This list ranks the best food delivery software for independent restaurants. Read our guide to find one that fits your business’s needs.
The ability to reach customers outside of the four walls of your restaurant depends on the delivery software you have in place. Delivery software lets you collect and coordinate orders. Exceptional restaurant delivery software should also be able to integrate seamlessly with point-of-sale (POS) systems. I evaluated the leading delivery platforms available in 2025 to help you decide which is best for your restaurant.
The best restaurant delivery software options are:
Pair your stand-alone food delivery software with one of the top restaurant POS systems available. Or start your no-cost Toast POS subscription to get zero-commission delivery features. The system builds your guest directory from direct orders, and gets you access to a delivery partner network of on-demand drivers.
| My score | Starting software fee | Deliveries included | Per-delivery fee | |
 | 4.45/5 | $39/month | 300 | 10 cents (after 300) |
| Visit Shipday | ||||
 | 4.39/5 | $99/month | 1,000/month | 15 cents (after 1,000) |
| Visit Tookan | ||||
 | 4.03/5 | $6.99 per delivery | Unlimited | $6.99-$10.99 |
| Visit DoorDash | ||||
 | 3.96/5 | $99 + $249 activation | 250 | 40 cents (after 250) |
| Visit OnTime 360 | ||||
 | 3.90/5 | 49 cents per delivery | Unlimited | 49 cents (for free plan) |
| Visit GetSwift | ||||
| 3.58/5 | $69/month | Unlimited | $0 |
| Visit Toast | ||||
I’ve been writing about retail topics, including retail- and restaurant-specific software, for over two years. I’ve researched, evaluated, and tested dozens of systems for a variety of specialized purposes (inventory management, ecommerce, in-person sales, etc.) and industries (retail, restaurant, services, etc).
For this guide to the best food delivery software systems, I assessed the pricing, standout features, and user reviews for each system I recommended. My evaluation builds on input from colleagues with first-hand experience in the restaurant industry and the tools and features restaurants need to maximize efficiency.
Ray Delucci
Pricing: 4.58/5
Free subscription available; affordable monthly plans; low per-delivery fee
General features: 4.81/5
Many integrations for online selling and ordering; tip management; robust dispatch tools and GPS
Niche delivery features: 4.5/5
Driver management and navigation tools; dedicated driver app available
Ease of use: 3.13/5
Extended support hours; guided setup; online training resources available
Expert score: 5/5
Great feature set, value for money, and user popularity
Who should use it:
Shipday is a last-mile delivery solution targeted to small, independent businesses. Independent sellers and small restaurants on a budget will appreciate Shipday’s free baseline plan. Restaurants with a low delivery volume will also get the most bang for their buck with this user-friendly system.
Why I like it:
Shipday offers free delivery to small businesses and affordable plan upgrades to unlock more features. Every paid plan allows hundreds of orders, has minimal pre-delivery fees and no long-term contracts, and offers many ecommerce and POS system integrations and driver management tools. These features make it ideal for a small restaurant looking to maximize its budget and get its delivery systems up quickly.
This system received a perfect expert score due to its ease of use, affordability, and excellent customer ratings. Shipday edges out Tookan because it offers lower overall pricing — unlike Tookan, it even includes a free starter plan — though both systems are feature-rich options.
Monthly software fees:
Pricing: 3.33/5
Free trial but no free subscription; low per-delivery fees; no long-term contracts
General features: 5/5
Lots of integrations; robust reporting; good dispatch and driver tools
Niche delivery features: 4.5/5
SMS alerts for customers; turn-by-turn directions; dedicated driver and customer apps and chat
Ease of use: 3.75/5
24/7 support; guided setup; online training resources available
Expert score: 4.75/5
Great feature set and user popularity; good value for money
Who should use it:
Tookan is an on-demand delivery management service for small to enterprise businesses. Because it integrates with restaurant POS and online ordering systems like Square and Shopify, it is a great fit for restaurants that manage an in-house driver team.
Why I like it:
Tookan’s messaging integrations extend the driver dispatch tools to create an Uber-like experience where customers and drivers can text one another. Around-the-clock customer support and a 14-day free trial make Tookan a must-try system for restaurants of all sizes.
This software also received points for its niche delivery management features, such as route optimization, automated driver dispatch, and productivity reports. The prebuilt integrations and 24/7 customer support are also rated well. The platform could have scored higher if the subscription tiers didn’t limit the number of included deliveries. If you need unlimited deliveries, you’ll be better served by GetSwift or DoorDash Drive.
Monthly software fees with annual billing:
Pricing: 4.17/5
No fixed monthly fees; unlimited deliveries; no long-term contracts
General features: 3.88/5
Many integrations available; tip management; GPS tracking
Niche delivery features: 4/5
Turn-by-turn driver navigation; 2-way SMS messaging
Ease of use: 3.75/5
24/7 phone support; guided setup and online training resources available
Expert score: 4.75/5
Great feature set and value for money; good user reviews
Who should use it:
If your restaurant doesn’t have the bandwidth to manage a team of in-house drivers, DoorDash Drive is the delivery software for you, giving you access to a team of on-demand drivers. If you prefer paying flat-rate fees per delivery or would like to avoid monthly software subscription payments, you’ll appreciate DoorDash Drive as well.
Why I like it:
DoorDash Drive is an on-demand delivery service from the DoorDash platform. You own your order stream and the customer data, but you let DoorDash drivers handle deliveries. This system scored points for its easy-to-use driver tools and flat-rate pricing.
It could have rated higher if restaurant users had more control over delivery zones and fees. DoorDash Drive sets your delivery fees anywhere from $6.99-$10.99 per delivery and typically limits deliveries to a five-mile radius around your location.
Unlike the basic DoorDash app, which charges a 15% to 30% commission on orders, DoorDash Drive charges a flat rate fee of $6.99 to $10.99 per delivery based on the delivery distance. To know your specific fees, you’ll need to contact DoorDash directly. There are no subscription fees, installation fees, or termination fees.
Pricing: 3.33/5
Free trial but no free plan; low per-delivery fees; no long-term contracts
General features: 3.75/5
Several accounting integrations; robust reporting and dispatch tools
Niche delivery features: 4.5/5
Turn-by-turn driver directions; 2-way SMS messaging
Ease of use: 3.75/5
Extended-hours support; guided setup and online training resources available
Expert score: 4.25/5
Great feature set and user popularity; good value for money
Who should use it:
With several accounting integrations, route optimization tools, and barcode scanner-enabled order updates, OnTime 360 is a good choice for multilocation restaurant groups that deliver to customers or process a high volume of internal product transfers. Because of the quickly increasing subscription tiers, this system can get pricey, making it better for large delivery operations.
Why I like it:
OnTime 360 is a massively functional delivery management system that excels at high-volume deliveries.
It earned points for its massive reporting functions, offline sync, and open API, and it could have scored higher if it included any restaurant technology like a prebuilt POS or ecommerce integrations. The open API is nice, but if you have to build a slew of custom integrations, you’ll need an on-staff tech specialist to ensure everything works together.
Monthly software fees:
All subscriptions require an additional $249 account activation fee.
Pricing: 3.75/5
Free trial and pay-as-you-go plan available; low per-delivery fees; no contracts
General features: 3.88/5
Few POS integrations; tip management; route optimization algorithm; driver tracking and alerts
Niche delivery features: 4.5/5
Turn-by-turn directions for drivers; 2-way SMS messaging; driver app available
Ease of use: 2.5/5
Business hours customer support; guided setup and online training resources available
Expert score: 4.5/5
Great feature set, value for money, and user popularity
Who should use it:
GetSwift is a good choice for small businesses that want real-time tracking for different courier types, such as bikes, scooters, cars, and even on-foot personnel, as well as notifications every time a driver is running late.
It’s ideal for restaurants in compact city centers where other courier types can cover ground faster than cars. GetSwift also works well for restaurants wanting lots of deliveries per subscription plan and low fees.
Why I like it:
GetSwift received high marks for its pay-as-you-go pricing and wealth of included features (from real-time tracking and automated customer alerts to proof of delivery and unlimited integrations). However, it could have picked up more points if its customer service was 24/7 and offered one-on-one training.
Monthly software fees:
Pricing: 3.54/5
Free plan available; affordable monthly subscriptions; locked into a 2-year contract
General features: 3.38/5
Toast is the only POS option; tip management; robust reporting
Niche delivery features: 3.25/5
Turn-by-turn driver directions; basic dispatch tools
Ease of use: 3.75/5
24/7 support; extra fees for guided setup or one-on-one training
Expert score: 5/5
Great feature set, value for money, and user popularity
Who should use it:
Toast’s built-in delivery management tools are just the right size for single-unit restaurants that want to manage a team of staff drivers or route orders to a third-party on-demand service. A restaurant that wants full-featured POS functionality bundled with its delivery tools will also be happy with Toast.
Why I like it:
Toast is one of the most popular restaurant POS systems available today. With a free baseline Starter Kit subscription and pay-as-you-go hardware options, users can get started with Toast for no upfront cost.
This system earned points for its free baseline subscription and affordable hardware. But it lost some points on functionality. While Toast includes driver routing tools, automated customer alert texts, and unlimited deliveries, it does not support live driver mapping or have a driver app. So you won’t have a live status of your drivers if a customer calls wondering where their order is.
Monthly software fees:
Handheld Starter Kit:
Countertop Starter Kit:
Guest Self-Service Starter Kit:
I compared dozens of new and established delivery management systems based on what functions are vital to restaurants. With cost being a major concern, I primarily looked for tools that allow restaurants to manage their own driver fleets. I considered overall price, restaurant-specific innovations, available integrations, general driver dispatch functions, and ease of use.
First, I looked at whether each software offers a free plan or a free trial. Then, I considered monthly subscription fees under $75 and per-order fees under 30 cents. I gave high marks to plans that included unlimited user logins. Finally, I gave points to systems that don’t require long-term contracts.
I first looked for available integrations since delivery management is an add-on feature for most independent restaurants.
Direct integrations with popular POS brands earned the highest scores, but I also considered systems with open APIs that allow restaurants to build integrations. I also looked for restaurant-supporting functions like cash and tip tracking, customizable delivery zones, and robust map-based dispatch tools.
A reliable POS app should be able to process in-person, online, and advanced orders. I awarded points to software that can accept online and catering orders, and those that can handle wholesale and business-to-business (B2B) transactions.
Driver dispatch is not a core skill in most restaurant owners’ playbooks, so I looked for systems that are easy to use. I sought out software that offers 24/7 customer support, comprehensive training tutorials, and one-on-one installation guidance.
Finally, I considered any standout features and whether the overall software system provides good value for its price. I also judged each system’s popularity among small businesses. Then, I awarded points based on the average user rating and my experience interacting with the software.
Learn more about delivery software options and features, as well as managing in-house delivery vs third-party options.
Food delivery software allows food business owners to manage drivers and deliver food from their restaurants. This software makes taking orders, executing deliveries, communicating with customers, and performing many other functions easy and more efficient.
Many food delivery software options exist, depending on businesses’ needs and budgets. Small independent restaurants can likely find strong enough delivery software built into their POS system. Toast and Square both offer affordable options. Higher-volume restaurants may prefer a freestanding software solution like Shipday or Tookan
It depends on your risk tolerance and budget. A third-party option would manage its own labor, so you won’t need to worry about doing that. However, these drivers are not your employees, so they do not listen to your way of managing. Staffing your drivers gives you the flexibility of managing them correctly, but you’ll need to take the extra steps to manage these employees.
Food delivery software is only getting stronger and more useful for independent restaurants, which is why software like Shipday can make a difference. Great pricing, intuitive interface, and ease of use are just some of the many reasons Shipday ranks as number one on my list. Be sure to check it out with its 30-day free trial.
Ray Delucci is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelor’s in Food Business Management. He has experience managing restaurants in New York City, Houston, and Chicago. He is also the host of the Line Cook Thoughts Podcast, where he interviews and shares the stories of foodservice workers. Ray currently works in food manufacturing and food product development.
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