Grubhub Direct alternative that doesn't need Grubhub
Grubhub Direct is a free ordering website for restaurants on Grubhub's marketplace: no setup, monthly or commission fees, just an unpublished processing fee reported near 3.05% + 30 cents. The catch is the Marketplace account it requires. Nomback is your own app, not tied to any delivery app, for $99 a month with no commission.
How it works
- Keep Grubhub for new customers if it sends you orders.
- Launch your Nomback app and put a QR card in every Grubhub bag.
- Regulars order in your app with stamps and push deals; Grubhub stays for strangers.
What it costs
| Nomback plan | Monthly | One-time setup |
|---|---|---|
| Your own ordering and rewards app (iPhone and Android) | $99 | $399 |
| App and website | $129 | $399 |
| Website only | $79 | $149 |
No commission on any order and no fee added to your customers. Card payments go through Stripe at 2.9% + 30¢. Apple charges $99 a year and Google $25 once for the developer accounts, which are in your name. Month to month, and live in about two weeks. Full pricing.
Grubhub Direct vs Nomback
| Grubhub Direct | Nomback | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $0 | $99 |
| Setup | $0 | $399 |
| Commission | 0% | 0% |
| Processing on a $30 order | about $1.22 (reported 3.05% + 30¢) | $1.17 (Stripe 2.9% + 30¢) |
| Needs Grubhub Marketplace | Yes | No |
| Own app in the App Store | No, a website | Yes |
| Stamp card and push deals | No | Yes |
Grubhub Direct terms from Grubhub; processing rate as reported by QSR Magazine.
The Marketplace condition
Grubhub's Marketplace charges a 5%, 15% or 20% marketing commission, plus delivery from 10% when its drivers deliver (Grubhub pricing). Grubhub Direct sits next to that; it doesn't replace it. So every regular who keeps ordering in the Grubhub app keeps costing you a commission.
How it changed
| When | What changed |
|---|---|
| May 2021 | Launched at $49 a month plus $99 setup, both waived through April 2022 |
| February 2023 | Dropped the $1.99 fee on Grubhub-courier deliveries; added Google ordering |
| Now | Free for eligible Marketplace restaurants; processing per order |
Sources: NRN, Food On Demand.
Questions owners ask
Is Grubhub Direct free?
Grubhub lists no setup, monthly or commission fees. You pay an order processing fee per order, which Grubhub doesn't publish.
Do I need to be on Grubhub to use Grubhub Direct?
Yes. It's for restaurants with a Grubhub Marketplace account.
What's cheaper per order, Grubhub Direct or Nomback?
About the same: roughly $1.22 versus $1.17 in processing on a $30 order. Nomback adds $99 a month for the app.
Why pay for Nomback if Grubhub Direct is free?
For your own app on customers' phones, the stamp card, memberships and push deals, and independence from Grubhub.
Can I keep Grubhub?
Yes. Most owners keep it for new customers and move regulars to their own app.
How long to set up Nomback?
About two weeks.
Related: DoorDash Storefront alternative: your own app instead of a DoorDash page, Uber Eats Webshop alternative: your own app, not Uber’s page, How to lower third-party delivery fees.
Sources
- Grubhub Direct
- Grubhub pricing and fees
- QSR Magazine: Grubhub drops fees on Grubhub Direct, Feb 2023
- NRN: Grubhub launches Grubhub Direct, May 2021
- Food On Demand: Grubhub waives fees on Direct, Feb 2023
- Stripe pricing
- Nomback pricing
Prices and fees were checked on October 30, 2026. They change, so check the source before you decide.