DoorDash charges restaurants 15-30% commission on every order. DirectOrders charges $249/mo flat - zero commission, zero customer fees. You keep 100% of your revenue, own every customer relationship, and get paid same day.
See How It WorksDirectOrders is the commission-free DoorDash alternative built for restaurants that want to own their customers instead of renting them from a marketplace. Where DoorDash and DoorDash for Business charge 15% to 30% on every order, DirectOrders runs on a flat $249/mo fee with zero commission and zero customer fees, so you keep 100% of every sale. That is the core of the DirectOrders vs DoorDash decision: a marketplace that owns the customer versus a branded platform that you own.
If you are still weighing DoorDash alternatives, start with the numbers. Run your own order volume through our commission savings calculator to see the annual difference, compare every option side by side on our DoorDash alternatives comparison page, then read the full DoorDash alternatives for restaurants guide.
Visual calculator showing $10,000/month in orders
| Line item | DoorDash | DirectOrders |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly orders | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Commission (15-30%)1 | -$1,500 to -$3,000 | $0 |
| Platform fee | $0 | |
| You keep | $7,000-$8,500 | $9,751 |
| Annual difference | - | +$15,000 to +$33,000 |
1 Based on DoorDash merchant pricing tiers
DirectOrders unique channels
DoorDash is one channel. DirectOrders is 15+.
| Feature | DoorDash | DirectOrders | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission | 15-30% | 0% | 1DoorDash Merchant |
| Customer fees | Yes (service + delivery) | No | 2DoorDash.com |
| Own customer data | No | Yes | 3DoorDash Terms |
| Brand visibility | DoorDash branding | Your brand only | |
| Competitor marketing | Yes, to YOUR customers | You control | 4DoorDash app |
| Voice AI ordering | No | Yes | |
| Instagram/WhatsApp | No | Yes | |
| Same-day payouts | No (weekly) | Yes | 5DoorDash FAQ |
Bottom line: DoorDash charges a percentage of every order (15-30%), so your cost grows with your sales, while DirectOrders charges one flat monthly fee that stays the same at any volume. DoorDash suits restaurants that want marketplace discovery with no fixed monthly cost; DirectOrders suits restaurants with steady order volume that want to keep 100% of revenue and own the customer relationship.
No platform is right for every restaurant. Here are scenarios where DoorDash may be the better fit.
DoorDash holds roughly 56% of the U.S. food delivery market. If reaching the widest possible customer base through marketplace browsing is your top priority, DoorDash puts your restaurant in front of millions of active users.
DoorDash has no monthly fee. You pay commission only when orders come in, which means zero financial risk to get started. For restaurants with tight cash flow or unpredictable volume, this pay-as-you-go model can be easier to manage.
DoorDash handles the entire delivery operation, from driver dispatch to customer communication. If you do not want to coordinate drivers or manage delivery workflows, DoorDash provides a fully managed delivery experience.
If you just opened with no online presence, no email list, and no social following, DoorDash gives you immediate access to an established customer base. The marketplace serves as a customer acquisition engine while you build brand recognition.
Rates last verified July 2026.
See how the omnichannel platform works for your restaurant.
Get a DemoNo credit card. No commitment.
Explore the features DoorDash can't match:
Compare DirectOrders to other platforms: