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Restaurants · head to head

Grubhub vs When I Work

Grubhub logo

Grubhub

Restaurants

Restaurant food delivery marketplace

From
$15/order
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
When I Work logo

When I Work

Restaurants

Scheduling and time tracking made simple

From
$2.5/user/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Grubhub commission fees of 15-30% significantly reduce restaurant profit margins; When I Work aPI key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • They diverge on capability: Grubhub covers Delivery network, When I Work covers Shift scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grubhub and When I Work actually diverge.

Attributes where Grubhub and When I Work differ
AttributeGrubhubWhen I Work
Starting price$15/order$2.5/user/month
Pricing modeltransactionsubscription
Founded20042010

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Grubhub

  • Delivery network
  • Order management
  • Customer reach
  • Marketing tools
  • Analytics
  • Loyalty programs
  • Toast
  • Olo

Only in When I Work

  • Shift scheduling
  • Time clock
  • Team messaging
  • Availability management
  • Shift swapping
  • Mobile apps
  • QuickBooks
  • ADP

Both cover

  • Square
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Grubhub

  • Point of Salenot When I Work
  • Order Managementnot When I Work
  • Inventory Controlnot When I Work
  • Staff Schedulingnot When I Work

When I Work

  • Scheduling hourly shift workers across locationsnot Grubhub
  • Time clock and timesheet capture for payrollnot Grubhub
  • Handling shift swaps, availability and time off requestsnot Grubhub

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Grubhub

  • Commission fees of 15-30% significantly reduce restaurant profit margins
  • Limited geographic coverage compared to competitors like DoorDash
  • Driver availability issues in some areas leading to canceled orders
  • Limited independent restaurant partnerships compared to competitors
  • Average delivery time of 40 minutes is slower than Uber Eats (33 minutes) and DoorDash (38 minutes)

When I Work

  • API key access, webhooks and SAML single sign on require the Premium plan at $8 per user per month
  • Scheduling rules, role permissions and custom reporting require the Pro plan at $5 per user per month
  • There is no free plan; the trial lasts 14 days
  • Enterprise arrangements are priced by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Grubhub

$15/order
  • Basic$15/percent
    • Marketplace listing
    • Order management
  • Standard$20/percent
    • Delivery
    • Marketing
  • Premium$25/percent
    • Priority placement
    • Promotions

When I Work

$2.5/user/month
  • Standard$2.5/user/month
    • Scheduling
    • Messaging
  • Advanced$6/user/month
    • Time clock
    • Labor forecasting

Which should you pick?

Choose Grubhub if

  • You need delivery network.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want order management.
Grubhub review

Choose When I Work if

  • You need shift scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time clock.
When I Work review

Questions people ask

Is Grubhub or When I Work better?
Neither clearly leads. Grubhub starts at $15/order and When I Work at $2.5/user/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grubhub or When I Work?
Grubhub starts at $15/order and When I Work at $2.5/user/month.
Does Grubhub or When I Work run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Grubhub best used for?
Grubhub is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what When I Work is typically brought in for.
What can Grubhub do that When I Work cannot?
Grubhub covers Delivery network, Order management, Customer reach, Marketing tools. When I Work covers Shift scheduling, Time clock, Team messaging, Availability management. Both handle Square, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Grubhub: How much does Grubhub charge restaurants?

Grubhub charges restaurants a marketing commission of 5%, 15%, or 20% depending on the Marketplace plan, plus a processing fee of $0.30 plus 3.05% per order.

Source
When I Work: What is the pricing structure?

Plans start at $2.50 per user per month, billed in user tiers of five, with pricing that scales flexibly with team size.

Source
Grubhub: What does Grubhub cost customers?

Grubhub charges customers a $2.25 order processing fee plus $0.99 for delivery. A subscription offers $6.95 or $19.95/month for unlimited free delivery on eligible orders.

Source
When I Work: Are there long-term contracts required?

No long-term contracts, no hidden surprises, and no enterprise-only paywalls. The platform scales as your business grows without binding agreements.

Source
Grubhub: Does Grubhub offer promotional tools for restaurants?

Yes, Grubhub offers Sponsored Listings (3-10% premium on commissions) and Boost Programs (10-20% additional cost per order) to increase restaurant visibility.

Source
When I Work: Is there a free trial available?

Try When I Work free for 14 days with full access to all core features. No credit card is required for the trial period.

Source
Grubhub: Is Grubhub available in all cities?

No, Grubhub delivery service is not available in all cities, and the platform is less convenient in small cities with limited driver availability.

Source
When I Work: Can I adjust or cancel my plan anytime?

You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time and adjust your plan at any time or use hibernation options during seasonal downtime.

Source
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Related pages

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