Amazon Prime has officially transitioned its food delivery perk from a temporary trial to a permanent, ongoing benefit. As of May 2024, every active Amazon Prime member in the United States is entitled to a free Grubhub+ membership, which carries a standalone value of $120 per year. This integration allows users to enjoy a seamless food ordering experience directly through the Amazon Shopping app or on Amazon.com, eliminating the need to toggle between multiple applications while securing significant savings on every meal.

The partnership represents a significant shift in the value proposition of the Prime membership, moving beyond fast shipping and video streaming into the essential daily service of food delivery. For many households, the savings generated by this single perk can effectively offset the entire annual cost of an Amazon Prime subscription.

Understanding the Grubhub Plus Benefit for Amazon Prime Members

Grubhub+ is the premium tier of the Grubhub food delivery service. Normally, this subscription costs $9.99 per month, but Prime members receive it as part of their existing membership at no additional charge. The core value of this benefit is built on four primary pillars that target different aspects of the delivery and pickup experience.

Unlimited Zero Dollar Delivery Fees

The most visible benefit of Grubhub+ is the elimination of delivery fees on eligible orders. To qualify, an order must meet a minimum subtotal of $12 (before tax, tip, and other fees). For a standard user, delivery fees often range from $2.99 to $7.99 depending on the distance from the restaurant and the current demand. By removing this cost, a Prime member who orders takeout just twice a month can save over $100 annually in delivery fees alone.

Lower Service Fees for Prime Members

Beyond the headline "free delivery" perk, Grubhub+ also reduces the service fees associated with each order. While delivery fees go to the logistics of getting the food to your door, service fees help cover the operational costs of the platform. Prime members receive a reduced rate on these fees, which can shave an additional $1 to $3 off the total price of a dinner order. Over the course of a year, these small increments contribute significantly to the total savings reported by heavy users of the platform.

Five Percent Credit Back on Pickup Orders

Not every meal needs to be delivered. For those who prefer to swing by a restaurant on their way home, the Grubhub+ benefit offers a 5% credit back on all eligible pickup orders. This credit is deposited into the user's Grubhub account and can be applied toward future delivery or pickup orders. This essentially functions as a continuous 5% discount on the menu price for users who handle their own transportation, adding a layer of value that isn't typically found in delivery-focused subscriptions.

Exclusive Offers and Seasonal Promotions

Grubhub and Amazon frequently collaborate on exclusive merchant deals. These might include "Buy One Get One" offers from national chains or deep discounts on local favorites. Additionally, Prime members often receive early access to promotional codes during major shopping events like Prime Day. For instance, recent promotions have included $5 or $10 off orders exceeding a certain threshold, providing immediate cash savings on top of the waived delivery fees.

Step by Step Guide to Linking Your Accounts

The free Grubhub+ benefit does not activate automatically when you sign up for Amazon Prime; it requires a one-time manual linking process to connect your Amazon credentials with a Grubhub account.

  1. Visit the Activation Portal: Navigate to the official Amazon Grubhub landing page. This page serves as the gateway for verifying your Prime status and initiating the link.
  2. Sign In to Amazon: You will be prompted to log into your Amazon account. This allows the system to verify that you have an active Prime membership (including Prime Student or Prime Access accounts).
  3. Create or Link a Grubhub Account: If you already have a Grubhub account, you can sign in to link your Prime benefits to your existing profile. If you are new to Grubhub, you will be prompted to create a new account.
  4. Confirm the Agreement: You will see a screen outlining the terms of the Grubhub+ ongoing offer. One of the most important aspects here is that the membership will not automatically renew into a paid subscription if your Prime membership ends; it simply remains active as long as you are a Prime member.
  5. Start Ordering: Once the "Success" message appears, your Grubhub+ status is active. You can immediately begin browsing restaurants on the Grubhub app, the website, or directly through the Amazon interface.

The Evolution From Trial Period to Permanent Perk

It is important to clarify a common point of confusion among long-term Prime members. In 2022, Amazon initially introduced Grubhub+ as a one-year trial. Many users who signed up during that period were under the impression that the benefit would expire or convert to a paid subscription after 12 months.

However, in May 2024, Amazon and Grubhub’s parent company, Just Eat Takeaway.com, amended their agreement to make this a permanent, ongoing offer. If you previously activated the one-year trial, you may need to visit the activation page again to "refresh" the link and transition to the ongoing version of the benefit. For new members, there is no expiration date attached to the Grubhub+ access as long as the Prime membership remains in good standing.

This strategic pivot was driven by the high retention rates observed during the trial phase. Data indicated that Prime members who used the Grubhub benefit were more likely to find value in the overall Prime ecosystem, leading Amazon to solidify the partnership as a core pillar of the membership alongside Prime Video and Prime Music.

How to Order Food Directly Within the Amazon Shopping App

One of the most convenient features of this partnership is the technical integration within the Amazon Shopping app. You no longer need to have the Grubhub app installed on your phone to enjoy the benefits.

When you open the Amazon Shopping app, you can simply type "Grubhub" into the main search bar. This opens a dedicated portal within the Amazon environment where you can browse local restaurants, view menus, and track deliveries. The interface is designed to be identical to the native Grubhub experience, ensuring that pricing, restaurant availability, and delivery times are consistent across both platforms.

The checkout process uses your stored Amazon payment methods and delivery addresses, making the transaction incredibly fast. Furthermore, your delivery history and status updates are visible within the Amazon app, providing a centralized hub for all your shopping and dining needs. This integration is particularly useful for users who are conscious of phone storage space or who prefer to manage all their digital subscriptions and orders in a single location.

Real World Savings and Financial Value of the Partnership

When evaluating whether an Amazon Prime membership is "worth it," the Grubhub+ benefit provides a clear mathematical advantage. A standalone Grubhub+ subscription costs $119.88 per year. Since this is now included for free, it effectively covers nearly 86% of the $139 annual Prime membership fee.

For the average American consumer, the savings go even deeper. Internal data from the partnership indicates that Prime members who place at least one order per month save an average of $300 per year through a combination of waived delivery fees and exclusive promotions.

In suburban areas, where delivery distances are often longer and fees are higher, the value is even more pronounced. Over 60% of the orders placed through this partnership come from suburban households, debunking the myth that food delivery benefits are only valuable for residents of dense urban centers like New York or Chicago. For a suburban family ordering dinner once a week, the annual savings can exceed $500, making the Amazon Prime membership one of the most cost-effective "life hacks" for modern budgeting.

Eligibility Requirements and Service Restrictions

While the benefit is expansive, there are specific criteria that users must meet to utilize the Grubhub+ perks.

Prime Membership Status

The offer is available to all paid Amazon Prime members, including those on a 30-day free trial. It is also available to Prime Student members and those enrolled in Prime Access (the discounted tier for qualifying government assistance recipients). If you cancel your Prime membership, your Grubhub+ status will revert to a basic, non-paid account at the end of your billing cycle.

Geographic Availability

This specific partnership is currently limited to the United States. Grubhub operates in more than 4,000 U.S. cities and partners with over 365,000 restaurants. While coverage is nearly universal in metropolitan and suburban regions, users in extremely rural areas should check restaurant availability on the Grubhub map before relying on the benefit.

Order Minimums

As mentioned previously, the $0 delivery fee only applies to orders with a subtotal of $12 or more. It is also important to note that while the delivery fee is waived, "service fees" and "small order fees" (for orders under $12) still apply. Furthermore, the benefit does not cover the driver's tip, which remains the responsibility of the customer.

Comparison With DoorDash DashPass and Uber One

The food delivery subscription market is highly competitive, with DoorDash and Uber offering their own versions of premium memberships.

  • DoorDash DashPass: Typically costs $9.99/month. It offers $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 and reduced service fees. It is often bundled as a limited-time perk with certain high-end credit cards (like Chase Sapphire).
  • Uber One: Also $9.99/month. It covers both Uber Eats and Uber rides, offering 5% to 10% off eligible orders and rides.

The primary advantage of the Amazon-Grubhub partnership is that it is bundled with a service that most households already pay for. While a user might hesitate to pay an extra $10 a month for DashPass, they are likely already paying for Prime for the shipping benefits. By including Grubhub+, Amazon has created a "default" choice for millions of consumers, making it the most accessible delivery subscription in the country.

The Strategic Reason Behind the Amazon and Grubhub Partnership

For Amazon, the motivation is simple: "stickiness." The more services a customer uses within the Prime ecosystem, the less likely they are to cancel their membership. By adding food delivery, Amazon becomes an integral part of the customer's daily routine, moving from a weekly package delivery to a daily dinner solution.

For Grubhub, the partnership provides an massive influx of new users and a way to compete with market leaders like DoorDash. By tapping into Amazon’s vast customer base, Grubhub can increase order volume for its restaurant partners, which in turn attracts more restaurants to the platform, creating a virtuous cycle of growth. The 2024 agreement even included provisions for Amazon to take an equity stake in Grubhub, signaling that this is a long-term strategic alliance rather than a simple marketing promotion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Amazon Prime and Grubhub

Do I need to enter a credit card on Grubhub?

If you link your accounts, Grubhub will use your Amazon payment methods if you order through the Amazon app. If you use the native Grubhub app, you may need to specify a payment method, but you will not be charged for the subscription itself.

What happens if I already pay for Grubhub Plus?

If you are currently a paying subscriber to Grubhub+, you can still link your Prime account. Once the accounts are linked, your paid subscription will be converted to the Prime-sponsored version, and you will no longer be billed the monthly $9.99 fee.

Does the 5% pickup credit expire?

Yes, Grubhub+ credits typically have an expiration date, often 90 days from the date they were earned. It is best to check your account balance regularly to ensure you are utilizing these credits on future meals.

Can I use this for business orders?

The benefit is tied to your personal Prime account. While you can use it to order food to any address (including an office), it is governed by the standard terms and conditions of a consumer account.

Summary

The partnership between Amazon Prime and Grubhub+ has evolved into one of the most valuable benefits in the modern subscription economy. By offering a permanent $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12, Amazon has effectively integrated professional food delivery into its "everything store" model. To maximize this value, members should ensure their accounts are properly linked via the activation portal and explore the seamless ordering experience within the Amazon Shopping app. With an average annual savings of $300, this perk is no longer just a "nice-to-have" trial—it is a significant financial benefit that redefines the value of a Prime membership.