Grubhub Direct fees in 2026: what the free ordering site really costs

By the Nomback team, who build ordering apps for independent restaurants. Updated October 20, 2026. Sources

What does Grubhub Direct cost?

From Grubhub's own pages, October 2026 (Grubhub Direct, pricing):

Payouts are daily by direct deposit. Grubhub mentions an "enhanced version" of Direct "available for an additional cost" without saying what it adds or costs. Before February 2023 restaurants paid the processing fee plus $1.99 per delivery; Grubhub dropped the delivery charge then (QSR Magazine).

Do you need to be on the Grubhub Marketplace?

Yes. Grubhub says Direct is for "eligible Marketplace restaurants" and the signup path goes through Grubhub for Restaurants (Grubhub). It doesn't say which plan qualifies. The marketplace plans as published now are Basic at 5% marketing commission, Plus at 15% and All-access at 20%, with Grubhub delivery adding fees from 10%, self-delivery at no delivery fee, and processing on top of all of it (Grubhub pricing). Full breakdown on the Grubhub fees page.

What does a $40 order cost on Grubhub Direct vs the Grubhub app?

Direct: about $1.52 in processing at the reported rate, you keep $38.48. Through the Grubhub app on the Plus plan with Grubhub delivery: 15% plus 10% delivery is $10 before processing, you keep about $28.50. That $10 gap per order is what Direct is for. Grubhub's own interest is in keeping you on the marketplace, which is why Direct is free: a restaurant with a Grubhub-built ordering site is a restaurant that stays listed.

What do customers pay on a Grubhub Direct order?

Grubhub doesn't publish the diner-side fees for Direct orders. On the marketplace, the customer delivery fee is described only as "standard, lower, lowest" by plan. Ask your account manager for the exact Direct checkout fees before you put the link on your website; a surprise service fee at checkout is the fastest way to send a regular back to the phone.

Is Grubhub Direct worth it?

If you are on Grubhub and staying, yes, because it is free and every order it catches skips the commission. The limits: it is a website, not an app with your name on a phone; the customer's account and history live with Grubhub; and the ordering page is built to Grubhub's template. If you want to reduce your dependence on Grubhub rather than deepen it, you need ordering that doesn't require a marketplace account (commission-free options).

Grubhub Direct vs an app of your own

Nomback is $99 a month with a $399 setup, Stripe's 2.9% + 30 cents, no commission and no marketplace requirement (pricing). It is an iPhone and Android app under your restaurant's name with a stamp card and push deals, which is the part a free ordering site can't do: give regulars a reason to open yours instead of the Grubhub app. Delivery is through DoorDash Drive at a flat fee. Orders print in the kitchen or land on your Clover already paid.

Sources

1. Grubhub Direct
2. Grubhub pricing and fees
3. Grubhub for Restaurants FAQ
4. QSR Magazine: Grubhub drops fees on Grubhub Direct, Feb 2023
5. Stripe pricing
6. Nomback pricing

Prices and fees were checked on October 20, 2026. They change, so check the source before you decide.