The cost of convenience is adding up for hungry fast-food customers.
Online food delivery has become a trillion-dollar business, but with each order comes a slew of fees that can quickly make the cost less affordable.
Delivery services often include service fees, small order fees, and higher menu prices compared to in-store purchases, according to Chowhound.
In addition to these fees, standard delivery charges can range from a few dollars to over $10, adding to the final bill. Tipping is essential for delivery drivers but can also significantly increase the overall cost of a meal.
"While you might be able to grab a meal in-person from one of the cheapest fast food chains in the U.S. for under $10, it's exceedingly rare to spend less than $20 on delivery once tax, tip, and fees are applied," Eloise Rollins-Fife wrote for Chowhound.
Some fast-food chains also offer promotions and discounts for in-store purchases that are not available for delivery orders, potentially causing customers to miss out on savings.
So, which apps should you avoid if you want to save money? FinanceBuzz, a personal finance company, recently collected data to find out which food delivery platforms have the highest food markups and delivery costs.
According to the study, Postmates has the highest markups of any platform, with costs averaging 92% higher than normal menu prices. That's followed by DoorDash with an 83% markup and GrubHub at 80% over regular menu prices.
While still costly, Uber Eats has the lowest markup at 69%.
How does that impact your final costs? Let's say you ordered a combo meal at McDonald's that would cost $11.91 if you were to pick it up. According to FinanceBuzz, that same meal would cost: $19.96 through Postmates, $18.55 through DoorDash, $17.83 through UberEats and $16.81 through GrubHub -- and that's not including tip.
But it's even worse if you want chicken. Across all four apps, Chick-fil-A had the biggest markup of any restaurant evaluated. According to the analysis, fees on a simple Chick-fil-A order -- with a chicken sandwich, fries and a drink -- would increase the $9.85 menu price by anywhere from 71% on Uber Eats ($16.87) up to 134% on GrubHub ($23.01). And that doesn't include tip.
Understanding the full cost of delivery can help customers make better choices and potentially save money.