Food delivery services have spiked as consumers look to time savings and convenience in meal planning. In more recent times, they have provided an alternative when their favorite restaurants announce dine-in closures.

With the spread of COVID-19, you are likely spending way more time at home than you are used to. Fortunately, being home more does not necessarily mean you cannot indulge in your favorite restaurant food. The rise of food delivery service providers means that there is a wide array of food options that remain available straight to your front door. It also means if you have recently become a stay-at-home chef, you have easy access to all your favorite ingredients.

What Food Delivery Services Are Available?

As U.S. restaurants put their dine-in services on hold, ordering takeout and cooking at home has gained a lot of popularity. Some great food delivery services you should look into are:

• DoorDash. This delivery service is still operating in most areas in the United States. It has a huge selection of food for you to have delivered. If you are looking for fast food straight to your door, DoorDash might be the way to go. Because of the coronavirus, DoorDash is offering the option of "no-contact deliveries" where you pay for your order online, and delivery drivers drop your delivery off on your doorstep.
• Grubhub. Another popular delivery service choice you might want to take advantage of is Grubhub. It has made the announcement that it will delay business referral fees in the wake of the outbreak of the coronavirus, which will impact restaurants around the U.S. It costs $9.99 per month to use Grubhub, but the 10% cashback and unlimited free delivery is worth it.
• Uber Eats. UberEats has a huge food selection as well, plus the company has stepped up through this recent pandemic as well. Notably, they are offering free meals to first responders and healthcare workers who are helping fight the virus, and they are waiving their delivery fees in some markets for some small businesses.
• Postmates. There is also Postmates, which currently operates around the country in thousands of cities. Postmates goes one step further and delivers groceries and alcohol if you require it. It is safe to say if you have a Postmates working in your area, they could be your one-stop-shop choice for all food and beverage delivery. Because of the outbreak of the coronavirus, Postmates is providing no-contact delivery. They are also offering new customers a $10 credit.
• InstaCart. InstaCart focuses on grocery stores for both pick up and delivery services. The application allows the customer to submit a grocery list order for the selected store which is then picked up by a personal shopper. The personal shopper communicates with you via the app in case an item is unavailable and needs to be swapped for. Due to the coronavirus, InstaCart has added convenient curbside pick up locations at the store in which you can have your groceries delivered directly into your vehicle.

What To Expect With Food Delivery Services

You will want to take all benefits and drawbacks into consideration before you have food or groceries delivered to your door. You will also want to consider if time-saving resources and apps are worth the cost. Some pros and cons of delivery service use are:

• Pro: They are a time saver.
• Con: The convenience you receive does come at a cost.
• Pro: You will have time to carry out other tasks.
• Con: You still might have to go to a physical location or store.

Food delivery apps like GrubHub, UberEats, and DoorDash usually charge up to 30% on your bill. Some include booking or processing fees that could run you anywhere from 5% to 9%. You should also tip your driver.

Benefits For Having Food Delivered

Here are some benefits of having your food delivered:

• Wide Variety. You have a wide variety of menu options to choose from in various restaurants. The images of dishes and cuisine will show you what you can order. Also, since restaurants typically display calorie counts on their menu, you can manage your diet when you use food delivery services.

  Online food delivery services deliver you a broad range of cuisines, such as:

  • Chinese
  • Italian
  • Thai
  • Pizza
  • Burgers
  • And more

  These options assist you in trying new types of food and selecting from a variety of cuisine types.

• Simplicity. Online food delivery services are transparent and straightforward. You decide:

  • Where you would like to order from
  • What you would like to order
  • How you plan on paying
  • When you would like the food delivered

  There is no need to rush out your door for last-minute shopping at the grocery store. There is no need to wait for your favorite dish — just order it, and it should be at your door within the hour.

  And, since delivery is often 24/7, there is no need to go to bed on an empty stomach. If you are hungry at 1 AM, you can find a delivery service open at that time and order something to eat. This includes holidays.

• You Will Save Time. Another huge advantage of delivery service, particularly groceries, is you can carve out extra time for yourself because you do not need to run out to the store. Just place your order and wait for your doorbell to ring.

Online food delivery, especially lately, is reaching its peak. Individuals are engaging more and more with delivery service apps. And, more delivery companies like Instacart and Postmates are providing you with the choice of limited contact door service to adhere to the new safety and health guidelines.