Gone are the days of waiting on hold to place an order at your favorite neighborhood eatery. With just a tap on your smartphone screen, you can now have that eatery – and so many other establishments – deliver right to your front door.
Today’s savvy older adults are downloading food delivery apps to skip the grocery line and get a delicious meal delivered right to the door. Food delivery services and meal kits are especially convenient if you don’t have time to cook or have mobility issues which make it difficult to get to the grocery store. While the apps are free and easy to use, watch out for delivery and ordering fees. Here’s a round up of five food delivery apps we particularly like.
1. Seamless
Seamless (iOS, Android, cost: free)
Merging with the popular delivery service Grubhub in 2013, Seamless boasts millions of members across the U.S. Choose from their more than 25,000 partnering restaurants, then select your order from the corresponding menu and submit electronically. Can’t decide? Browse the user reviews and photos for more insight.
2. UberEATS
UberEATS (iOS, Android, cost: free)
An offshoot of the ride-sharing company, Uber, this app allows you to order from local restaurants in the U.S., Toronto and Barcelona. Order total includes food and delivery costs; no tip required. The service promises swift delivery: 35 minutes from order to drop-off.
3. Eat24
Eat24 (iOS, Android, cost: free)
Explore hundreds of restaurants within your vicinity. Delivering from 35,000 restaurants in 1,500 U.S. cities, the Eat24 app by Yelp filters the cuisine by type, from Indian to Mexican. It also offers discounts and coupons.
4. DoorDash
DoorDash (iOS, Android, cost: free)
This young startup aims to stimulate local economies by connecting locals with businesses in their neighborhoods. Select your order from the app’s roster of restaurants, and a “dasher” will deliver your meal in under an hour. Offered in major U.S. cities, Vancouver and Toronto.
5. Postmates
Postmates (iOS, Android, cost: free)
This app delivers food from restaurants, as well as your local grocery store, within minutes. The goal is to steer communities into dining at local businesses. Track your delivery’s progress on the app’s live interactive map. Offered in major U.S. cities only.
