Comparing the Cheapest Delivery Services: A Guide to Saving Money

Before diving into the comparison, it's important to understand the different types of delivery services available:

Food Delivery Services: These include platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub, which deliver meals from local restaurants.
Grocery Delivery Services: Services such as Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and Walmart Grocery Delivery bring groceries directly to your home.
Package Delivery Services: Companies like UPS, FedEx, and USPS handle the delivery of packages and parcels.

Several key factors influence delivery costs:

Uber Eats: Known for its wide range of restaurant options and new user promotions, but watch for peak-hour surge pricing.
DoorDash: Offers DashPass subscription for free delivery on orders over a certain amount.
Grubhub: Generally lower delivery fees but variable service fees by restaurant.

"Never pay for packaging when you can get it for free from your carrier."

Both USPS Priority Mail and FedEx Express offer free packaging materials.

Use shipping calculators:

Compare Prices: Use comparison tools or apps to check prices across different services.
Look for Discounts: Many services offer first-time user discounts or promotional codes.
Plan Ahead: Avoid surge pricing by ordering during off-peak times.
Consider Memberships: If you use a service frequently, a membership can save you money in the long run.
Use Alternative Delivery Options: Services like Amazon Lockers and UPS Access Points offer convenient and affordable delivery options.

For regular shippers, consider:

Most carriers use dimensional weight pricing. Calculate using:

(Length × Width × Height) ÷ Divisor

Common divisors:

Summary