GrubHub+ Worth It? Costs, Comparison & Savings 2026
Is GrubHub+ subscription worth $9.99/month? Compare delivery fees, restaurant selection, and break-even analysis to decide if premium saves you money.
GrubHub+ costs $9.99/month and waives delivery fees (saving ~$3-5 per order). Break-even happens at 2-3 orders monthly, making it worthwhile for frequent users. However, dining fees, service charges, and restaurant surcharges remain—so the actual savings per order is $2-3, not $4-5. Most casual users save money by skipping the subscription and choosing restaurants strategically.
Quick Wins: Cut GrubHub Costs
| Action | Estimated Savings | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancel GrubHub+ if ordering <3x/month | $120/year | 2 minutes | Very Easy |
| Use promo codes instead of membership | $50-100/year | 5 minutes | Easy |
| Order from GrubHub+ partner restaurants | $15-20/order | Varies | Easy |
| Combine with Amazon Prime membership | Free delivery | 1 click | Easy |
| Limit to $25+ orders (avoid small-order fees) | $30-50/year | Ongoing | Easy |
| Order during lunch hours (fewer fees) | $5-10/order | Varies | Easy |
Current GrubHub+ Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free GrubHub Account | $0 | $0 | App access; delivery/service/dining fees apply |
| GrubHub+ Membership | $9.99 | $119.88 | Free delivery on orders $12+; extra discounts |
| Amazon Prime Member (GrubHub+) | FREE | $0 | Included with Prime; same benefits as paid GrubHub+ |
Key context: In 2024, GrubHub integrated with Amazon Prime. If you have an Amazon Prime membership ($139/year), you get GrubHub+ for free. Prime members get a year of free GrubHub+ when they renew.
What GrubHub+ Actually Covers
What's Waived:
- Delivery Fee ($2.99-5.99 per order)
What Stays (and stacks up):
- Service Fee: 15-20% of order total (NOT waived)
- Restaurant/Dining Fee: 15-30% markup on menu items (NOT waived, set by restaurant)
- Small Order Fee: $2 if order is under $12 (still charged on small orders)
- Tips (NOT waived, you add this)
Real Example:
Ordering a $20 burrito with GrubHub+:
- Menu price: $20
- Restaurant surcharge (25%): +$5
- Service fee (15%): +$3
- Delivery fee: FREE (waived by GrubHub+)
- Subtotal: $28
- Your savings from GrubHub+: ~$3-4 (the delivery fee)
So the membership saves you the delivery fee, but the service and restaurant fees still apply. This is important to understand.
Break-Even Analysis: When Is GrubHub+ Worth It?
Scenario 1: You order once per week
- 52 orders/year × $3.50 average delivery fee = $182 in delivery fees
- GrubHub+ annual cost: $119.88
- Net savings: $62.12/year (cost justified)
Scenario 2: You order twice per month
- 24 orders/year × $3.50 average delivery fee = $84 in delivery fees
- GrubHub+ annual cost: $119.88
- Net loss: -$35.88/year (membership NOT justified)
Scenario 3: You have Amazon Prime (already)
- Free GrubHub+ with Prime
- Effective savings: 52 orders × $3.50 = $182/year for FREE
- This is optimal—if you have Prime, use GrubHub+ aggressively
Scenario 4: You order 3x/month
- 36 orders/year × $3.50 average delivery fee = $126 in delivery fees
- GrubHub+ annual cost: $119.88
- Net savings: $6.12/year (barely justified; any increase in service fees kills ROI)
Retention Behavior: How GrubHub Keeps You Subscribed
Classification: Email Win-Back Only
GrubHub does NOT offer pause options or retention discounts. They rely on email marketing and promo codes to win you back after cancellation.
| Retention Tactic | Does GrubHub Use This? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Discount on cancellation | No | No automatic offers; you just cancel |
| Pause/suspension option | No | No way to pause membership |
| Email win-back campaigns | YES | Expect "We miss you" emails with promo codes after canceling |
| "Come back" discounts | YES | Typical offer: "Get your first order $15 off" after cancellation |
| Free month extension | No | Not offered |
| Loyalty bonuses | Limited | Occasional bonus points for frequent users |
| Bundle with Amazon Prime | YES | Key strategy: GrubHub+ free with Prime; drives Prime adoption |
GrubHub+ vs. Competitors: Quick Comparison
| Service | Cost | Delivery Fee | Other Fees Covered | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrubHub+ | $9.99/mo | Waived $12+ | No (service/dining remain) | Frequent GrubHub users |
| DoorDash DashPass | $9.99/mo | Waived $10+ | No (service/dining remain) | Frequent DoorDash users |
| Uber Eats Pass | $9.99/mo | Waived $15+ | No (service/dining remain) | Frequent Uber Eats users |
| Amazon Prime | $139/year | Free delivery (GrubHub+) | Included (GrubHub+) | Multi-service users |
All food delivery membership programs work identically: they waive delivery fees but keep service and restaurant fees intact.
Price History: Has GrubHub+ Changed?
| Year | GrubHub+ Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $11.99/month | Launch pricing |
| 2022 | $11.99/month | Stable |
| 2023 | $9.99/month | Price cut (strategic move) |
| 2024 | $9.99/month | Amazon Prime integration |
| 2026 | $9.99/month | Current pricing |
GrubHub lowered GrubHub+ from $11.99 to $9.99 in 2023 and has kept it stable since, banking on Prime integration.
How to Cancel GrubHub+ in 2026
- Open the GrubHub app
- Tap your profile picture (bottom right)
- Select "Payments & Subscriptions"
- Find "GrubHub+"
- Tap "Cancel Membership"
- Confirm the cancellation
You lose benefits immediately. If you're in the middle of a subscription cycle, you don't get a refund.
Free Alternatives: Options That Cost Nothing
| Alternative | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cook at home + Costco | $0-50/month | Saves $200+/year on food overall |
| Local restaurants (pickup) | $0 delivery | Eliminates delivery and service fees |
| Grocery delivery (Instacart free tier) | $0 | Need groceries, not prepared meals |
| Restaurant loyalty programs | Free | Some offer free delivery on orders |
Bottom Line: 3 Action Steps
- If you have Amazon Prime: Use your free GrubHub+ aggressively. There's no reason to avoid it since you're already paying for Prime.
- If you order 1-2x per month: Cancel GrubHub+. The $9.99/month membership doesn't break even. Use promo codes ($10-15 off first orders) instead, which are frequent.
- If you order 3+ times per month: Keep GrubHub+ ($9.99/month) because you'll save $3.50 per delivery × 3+ orders = $10.50+/month, beating the $9.99 membership cost.
FAQs
Q: Does GrubHub+ waive all fees?
A: No. GrubHub+ only waives delivery fees. Service fees (15-20%), restaurant surcharges (15-30%), and small-order fees ($2) still apply.
Q: How much do I actually save per order?
A: Average savings: $3-4 per order (just the delivery fee). Actual ROI depends on order frequency and size.
Q: Is GrubHub+ free with Amazon Prime?
A: Yes. Amazon Prime members get free GrubHub+ as a benefit. When your Prime membership renews, you get another year of free GrubHub+.
Q: Should I keep GrubHub+ if I have Amazon Prime?
A: Absolutely. If you're paying for Prime anyway, use the free GrubHub+ benefit. The delivery fee waiver is real savings.