Why This Guide Exists
Every few months a takeaway owner asks the same question: "What am I actually paying these apps?" It sounds simple. It isn't. The headline commission rate is just the start. There are service charges, marketing levies, card fees, tablet subscriptions, and one-off onboarding costs that vary by platform, by tier, and sometimes by postcode.
This guide pulls it all together in one place. We've stuck to publicly available rate information and the standard industry benchmarks. No spin for or against the platforms — just the numbers, so you can make a clear-headed decision about where your orders should come from.
Just Eat Commission Rates UK 2026
Just Eat operates on a tiered model that separates collection and delivery.
Collection: 14% of the order subtotal. This is the cleaner number — no driver costs to factor in, so the platform is simply taking 14p in every £1 for providing the customer and the ordering infrastructure.
Delivery (fulfilled by Just Eat drivers): The commission climbs, typically sitting in the 20–30%+ range depending on your package and whether you're using Just Eat's own fulfilment or your own drivers. Shops using Just Eat's delivery network also pay a per-order delivery service fee on top.
Promoted Placement: If you pay for a visibility boost — Just Eat calls these "Promoted" listings — you add a further percentage on top of the base rate whenever a promoted click converts to an order. The additional levy varies but can be another 3–8%.
Tablets and hardware: Some arrangements include a monthly tablet rental. This is often a few pounds per week, small individually but worth accounting for.
Deliveroo Commission Rates UK 2026
Deliveroo does not publish a single fixed rate. What partners are offered depends heavily on location, category, order volume, and negotiation history. That said, industry-reported ranges and Deliveroo's own partner communications point consistently to the same ballpark.
Standard delivery commission: Typically 25–35% of the order value. Newer restaurants or those in high-competition areas tend to sit at the higher end. Established partners with strong volumes sometimes negotiate below 30%.
Service and marketing fees: Deliveroo periodically runs mandatory promotions — discounts you fund, not them. If you opt into Deliveroo's ad products, add that spend on top.
Deliveroo does not currently operate a collection-only product at scale in the UK, so if you're on Deliveroo, you are almost certainly on delivery rates.
Uber Eats Commission Rates UK 2026
Uber Eats works on a similar tiered model. The published base rate in the UK starts at around 30% for most restaurants, though this depends on the service tier selected.
Uber Eats Lite / Self-delivery: If you fulfil your own deliveries, Uber Eats charges a lower commission — reported broadly in the 15–20% range — because they are not providing the driver. Still significant, but the dynamic changes.
Uber Eats delivery fulfilment: Using Uber's driver network typically puts you at 30% or above. Some partners in competitive urban markets report rates at the top of that band.
Ads and promotions: Uber Eats has an active advertising product. Participation is optional but the platform's algorithm rewards restaurants that invest in visibility. It is easy for promotional spend to quietly lift your effective rate.
All the Fees in One Table
Here is a summary of what the platforms charge, based on publicly reported rates and industry benchmarks for 2026. These are ranges, not guarantees — your actual contract may differ.
| Platform | Collection commission | Delivery commission | Self-delivery option | Promoted listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just Eat | 14% | ~20–30%+ | Yes (own drivers, lower rate) | Yes (+3–8%) |
| Deliveroo | N/A (rare) | ~25–35% | Limited | Yes |
| Uber Eats | N/A | ~30%+ | Yes (~15–20%) | Yes |
All platforms also pass card processing fees (typically 1.5–2.5%) to the restaurant or deduct them from settlement. Check your individual contract for the exact card fee structure.
What Does a Real £30 Order Actually Cost You?
Let's use a concrete example. A customer places a £30 collection order.
| Route | Commission | Card fee (est.) | Total deducted | You receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just Eat collection | £4.20 (14%) | Varies by contract | ~£4.20+ | ~£25.80 or less |
| Your own website (Takely Ordering, 4%) | £1.20 (4%) | ~£0.71 (~2.4%) | ~£1.91 | ~£28.09 |
On a single £30 collection order, the difference between the 14% Just Eat collection route and a 4% flat-rate direct channel is roughly £2.29 in your pocket. That compounds fast. A shop doing 50 collection orders a week at £30 average would keep around £5,950 more per year on those orders alone.
For delivery orders at 30–35%, the gap is even wider — but you need to weigh that against the customer acquisition value the platform provides, which is real and not nothing.
Takely Ordering — our own collection ordering product — operates at 4% flat plus card fees. It's currently on the waitlist. Join the waitlist if you want to be first in line when it opens.
What You Get for the Commission (And It Is Fair — Up to a Point)
It's easy to resent the platforms. Harder to be honest about what they provide.
- A huge, ready-built customer base you didn't have to find yourself
- Payment processing, fraud protection, and dispute handling
- Driver fulfilment on delivery orders (no managing a fleet)
- Discovery for new customers who have never heard of your shop
- Customer service for order problems — you're not taking every complaint call
For a brand-new shop with no existing customer base, paying 14–30% to acquire new customers is arguably reasonable. The unit economics aren't outrageous compared with, say, paid social advertising where a cost-per-acquisition of £5–15 per new customer is common.
The problem is when the platform becomes your only channel. You're paying acquisition rates forever, on customers who have ordered from you dozens of times and already know your name. That's the point at which the commission stops making sense.
Read more about moving your regulars to direct collection orders — that's where the real margin recovery happens.
When the Commission Stops Making Sense
There is no one-size answer. But here are the signals that the balance has tipped.
- You recognise most of your app customer names — they are regulars, not new discoveries
- Your average order value is high (£35+), making the percentage hit feel especially painful
- You are in a collection-heavy trade (kebab shops, fish and chip shops, Chinese takeaways) where the platform's delivery driver adds no value
- You have a local following — social media, word of mouth, a local Facebook group — and your app orders are largely people who already know you
- You've done the maths and the platform's contribution to profit is negative after food cost, labour, and commission
None of this means leaving the apps entirely. It means being strategic: use the platforms for new customer discovery, convert those customers to direct ordering over time. That's a real strategy, not a fantasy. We explain it in more detail on do takeaways need a website.
What About Your Customer Data?
This one often gets missed in the commission conversation. When a customer orders through Just Eat, Deliveroo, or Uber Eats, that customer's contact details, order history, and spending patterns belong to the platform — not to you.
You cannot email them, text them, or retarget them. If the platform changes its algorithm, drops your ranking, or removes your listing, you have no way to reach those customers directly. You are renting their attention at 14–35% per order.
When customers order through your own website, you own that data (subject to your privacy policy). That changes the long-term economics entirely. Learn more about who owns your customer data.
If you're wondering whether a website actually helps with this — and with being found on Google — Takely's Growth package at £999 + £79/month includes locally-targeted landing pages, Google Business Profile integration, and analytics so you can see exactly where orders are coming from.
Frequently asked questions
What is Just Eat's commission rate in the UK in 2026?
Just Eat charges 14% commission on collection orders. For delivery orders using Just Eat's own driver network, the commission is higher — typically in the 20–30%+ range depending on your arrangement. Promoted placement listings add a further percentage on top of the base rate. Card fees are additional and vary by contract.
How much does Deliveroo charge restaurants in commission?
Deliveroo's UK commission rates are not publicly fixed. Based on widely-reported partner contracts and industry data, most restaurants pay between 25% and 35% on delivery orders. The exact figure depends on your location, order volume, and what you negotiated when you signed up. Deliveroo does not currently offer a meaningful collection-only product in the UK.
Is Uber Eats cheaper than Just Eat for restaurants?
Not usually. Uber Eats' standard delivery commission is around 30% or above in the UK. If you self-deliver using your own drivers, Uber Eats charges a lower rate — broadly 15–20% — but you carry the delivery cost yourself. For collection orders, Just Eat's 14% collection rate is generally the most competitive marketplace option available.
Can I negotiate my commission rate with the delivery apps?
Yes, particularly with Deliveroo and Uber Eats. High-volume restaurants with a strong track record have more leverage. Just Eat's collection rate of 14% appears more standardised in most contracts. Any negotiation is easier when you have your own direct ordering channel already running — it demonstrates that you are not entirely dependent on the platform.
What is the cheapest way to take collection orders as a takeaway?
Building direct orders through your own website is the lowest-cost route over time. Takely Ordering — currently on the waitlist — charges 4% flat plus card fees on collection orders, compared with 14% on Just Eat. On a £30 collection order that's roughly £1.91 all-in versus £4.20+. The saving compounds significantly across hundreds of orders a month.
Do the delivery apps charge any fees beyond the headline commission?
Yes. Depending on your platform and contract: card processing fees (typically 1.5–2.5%), promoted placement levies (3–8% additional when a boosted listing converts), optional advertising spend, tablet rental on some Just Eat arrangements, and occasionally onboarding or photography fees. Always read the full contract, not just the headline commission rate, to understand your true effective rate.
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