How to Choose a Food Delivery Service (2026 Buyer Guide)

Choosing between food delivery platforms in 2026 comes down to seven practical criteria: the restaurants they cover in your area, the real total price per order, delivery speed, order accuracy, customer support, loyalty and rewards, and the underlying economics for restaurants and riders. Most people pick one platform and stick — but five minutes of comparison usually reveals savings of £5–£10 per month.

1. What restaurants do they cover in my area?

Open all three big apps at your exact postcode and compare. Coverage varies dramatically street-by-street, particularly outside city centres. Premium brands (sushi, specialty) are often exclusive to one platform. Budget independents often only on Just Eat and GeraEats.

2. What is the real total price?

Food price + delivery fee + service fee + small-order surcharge + optional tip. Compare across platforms for the same restaurant — prices often vary by 5–15% between apps (restaurants build platform commission differently). GeraEats typically shows lower menu prices because restaurants save on commission.

3. How fast do they deliver?

Peak-time delivery times (Friday 8pm, Saturday lunch) are the real test. Uber Eats and Deliveroo typically faster in Zone 1-2; Just Eat and GeraEats competitive in Zone 3+ and in non-London cities. Check estimated delivery time before placing an order — apps show it upfront.

4. How accurate are orders?

Missing items, wrong items, and cold food are the top three delivery complaints. Platforms handle these with different levels of grace. Uber Eats and GeraEats are known for near-instant automated refunds on missing items. Deliveroo requires more back-and-forth. Reading app reviews filtered to "accuracy" or "missing items" gives a real sense.

5. How good is customer support?

When something goes wrong — wrong order, cold food, rider can't find the address — how quickly and fairly is it resolved? In-app chat vs. email-only makes a huge difference. Uber Eats, Deliveroo, GeraEats offer in-app chat; Just Eat historically email-first. Response times under 5 minutes matter when your dinner is cold on the doorstep.

6. Loyalty and rewards

Uber Rewards stacks with Uber One. Deliveroo Plus Silver/Gold. GeraCoins on GeraEats stacks across all Gera Services products — a family ordering weekly on GeraEats plus using GeraClinic plus GeraHome accrues GeraCoins faster than any single-platform loyalty.

7. The ethics: restaurants and riders

How much does the platform take from the restaurant (25–30% vs 12–18%)? Does the platform guarantee Living Wage for riders? Does the platform's marketing pressure restaurants to discount their prices? These questions increasingly matter to conscientious diners. Less extractive platforms have better restaurant retention and therefore better selection long-term.

When is a subscription worth it?

Uber One (£4.99/month) and Deliveroo Plus (£3.49/month) both remove delivery fees on most orders. Break-even is typically 3–4 orders per month. Light users (1–2 per month) lose money. Heavy users (6+ per month) save £10–£25/month. GeraEats Prime members (via Gera Prime £9.99/month) get free delivery across GeraEats plus benefits in 15+ other Gera apps.

How do I actually decide?

Open all apps at your postcode on a Friday 7pm (or peak meal time in your city). Put your usual order in each basket. Compare: total price, estimated time, restaurant rating, your typical loyalty stacking. Whichever wins on 5 of 7 criteria is your primary; keep the runners-up installed for coverage gaps.