Does GrubHub Take Cash? (Yes, Here’s How to Pay)

There’s no doubt that one of the biggest upsides to using some food delivery services is the ability to use cash upon delivery. This is a convenient option for those who may not have a viable online payment method and can make ordering food delivery a bit easier.

GrubHub aims to be as flexible as possible with consumers since they work closely in partnership with restaurants. However, GrubHub cannot make the final decision that all restaurants will accept cash.

That is why only some of their restaurant partners allow cash payments to go through. In this article, we’ll walk you through all you need to know about cash payments on GrubHub.

Cash orders are only accepted if the restaurant accepts cash orders. If cash orders are acceptable, you should see cash as an option at check out. We hope this helps, your GrubHUb Customer Care Team.

— Grubhub Care (@Grubhub_Care) October 7, 2018

How to Pay With Cash on GrubHub

The first thing to note is that you will need to double-check that the restaurant you’re ordering from accepts cash payments. This is not a given for all restaurants, so be sure to do your research before assuming your order will be eligible for a cash payment.

Next, log into your GrubHub app and follow these steps:

1. Search for restaurants based on your food preference or zip code
2. Once you find the restaurant you want to order from, add your items to the cart
3. Proceed to the checkout screen and enter your personal information
4. At the bottom of the payment screen, you should see a “pay with cash” option
5. Select this option and proceed with your checkout

Keep in mind that if you do not see this option on your checkout screen, it means that the restaurant you’re ordering from does not make cash payments available to customers.

In this case, you’ll either have to pay with a different method or you’ll have to select a new restaurant to order from.

What Restaurants on GrubHub Accept Cash?

Although cash payments are a great feature on GrubHub, most restaurants do not accept cash payments. Additionally, since restaurants are so dependent on region, GrubHub does not have an inclusive list of their restaurants that still allow cash payments.

However, you can still easily find out if your favorite restaurants take cash payments simply by going through the process of adding something to your cart and seeing if the cash payment option is available on the payment screen.

While this can be a more time-consuming process, it is the easiest way to clarify whether a restaurant will allow cash.

To check this, follow steps 1-5 in the above section. Keep in mind that you do not need to put together an extensive order to find this out.

Instead, scroll down and add the first thing on the menu to your cart to check if cash is accepted. This is the most efficient way to check on your payment method without investing a lot of time into your order.

This is especially true if you are not going to place that order if the restaurant does not take cash. In this case, you might as well test who takes cash, then look through the menu more extensively and place an order.

@LIRRGuy You can choose to tip with cash if you’d like to provide the tip when the food arrives. Hope this helps!

— Grubhub (@Grubhub) February 22, 2015

Can You Tip GrubHub Drivers Cash?

Tipping GrubHub drivers can either be completed online through the credit card tip box or by giving your driver a cash tip. This can be a great way to provide the driver with extra money for the delivery. However, many drivers have reported that customers use this option to get out of tipping.

Keep in mind that tips to delivery drivers make up a big portion of their profits, and therefore, they rely heavily on each delivery, providing them with a tip.

If you opt to use the cash tip option, be sure you do not forget to give them cash on arrival. The average tip for a delivery driver should range between 15-20% based on your order total.

Since GrubHub drivers can see the tip left before deciding whether to take that order, they may reject an order that says a cash tip will be given.

Since this is seen as more of a risk and some customers will simply not ever give the cash tip, you may find that your order takes longer to be picked up by a driver if you select to give a cash tip.

@xoxo_sammie22 So sorry for the inconvenience! Some restaurants still do take cash orders, but unfortunately, not all.

— Grubhub (@Grubhub) January 22, 2016

Most Restaurants Don’t Take Cash on GrubHub

Unfortunately, the majority of restaurants do not allow cash orders. Accepting cash adds inconvenience to the driver and restaurant because the driver is forced to drop off your order, pick up the cash, and go back to the restaurant to drop the cash off to them.

Accepting cash payments also adds to the delivery driver’s time, and it is riskier for the restaurant.

Although it’s challenging to scam GrubHub and get food without paying with the cash promised during the order, it is more of a risk with cash orders than with online orders that go through automatically.

For these reasons, many restaurants choose to avoid the hassle altogether and only accept the online payments that GrubHub offers to customers.

So, while it can be hard to find restaurants that will accept cash, the option still exists if you’re able to find a location near you that is willing to take the added risk and time.

How Far Does GrubHub Deliver?

Delivery distances are determined by your location since some areas are more rural, which requires a further delivery distance to make it to the closest restaurant. With that said, the average delivery distance for GrubHub is usually under five miles.

While you can expect slight differences in this average based on your location, you should generally assume that the delivery driver will stick within a five-mile radius of the restaurant to maximize the efficiency of deliveries and get as many in as possible within a time period.

This is even more important for restaurants accepting cash deliveries since the driver has to go from the restaurant to your home, then back to the restaurant to deliver the cash.

This slows down the entire delivery process and therefore is more convenient when the restaurant is close to the delivery location.

What Payment Methods Does GrubHub Accept?

In addition to cash, GrubHub also accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and GrubHub gift cards.

Keep in mind that paying cash on GrubHub may disqualify you from getting a discount or using their promotions and offers.

Therefore, payment methods like Apple Pay and PayPal are also great options to ensure that you’re getting the best deals on GrubHub while paying online. It also helps you find more available restaurants on the app.

Conclusion

It is a fact that having the option to pay with cash increases the convenience of placing an order on GrubHub. It can also appeal to a larger crowd since not everybody can pay online with credit cards or Apple Pay. Therefore, if you can find a restaurant on GrubHub that accepts cash, it is a great tool.

However, with few restaurants accepting cash payments anymore, remember that you may not be able to put a cash payment through at your restaurant of choice, or you may not be able to find one in your area that takes cash at all.

Without a list of the restaurants that accept this feature, it is important to double-check the restaurant you are ordering from ahead of time to know who does and does not accept cash on delivery.

If you’re interested in finding out more about GrubHub, check out the related articles below.

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