If you have a small catering service, having food delivery apps like DoorDash can be a great help. With this, you can easily take orders and get them delivered to doorsteps without facing the hassle of managing calls. However, creating the app is not as simple as it involves technical knowledge. Therefore, for your assistance, we have provided detailed guidance for food delivery app development in this guide.
What is DoorDash?
DoorDash is a food delivery application that allows users to select food and grocery items online from the nearest location. To do so, it offers almost 310,000 menus and over 55,000 grocery items, including OTC medicines and flowers. In addition, users can manually choose the delivery duration and have them delivered on the same day.
While placing the order, you get the facility to trace the order to ensure it safely reaches the designated area. Besides, unlike other DoorDash competitors, it doesn’t pose an order limitation and allows you to order small items. If you are an introvert, use its non-contact feature and pay for items online without communicating with shoppers. So, add your items to your cart and enjoy free delivery service with your first order.
Why Look for Alternatives to DoorDash?
Users claim that DoorDash items are way more expensive than the actual ones, which makes them seek DoorDash alternatives. Besides, consumers have encountered many obstacles with this food delivery application, such as lag. This is why we have mentioned the main reasons for seeking a substitute instead of spending a hefty amount on this app.
- High Costs and Fees: DoorDash has faced much criticism regarding its payment policies, as it charges extra delivery and service fees. A few years ago, it was also accused of using tips to cover drivers’ pay, which left a negative impression.
- Limited Restaurant Options in Some Areas: Furthermore, this delivery service is limited to certain areas and doesn’t deliver in rural areas. Besides, if you live in the city, it is restricted to specific markets, reducing the service’s value.
- Delivery Delays and Order Issues: Most items are delayed, or they send the wrong items instead of the actual ones. This leaves a frustrating situation for the users, mainly when they rely on this service for meals or events.
- Customer Service Challenges: Other than that, many users have reported that DoorDash customer service takes longer to resolve the issue. Meaning that they either don’t respond on time or deny the accusations affecting their services.
- Driver Pay and Ethical Concerns: Moreover, they have been accused of pay practices and how little they tip the drivers. Hence, if you are concerned about fair treatment, it’s better to seek alternate options who are polite with their staff.
Top 10 DoorDash Alternatives
If you are looking for delivery services like DoorDash, we have gathered the 10 best apps like DoorDash in this section. Each application is reviewed in detail so that you can easily choose the one that suits your needs and preferences.
1. Uber Eats (Android | iOS)
Uber Eats is one of renowned food delivery apps like DoorDash that allows you to filter items using its simple search tool. Upon locating the items, users can choose the delivery time from today to tomorrow while manually selecting the duration. In addition, it features accessible GPS technology that lets you track the order location. If you have a special request, you can add notes for the riders when they receive the order.
2. Grubhub (Android | iOS)
As the best app like DoorDash, it lets you choose your favorite cuisine by accessing reviews from famous restaurants. During that, you can select the one that offers premium discounts and deals from the main interface instead of searching them separately. Furthermore, whether it’s delivery or pickup, you can choose the one that you like. Plus, on every order, users get special points that they can use to avail of discounts.
3. Postmates (Android | iOS)
If you don’t want to search for items, Postmates offers you an order again option to reorder past items. Additionally, you can save certain restaurants to your favorites to access them easily in the future. After placing the order, you can share the details with others to ensure seamless coordination. Also, with its fast delivery service, users will be instantly notified when their order is just around the corner.
4. Seamless (Android | iOS)
As one of the best apps like Doordash, Seamless enables you to place orders from both local and national restaurants without any limitation. To determine if the app is worth considering, users can enjoy its 30-day lower service and zero delivery fee service. Moreover, you can pick the desired delivery time and have them sent to you instantly. When your rider is out for delivery, you can contact them via phone or text message.
5. Caviar (Android | iOS)
Confounded by Shawn Tsao, this alternative to DoorDash features a simple and easy-to-navigate interface. In addition, you can place small orders with this app instead of facing any additional delivery charges. To keep users engaged, it offers special discounts and promo codes on almost every purchase. Conversely, Caviar doesn’t charge a single penny delivery fee on your first purchase or offers you 10% discount.
6. Instacart (Android | iOS)
Offering you free delivery on your first 3 orders, Instacart is another of the best food delivery services. Unlike other apps, it allows you to prioritize or schedule delivery time manually to get orders immediately. Besides, this app connects you with almost 85,000 supermarkets and grocery stores in North America to quickly access ingredients. Regarding payments, one can either pay online or use the cash-on-delivery method.
7. ChowNow (Android | iOS)
Sometimes, riders don’t understand the location, so ChowNow enables you to add instructions for them to reach the designation easily. While tracking your order, users can access the restaurant and delivery location to know the exact status of the order. In addition, you can enable Google Pay on this app to avoid the hassle of cash on delivery. You can also save the restaurant by adding it to your favorites to reorder easily.
8. Delivery.com (Android | iOS)
Among many companies similar to DoorDash, this delivery app offers you 10% off on your first order and a promo code. While choosing the restaurant, you can access its review to determine if it’s worth trying. Moreover, with its reorder option, one can place the order in real time without wasting hours on scrolling. Another fascinating aspect of this app is that it offers delivery points that users can use to get discounts.
9. goPuff (Android | iOS)
With goPuff, you can have your items delivered in 30 minutes or less, saving you from waiting hours. While searching for the desired meal, this app also gives you a list of almost 200 items to choose from. Unlike other apps, the grocery items are arranged categorically, which saves the effort of constant searching. Besides, the app claims no middleman involvement, meaning that your food is directly delivered from store to house.
10. Enatega Multivendor (Android | iOS)
Enatega Multivendor is an open-source food delivery service that enables businesses to tailor the platform to their preferences. Overall, it features an intuitive interface that makes meals and navigation easier with drop-down menus. Moreover, users get a list of top brands, especially those who don’t compromise on quality. As compared to other services, it supports multiple languages, allowing users to set the desired one for better comprehension.
Key Features to Make Apps Like DoorDash
If you desire to make an app like DoorDash to make money, are you familiar with the key features an ideal food delivery should have? If not, here we have mentioned 7 main tools you must incorporate in the application. Hence, this will allow you to make your app stand out among others by offering a user-centric experience.
1. Group Order/Bill Splitting
In this era, people prefer to order in bulk to save on extra delivery charges instead of ordering individually. Hence, bill splitting and group order features should be available to allow others to order on the same account.
2. Scheduled Deliveries
In addition, this allows users to schedule their deliveries by choosing the desired time and day. This will help them in planning ahead and ensuring their orders arrive at the most convenient time.
3. Multiple Payment Gateways
Instead of using single payment options like COD, ensure that digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay are added. Having this facility, consumers can get rid of the hassle of manual payment and enjoy a secure checkout experience.
4. GPS Integration for Accurate Delivery
To track the order, ensure that your application comes with GPS tracking and a fleet management facility. It will allow the users to keep an eye on the rider’s location and take preventive measures if they take the wrong route.
5. Order History and Reorder Option
It enables consumers to reorder past items instead of browsing through menus again. Besides, using AI prioritization technology will let users access the suggested items based on their latest purchase.
6. Customer Support Chat
To ensure quick conflict resolution, ensure that the selected application has an in-app chat feature. Through this, users can seamlessly communicate with the riders and service providers without having a communication gap.
7. Push Notifications and Alerts
Users who have poor connectivity issues should make use of push notifications and alert tools. This will assist them in staying updated, ensuring they’re always informed.
How to Make an App Like DoorDash
When it comes to creating apps like DoorDash, the process is quite hectic and baffling. Therefore, for your guidance, we have mentioned the key steps involved in app development with essential details. So, review the guide and learn how you can create a cutting-edge food delivery app in real-time.
1. Assess Market Trends
Start by stepping into the market to learn about the ongoing trends, marketplace, and target consumers. This will ensure that your app can be used in log runs and matches users’ preferred choices. Moreover, it is advised to conduct thorough research on the competitors to know what features they are using.
2. Pick the Ideal Food Delivery Model
After analyzing the market and trends, you might have a comprehensive idea about the features to incorporate in the app. Before you incorporate them, pick the delivery model from the listed options:
- Delivery-Only Model: In this model, the app only receives the order and forwards it to restaurants, which will handle preparation and delivery themselves.
- Full-Service Model: On the contrary, the full-service model will take care of both order processing and delivery logistics, while restaurants only prepare food.
- Restaurant-Centric Model: Lastly, this model will enable restaurants to take orders, prepare, and deliver food directly from the apps.
3. Decide on a Profitable Monetization Strategy
Moving on, pick the monetization model to earn money from your app like DoorDash to make money. Thus, following are some strategies that you can adopt to generate revenue and ensure profitability.
- Commission-Based: This model charges the consumers according to the delivery and service fees that vary according to the location.
- Advertising-Based: Additionally, you can display ads like banners or videos in your app to earn revenue and attract viewers.
- Surge Pricing-Based: In this model, you can charge additional fees from the users in case of high demand, peak hours, and urgent deliveries.
- Subscription-Based: By adding premium features like discounts, priority, and free delivery, you can generate consistent revenue from the app.
4. Select the Best Mobile App Development Team
When it comes to the development stage, decide whether you want to hire a team that can handle development on your own. If you create an app in a team, it is recommended to keep the budget expense in mind. If you’re developing an app individually, ZEGOCLOUD’s APIs and SDKs provide powerful tools to implement real-time features like video calls, chat, and low-latency live streaming.
5. Identify Key App Features
Now that you have determined the development strategy, look for the unique features to insert in your application. For that, AI technology can offer item recommendations or insert a fleet management facility for handling order delivery.
6. Conduct Comprehensive App Testing
Once everything is managed, create a compelling app and test it among peers before the launch. This will allow you to ensure the app’s functionality by resolving the issues faced while testing. After that, the app will be launched on platforms like Google Play Store or Apple App Store for user accessibility.
7. Provide Ongoing Post-Launch Support
This is the most important part of app development since it ensures you update the app regularly post-launch. For that, constantly fix the glitches and temporary bugs to guarantee a smooth and hassle-free user experience.
Tech Stack to Build an App Like DoorDash
While creating an ideal DoorDash alternative, picking the right technology stack is the game changer. Hence, here is a table of the technologies that will help you build a scalable food delivery app.
| Category | Technology/Tools |
|---|---|
| Front-End (Customer App) | React Native / Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android) |
| Front-End (Web Interface) | React / Angular |
| Back-End | Node.js / Python (Django or Flask) |
| Database | MongoDB / PostgreSQL |
| API Integration | Google Maps API / Twilio API / Stripe API |
| Cloud Hosting | AWS / Google Cloud / Azure |
| Push Notifications | Firebase Cloud Messaging / OneSignal |
| Authentication & Security | OAuth 2.0 / JWT |
| Payment Gateway | Stripe / PayPal |
| Real-Time Communication | Socket.io / Firebase |
| DevOps / CI/CD | Jenkins / Docker / Kubernetes |
Build Apps like DoorDash with ZEGOCLOUD’s Real-Time Solutions
In the competitive world of on-demand food delivery, building a reliable and scalable alternative to DoorDash requires advanced technology to ensure seamless real-time interactions between users, drivers, and restaurants. ZEGOCLOUD provides powerful, low-latency solutions that empower developers and businesses to create highly functional, feature-rich delivery platforms with real-time capabilities.
1. Real-Time Communication and Enhanced User Experience
Effective communication and interaction are critical for a smooth food delivery experience. ZEGOCLOUD’s in-app chat, voice/video Call SDK, and interactive features empower seamless coordination and user engagement:
- Driver-Customer Chat: Enable real-time messaging to clarify delivery instructions, address issues, or provide updates.
- Voice/Video Calls: Allow customers, drivers, and restaurants to communicate quickly for better order accuracy and enhanced support.
- Live Customer Support: Integrate real-time chatbots or live agents to resolve issues instantly, improving overall user satisfaction.
- Interactive Notifications: Provide users with live updates on their order status, such as “Food Prepared” or “Driver Arriving,” creating a transparent and engaging experience.
2. Cross-Platform Support
ZEGOCLOUD’s SDKs work seamlessly across iOS, Android, and Web, allowing you to build delivery apps like DoorDash that work on all major platforms. This flexibility ensures that customers, drivers, and restaurants can connect anytime, anywhere.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, having apps like DoorDash is necessary to earn money; however, generating it can be a task. Therefore, in this guide, we have mentioned how you can create a competitive app by choosing various models. While following the article, we recommend using ZEGOCLOUD to offer unique features by integrating its APIs and SDKs.
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FAQ
Q1: Are there other apps like DoorDash?
Yes, there are several apps similar to DoorDash, such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates. These platforms also offer food delivery services, connecting customers with local restaurants and drivers for quick and convenient deliveries. Some, like Instacart, focus more on grocery delivery.
Q2: How to develop an app like DoorDash?
To develop an app like DoorDash, start by identifying your target audience and business model. Next, focus on essential features like real-time order tracking, payment gateways, in-app chat, and a rating system. You’ll also need a user app (for customers), a delivery driver app, and an admin panel to manage orders and operations. Using technologies like ZEGOCLOUD for real-time communication and location tracking will enhance the app’s performance.
Q3: How much does it cost to develop a DoorDash app?
The cost to develop an app like DoorDash depends on features, complexity, and development team rates. A basic version can cost around $30,000 to $50,000, while a feature-rich, scalable app might range from $100,000 to $150,000 or more. Factors like design, platform (iOS/Android), and third-party integrations (e.g., payment gateways, mapping services) also influence the cost.
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