We may earn from vendors via affiliate links or
sponsorships. This might affect product placement on our
site, but not the content of our reviews. See our Terms of Use for
details.
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:
GetSwift: Best for restaurants in cities using couriers
Toast: Best for combined delivery and POS features
Toast combines delivery and POS seamlessly
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.
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
Shipday: Best overall restaurant delivery system
Advertisement
Tookan: Best for integrations
DoorDash Drive: Best for third-party (on-demand) drivers
Advertisement
OnTime 360: Best freestanding delivery software for multilocation restaurant groups
GetSwift: Best for restaurants in city centers using couriers
Advertisement
Toast: Best for combined delivery & point-of-sale features
How I evaluated the best food delivery software
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.
Pricing: 15%
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.
Advertisement
General features: 30%
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.
Niche delivery management features: 30%
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.
Ease of use: 15%
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.
Expert score: 10%
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.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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.
Advertisement
Last bite
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.
Restaurant HQ is your headquarters for restaurant business advice from industry experts. Learn how to start, run and grow any food and beverage business.
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.
