Food Delivery Apps in the US, UK, and Canada: Market Leaders, Consumer Trends, and What’s Next
A new era of dining: from limited takeout to app-first convenience
The way people eat at home has changed dramatically over the last two decades. What once meant a small set of third-party delivery options—often limited to pizza or Chinese takeout—has become a broad, app-driven marketplace where diners can browse countless cuisines and place an order in seconds. Food delivery is no longer a niche service; it has become a routine part of modern life for many households.
This shift is reflected in the size of the industry. In 2025, the food delivery market is valued at over $300 billion, more than double its size in 2017. That growth has been fueled by several overlapping forces: the spread of smartphones and user-friendly ordering interfaces, improvements in logistics and real-time tracking, and a rise in demand for time-saving solutions.
Food delivery apps have also benefited from the realities of busy schedules. Professionals, students, and families often prioritize convenience, and delivery platforms offer a straightforward way to outsource a daily task—deciding what to eat and how to get it—without leaving home.
Technology and the pandemic: why delivery became a default option
Advancements in technology have made ordering simpler and more transparent. Mobile interfaces are designed for speed, while real-time tracking reduces uncertainty about when food will arrive. These features have helped normalize delivery as a dependable alternative to eating out or cooking.
The pandemic accelerated this transformation. Contactless delivery options and strict hygiene regulations reduced exposure risks and made delivery feel more accessible during a period when many people were limiting in-person interactions. As a result, reliance on delivery apps increased significantly, and the behavioral shift has continued to shape the industry’s direction.
Even as conditions changed, the broader appeal of delivery remained: it provides flexibility, variety, and a sense of control. Consumers can choose comfort food one day and international specialties the next, all within the same ecosystem of apps and restaurant partners.
The United States: a large market led by a dominant platform
The United States has seen particularly strong growth in food delivery. The market size reached $26.1 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow to $46.5 billion by 2028. Several factors are associated with this expansion, including busy lifestyles, a sizable urban population, and a lack of household help. Delivery also offers a practical advantage: hassle-free fulfillment and minimal human interaction, which can reduce miscommunication.
Within the US, certain menu categories remain consistently popular. Pizza stands out as one of the most delivered items, and in 2021 alone, consumer spending on pizza deliveries reached $19.8 billion. This highlights how delivery platforms serve both variety seekers and customers who return to familiar staples.
In terms of usage patterns, food delivery apps are mainly used by 18- to 29-year-olds and lower-income earners in the US. Lower-income consumers are likelier to use these services, suggesting that delivery is not only a premium convenience but also a practical tool for certain demographics.
The competitive landscape is led by a clear front-runner. DoorDash holds a 65% market share in the US, followed by Uber Eats at 23%. Other players include Grubhub and Postmates. The country’s size also supports a mix of national and regional dynamics: while national platforms operate widely, performance can vary by region, with DoorDash dominating most areas and Grubhub performing well in northeastern states such as New York.
The United Kingdom: strong growth and a visible shift toward health and sustainability
The UK’s online food delivery market has also expanded quickly, growing 29.4% between 2018 and 2023. The current market size is worth $3.3 billion and is projected to increase by 7.2% this year alone. These figures underline how delivery has become embedded in everyday routines, supported by app adoption and changing consumer expectations.
In the UK, Just Eat is the most popular online food delivery app. In a consumer survey conducted in 2022, 69% of participants said they had ordered from Just Eat in the previous 12 months. Deliveroo and Uber Eats were also widely used, with 48% of participants having used each of those services.
Pizza remains important in the UK as well, with Domino’s Pizza leading the pizza delivery market by allowing consumers to place orders online via app and phone. This reflects a broader theme across regions: delivery is not only about third-party marketplaces but also about brands building direct ordering habits through multiple digital channels.
Consumer behavior in the UK has been notably shaped by the pandemic years. According to Deliveroo’s Share of Stomach 2022 report, spending and attitudes shifted in ways that affected how people approached food delivery. Over half of customers (56%) were more concerned about their finances than before the pandemic, and an additional 56% were holding back on making big purchases. In that context, food deliveries can function as a smaller, more frequent “treat” or reward—something that feels accessible even when larger spending is paused.
Health and environmental considerations have also become more prominent. In the same period, 62% of adults said they became more health-conscious during the pandemic. UK consumers increasingly report making environmental and health-conscious purchasing decisions, with 60% trying to control what they eat and 82% venturing into vegan food.
These preferences have had measurable effects on demand. Deliveroo noted a 117% increase in demand for vegan food during the twelve months prior to the report. In response to this shift, the platform hosts over 15,000 plant-based and vegan-friendly restaurants and grocers, illustrating how delivery apps can evolve their offerings as consumer priorities change.
Canada: rapid growth, a clear leader, and sensitivity to delivery fees
Canada’s online food delivery service market is projected to be worth over $98 billion by 2027. Spending patterns show a strong pandemic-era acceleration: in 2019, Canadians spent $4.7 billion on online food orders, and that figure grew by 36% during the pandemic.
In terms of platform preference, SkipTheDishes is Canada’s most popular food delivery app, used by 55% of Canadians. Ordering behavior also leans toward convenience staples, with fast food cited as the most popular option ordered online.
At the same time, Canadian consumers show clear price sensitivity around delivery costs. Almost half of Canadians aren’t happy to pay extra for delivery services for online orders. This matters because delivery pricing can influence how often customers order and which platforms they choose, particularly in a market where distance and logistics can affect fees.
Comparing the three regions: growth rates, leaders, and what people order
Across the US, UK, and Canada, food delivery spending has increased significantly over recent years. Transaction growth from April 2020 to April 2021 highlights how sharply behavior shifted during that period:
- United States: transactions up 58%
- Canada: transactions up 86%
- United Kingdom: transactions up 171%
These numbers show that while all three markets expanded, the UK saw the steepest rise in transaction activity during that timeframe.
Each region also has a leading third-party service that dominates the market: DoorDash in the US, Just Eat in the UK, and SkipTheDishes in Canada. At the same time, there is overlap in the platform ecosystem, with services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, Zomato, and Just Eat appearing across multiple regions.
Despite shared platform names, the markets are not identical. The US, for example, combines national scale with regional variation, where platform strength can differ by state or metro area. Canada faces different logistical realities, where delivery charges tend to be higher because of longer distances.
Food preferences also diverge. The UK has seen a visible shift toward healthier and more environmentally conscious eating, supported by delivery apps that expand vegan and plant-based options. By contrast, the US and Canada are described as still being primarily geared toward fast food as the primary choice for food delivery. Pizza remains a major delivery category in both the US and the UK, reinforcing the role of familiar, high-frequency items in delivery demand.
Beyond restaurant meals: grocery delivery and service add-ons
Delivery platforms are not limited to prepared meals. Some apps offer additional categories, which can change how consumers use them day to day. For example, Uber Eats offers grocery deliveries as an additional service. However, grocery delivery options are described as rare in the US across some food delivery apps, indicating that add-on services vary by platform and market.
This matters because the more use cases an app supports—whether restaurant meals, groceries, or other categories—the more likely it is to become a default tool rather than an occasional convenience.
What comes next: trends that could shape food delivery beyond 2025
The pandemic-era shift toward food delivery is widely viewed as durable. As people continue to manage busy schedules, demand for convenient and time-saving delivery options is expected to remain strong well beyond 2025. At the same time, the industry is still evolving, and several trends are positioned to influence what delivery looks like in the coming years.
- Crowdsourcing drivers: platforms can tap into a pool of independent drivers to complete deliveries, expanding flexibility in fulfillment.
- Food delivery subscriptions: subscriptions can support scheduled meal deliveries and potentially encourage repeat ordering habits.
- Meal-kit services: partially prepared or pre-portioned meals can cater to healthier and environmentally conscious diets.
- Virtual assistants: tools such as Alexa can be used to order food, reducing friction and making ordering even more seamless.
These developments point to an industry that is still experimenting with how to blend convenience, personalization, and operational efficiency. Whether consumers prioritize speed, price, health-conscious options, or broader selection, the direction of travel is clear: food delivery apps have become a lasting part of how people eat, and there remains substantial room for innovation across the US, UK, and Canada.