Takeaway apps are expensive. £15 meal + £3 delivery + £2 service fee + £3 tip = £23. Here's how to not get rinsed every time you order.
The Membership Math
Deliveroo Plus (£3.49/month or £34.99/year)
What you get: Free delivery on orders over £25, exclusive discounts.
Is it worth it? If you order 3+ times a month, yes. Delivery normally costs £2.99-£4.99 per order.
The trial hack: First month is usually £0.99. Use it for a month, cancel before renewal.
Just Eat Plus (£4.99/month)
What you get: Free delivery on orders over £15.
Is it worth it? Only if you order from Just Eat more than Deliveroo. Their restaurant selection is smaller.
Uber Eats Pass (£5.99/month)
What you get: Free delivery + 5% off orders over £15.
Is it worth it? Best value of the three if you're already using Uber for rides (it includes ride discounts too).
First-Order Codes (Create New Accounts)
All three apps give massive first-order discounts: £10-15 off, free delivery, etc.
The hack: Use different email addresses. Gmail trick: [email protected], [email protected].
You'll need different payment details too (use a different card or PayPal).
Referral Codes Stack
Ask a friend for their referral code. You both get £5-10 off. Some people create multiple accounts and refer themselves (cheeky but works).
Discount Codes: Where to Find Them
Apps send promo codes via email and push notifications. Enable notifications - they send flash codes that expire in hours.
Where we list them: Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats pages on CodeLand.
Order Direct from the Restaurant (Skip the App)
Apps charge restaurants 25-35% commission. Many restaurants list their own delivery on their website or via phone orders. Prices are 10-20% cheaper.
How to find direct numbers:
- Google "[restaurant name] delivery"
- Check their website or Facebook page
- Call and ask if they do direct delivery
Bonus: Some offer "10% off if you order direct" to avoid app fees.
Collection = Cheaper (Always)
Pick up your order yourself = no delivery fee, no service charge. Orders are 20-30% cheaper.
If you live near the restaurant or can walk there, it's a no-brainer.
Timing: When to Order for Best Deals
- Lunchtime (12-2pm): Lunch deals, cheaper prices, faster delivery
- Late night (after 10pm): Some apps send "order now for 20% off" to fill slow periods
- Weekday evenings: Fewer orders = more promo codes to drive demand
Avoid: Friday/Saturday 6-8pm (peak prices, surge fees, slow delivery).
Avoid "Service Fees" and "Small Order Fees"
Apps add sneaky fees:
- Service fee: £1-2 on top of delivery (sometimes waived with Plus/Pass)
- Small order fee: £2 if you order under £10-15
Hack: Pad your order to the minimum threshold. £13 order + £2 fee = £15. Add a £2 drink, no fee, same total.
Split Orders with Flatmates (Hit Free Delivery Threshold)
Most apps have free delivery thresholds (£15-25). Order together, split the cost, skip the fee.
Too Good To Go (Cheap Surplus Food)
Too Good To Go isn't a delivery app, but it's perfect for cheap takeaway. Restaurants sell surplus food at 50-70% off.
How it works:
- Check the app around 5-7pm
- Reserve a "Magic Bag" (£3-5)
- Pick it up before closing
- Get £10-15 worth of food
It's random (you don't choose what you get), but it's cheap and reduces waste.
Loyalty Programs (Collect Points)
Just Eat: Earn stamps for every order. 5 stamps = £5 off.
Deliveroo: No loyalty program (annoying).
Uber Eats: Uber Rewards - earn points on rides and food, redeem for discounts.
Student Discounts
Deliveroo and Uber Eats offer student discounts via Student Beans or UNiDAYS:
- Deliveroo: Free Deliveroo Plus for students
- Uber Eats: 15% off orders
Just Eat doesn't have a student discount (yet).
The Dark Side: How Apps Inflate Prices
Many restaurants charge 10-20% more on apps vs in-store. A £8 burger in the restaurant is £10 on Deliveroo.
Add delivery + service fee + tip, and you're paying 40-50% more than eating in or collecting.
Solution: Use apps for convenience, not every meal. Order direct or collect when you can.
Tipping: Do You Have To?
Tipping is optional. Drivers get paid by the app (£4-7 per delivery). Tips go directly to them.
When to tip:
- Bad weather (rain, snow)
- Difficult delivery (top floor flat, no lift)
- Driver went above and beyond
When you don't have to: Standard delivery, no issues.
£1-2 is appreciated. You're not expected to tip 20% like in the US.
CodeLand Food Delivery Tracker
We track live promo codes for Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats. When they send flash codes, we post them immediately.