DoorDash vs Caviar 2026: Which Delivers Better?
DoorDash is a mass-market food delivery platform serving 80+ million customers across 7,000+ cities with lower fees and broader restaurant selection, while Caviar (now closed as of 2023) was a luxury-focused delivery service targeting high-end diners with premium restaurants and white-glove service.
DoorDash
Largest U.S. food delivery platform with fastest average delivery times and largest driver network.
Budget-conscious diners, students, busy professionals, families seeking convenience across most US cities and neighborhoods.
Caviar
Defunct luxury food delivery service acquired by Square in 2019 and shut down in 2023, formerly focused on premium restaurants.
No longer applicable—service is defunct. Historically served affluent diners in major cities seeking fine dining delivery with premium service.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryDoorDash is a mass-market food delivery platform serving 80+ million customers across 7,000+ cities with lower fees and broader restaurant selection, while Caviar (now closed as of 2023) was a luxury-focused delivery service targeting high-end diners with premium restaurants and white-glove service.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedDoorDash is the only viable option in 2026 as Caviar permanently ceased operations in 2023 after Square's acquisition. Choose DoorDash if you value broad restaurant selection, affordable fees, and reliable service across most US cities. Caviar is no longer an option, though luxury users seeking similar experiences can now use premium delivery tiers on existing apps or high-end restaurant concierge services.
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Choose DoorDash if
Best pickBudget-conscious diners, students, busy professionals, families seeking convenience across most US cities and neighborhoods.
Choose Caviar if
No longer applicable—service is defunct. Historically served affluent diners in major cities seeking fine dining delivery with premium service.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Market Status (2026):✓ DoorDash wins(Active and operating globally vs Permanently closed (acquired by Square in 2019, shut down in 2023))
- Service Model:✓ DoorDash wins(Mass-market delivery across all restaurant tiers vs Luxury-focused delivery for fine dining only)
- Geographic Coverage:✓ DoorDash wins(7,000+ cities across US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Spain, Ireland vs Limited to ~15 major US metropolitan areas at peak)
Key Facts & Figures
38 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | DoorDash | Caviar | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Market Share | 67% | — | — |
| Countries Operating | ~27 | — | — |
| Annual Revenue(USD Billion) | $8.6 Billion | — | — |
| 2026 U.S. Market Share(%) | 60% | — | — |
| Active User Base(millions) | 35 million | — | — |
| Restaurant Partners(count) | 400,000+ | — | — |
| 2024 Annual Revenue(billion USD) | $8.9 billion | — | — |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(Billion USD) | $8.5 billion | — | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 35 minutes | — | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 35+ million | — | — |
| US Market Share(%) | 59% | — | — |
| Active Restaurants(count) | 450,000+ | — | — |
| Average Delivery Fee(USD) | $2.99 | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $9.99/month | — | — |
| Founded Year | 2013 | — | — |
| U.S. Market Share(%) | 59% | — | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 28 minutes | — | — |
| Typical Service Fee(USD) | $2.49 (avg) | — | — |
| Restaurant Partners(restaurants) | 490,000+ | 500-800 curated luxury | |
| Active Monthly Users (U.S.)(millions) | 28.5 million | — | — |
| Year Founded | 2013 | — | — |
| City Coverage(cities) | 7,000+ cities worldwide | — | — |
| Restaurant Selection(restaurants) | 390,000+ | — | — |
| Average Delivery Time(days) | 28 minutes | — | — |
| Geographic Coverage(cities) | 7,000+ cities | — | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.6 stars | — | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $9.99 (DashPass) | — | — |
| Market Share (US)(percent) | 57% | — | — |
| Minimum Order (base)(USD) | $5.00 | — | — |
| U.S. Market Share (Q3 2025)(%) | 59% | — | — |
| Countries of Operation(countries) | 27 | — | — |
| Active Restaurant Partners (Global)(millions) | 0.65 million | — | — |
| Active Delivery Personnel (U.S.)(millions) | 2.3 million Dashers | — | — |
| Loyalty Program Monthly Cost(USD) | $9.99 (DashPass) | — | — |
| Customer App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.7/5 stars | — | — |
| Delivery Fee (Standard)(USD) | $5-$10+ | $5-$10+ | |
| Average Delivery Time (Major Cities)(minutes) | 18-25 minutes (premium focus) | 18-25 minutes (premium focus) | |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(USD billions) | Defunct (0) | Defunct (0) |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- Active and operating globally(winner)Market Status (2026)Permanently closed (acquired by Square in 2019, shut down in 2023)
- Mass-market delivery across all restaurant tiers(winner)Service ModelLuxury-focused delivery for fine dining only
- 7,000+ cities across US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Spain, Ireland(winner)Geographic CoverageLimited to ~15 major US metropolitan areas at peak
- $2.99-$3.99 standard; $0 for DashPass members(winner)Average Delivery Fee$5-$10+ per order (premium service markup)
- Over 400,000 restaurants globally(winner)Restaurant Partners at PeakApproximately 500-800 curated luxury restaurants
- $8.9 billion(winner)Annual Revenue (2024)N/A (defunct since 2023)
- Mass market: students, families, professionals seeking convenienceTarget Customer DemographicAffluent diners seeking fine dining delivery experiences
- Market Status (2026)
DoorDash
Active and operating globally(winner)
Caviar
Permanently closed (acquired by Square in 2019, shut down in 2023)
- Service Model
DoorDash
Mass-market delivery across all restaurant tiers(winner)
Caviar
Luxury-focused delivery for fine dining only
- Geographic Coverage
DoorDash
7,000+ cities across US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Spain, Ireland(winner)
Caviar
Limited to ~15 major US metropolitan areas at peak
- Average Delivery Fee
DoorDash
$2.99-$3.99 standard; $0 for DashPass members(winner)
Caviar
$5-$10+ per order (premium service markup)
- Restaurant Partners at Peak
DoorDash
Over 400,000 restaurants globally(winner)
Caviar
Approximately 500-800 curated luxury restaurants
- Annual Revenue (2024)
DoorDash
$8.9 billion(winner)
Caviar
N/A (defunct since 2023)
- Target Customer Demographic
DoorDash
Mass market: students, families, professionals seeking convenience
Caviar
Affluent diners seeking fine dining delivery experiences
Full Comparison
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| US Market Share | 67% | — |
| Countries Operating | ~27 | — |
| Active User Base(millions) | 35 million | — |
| Restaurant Partners(count) | 400,000+ | — |
| Annual Revenue(USD Billion) | $8.6 Billion | — |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(Billion USD) | $8.5 billion | — |
| YoY Revenue Growth (2024)(percent) | 24% | — |
| 2026 U.S. Market Share(%) | 60% | — |
| US Market Share(%) | 59% | — |
| U.S. Market Share(%) | 59% | — |
| Market Share (US)(percent) | 57% | — |
| U.S. Market Share (Q3 2025)(%) | 59% | — |
| Tip Transparency | Full upfront visibility | — |
| Driver Pay Guarantee | No minimum guarantee | — |
| 2024 Annual Revenue(billion USD) | $8.9 billion | — |
| Order Fraud Detection | Hyper-sensitive GPS monitoring (2026) | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 35 minutes | — |
| Average Delivery Time(minutes) | 28 minutes | — |
| Average Delivery Time (Major Cities)(minutes) | 18-25 minutes (premium focus) | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 35+ million | — |
| Active Monthly Users (U.S.)(millions) | 28.5 million | — |
| Merchant/Store Partners(count) | 100,000+ restaurants | — |
| Driver Hourly Earnings(USD per hour) | $15-25 | — |
| Geographic Coverage(states) | 27 countries | — |
| Subscription Fee (Monthly)(USD) | $9.99 (DashPass) | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $9.99/month | — |
| Typical Service Fee(USD) | $2.49 (avg) | — |
| Base Delivery Fee Range(USD) | $2.00-$3.99 | — |
| Monthly Subscription Cost(USD) | $9.99 (DashPass) | — |
Show 5 more attributesMinimum Order (base)(USD) $5.00 — Loyalty Program Monthly Cost(USD) $9.99 (DashPass) — Base Delivery Fee Range(USD) $2.99-$6.99 — Delivery Fee (Standard)(USD) $5-$10+ — Monthly Subscription Cost (Optional)(USD) N/A (no membership program) — | ||
| Active Restaurants(count) | 450,000+ | — |
| Restaurant Partners(restaurants) | 490,000+(winner) | 500-800 curated luxury |
| Average Delivery Fee(USD) | $2.99 | — |
| Customer Satisfaction(stars) | 4.1/5.0 | — |
| Geographic Coverage(countries) | 4,500+ cities(winner) | 15 major metros (at peak, 2019) |
| Countries of Operation(countries) | 27 | — |
| Founded Year | 2013 | — |
| Year Founded | 2013 | — |
| Non-Food Delivery Categories(categories) | 3 (groceries, convenience, pet supplies) | — |
| City Coverage(cities) | 7,000+ cities worldwide | — |
| Restaurant Selection(restaurants) | 390,000+ | — |
| Average Delivery Time(days) | 28 minutes | — |
| Geographic Coverage(cities) | 7,000+ cities | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.6 stars | — |
| Customer App Rating (iOS)(stars) | 4.7/5 stars | — |
| Active Restaurant Partners (Global)(millions) | 0.65 million | — |
| Active Delivery Personnel (U.S.)(millions) | 2.3 million Dashers | — |
| Active Status (2026) | Permanently closed (2023) | — |
| Restaurant Price Tier Focus | Premium/luxury only | — |
| Annual Revenue (2024)(USD billions) | Defunct (0) | — |
Show 5 more attributes
Pros & Cons
9 pros·4 cons across both
DoorDash
Pros
- Operates in 7,000+ cities providing unmatched geographic coverage
- Partnerships with 400,000+ restaurants across all price points and cuisines
- DashPass membership offers $0 delivery fees and 5% discounts (saves ~$200-400/year for frequent users)
- Average delivery time of 28-35 minutes in major metros
- Real-time order tracking with GPS integration and driver contact
Cons
- Service fees (15-30% restaurant markup) increase meal costs 20-25% above dine-in prices
- Inconsistent quality due to variable driver training and high turnover (70%+ annually)
Caviar
Pros
- Curated selection of 500-800 Michelin-starred and upscale restaurants only
- White-glove service with carefully vetted drivers trained in fine dining protocols
- Premium packaging designed to preserve food quality and presentation
- Concierge support available for special requests and dietary accommodations
Cons
- Service completely discontinued as of 2023 with no alternative migration path
- Operated in only 15 metropolitan areas at peak (NYC, SF, LA, Chicago, Boston, Miami, etc.)
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
No. Caviar was acquired by Square in 2019 for $89 million and permanently shut down in 2023. Square consolidated Caviar's operations and user base into other services. There is no active Caviar service as of 2026.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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Wikipedia
- W
DoorDash on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Largest U.S. food delivery platform with fastest average delivery times and largest driver network.
- W
Caviar on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Defunct luxury food delivery service acquired by Square in 2019 and shut down in 2023, formerly focused on premium restaurants.
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