Grubhub's commission structure branches in a way the other major marketplaces don't: the rate depends heavily on whether a restaurant uses Grubhub's own delivery network or its own drivers, and there is a separate, lower rate specifically for phone orders routed through Grubhub's tracking number. This piece untangles those branches before comparing the numbers to AUANI.
What Grubhub Actually Offers
Grubhub offers:
- Marketplace listing and discovery
- An optional delivery network for restaurants without their own drivers
- A phone-ordering feature that routes calls through a Grubhub tracking number
What Grubhub Actually Costs
Grubhub's commission runs 15 to 30%, with the rate depending on whether the restaurant uses Grubhub's own delivery service or handles delivery itself. Phone orders routed through Grubhub's tracking number carry a separate 15 to 25% commission, regardless of the restaurant's marketplace tier.
That phone-order commission is easy to overlook, since it applies to calls, not app orders, and can surprise a restaurant that assumed its own phone line was commission-free simply because the guest never opened the Grubhub app.
| Order Type | Commission Range |
|---|---|
| Delivery via Grubhub's own drivers | 15% to 30% |
| Delivery via restaurant's own drivers | Generally lower within the 15% to 30% range |
| Phone orders via Grubhub tracking number | 15% to 25% |
What AUANI Offers Instead
AUANI's marketplace fee is a single number per tier, regardless of who fulfills the delivery or how the guest placed the order:
- Free: 10%
- Monthly: 5%
- Monthly at 2+ locations: 3% across the whole account
There is no separate phone-order commission structure to track.
Side by Side
| Feature | Grubhub | AUANI |
|---|---|---|
| Commission range | 15% to 30%, depending on delivery setup | 10% ceiling, down to 3% at 2+ locations |
| Phone-order commission | 15% to 25% separately | Not applicable, no separate phone-order rate |
| Rate depends on who delivers | Yes | No, delivery split is set by the restaurant separately from the marketplace fee |
| Direct ordering at 0% | Not applicable, marketplace-only | Yes, on the Monthly tier's widget |
Running a $2,000 Month Through Both
A restaurant doing $2,000 a month split between Grubhub app orders and phone orders routed through Grubhub's tracking number faces two different commission rates on the same total volume.
- Grubhub app orders (25% of $1,500): $375.
- Grubhub phone orders (20% of $500): $100.
- Total Grubhub commission: $475 across $2,000 in combined volume.
- AUANI Free, same $2,000 combined volume: $200 (10% flat).
- AUANI Monthly, same $2,000 combined volume: $100 (5% flat), plus the $300 plan cost.
The blended Grubhub rate in this example works out to roughly 24% once both order types are combined, more than double AUANI's Free tier rate on the same total volume.
The Real Trade-Off
What Grubhub's Commission Buys
Grubhub's commission buys marketplace placement plus a delivery network option for restaurants without their own drivers, and its phone-order tracking feature genuinely helps restaurants that still take a meaningful share of orders by phone measure that channel.
What AUANI's Single Rate Buys Instead
AUANI's single rate buys simplicity, one number applies regardless of how the guest ordered or who delivered it, with no separate phone-order commission to track down.
Who Grubhub's Model Doesn't Fit At All
A restaurant that takes a meaningful share of orders by phone and wants a single, predictable commission rate across every channel will find Grubhub's split phone-order rate an added layer to plan around.
A restaurant staffing its own delivery drivers specifically to avoid marketplace commission fees may be surprised to learn that self-delivered orders through Grubhub still carry a commission, just generally lower within the published range rather than eliminated, since the marketplace listing and discovery itself is what's being charged for, not only the delivery leg.
An Honest Case for Choosing Grubhub Anyway
A restaurant that relies on Grubhub's own delivery drivers because it has no fleet of its own, and values having phone orders tracked and measured the same way app orders are, gets real, practical value out of Grubhub's specific feature set.
Best For
Grubhub suits a restaurant that needs marketplace delivery drivers and wants phone orders tracked through the same system as app orders. AUANI suits a restaurant that wants one flat marketplace rate regardless of channel, with no separate phone-order commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grubhub charge the same commission for every order?
No. The rate depends on whether Grubhub's own drivers handle delivery, and phone orders routed through Grubhub's tracking number carry a separate 15 to 25% commission.
What is Grubhub's commission range?
15 to 30% for marketplace orders, and 15 to 25% specifically for phone orders.
Does AUANI have a separate rate for phone orders?
No. AUANI's marketplace fee is the same regardless of how an order was placed or fulfilled.
What is AUANI's marketplace fee at its lowest?
3%, once a restaurant has two or more locations on the Monthly tier.
Can a restaurant use its own delivery drivers on Grubhub and still list on the marketplace?
Yes, and the commission is generally lower within Grubhub's published range when a restaurant handles its own delivery rather than using Grubhub's driver network.
Does AUANI's marketplace fee ever apply differently based on delivery method?
No, AUANI's marketplace fee is set by tier, not by who fulfills the delivery, so switching between real courier delivery and self-delivery doesn't change the rate.
For the complete side-by-side across every marketplace and platform in this series, see the master fee comparison table. For the full picture beyond fees, see the Restaurant & Bar online ordering guide.