# How Much Do Delivery Apps Really Charge Restaurants in 2026? | DinePlatform AI > A clear breakdown of delivery marketplace commissions, hidden fees and what they actually cost your restaurant — plus how to reduce them. Canonical: https://www.dineplatform.com/blog/how-much-do-delivery-apps-charge/ --- [All articles](/blog/) Profitability # How Much Do Delivery Apps Really Charge Restaurants in 2026? 6 min read · DinePlatform Team "What does the delivery app actually take?" is one of the most common questions restaurant owners ask — and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. The headline commission is only part of the picture. Here's what the major marketplaces really cost in 2026, and what you can do about it. ## The headline commission Most third-party delivery marketplaces charge a commission per order, typically in the range of **20% to 35%**. The exact figure depends on the tier you're on and whether the platform also provides the delivery driver. "Marketplace plus delivery" packages sit at the top of that range; "self-delivery" or "lite" tiers are lower but still significant. ## The fees beneath the headline Commission is just the start. Depending on the platform, you may also face: - **Payment processing fees** layered on top of commission. - **Marketing or "sponsored listing" fees** to appear higher in search within the app. - **Onboarding or tablet rental fees** in some cases. - **Refund and chargeback costs** that often fall on the restaurant. Stack these together and the effective cost of a marketplace order can climb well beyond the headline percentage. ## What that means in real money Consider a restaurant doing £6,000 a month in marketplace orders at a 28% blended rate. That's **£1,680 every month**, or just over £20,000 a year, before any sponsored-listing spend. For most independents, that figure rivals or exceeds their annual net profit. > The question isn't whether you can afford to leave the marketplace. It's whether you can afford to rely on it. ## How to bring the cost down You don't have to abandon marketplaces overnight — they do provide discovery. The winning strategy is to treat them as a top-of-funnel channel while steadily moving repeat customers to your own direct ordering, where you keep the full margin. With a direct ordering platform like DinePlatform, your cost structure is transparent: a flat monthly fee with zero commission on the Pro plan, or a simple 10% on the Free plan that you can pass to the customer. Compared to 28%-plus on a marketplace, the difference goes straight to your bottom line. ## The bottom line Marketplace pricing is deliberately complex, but the takeaway is simple: you're likely paying far more than the headline rate suggests. Knowing the true number is the first step. Building a direct channel to reduce your reliance on it is the second. ### Take orders directly — keep more of every sale Build your own branded ordering app with AI in minutes. Start free, or go commission-free with the Pro plan. [Start free →](https://app.dineplatform.com)