Software · head to head
Upserve vs Grubhub
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Upserve offline terminals can only store credit card payment data for 48 hours before requiring internet connection; Grubhub commission fees of 15-30% significantly reduce restaurant profit margins
- They diverge on capability: Upserve covers Cloud POS, Grubhub covers Delivery network.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Upserve and Grubhub actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Upserve
- Cloud POS
- Guest insights
- Menu intelligence
- Server performance
- Reputation management
- Inventory tracking
- QuickBooks
- Xero
Only in Grubhub
- Delivery network
- Order management
- Customer reach
- Marketing tools
- Analytics
- Loyalty programs
- Toast
- Square
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Upserve
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Grubhub
- Point of Sale
- Order Management
- Inventory Control
- Staff Scheduling
Both are used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Upserve
- Offline terminals can only store credit card payment data for 48 hours before requiring internet connection
- Customers cannot add tips when the system operates in offline mode
- $400 monthly penalty for using alternative payment processors instead of Lightspeed
- No global ability to change menu items across all locations at once, requiring per-location updates
- Mandatory 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction payment processing fee with Lightspeed
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)
Pricing, plan by plan
Upserve
$59/month- Core$59/month
- Cloud-based point of sale
- Basic reporting
- Guest insights
- Pro$199/month
- All Core features
- Inventory management
- Online ordering
Grubhub
$15/order- Basic$15/percent
- Marketplace listing
- Order management
- Standard$20/percent
- Delivery
- Marketing
- Premium$25/percent
- Priority placement
- Promotions
Which should you pick?
Choose Upserve if
- You need cloud pos.
- You work on Web, iPad, Android, Custom POS terminals.
- You also want guest insights.
Choose Grubhub if
- You need delivery network.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want order management.
Questions people ask
- Is Upserve or Grubhub better?
- Neither clearly leads. Upserve starts at $59/month and Grubhub at $15/order, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Upserve or Grubhub?
- Upserve starts at $59/month and Grubhub at $15/order.
- Does Upserve or Grubhub run on more platforms?
- Upserve runs on Web, iPad, Android, Custom POS terminals. Grubhub runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Upserve best used for?
- Upserve is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling.
- What can Upserve do that Grubhub cannot?
- Upserve covers Cloud POS, Guest insights, Menu intelligence, Server performance. Grubhub covers Delivery network, Order management, Customer reach, Marketing tools. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Upserve: Does Upserve support offline mode?
Yes. Upserve is a hybrid cloud-based system where reporting data is stored in the cloud but offline mode allows the software to store important data locally on your device in case the internet goes down, allowing transactions to continue.
SourceGrubhub: 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.
SourceUpserve: What is Upserve's pricing structure?
Upserve offers three plans: Core at $59/month, Pro at $199/month with advanced features like inventory management and loyalty programs, and Pro+ with custom pricing for enterprise customers. Hardware is sold separately.
SourceGrubhub: 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.
SourceUpserve: Does Upserve offer a free trial?
Yes, Upserve offers a 14-day free trial for new users to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.
SourceGrubhub: 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.
SourceUpserve: What delivery platforms does Upserve integrate with?
Upserve integrates with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub through partner middleware services like Chowly and Deliverect, which provide real-time menu syncing and order management.
SourceGrubhub: 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.
SourceUpserve: What are the payment processing requirements?
Upserve requires using Lightspeed payment processing at 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction. Using alternative payment processors incurs a $400 monthly fee, making Lightspeed the mandatory choice for most restaurants.
Source