What is Uber Eats? Here's what you need to know about the ride-hailing service's food delivery app (2024)

  • Uber Eats is a food delivery service that's an offshoot of the Uber ride-hailing service.
  • You can place orders with local restaurants from the Uber Eats website or mobile app, and food is delivered directly to your door, usually for a small delivery fee.
  • You can set up group orders or schedule orders for a later time as well.
  • Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

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Uber Eats is a food delivery service, similar to competitors like Postmates, GrubHub, and Doordash.

An extension of Uber's original ride-hailing service, the on-demand food service acts as the middleman between you and restaurants, bringing take-out from local and chain establishments and dropping it right at your door.

To use Uber Eats, you can place an order using the Uber Eats website, the Uber Eats app for iOS, or Uber Eats for Android. No matter which method you use, the process for ordering on the app is relatively the same. Select the restaurant and choose the items you want to order, then check out.

Here's how to use the Uber Eats service.

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How to order food using Uber Eats

The service is easy to navigate but has a few features that you should be aware of to get off to a smooth, food-ordering start.

  • Your login information is the same as your Uber account, so if you're already an Uber customer, you can log into the Uber Eats website or app in the same way.
  • You can use "Search" at the bottom of the app or the search box at the top of the web page to look for specific restaurants by name, types of cuisine ("Italian"), or a particular item of food ("pizza").
  • There are many ways to search and filter for food, including price, delivery fees, and dietary restrictions.
  • If you're ordering on the website, you can create a group order. Pick a restaurant and then choose "Start Group Order." You can share the link with other people, and everyone can add their items to a single order that's delivered to a single location.
  • You don't need to get an order delivered immediately. Instead, you can place it ahead of time and schedule the delivery when it's most convenient for you. On the website, click "Deliver now" at the top of the page and choose "Schedule for later." On the mobile app, tap "ASAP" at the top of the screen and select "Schedule an order."

What is Uber Eats? Here's what you need to know about the ride-hailing service's food delivery app (2)

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Understanding Uber Eats delivery fees and order cancellation

When you order delivery, there is generally a fee associated with getting each order to you. On the Uber Eats app, you can see the fee specified in the details under each restaurant. Some restaurants have no delivery fee over a certain order amount, so check the details.

Most third-party delivery apps also have a service fee associated with their platform. This covers the cost of acting as the middleman between you and the restaurant. The payment can help pay to operate the app and connect you with drivers. This can be a flat fee or a percentage of your order total.

What is Uber Eats? Here's what you need to know about the ride-hailing service's food delivery app (3)

If you ever need to cancel an Uber Eats order on the app, navigate to the Upcoming Orders tab and select the "Cancel" option. It's possible to get a refund on a canceled order as long as you're able to cancel it before the restaurant accepts the order.

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Uber Eats' subscription program, Eats Pass

Uber Eats also offers a subscription program called Eats Pass. For $10 per month, Eats Pass waives the delivery fee on all orders and gives you an extra five percent discount on orders over $15. It's a good value if you frequently use Uber Eats for meal deliveries, but if you only occasionally use the service, it's probably not going to pay for itself.

You can learn more about Eats Pass and sign up for it using the East Pass button at the bottom of the mobile app or by going to the Eats Pass website, clicking your account name at the top right, and choosing "Eats Pass" from the menu.

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Related coverage fromTech Reference:

  • 'Can you pay cash for Uber Eats?': Yes, but not in the U.S. — here's how to pay for Uber Eats in all locations

  • How to delete your Uber Eats account on a phone or computer

  • How to change your phone number on Uber in 2 different ways

  • How to use Uber promo codes to get free or discounted rides

  • How to change your payment method on Uber in 5 simple steps

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

What is Uber Eats? Here's what you need to know about the ride-hailing service's food delivery app (2024)

FAQs

How does Uber Eats work step by step? ›

First you'll see the restaurant accept and start prepping. Then, when the order's almost ready, a nearby delivery person—in a car, on a bike, or on a scooter—will go to the restaurant to pick it up. Next, they'll drive or ride to you. You'll be able to see their name and photo and track their progress on the map.

What is the main purpose of Uber Eats? ›

Uber Eats is our food delivery platform that makes getting great food from your favorite local restaurants as easy as requesting a ride. The Uber Eats app connects you with a broad range of local restaurants and food, so you can order from the full menus of your local favorites whenever you want.

How does Uber Eats payment work? ›

When you deliver with the Uber Eats app, your earnings are transferred automatically, so you don't have to worry about paperwork. Find out how to set up your bank account and track your next transfer.

What is the summary of Uber Eats? ›

The meals are delivered by couriers using various methods, including cars, scooters, bikes, or on foot. It is operational in over 6,000 cities in 45 countries as of 2021. San Francisco, California, U.S. The process of delivering food is carried out by Uber drivers.

Can you pay cash with Uber Eats? ›

Yes, Uber Eats does take cash at the door in some locations. However, it is not universally available, and you will need to check the app or contact customer support to see if it is available in your area. If cash payments are available, you will see the option to pay with cash during the checkout process.

Who pays more, Uber Eats or DoorDash? ›

Gridwise found enough overperforming drivers for DoorDash and Uber Eats services to push the average earnings much higher. Average hourly earnings reached $24.50 for DoorDash, and $25.60 an hour for Uber Eats. These earnings are comparable to what rideshare drivers make and in some instances, even better.

What is the difference between Uber Eats and Uber delivery? ›

With uber you simply pick up and drop off the rider. With uber eats you pick up and then deliver food.

What are the pros and cons of being a Uber Eats driver? ›

Pros and Cons depends on the person. There are a lot of things great about Uber eats and also a lot of things bad, pay is inconsistent but if you apply yourself and put hours in, you will be able to make good money. If not, just find another job. “Being your own boss” is only good when you have self discipline.

Who is the target audience for Uber Eats? ›

According to the data, most Uber Eats users (74.5%) are between the ages of 18 and 44. The largest segment is 25- to 34-year-olds, with 32.3% of global Uber Eats users in this age group. The second largest segment is the youngest, 18- to 24-year-old users, at 22.9%.

What is the average tip for Uber Eats? ›

There's one thing that both the average customer and driver agree on: A $4 tip is fair. But, customers consider a few factors when it comes to tipping. US Foods' data shows that customers, on average, are willing to pay $8.50 total for extra delivery charges, including tips, delivery fees, and service fees.

Should I tip my Uber Eats driver? ›

Is tipping required? Tipping is always optional. However, we encourage you to tip every time you order with Uber Eats. Your courier puts in a lot of effort, and that deserves a little extra.

How much do Uber Eats pay per delivery? ›

Uber Eats pays drivers per trip. They receive a fee for pick-up between 50p and £3.00, a fee for delivery, and a fee for every mile they cover. Fees vary depending on where drivers work and the vehicle they drive. These figures do not include bonus payments, (called 'Boost') that are paid to drivers during peak demand.

What are the 5 stages of Uber Eats? ›

The addition of the five-step tracking bar — which includes order confirmation, order preparation, notification of the delivery partner en route, order pick-up and arrival — could also help ease user frustration over unexpectedly long wait times and improve courier accountability.

What can Uber Eats drivers see about me? ›

In most cases, they'll get your address, first name, and last initial, as well as any delivery instructions and notes when they pick up your order. After they make the delivery, the app reverts to only showing them your approximate delivery location.

What you need to know about Uber Eats driver? ›

If you're new to earning with Uber, you'll need to sign up to be a delivery person, consent to a screening, and upload the required documents and a photo. Once you're notified that you are active, you can begin to receive delivery requests. The Driver app offers resources and will help you learn as you go.

Do you tip Uber Eats drivers? ›

Is tipping required? Tipping is always optional. However, we encourage you to tip every time you order with Uber Eats. Your courier puts in a lot of effort, and that deserves a little extra.

How to get orders on Uber Eats? ›

How to start delivering using the Uber Eats app
  1. Tap the status bar at the bottom of your map screen.
  2. Select the settings icon at the bottom of your screen to get to Driving Preferences.
  3. Tap Deliveries to turn on Uber Eats. If you accept the terms, you'll start receiving delivery requests.

How do I succeed with Uber Eats? ›

HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY AS AN UBER DELIVERY DRIVER
  1. #1 Work More Often. ...
  2. #2 Drive During Surge. ...
  3. #3 Drive at the Right Times. ...
  4. #4 Make the Most of Promotions. ...
  5. #5 Don't Rely on Payment Per Minute. ...
  6. #6 Integrate Multiapping. ...
  7. #7 Plan Your Time. ...
  8. #8 Be Professional for Tips.

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