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Grubhub is mainly a restaurant-discovery marketplace; ChowNow combines a marketplace with direct ordering through a restaurant’s own website or app. For diners, the practical choice comes down to which service lists the restaurant and the full checkout total. For restaurant operators, compare each channel’s current fees, delivery setup, discovery potential, and customer relationship—not just a headline commission rate.
How Grubhub and ChowNow differ
| Decision | Grubhub | ChowNow |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering model | Marketplace discovery and ordering through Grubhub’s app or website. Grubhub for Restaurants | A diner-facing marketplace as well as direct ordering through participating restaurants’ websites and branded apps. ChowNow |
| Restaurant-side costs | May include marketing, order processing, and delivery fees. Published rates vary by package and market. Grubhub pricing FAQ | ChowNow describes its restaurant model as commission-free. That claim does not mean every order channel or delivery arrangement is free of other charges. ChowNow |
| Diner fee established here | No single platform-wide diner fee is established by the cited information; review the specific order’s checkout total. | Orders placed through the ChowNow app or eat.chownow.com incur a Support Local Fee of 7.5% of the subtotal. ChowNow diner support |
| Delivery | Using Grubhub delivery can add a restaurant-side fee; availability and order pricing depend on the location and arrangement. Grubhub pricing FAQ | For partner-delivered orders, ChowNow lists a $7.98 fee for a maximum range of 8 miles; the restaurant can decide how much of it to pass to the diner. ChowNow restaurant support |
What diners should check before ordering
Compare the actual checkout total
For a specific restaurant, compare the same items and fulfillment method through each available channel. Check the subtotal, service or support fees, delivery charge, and any other displayed charges before placing the order. A restaurant’s presence or prices may differ by location, and the cited information does not establish a universal winner for selection, speed, or total cost.
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Know when ChowNow’s diner fee applies
ChowNow states that its 7.5% Support Local Fee is calculated on the subtotal when an order is placed through the ChowNow app or eat.chownow.com. It describes the fee as support for its commission-free restaurant model. This is a diner-facing fee; it is separate from the restaurant-side commission claim. An order placed directly through a restaurant’s own website or app is a different channel, so check that channel’s checkout page for its applicable charges.
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Delivery arrangements can affect both price and availability. ChowNow’s restaurant support information describes partner delivery at a $7.98 flat price, up to an 8-mile range, and says the restaurant may choose how much of that fee the diner pays. ChowNow recommends a $3.99 diner share, but that is a company recommendation, not a guaranteed charge on every order. The support page also notes regional rules affecting delivery fees in California, New York City, or Seattle beginning June 11, 2024; verify the current local checkout terms.
#1 Best Overall
- Get thousands of restaurants, convenience stores, pet stores, grocery stores, gifts, and more at your fingertips.
- Easy ordering, order customizations, and real-time tracking
- Pickup, group order, and scheduled delivery options available
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
How restaurant fees compare
Grubhub: separate the fee categories
Grubhub says there is no monthly or ongoing fee simply to be listed in its marketplace. That does not make marketplace orders free for a restaurant: charges may include marketing fees when an order is placed, order processing for payment processing and fraud-related services, and a delivery fee if the restaurant uses Grubhub delivery. Grubhub’s pricing FAQ, dated February 2, 2022, lists marketing commission of 5%–20% depending on package and a 10% delivery fee when Grubhub delivery is used. Treat those figures as a dated published description, not a current quote.
A ChowNow comparison article published September 12, 2026 describes Grubhub marketing rates of 5%, 15%, or 20%, with delivery fees starting at 10% and rates varying by market. Because this is a vendor-authored comparison, it should be read as ChowNow’s description rather than an independent rate survey. ChowNow’s comparison article
Rank #2
- A huge selection fulfilling all your needs - food and more!
- Easy ordering & real-time tracking
- Customize your orders
- Pickup & group order options
- Physical gift cards are delivered active via mail.
ChowNow: distinguish direct orders, marketplace orders, and delivery
ChowNow presents both its marketplace and restaurant-owned ordering channels, such as a restaurant’s own site or branded app. It describes its restaurant model as commission-free and advertises marketing, integrations, and customer-data features. These are company descriptions; they do not establish the contract terms or data rights for a particular restaurant. Review the proposed agreement to understand the fees, access, and obligations for each channel. ChowNow
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Rank #3
- This card is redeemable via the Uber app within the U.S. in cities where Uber is available.
- Redemption: Mobile App
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Request a like-for-like written quote
For a sound comparison, ask each provider to price the same scenarios: marketplace orders, direct orders where available, restaurant-fulfilled pickup or delivery, and partner or platform delivery. Include marketing, processing, delivery, and any diner-facing fee in the calculation. Grubhub’s detailed published pricing page is dated 2022, and fees may vary by package, market, order channel, and fulfillment method, so get current written terms for the restaurant’s location before deciding.
Which service fits a restaurant’s goals?
- Prioritize marketplace discovery: Compare the reach and local presence of Grubhub’s marketplace with ChowNow’s marketplace for the restaurant’s own neighborhood and cuisine. The available evidence does not establish which platform brings more orders in a particular market.
- Prioritize direct repeat ordering: ChowNow offers tools for orders through restaurant-owned websites and branded apps, alongside its marketplace. Ask what customer information is available and what the contract permits; marketing language alone does not settle data ownership or use.
- Evaluate delivery economics: Compare the full restaurant cost and diner share for the precise delivery setup. A percentage fee, a flat partner-delivery price, and an amount passed to the customer affect margins differently.
- Validate with local terms: Fees and plans can differ by market, package, channel, and fulfillment method. Use a current written quote and check the specific local ordering experience rather than relying on a generalized rate.
Bottom line for the comparison
Grubhub centers on marketplace discovery and ordering, with restaurant costs that can include marketing, processing, and delivery. ChowNow offers marketplace ordering and restaurant-direct channels, while its diner app and website carry a stated 7.5% Support Local Fee and partner delivery may have separate costs. Diners should compare the final total for the same restaurant and order; operators should compare current written terms by channel and delivery method.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Get thousands of restaurants, convenience stores, pet stores, grocery stores, gifts, and more at your fingertips.
- Easy ordering, order customizations, and real-time tracking
- Pickup, group order, and scheduled delivery options available
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Rank #4
- This card is redeemable via grubhub.com or the Grubhub app in markets where Grubhub is available within the U.S. only.
- To redeem, log into your account online or in the app, select "gift cards", select "add a new gift card" and enter in the gift card number to add the balance to your account.
- No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
