Order placed on a Tuesday evening, same burger, same address: the total displayed on Uber Eats and Deliveroo differs by more than two euros. This discrepancy is observed in every test, and it almost never comes from the price of the dish itself. To understand which delivery platform actually costs less, you need to break down the bill line by line and then see how subscriptions change the long-term costs.
Service Fees on Uber Eats and Deliveroo: The Line That Inflates the Bill
Most comparisons focus on delivery fees. The real variable cost is the “service fee” line, calculated as a percentage of the cart. On Uber Eats, this percentage fluctuates depending on the restaurant, time, and distance. On Deliveroo, it remains more stable from one order to the next.
In practical terms, on an average-sized cart, the service fees can represent more than the delivery fees. We tend to check the amount of the delivery charge, while it is this commission on the cart that widens the gap between the two apps. When looking to compare Uber Eats and Deliveroo, this is the line to look at first.
Another common pitfall: fees for small orders. Both platforms charge an extra fee if the cart is below a minimum threshold. This additional cost turns a solo order (one dish, one drink) into a bad deal on both apps, but the threshold and the amount of the extra fee are not always the same.
Uber One vs. Deliveroo Plus: Subscriptions and Profitability Thresholds
Both platforms offer a monthly subscription designed to reduce the bills for regular users. The mechanisms differ enough to sway the verdict depending on the frequency of orders.
What Uber One Covers
The Uber One subscription costs 5.99 euros per month (or 59.99 euros per year). It provides access to free delivery from most eligible restaurants above a certain cart amount, and most importantly, a discount of about 5% on the order price for eligible deliveries.
This direct discount on the cart amount is the real lever. From the second order in the month, the subscription is practically offset by the accumulated savings (zero euro delivery plus discount on the total).
What Deliveroo Plus Covers
Deliveroo Plus exists in a Silver version for around 2.99 euros per month, with free delivery above a certain order threshold. The entry price is lower, but the subscription does not provide a discount on the price of the dishes. You save on delivery, not on the cart.
A point often overlooked: Deliveroo Plus is available for free through Amazon Prime. For Prime subscribers, free Deliveroo delivery is included at no extra cost, which radically changes the calculation. If you are already a Prime member, Deliveroo becomes mechanically cheaper than Uber Eats for regular orders, at equivalent cart amounts.
Which Subscription for Which Profile
- Frequent orders (three times a week or more) with medium to high carts: Uber One wins thanks to the 5% discount on each order, which adds up quickly.
- Occasional orders (one to two per week): Deliveroo Plus Silver, cheaper to subscribe, is enough to eliminate delivery fees without investing six euros per month.
- Already an Amazon Prime subscriber: Deliveroo Plus included, no questions to ask, free delivery is secured without additional spending.
Displayed Dish Prices: Discrepancies Between Platforms for the Same Restaurant
The same restaurant can display different prices on Uber Eats and Deliveroo. This is not a bug. Each platform takes a different commission from the restaurateur, and some pass this discrepancy on to the customer price. A dish priced at 12 euros in-house may appear at 13.50 euros on one app and 14.20 euros on the other.
Feedback varies on this point: some restaurateurs maintain the same prices everywhere, while others increase prices more on the platform that takes the highest commission. There is no universal rule, and the only reliable method remains to open both apps side by side for the same restaurant before confirming.
The price difference on dishes, combined with service and delivery fees, can reach several euros for the same meal. The final total varies from one order to another, even at the same restaurant, because one-off promotions (promo codes, flash discounts) never occur at the same time on both apps.
Geographic Coverage and Restaurant Choices in France
Uber Eats claims to operate in about 350 cities in France, compared to around 200 for Deliveroo. The catalog of partner restaurants follows the same logic: Uber Eats lists significantly more brands.
Outside major metropolitan areas, Deliveroo is often absent where Uber Eats is already established. For a user in a medium-sized city, the question of “which is cheaper” may not even arise: only one of the two platforms delivers to their address.
In areas where both are available, Deliveroo tends to select its partners more carefully, with a higher proportion of independent restaurants and so-called “quality” cuisines. Uber Eats focuses on volume and diversity, including fast food chains and dark kitchens.
- Dense urban area (Paris, Lyon, Marseille): both apps cover the same neighborhoods, the choice is made based on the final price.
- Intermediate city: first check Deliveroo’s coverage, which is often more limited.
- Suburban area or small town: Uber Eats is generally the only option available.
The calculation of “which is cheaper” cannot be made in absolute terms. An Uber One subscription amortized by three weekly orders is useless if the targeted restaurant is only on Deliveroo. The best approach remains to test both apps on your usual restaurants and compare the actual totals, not the menu prices.
For many users, alternating between the two platforms based on current promotions remains the most cost-effective strategy.