DoorDash | Uber Eats | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Basic, Plus and Premier | Lite, Plus and Premium, plus a self-delivery plan |
| Commission on delivered orders | 15% Basic, 25% Plus, 30% Premier | Lite starts at 15% in select cities; Plus and Premium rates weren't on the page I read |
| Pickup orders | 6% on every plan | A 7% pickup fee if your in-app menu matches in-store, otherwise 10% |
| Intro offer | 0% for 7 days on Basic, 30 days on Plus and Premier | No delivery or pickup fees on orders for your first 30 days |
| Member programme | DashPass members on Plus and Premier | Uber One included on Premium; an extra 5% on Uber One orders on Plus |
| Order guarantee | Premier: at least 20 orders a month or that month's commission back | Premium: fees back if under 20 orders a month, for the first 6 months |
| Own-website ordering | Online Ordering by DoorDash orders are commission-free | Not covered on the pages I read |
How DoorDash structures it
DoorDash's page is refreshingly direct. You pay a percentage of each order's subtotal and nothing else: no activation, subscription, software or cancellation fees. The higher plans buy reach rather than features you can touch: Plus widens your delivery radius, lowers the delivery fee customers see and opens you to DashPass members, who DoorDash says order twice as often. Premier adds the widest range and the 20-order guarantee.
Two details worth knowing. Pickup orders are 6% on every plan, which changes the maths if many customers collect. And DoorDash says most new merchants start on Plus; you can switch plans at any time, though changes take up to five business days.
How Uber Eats structures it
Uber Eats gives every plan the same basics: listing in the app, delivery through Uber's network, order management, payment processing, analytics and 24/7 support. The plans differ mainly on Uber One, Uber's membership programme: it's included on Premium, adds an extra 5% on those orders on Plus, and isn't available on Lite.
The surprise is in the footnotes. Uber's pickup fee is 7% only if you prove your in-app menu matches what you charge in store; without that proof it's 10%. And if you run your own drivers on the self-delivery plan, you can still call on Uber's couriers for farther orders, for a 25% fee.
Restaurants weighing up how to take bookings should also read my comparison of OpenTable and Resy.
If you want to deliver rather than sell
DoorDash Dashers must be at least 18, or 19 in states such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Texas, and 21 in California, and can deliver by car, scooter or, in select cities, bicycle. Uber Eats couriers can deliver by car, bike, scooter or on foot, see the fare before accepting, keep 100% of tips and can cash out up to 6 times a day with Instant Pay. For earnings detail, see how much DoorDash pays and how much Uber Eats pays.
Five steps to choose for your restaurant
- Ask regulars which app they open; your customers decide which listing earns more.
- Work out your mix of delivery and pickup, since pickup rates differ sharply.
- Set separate delivery menus if you need to; DoorDash says many restaurants do.
- Start on a middle plan and review after two to three weeks of real orders.
- Use the guarantees: both top plans refund fees if you get fewer than 20 orders in a month, on their terms.
My advice on DoorDash or UberEats
If I ran a restaurant, I'd start on DoorDash Plus because its rates are published in plain numbers and pickup is only 6%, then add Uber Eats once the kitchen copes with the volume. Before either, check your margins on a typical order at the plan's rate, and decide whether you'll run a separate delivery menu. The app that brings orders you'd never have had is worth the commission; the one that only moves your existing regulars onto an app usually isn't.
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Frequently asked questions
What commission does DoorDash charge restaurants?
DoorDash says delivered orders are 15% on Basic, 25% on Plus and 30% on Premier, with pickup orders at 6% on every plan.
Does Uber Eats charge for pickup orders?
Yes. Uber Eats says its pickup fee is 7% if you show your in-app menu matches in-store, otherwise 10%.
Is there a free trial period?
DoorDash offers a 0% intro rate for 7 days on Basic and 30 days on Plus and Premier. Uber Eats charges no delivery or pickup fees on orders for your first 30 days.
How old do you have to be to deliver for DoorDash?
At least 18, or 19 in some states and 21 in California, according to DoorDash's Dasher page.
Do Uber Eats couriers keep their tips?
Yes. Uber says 100% of tips are yours to keep, and you see the fare before accepting an order.
