Food delivery has gotten a major upgrade in recent years. While once upon a time we had to keep takeout menus in kitchen drawers and get a restaurant on the phone if we wanted delivery, now we need only a few clicks on a website or app.
DoorDash is one of most popular restaurant delivery apps that can deliver food, groceries and even alcohol on demand from restaurants in your neighborhood. During the pandemic, many people avoided crowded situations as much as possible, and that was a time for tremendous growth of food delivery services. Today, third-party restaurant delivery apps are a normal part of getting takeout.
While food delivery services such as DoorDash offer a wide selection of our favorite restaurants at our literal fingertips, they can get pretty expensive when we add in various service fees and delivery costs. But there are some ways to save cash and still have the convenience and tasty food we crave. We just need to learn the smartest ways to use this app.
1. Take Advantage of DashPass
Even just trying the free trial gets you a month of free delivery. Following that free trial month, DashPass is $9.99 per month and offers free delivery, lower service fees on certain orders, free grocery delivery on eligible grocery orders, and also 5% back in DoorDash credit on pickup orders. Of course, DashPass is only worth it if you order a few times a month; it would be cheaper to just pay the delivery fee if you are just going to do one monthly order. But, chances are, if you are subscribing to DashPass, you are probably a frequent enough DoorDash user that it’s worth your while. Once you’re a DashPass member, you’ll also get access to member-only discounts and promo codes to take advantage of for added savings.
2. Free DashPass for Prime Members
Amazon Prime Member can take advantage of free DashPass! Prime members get a free DashPass membership for 12 months as long as their membership is active. You’ll be able to enjoy the free delivery and lower fees for a year, and after your free one-year trial ends you’ll be automatically charged the current monthly rate for DashPass.
3. Invite Some Friends
Referring friends is a really easy way to earn DoorDash credits toward future orders. You’ll earn $20 credits for each friend you refer, and they’ll get a $30 credit too. There’s never been a better time to be popular. To refer a friend, in the app tap on Me, then Settings and then on the Refer Friends options. You’ll receive a unique link you can then share via text or email.
4. Check for Deals in Your Area
Once you download the DoorDash app (for iPhone or Android) and sign in, you can always filter by deals in your area. You’ll see what promotions are available and how to claim them. This is a great way of taking advantage of special limited-time offers that weren’t advertised.
After signing in to the app or website, enter your delivery address and toggle to the “Deals” section. This is a spot to find restaurant offers nearby for entire orders or on specific menu items. These offers can vary daily and by location, so you never know what you will find. This isn’t only a fun way to find great limited-time deals and discounts but maybe also an interesting way to discover new dishes at your favorite restaurants.
5. Look for Free Delivery Options
Most restaurants charge delivery fees, but some have free delivery. This is especially true on the first order or during special promotions. Always search your list of restaurants to see if there are any with free delivery options in your area. Another way of not paying delivery fees is, of course, to choose pickup instead of delivery. This isn’t the best option if it’s bad weather or you are not feeling great, but if you have a bit of time to kill, it’ll save you on delivery fees as well as tipping the driver.
6. Look Into Cash Back Rewards
What’s better than dinner from your favorite restaurant delivered right to your door? Getting paid actual cold hard cash for eating it. RetailMeNot offers 1% cashback on DoorDash purchases sitewide. That’s almost like part of your meal is free.
7. Order From More Than One Nearby Locations
If you have a group that can’t decide on one place to order from, now you don’t have to! DoorDash lists nearby restaurants that you can also order from that will not increase your delivery fee. The places have to be walkable to your original choice. From the app, pick a restaurant and at the very top you’ll see a list of other places you can order from near that location.
8. Look Into Credit Card Rewards
Credit card rewards offer everything from cash back, to miles, to rewards points if you happen to know about the best promotions. DoorDash sometimes offers unique promotions for certain credit card holders. We’ve seen past offers for a free year of DashPass membership for those who have certain cards. So be sure to compare intro offers before applying for a new card — and familiarize yourself with the perks packages of the cards currently in your wallet.
9. Follow DoorDash on Social Media
Sometimes a great way to find little-known deals and promotions for an app or service is to follow them on social media. This is a real-time way to interact with a service and know instantly what they have going on. DoorDash’s Facebook, X, and Instagram are a great examples of this. From time to time, they offer special promo codes and deals not necessarily advertised elsewhere.
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