DoorDash charges up to 30% per order and controls your visibility, pricing, and customer relationships.
Switch to a better alternative to:
Option 1
Own Ordering System + In-House Delivery
You launch online ordering on your own website (using a system like UpMenu). Customers order directly from you — not through DoorDash — and deliveries are handled by your own drivers.
Pros
Cons
Option 2
Own Ordering System + External Delivery Services
You run online ordering on your own website, but dispatch delivery to third-party services (e.g. Uber Direct, DoorDash Drive, Wolt Drive).
Pros
Cons
Option 3
Other Marketplace Apps
You switch to another delivery platform (e.g. Uber Eats, Grubhub, Deliveroo) that may offer slightly different pricing.
Pros
Cons
Cut costs by up to 90% — swap high commissions and extra fees for a flat monthly subscription ($89–$169).
No hidden fees, no paid visibility — just one flat rate that doesn't increase as your orders grow.
Stop depending on DoorDash rankings. With your own system, you set your pricing, run your marketing, and control every customer relationship.
When customers order directly from you, you get their data, build loyalty, and drive repeat orders — without sharing it with DoorDash.
Why should you consider alternatives to DoorDash?
| Feature | UpMenu (Your Own System) | DoorDash |
|---|---|---|
| Costs & commissions | Fixed monthly fee ($49–$169), 0% commission | 15–30% commission + extra fees |
| Business model | Direct sales — you keep the full profit | Marketplace — you share revenue |
| Profit margin | High and predictable | Reduced by commissions and fees |
| Customer ownership | Full access to customer data and CRM tools | DoorDash owns the data — limited access |
| Platform dependency (lock-in) | Full independence | High dependence on DoorDash |
| Visibility & rankings | You control your traffic and growth | Depends on rankings and paid promotions |
| Branding | Your brand, your website, your experience | DoorDash branding dominates |
| Marketing control | Run your own campaigns, loyalty programs, promotions | Limited — often requires paid promotions |
| Online ordering & customization | Fully customizable menu, website, upsells, combos | Limited customization — hard to stand out |
| Delivery control | Full control — own drivers or integrated delivery services | No control — handled by Dashers |
| Payments & cash flow | Payments go directly to your account | Weekly payouts — delayed cash flow |
| Reporting & insights | Full access to data, orders, and customer behavior | Limited reporting options |
| Customer loyalty | Higher — direct relationship with customers | Lower — customers loyal to the platform |
| Repeat orders | Easier to build repeat business | Harder to retain customers |
There are several alternatives to DoorDash; however, one of the best alternatives is UpMenu, as it offers advanced features such as a website and online menu builder, online order management, a loyalty program, marketing tools, and customization options without hefty commission fees.
When compared to DoorDash, UpMenu is a great DoorDash alternative that is far less expensive. If you’re looking for ways on how to get more DoorDash orders, take into account that you’ll have to cover DoorDash’s commission fee, food delivery commission, marketing and targeted offers fee, and activation fee. UpMenu has a freemium option and doesn’t charge you commission fees.
There are a number of apps like DoorDash that offer food delivery services, however, it’s important to look at solutions that offer more than just food delivery. With UpMenu, you get a variety of additional features, more freedom when it comes to customization and data ownership, and personalized marketing campaigns that you can control.
Whether DoorDash is oversaturated depends on factors such as market demand, competition, and geographical location. In some areas, DoorDash may have strong demand; in others, there may be more competition or lower demand.
The future of DoorDash will depend on various factors, including the company’s ability to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions and compete with other systems to get food delivered to customers. However, systems like UpMenu are already leading regarding advanced features, such as a built-in menu and website builder, online food ordering, app creator tool, and marketing and loyalty options.
Although some of the best restaurants can be found on DoorDash, the company has faced a few controversies over the years, but it’s most notable is its restaurant commission fees.
Once you sign their online form, DoorDash can charge small businesses steep commission fees for each order placed through the delivery platform. Some restaurants criticized these fees as too high, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when many businesses were struggling. As a result, restaurant owners have turned to more cost-efficient solutions that don’t take commission fees, such as UpMenu.
