Quick Summary: Do you have a restaurant or hotel and want to develop a food ordering app for the same? Do you want to know the cost to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash? If yes, then you have reached the correct place. This blog will cover everything from development cost, factors, strategies to reduce the food delivery app development cost.

The food delivery industry is booming, and with the success of giants like DoorDash, entrepreneurs are eager to take a bite out of the market. But before you dive into app development, one thing that comes to mind is — how much does it cost to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash? To know the DoorDash app development cost, you need to read the blog till the end.

With a 65% market share In the US, DoorDash was the industry leader in online meal delivery as of February 2023. This makes DoorDash more successful in the restaurant business. Mobile apps for food delivery benefit business owners in addition to consumers. So, if you are a food startup and want to invest in food delivery app development, then now is the correct time.

This blog aims to serve as your guide through the financial complexity of creating your own food delivery business, regardless of your experience level as an entrepreneur or hobbyist.

So, let’s begin.

 

What is A Doordash App? 

DoorDash is a prominent app that helps users order food from nearby restaurants and bars. They may order food to be brought right to their door, browse through a large selection of cuisines, and make their orders.

DoorDash is the best food delivery application. Features of the app include easy payment choices, personalized delivery options, and real-time purchase tracking.

DoorDash is a handy option for those who want to eat restaurant-quality cuisine without having to leave their homes. It is available in many places worldwide.

It is becoming a popular platform for diners searching for something to eat and for businesses trying to reach a wider audience by offering delivery services. So, if you are planning to build your own food ordering app, then you must know the development cost.

 

Market Stats of Food Delivery Industry

Source: Statista

• It is anticipated that the online food delivery sector would generate US$1.22 trillion in sales by 2024.
• With a predicted compound yearly growth rate (CAGR 2024–2028) of 10.06%, the market is anticipated to reach a value of US$1.79 trillion by 2028.
• A revenue rise of 20.3% is projected for the grocery delivery industry in 2025.
• In 2024, the grocery delivery business is expected to generate US$0.79 trillion in revenue.
• In the grocery delivery sector, the average revenue per user (ARPU) is anticipated to reach US$505.10 by 2024.
• By 2028, there will likely be 2.5 billion consumers in the meal delivery sector.
• By 2024, the market for meal delivery services will have a user penetration rate of around 27.5%.

 

How Does Doordash App Work? 

The Doordash app matches people who want food delivered to nearby places. Here is a simplified 5-step summary of the functioning mechanism, as provided by the food delivery app development company:    

 

1. Download and Sign Up

Users must first get the Doordash app and make an account. They give you information about where they are and how to pay. 

 

2. Browse Restaurants

The app shows a list of delivery-only places in the area. Users can narrow their search by food, distance, or reviews.

 

3. Place an Order

Users can look at the menu and add things to their cart once they have chosen a place. They can make changes to their order and use any coupons that are offered.

 

4. Delivery Process

The order is sent to the restaurant after it is placed. A Doordash driver takes the order and goes to the restaurant to get the food. The driver then brings the food straight to the spot the customer gave them. 

 

5. Payment and Ratings

When the user gets their package, they pay for it using the way of payment they chose when they signed up. They can also rate the place and the driver to let them know what they thought of their experience.   

 

Steps To Develop a Food Ordering App like Doordash 

The demand for a food ordering app called Doordash is touching the skies. So, it is the right time for entrepreneurs to invest in Doordash app development. As per the food ordering app development company, below are the steps to develop a food ordering app like Doordash.

 

 

1. Market Research And Analysis

In the United States, DoorDash has 65% of the food service business. Did you know that? The second-largest share belonged to Uber Eats, which had 23%. If you want to stay ahead in the food delivery business, you should look at your competition before you build a food ordering app like Doordash.

Looking at popular and profitable food delivery apps can help you figure out who your target audience is and what they like and don’t like about your app.

Have a look at their prices, features, business methods, and how easy they are to use. This will help you find holes in the market and chances to make your app stand out.  

 

2. Choose a Food Delivery Model

You can pick from different models to get food delivered. We looked into it, though, and here are three of the best ones: 

• Order-Only Model

Using this model, you can make a food ordering app like Doordash that can only take orders for delivery. As soon as you get the food order, all you have to do is send it to the restaurant so they can make it and send it out on time. 

• Order-and-Delivery Model

Firms can handle, send, and deliver orders with this plan. Restaurants only prepare the orders; pizza delivery app development companies take care of the whole delivery process. 

• Restaurant-Specific Order

In this setup, delivery and package orders come straight from the app to the business owners. They make the food and send it out themselves, focused on branding and personalization as needed along the way.   

These types are available for you to choose from based on your business needs.  

 

3. Create A UI/UX Design 

The next step to create a food ordering app like Doordash is to create the user interface once you have decided on the food delivery plan for your restaurant. The design comes from a lot of study into buyer personas, keeping up with the latest design trends and techniques, and making sure the user experience is perfect and focused on the customer. So, it is important to make a wireframe with the help of a mobile app design company for your food buying app before you start building it.   

 

4. Develop An App Like Doordash

To make a food delivery app like Doordash that lets you buy food, the next step is to write code. To start, you should find the best mobile app developers to work on the back end of your app.

You can work with a group of developers or hire a custom food delivery app development company to develop a food ordering app like Doordash. Now that you’ve picked a team, you can begin the back-end process.

As soon as possible, you should start making an MVP of your app. This will help you finish it faster and with more room for changes. Your programming team should work on both the server and the front end.

 

5. Test Your Food Ordering App  

Testing your food delivery app very carefully is very important before putting it on app stores. It helps figure out what bugs and mistakes are in the mobile app.

To do this, the testers and quality experts use different testing methods, such as unit testing, among others. It’s important to know if it works on different devices, like Android or iOS.

You can also make a beta version of the app that only a small group of people can use to test it and let you know what they think. Making changes to the app based on what people said is the next step.         

 

 

 

 

6. Final Launch  

Once your food ordering app like Doordash is successfully tested on all the devices, it is time to launch it on the Google play store and app store respectively. However, it is crucial to follow all the guidelines of play stores before publishing your app so that you will not face any problem. 

But but but ….the process does not stop here. You need to market or promote it to the general public. You can try different methods like collaboration, advertisement, social media marketing etc.  

 

7. Maintenance And Update 

Once your food delivery app is successfully published on the app stores, you must timely update and maintain the app for smooth functioning and better performance. A food delivery app maintenance services provider suggested to follow post-launch strategies for your app’s success:   

• Analyze user feedback 
• Implement updates and new features 
• Track your app’s performance 
• Continue promoting your app 
• Build a community 

 

Key Features To Develop An App Like Doordash 

Knowing what features go to create a food ordering app like Doordash is important for learning how to make one. Because a food delivery app might have different screens, the food delivery app features are different. Take a look at the table of different panels:  

 

 

1. User Panel 

Feature	Description
User Registration/Login	When people register, they can either use their phone number or email address to create an account and sign up.
Profile Management	It allows users to change their personal details, payment options, and preferences.
Restaurant Search	It offers a search bar and filters to help people find places based on area, type of food, and other factors.
Menu Browsing	It shows full menus with pictures, prices, and details of each item.
Order Placement	Users can choose things, change orders, and leave special directions.
Order Tracking	Gives real-time information on the progress of your order, including an estimate of when it will arrive.
Order History	Keeps a record of past orders so that they can be easily found and placed again.
Ratings and Reviews	When you build a food ordering app like Doordash, it allows users to rate places and write reviews that can help other people choose.
Push Notifications	Users can send notifications about changes to your order, sales, and tailored suggestions.
Payment Integration	They can accept a number of payment options, such as credit cards, digital wallets, and cash on delivery.
Customer Support	It offers a way for people to get in touch with customer help with questions or problems.

 

2. Driver Panel 

Feature	Description
Profile Management	This lets drivers add, change, and update information about themselves and their vehicles.
Order Acceptance/Rejection	You must allow drivers to accept or decline orders based on things like location, expected earnings, and time of arrival.
Real-time Navigation	Hire food delivery app developers to integrate real-time navigation.
ETA Calculation	Just figure out how long delivery should take by looking at things like traffic, distance, and how complicated the order is.
Order Tracking	Let drivers see how their current delivery is going, including when it will be picked up and delivered and where the customer is.
Communication Features	It gives drivers different ways to talk to customers and support staff, like calling, texting, or chatting.
Earnings Tracking	Users can keep track of what drivers make, such as their base pay, tips, prizes, and their total earnings.
Payment Information	Take care of drivers’ payment information, like their bank accounts or digital wallets.
Scheduling	It lets drivers choose when they can work and what hours they want to work.

 

3. Restaurant-side Panel 

Feature	Description
Customer Communication	When you create a delivery service app, give people a way to talk to you directly, and respond quickly to any questions or problems they have.
Order Management System	Orders can be easily managed, their progress can be tracked, and order information can be seen.
Menu Management	It’s easy to add, change, and remove menu items, as well as their prices and details.
Real-time Analytics	Learn about things like sales trends, popular food items, busy times, and what customers have to say.
Driver Tracking	Track where delivery drivers are at all times to make sure packages arrive on time.
Integration with Payment Gateways	hire android app developers to integrate easily with different payment methods to safely handle customer payments.

 

 

4. Admin Panel 

Feature	Description
Order Management	Track and handle all new orders, including their progress, where they will be delivered, and information about the customers.
Restaurant Management	Take over businesses, including their meals, prices, and hours of operation.
Delivery Driver Management	When you develop a food delivery app like Deliveroo, give drivers directions, keep track of where they are, and control their availability.
Payment Processing	Take care of customer payments and make sure businesses and drivers get their money on time.
Analytics and Reporting	Make reports on key data like sales, customer behavior, driver success, and more.
Customer Support	Take care of customer questions and issues and make sure users have a good experience.

 

Challenges & Solution of Food Ordering App Development  

Just like it takes time and good advice to make the right recipe, it’s important to develop a food ordering app like Doordash. You must hire dedicated developers who can solve the below challenges. Let’s look at some problems you might run into while making your app and how to solve them.  

 

 

 

1. Intense Competition 

It can be hard for new food businesses to stand out in the food delivery market, which is full of big companies and new food delivery startups all trying to get customers.   

• Solution: There’s always ways to get better. Do some study to find holes in the market and ways to meet customer wants. You might even make an app that doesn’t delete the whole order if you click it by accident. 

 

2. Timely and Reliable Deliveries

In busy areas and during rush hours, it can be hard to make sure supplies happen on time and without any problems. To keep people happy, you need to figure out the best ways to handle packages quickly. 

• Solution:The people who deliver your packages should be skilled. Make an easy-to-use transport app. Hire a third-party delivery service with care if you want to get better work from your employees. Keep them motivated with processes. Even so, bad things can happen to anyone. For the sake of peace of mind, at least let your customers know where their orders are. 

 

3. Quality Control

It can be hard to make sure that the food quality is the same in all places. Strong contact and close supervision are needed to make sure that every order is just right. 

• Solution: Talk to your partner businesses about what they expect from food delivery app development solutions, and set clear standards for food delivery service. Check the quality for yourself and read what other buyers have said. Not to worry, if there is a problem, they will state it on all review sites. Twice. 

 

4. Data Security and Privacy

To keep customer information safe, you need to use strong security steps to stop any possible leaks and keep their trust. Remember this before you start making your app. 

• Solution: It’s important to keep customer information safe for your food ordering app development solution. So you’ll need to use strong security and follow rules for keeping info safe… Are you reading now? Safety rules can be dull, but here’s a tip: let scientists handle the development and take it easy.  

 

Cost To Develop A Food Ordering App Like DoorDash 

The cost to create a food delivery app like DoorDash is estimated based on several factors, but we intend to provide you with an estimate of the restaurant mobile app development cost. This estimate will resemble the cost to develop an app like Seamless.

Typically, it can range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the features you want to include and the resources needed to take your app from its idea phase to its official release phase. Let’s have a look at the table showcasing the cost as per the complexity level.

 

App Complexity	Cost Estimation
Simple app	$10000-$14000
Moderate app	$15000- $20000
Complex app	$25000

 

Now that we’ve covered all you need to know about joining the market for on-demand food delivery apps and the likely costs associated with doing so.

You will be in a better position to discuss expanding your app in a manner that makes it ready for the food delivery future with your choice of a mobile application development company if you are aware of what the future holds for the food delivery app industry.

 

Factors Affecting The Cost To Develop A Food Ordering App Like DoorDash

Several factors can influence the cost to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash. Here are some key considerations:

 

 

1. Features & Functionality

The cost to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash, is mostly determined by the features that are desired. You will pay more for advanced features than for simple ones.

However, including a few cutting-edge features might help you outperform the competition. Additionally, it is vital to know that payment gateway integration can increase the cost to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash.

 

2. Development Team

First things first: if you outsource your app development team, the final product will always be delivered successfully and on schedule for less money.

Select the Android or iPhone app development company with a dependable and experienced portfolio, even if each one has a distinct price approach. Here, the experts advise going with quality rather than quantity.

 

3. UX/UI Design  

Selecting an appropriate design is the most crucial part to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash. To do this, you may need to consider your customers’ perspectives and provide your consumers with an easy-to-use interface. The simpler and more sophisticated interface comes at a significant mobile app development cost.

 

4. App Platform

While selecting the best app development platform for your food delivery service, you can’t ignore the subject of Android vs. iOS. You may also choose a cross-platform to develop a food delivery app like DoorDash on both platforms, but be aware that this might increase the cost of development.

 

5. Location of Development Team

Countries vary in what they charge each hour. In comparison to Asian nations, where the typical rate ranges from $15 to $25/hr depending on the app’s complexity, hiring a food delivery app development services provider may cost you twice as much or even three times as much.

 

6. App Security

Users are concerned about a number of things, most notably data privacy and app security. Furthermore, official clearance is required in accordance with Google’s app release requirements. To ensure complete privacy and security, your developer must adhere to particular protocols while providing software testing services.

The backend must, above all, have secure code that is virus-free, error-free, and crashes seldom. Your testing team must also do ethical hacking assessments to ensure the product will repel hacking attempts.

 

7. Technology Stack

Developers need to create both an admin interface and food ordering apps in order to launch a food delivery business like Uber. Which tech stack to choose depends on whether an app is being developed natively or cross-platform.

While cross-platform development is less costly but has some performance-related problems, native app development is more expensive but produces superior results.

 

Why Is It Important To Fix A Budget For Your Project?   

Although you now know the cost to develop a food ordering app like Doordash for getting food, it’s also important to understand what the budget means. Setting a budget helps you understand how everything fits together and helps you take the right steps to build your food ordering app. Because of this, before you start growing your food business, make sure you remember these things:   

 

 

1. Helps To Know Actual Requirements

Your app development budget helps you think about what your customers want, so you can give them what they need at the moment. So, it will be easy for you to understand what features your app needs and make smart choices.  

 

2. You Need the MVP  

Make sure you have this with you before you meet with investors. You need a budget to figure out how much an MVP app development will cost and how long it will take.      

 

3. Helps In Market Study   

You need to take the time to look into the market and see what the going rates are before you make your budget.  

 

4. Budget For Post-launch Expenses 

You need to set aside money for advertising. When the app is done, you shouldn’t think that your job and costs will end. There are many steps left in the process of making an app.  

Spreading the word about the app and getting it to the right people is not easy. The food delivery app development cost is easy to figure out. What’s important is how much it costs to keep going after the app is made.   

 

How Much Does It Cost To Maintain An App Like DoorDash?  

Maintaining an app like DoorDash can vary in cost depending on several factors. Typically, it can be around 15-20% of total development app cost.

Also, the cost to maintain a mobile app includes hosting fees for server maintenance, ongoing development to fix bugs and improve features, customer support, and marketing efforts to attract and retain users. Here’s a breakdown:

 

1. Hosting and Infrastructure:

This covers the expenses for servers, databases, and other infrastructure components needed to keep the app running smoothly. Costs here can depend on the scale.

 

2. Technical Support:

Ensuring that the app is bug-free and providing timely support to users requires a dedicated team. This could include developers, QA testers, and customer support representatives, adding up to ongoing payroll expenses.

 

3. Updates and Maintenance:

Regular updates are crucial to keep the app compatible with new devices and operating system versions. These updates may also include adding new features or improving existing ones, which incurs development costs.

 

4. Security:

Protecting user data and the app itself from cyber threats is paramount. Investments in security measures such as encryption, monitoring, and audits are necessary ongoing expenses.

So, if you have an outdated food delivery app like DoorDash and want to update it with new features, then it is advisable to consult with a food delivery app maintenance services provider like Dev Technosys.

 

How To Monetize Your Food Ordering App Like Doordash?   

Suppose you have created a food ordering app like Doordash, now what? Well, obviously to earn revenue from it. You need to leverage the most lucrative monetization methods to earn money. So, here are the best strategies you can follow which many giants like Doordash apply:

 

 

1. Commission-based

People who use the commission-based approach are charged two things: a delivery fee and a service or platform fee. 

• Payment for Delivery: You can set a fair delivery fee by thinking about things like the distance between the places and the delivery addresses. To use this model successfully to build a food delivery app, you will need to build a strong user base in the first six months after deployment.
• Service Fee: If restaurants use your food delivery app like DoorDash, you can charge them a small service fee. You can make the first fees as low as possible so restaurants will pick your app over big names in the industry like GrubHub and UberEats.

 

2. Advertising Fees

One common way to make money is to charge advertisers fees to put their ads on your food delivery app. There are different kinds of ads that you can put on your food service app.

If you want to make money with this method, there is one catch: you need a lot of repeat users and a wide audience to get marketers to your app. 

 

3. Surge Pricing

Another way that food delivery apps like Seamless or Doordash make money is by charging extra for extra items. Users are charged a peak factor or surge price, which changes based on a lot of different factors.

For instance, the time of day, the number of people using the app at any given moment, the peak hours for the total number of sales, the weather and traffic in the area, and many other things.  

 

4. Subscriptions

Adding services can help you get people to spend a little more money so they can get extra benefits like faster delivery, access to special deals, discounts, coupons, promotions, free delivery, no minimum order or purchase amount, and more. This plan is especially helpful for making sure that you always get money coming in. 

 

How Can Dev Technosys Help You With Food Delivery App Development?  

Dev Technosys is a top on demand app development company that creates high-quality apps that streamline food delivery and make eating enjoyable. Our professionals will provide online food ordering and restaurant development solutions, regardless of how you want to advance the food and restaurant industries.

We specialize in offering your clients online food ordering, a digital food menu, online payments, and much more with our responsive restaurant mobile app solutions.

Furthermore, our developers have experience in developing some of the most successful restaurant app development projects and have taught us a lot about how to combine labor with cutting-edge technology to get the greatest outcomes.

So, what are you thinking? Drop your requirements with us and we will deliver a robust food delivery app within your budget.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to Develop a Food Delivery App?

If you want to develop a food ordering app like DoorDash, below is the process of food delivery app development:

• Do Market Research
• Define Features List
• Design UI/UX
• Choose Platform
• Start the App Development
• Test your app
• Launch and marketing

 

3. What Are the Features Of Food Delivery App?  

The food delivery app features are essential to integrate when you develop a mobile app. So, below are the best food delivery app features that you must take a look:

• Intuitive Menu Display
• Real-time Order Tracking
• Push Notification
• Payment Option
• Loyalty Programs

 

4. How Do Online Food Delivery Apps Make Money?

There are several methods for a meal delivery service to generate revenue. This is a list of various well-known meal delivery app revenue models.

• Commission on food orders – For every order that is placed via your platform, you have the ability to charge a restaurant a tiny commission fee.
• Premium subscription model – You may provide your consumers with several options to access premium services like free delivery, discounts, and app membership by introducing a subscription model.
• Delivery charges– There are eateries without employees who can deliver the order. Thus, in this instance, you charge a delivery fee and they make use of your delivery personnel.

5. How Much Does It Cost To Develop A Food Ordering App Like Doordash? 

The cost to build an app like Doordash relies on your project requirements. Generally, it can be around $10000-$25000 or go beyond.  

 

6. How Long Does It Take To Make An App Like Doordash? 

The time to create an app like Doordash is between 2-7 months. It can vary depending on multiple factors like:

• Location of developers 
• App complexity 
• Platform choice 
• Features & functionalities 

 

7. Is It Profitable To Invest In Food Delivery App Development? 

Yes, it is! The global online food delivery services market size is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.7% from 2022 to 2030. This shows now is the perfect time for entrepreneurs to invest in food delivery app development.