Building a food delivery marketplace like Grubhub means creating a complete platform where customers discover restaurants, place orders, track deliveries in real time, and drivers earn by fulfilling those orders.
This isn’t a simple ordering app. It’s a multi-sided platform managing customers, restaurants, and drivers simultaneously. Here’s exactly what it costs to build an app like grubhub in 2026, what features drive the price, and how to launch smart.
The Real Cost to Build a Grubhub-Like App
Full marketplace platform (customer app + restaurant panel + driver app + admin):
- India-based development: $35,000 – $70,000
- US/Europe agencies: $60,000 – $120,000
Timeline: 5–6 months
Monthly operating cost: $1,200 – $3,000
This includes everything you need to launch a working marketplace with real-time order tracking, payments, and delivery management.
What You’re Actually Building
A Grubhub-like platform has 4 core components that work together:
1. Customer Mobile App
Users browse restaurants, customize orders, pay, and track delivery in real time.
2. Restaurant Web Panel
Restaurants accept orders, manage menus, set prep times, and track earnings.
3. Driver Mobile App
Drivers receive delivery assignments, navigate to pickup/dropoff, and confirm deliveries.
4. Admin Dashboard
You manage everything: onboard restaurants, assign drivers, handle refunds, track commissions, and monitor operations.
All four systems connect through a central backend that handles orders, payments, notifications, and tracking in real time.
Learn More: How Grubhub’s Business Model Works
Where Your Budget Actually Goes
Building a Grubhub-like platform means developing four systems that cost between $50,000–$100,000 total.
The customer app needs restaurant browsing, real-time GPS tracking, payment integration, and order history—typically costing $18,000–$35,000.
The restaurant panel handles menu updates, order acceptance, and earnings reports for $10,000–$22,000.
The driver app requires GPS navigation, proof of delivery, and earnings tracking at $12,000–$28,000.
The admin dashboard is your control center for managing everything—users, orders, refunds, commissions, and analytics—costing $15,000–$35,000.
What Grubhub Gets Wrong (That You Can Fix)
Based on real user complaints from Reddit and app reviews:
Problem 1: Hidden Fees Everywhere
Complaint: “My $15 meal became $28 with delivery fee + service fee + small order fee”
Your fix: Show total price upfront before checkout
Cost: $0 (just honest UX design)
Impact: Higher conversion rates
Problem 2: No Customer Support
Complaint: “Can’t reach anyone when delivery is late”
Your fix: In-app chat with quick response times
Cost: $3,000 – $7,000
Impact: Better customer retention
Problem 3: High Restaurant Commission
Complaint: “Grubhub takes 25–30% per order”
Your fix: Offer 15–20% commission tiers
Cost: $0 (business model choice)
Impact: Easier restaurant onboarding
Technology Stack for Grubhub-Like Apps
Mobile apps:
- Flutter or React Native (cross-platform, 30% cost savings)
- OR Native: Swift (iOS) + Kotlin (Android)
Backend:
- Node.js or Python (Django/Flask)
- PostgreSQL or MongoDB database
- Redis for caching
Real-time:
- WebSockets for live updates
- Firebase for push notifications
Maps & Location:
- Google Maps API
- Mapbox (alternative)
Payments:
- Stripe or Razorpay
- PayPal integration
Cloud hosting:
- AWS or Google Cloud Platform
- CDN for image delivery
Development Timeline to Make an App like Grubhub
| Phase | Duration |
| Planning & feature definition | 2–3 weeks |
| UI/UX design (all apps) | 4–6 weeks |
| Backend development | 8–12 weeks |
| Mobile app development | 10–14 weeks |
| Admin dashboard | 6–8 weeks |
| Testing & QA | 4–5 weeks |
| Deployment & launch | 1–2 weeks |
Total: 20–26 weeks (5–6 months)
Many phases run in parallel, so the timeline doesn’t simply add up.
How to Reduce Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
1. Use Cross-Platform Development (Flutter/React Native)
Saves: 30–40% compared to separate native apps
Trade-off: Slightly less native feel (most users won’t notice)
2. Start Single-City
Launch in one market, perfect the operations, then expand.
Saves: $10,000 – $25,000 (no multi-region logic)
Strategy: Clone the model once proven
3. Build Restaurant Panel as Web App
Restaurants prefer desktop management anyway.
Saves: $6,000 – $12,000 vs native restaurant app
Trade-off: None
4. Use Managed Backend Services
Services like Firebase or AWS Amplify can reduce custom backend work.
Saves: $5,000 – $15,000
Trade-off: Less customization, possible vendor lock-in
5. Start With Proven Foundation
Use a white-label solution and customize it.
Saves: 40–50% development time
Trade-off: Less initial uniqueness
Must-Have Features for Launch an App Like Grubhub
Don’t overbuild. Launch with these core features:
Customer App
✅ Browse restaurants by location
✅ Search & filters (cuisine, rating, delivery time)
✅ Menu with item customization
✅ Add to cart
✅ Checkout with multiple payment options
✅ Real-time order tracking
✅ Order history
✅ Ratings & reviews
Restaurant Panel
✅ Accept/reject orders
✅ Update menu & pricing
✅ Mark items unavailable
✅ Set preparation time
✅ View daily/weekly earnings
✅ Commission breakdown
Driver App
✅ Accept/reject delivery jobs
✅ GPS navigation to restaurant & customer
✅ Mark pickup/delivery complete
✅ Proof of delivery (OTP/photo)
✅ Earnings tracker
Admin Dashboard
✅ Onboard restaurants & drivers
✅ Monitor live orders
✅ Handle refunds & cancellations
✅ Set commission rates
✅ View analytics (orders, revenue, top restaurants)
✅ Customer support tools
Features to Add Later (Not Day One)
Skip these in V1 to reduce cost and launch faster:
- Grubhub+ style subscription plans
- AI-powered food recommendations
- Loyalty points system
- Advanced promotional stacking
- Restaurant POS integrations
- Scheduled ordering
- Group/corporate ordering
- Driver heat maps
Add these after you validate market fit and generate revenue.
India vs US Development Cost to Build an App like Grubhub
Why food delivery app development in India costs 40–60% less:
- Developer rates: $25–$50/hour vs $100–$200/hour
- Experienced teams (built Swiggy, Zomato-style platforms)
- Same quality with right partner
Cost comparison:
| Component | India | US/Europe |
| Customer app | $12,000 – $22,000 | $25,000 – $45,000 |
| Restaurant panel | $8,000 – $16,000 | $15,000 – $30,000 |
| Driver app | $10,000 – $20,000 | $20,000 – $40,000 |
| Admin dashboard | $12,000 – $25,000 | $25,000 – $50,000 |
| Backend + APIs | $8,000 – $18,000 | $15,000 – $35,000 |
| Total | $50,000 – $100,000 | $100,000 – $200,000 |
See how a professional restaurant delivery platform works:
Chowman Food Delivery App Case Study
Clone vs Custom: Which Makes Sense?
White-Label Clone Platform
Pros:
- Launch in 2–3 months
- 40–50% cost reduction
- Proven features and workflows
- Lower technical risk
Cons:
- Less customization initially
- May include features you don’t need
Best for: Fast market entry, testing demand
Our recommendation: Deonde
Custom Build from Scratch
Pros:
- Full control over every feature
- Unique competitive advantages
- Custom integrations
- Your own codebase
Cons:
- 5–6 months to launch
- Higher development cost
- More complexity to manage
Best for: Well-funded businesses with specific requirements
Smart approach: Start with proven architecture, customize branding and core flows, add unique features as you grow. As a custom mobile app development company, we can help.
Get Your Custom Development Quote
The exact cost depends on:
- Your target market (single city vs multi-city)
- Platform choice (cross-platform vs native)
- Advanced features (subscriptions, corporate ordering)
- Integration requirements (POS, existing systems)
Ready to build your food delivery marketplace? Contact Us
