Softwr

Restaurants · head to head

Lunchbox vs Postmates

Lunchbox logo

Lunchbox

Restaurants

First party ordering websites, apps and loyalty for growing multi unit restaurant brands

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Postmates logo

Postmates

Restaurants

On-demand delivery platform

From
$15/order
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lunchbox the fee is charged per location per month regardless of how many direct orders you generate, so brands that do not fund marketing pay for a channel that stays quiet.; Postmates driver supply varies by location after consolidation with Uber Eats
  • They diverge on capability: Lunchbox covers Branded ordering web and apps, Postmates covers On-demand delivery.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lunchbox and Postmates actually diverge.

Attributes where Lunchbox and Postmates differ
AttributeLunchboxPostmates
Starting priceOn request$15/order
Pricing modelquotetransaction
FoundedUnknown2011

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 Lunchbox

  • Branded ordering web and apps
  • Loyalty and rewards
  • Guest data platform
  • Marketing automation
  • POS and delivery integrations
  • Catering and group ordering

Only in Postmates

  • On-demand delivery
  • Order management
  • Customer access
  • Analytics
  • Menu management
  • Uber Eats
  • POS systems
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Lunchbox

  • A fast casual chain of ten to thirty units trying to shift volume away from delivery marketplacesnot Postmates
  • A brand that wants its own iOS and Android apps without commissioning a bespoke buildnot Postmates
  • An operator who needs guest order history for retention campaigns rather than anonymous marketplace ordersnot Postmates
  • A group launching catering that needs a separate ordering flow from standard checkoutnot Postmates

Postmates

  • Point of Salenot Lunchbox
  • Order Managementnot Lunchbox
  • Inventory Controlnot Lunchbox
  • Staff Schedulingnot Lunchbox

Where each one falls short

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

Lunchbox

  • The fee is charged per location per month regardless of how many direct orders you generate, so brands that do not fund marketing pay for a channel that stays quiet.
  • Moving customers off marketplaces requires sustained discounting and advertising that the restaurant funds, and none of that cost appears in the software quote.
  • The company has been through substantial restructuring since its peak funding, so integration maintenance and roadmap continuity are fair questions to put in writing before signing.
  • Native app launches involve app store review, brand assets and a build fee, so time to first order is measured in weeks rather than days.
  • The integration list is narrower than that of the large enterprise ordering vendors, and a group on an uncommon POS may find order injection limited or unsupported.

Postmates

  • Driver supply varies by location after consolidation with Uber Eats
  • Customer support is now handled through Uber's system rather than dedicated Postmates support
  • Limited delivery areas in less densely populated regions

Pricing, plan by plan

Lunchbox

On request
  • Lunchbox$undefined/year
    • Priced per location per month with modules for ordering, loyalty and marketing
    • One time build and launch fee for web and mobile apps
    • App store submission and brand design handled during onboarding

Postmates

$15/order
  • Standard$20/percent
    • Delivery
    • Order management

Which should you pick?

Choose Lunchbox if

  • You need branded ordering web and apps.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want loyalty and rewards.
Lunchbox review

Choose Postmates if

  • You need on-demand delivery.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want order management.
Postmates review

Questions people ask

Is Lunchbox or Postmates better?
Neither clearly leads. Lunchbox starts at On request and Postmates at $15/order, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lunchbox or Postmates?
Lunchbox starts at On request and Postmates at $15/order.
Does Lunchbox or Postmates run on more platforms?
Lunchbox runs on Web, iOS, Android. Postmates runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Lunchbox best used for?
Lunchbox is most often used for a fast casual chain of ten to thirty units trying to shift volume away from delivery marketplaces, a brand that wants its own ios and android apps without commissioning a bespoke build, an operator who needs guest order history for retention campaigns rather than anonymous marketplace orders, a group launching catering that needs a separate ordering flow from standard checkout. Of those, a fast casual chain of ten to thirty units trying to shift volume away from delivery marketplaces and a brand that wants its own ios and android apps without commissioning a bespoke build are not what Postmates is typically brought in for.
What can Lunchbox do that Postmates cannot?
Lunchbox covers Branded ordering web and apps, Loyalty and rewards, Guest data platform, Marketing automation. Postmates covers On-demand delivery, Order management, Customer access, Analytics.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lunchbox: Does it stop me paying delivery commission?

Only on orders that move to your own channels. Orders still placed on DoorDash or Uber Eats carry their usual commission.

Postmates: Is Postmates still operating after Uber's acquisition?

Yes, Postmates continues operating. Uber completed the acquisition in December 2020 and kept Postmates as a separate consumer-facing brand. Orders placed on Postmates are fulfilled by Uber Eats drivers tagged with Postmates order identifiers.

Source
Lunchbox: Do I get my own branded mobile app?

Yes, native iOS and Android apps under your brand, built and submitted during onboarding for a one time fee on top of the subscription.

Postmates: How are Postmates orders delivered after the Uber acquisition?

Postmates orders are now delivered by Uber Eats drivers, but the Postmates app remains separate. Deliveries are tagged as Postmates OrderID within the unified driver network.

Source
Lunchbox: Who owns the customer data?

The restaurant. That is the central argument for first party ordering over marketplace ordering.

Postmates: Can I still use the Postmates app?

Yes, the Postmates app continues to be available on the App Store and Google Play. You can place orders through the Postmates app, though the driver network now operates through Uber Eats infrastructure.

Source
Lunchbox: What size of brand is it aimed at?

Multi unit groups, broadly five to fifty locations. Single sites usually do better with a cheaper ordering product.

Postmates: Did Postmates driver operations change?

Yes, Uber shut down the Postmates Fleet app for drivers. Postmates couriers were notified the Fleet app would go offline, consolidating driver operations into the Uber driver app. Postmates orders are now fulfilled by Uber Eats drivers.

Source
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