Advertiser disclosure

7+ DoorDash hacks that will save you money

Get free delivery, discounts, and promo codes on your next DoorDash order by following these simple hacks!

DoorDash is one of the best food delivery apps out there, and for good reason! Not only is it convenient, but it can also be pretty affordable.

But did you know that there are a few hacks that can help you save even more money on your next DoorDash order? Here are more than seven!

Happy eating!

Hack #1: Sign up for a DashPass free trial

DashPass is a paid membership that offers the following benefits:

  • No delivery fees on qualifying orders (usually with a minimum of $12)
  • Exclusive offers and discounts
  • Reduced service fees
  • 5% DoorDash credits on Pickup orders
  • And more

DashPass screenshot sign up

According to the DoorDash website, it only takes two orders for this membership to pay for itself in savings.

Normally, DashPass costs $9.99 a month or $96 a year while a basic DoorDash membership is free. But if you order delivery often, the amount you could save in service and delivery fees could far surpass the cost and be more than worth it.

And DoorDash offers a free trial of this service. Anyone who’s never signed up for DashPass before can qualify for a 30-day free trial. If you don’t want to be charged after this, remember to cancel your subscription so it doesn’t auto-renew.

Hack #2: Refer friends

DoorDash is almost always offering referral promotions for people who get their friends to sign up. For example, you might earn $20 in credits for each friend who uses your unique referral link to set up an account and place an order. And when you refer someone, they’ll get credits too.

Share your unique referral link — found in the account tab of the app — with anyone you think might be interested.

Hack #3: Use promo codes

DoorDash restaurants love sneaking in discounts and promotions to encourage more people to order from them. These can lead to serious savings, even as much as 60% or 70% off your entire order! A promo code might be for ordering a certain item, celebrating a particular holiday or event, placing an order above a given amount, or something else.

You can click the “Offers” tab in the app to quickly browse available discounts and check out the carousel of deals just below that for some of the best promotions. DoorDash will curate offers for you based on your ordering history and tell you exactly what code to use and what food you need to order to qualify.

And when you go to check out, click the “Add a promotion” tab to see available promos you might have missed.

Hack #4: Branch out

If you always order from the same three stores or restaurants, you’ll miss out on first-time customer savings from restaurants you’ve never tried! Many places create sales exclusively for new customers to give them a reason to try their food. Try as many places as possible to hack DoorDash and take advantage of discounts.

Hack #5: Place group orders

Group order of takeout food with many different meals in styrofoam containers

Ordering takeout for just yourself is the most expensive way to get food delivered. If you know you want to DoorDash something and you’re already with a group of friends or coworkers, wrangle up some other hungry people to split the cost with. This will help you save on service fees, delivery, and the tip. It’s usually pretty easy to convince people to get food delivered! Bonus: you can sample some of what other people ordered.

Hack #6: Use cash back portals

If you want to save even more money on DoorDash, you should definitely consider using cash back portals. There are a few different portals out there, but my personal favorite is Rakuten.

With Rakuten, you can earn cash back on your DoorDash orders or even find exclusive coupons and promo codes.

Hack #7: Pay with a rewards credit card.

If you have a rewards credit card, you can use it to pay for your DoorDash orders and earn points or cash back on your purchase. Just be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.

Certain cards even offer unique DoorDash benefits like extra cash back or savings on DashPass.

More DoorDash hacks

Looking to add a little extra savings to your DoorDash account?

Check out these other DoorDash hacks for more ways to save with each order!

1. Check for promo codes before ordering

If you’re not picky about what you want to eat, choose based on which restaurants have the best deals available and pick your meals according to what the promo codes require.

2. Sign up for DashPass when it’s discounted

DoorDash sometimes offers a reduced price for its DashPass subscription. For example, an annual subscription might be 40% off at the end of the calendar year when delivery orders are popular.

3. Pick some orders up

If you’re close enough to a restaurant that you don’t mind running in to pick up your food yourself, use DoorDash for convenient ordering and choose “Pick Up” instead of “Delivery” so you don’t have to pay delivery fees or tip anybody.

By following these DoorDash hacks, you can save even more money on your next order!

FAQs about DoorDash hacks

What’s the trick to DoorDash?

The “trick” to DoorDash may vary depending on the person’s individual goals and preferences.

However, some general tips for DoorDash hacks include maximizing your earnings by placing as many orders as possible, taking advantage of DoorDash’s referral program to earn bonus credits, and using a GPS app to track your delivery route and find the most efficient way to complete each order.

How do you get free food from DoorDash?

There are a few ways to get free food from DoorDash. One way is to sign up for an account and use a promo code.

Another way is to find a restaurant that is offering a free food promotion and order through DoorDash.

How do you request a high-paying order on DoorDash?

There is no single definitive answer to this question. Some possible methods include requesting an order from a restaurant that typically has high prices, or asking for an order that includes multiple items.

Final thoughts

By following these simple hacks, you can save money on your next DoorDash order!

So why not give them a try and see how much you can save?

About the author

Chris Muller

Chris Muller

Chris has an MBA with a focus in advanced investments and has been writing about all things personal finance since 2015. He’s also built and run a digital marketing agency, focusing on content marketing, copywriting, and SEO, since 2016.

Your money deserves more than a soundbyte.

Get straightforward advice on managing money well.

Most financial content is either an echo chamber for the "Already Rich" or a torrent of dubious advice designed only to profit its creators. For nearly 20 years, we've been on a mission to help our readers acheive their financial goals with no judgement, no jargon, and no get-rich-quick BS. Join us today.

Aweber pixel