Restaurant Online Ordering vs GrabFood and foodpanda in Singapore

What delivery apps cost a restaurant in Singapore

GrabFood is the only major app that publishes its rate. Its Singapore merchant page says there is a service fee of 30% on all GrabFood and GrabMart orders, charged on both delivery and Self Pick-Up orders, and subject to GST. It also mentions a one-time activation fee that is offset against your future earnings rather than paid at sign-up.

foodpanda does not publish a standard commission for Singapore. Your rate is set in your merchant contract, so compare it line by line with Grab's before you sign.

The market has also narrowed. In an April 2026 parliamentary reply, the Minister for Trade and Industry noted Deliveroo's exit in March 2026 and said the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore had not observed any systematic shifts in commissions or fees so far.

The maths: a S$30 order through each channel

Here is what you keep from a S$30 order, before food, packaging and staff costs. Fees are from each provider's Singapore page, approximate, as of October 2026.

The gap is biggest on pick-up orders. Grab charges its 30% fee on Self Pick-Up orders too, so a regular who orders through Grab and collects at your counter costs you about S$9.81 on a S$30 order. The same order through your own page costs under S$1.

Our PayNow on your website guide explains the gateway options, and HitPay vs Stripe compares their fees in detail.

What delivery apps still do better

Your own page wins on cost per order and customer data, but it does not bring new customers by itself. You have to send people to it, through your Google listing, receipts, QR codes on tables and packaging, and WhatsApp or social media.

What an own online ordering set-up needs

Shopify with a pick-up or local delivery set-up works well for menus that do not change daily, and our Shopify store cost guide shows the monthly costs. If you also need table bookings, online booking systems covers the options.

The hybrid approach most restaurants use

Few small F&B outlets drop the delivery apps completely. A practical split looks like this:

1. 1

   Stay on GrabFood or foodpanda for discovery

   Treat the commission as a marketing cost for reaching customers who have never heard of you.

2. 2

   Move regulars and pick-up orders to your own page

   Put a QR code and short note in every delivery bag and on the counter: order direct for pick-up.

3. 3

   Use your own page for large and corporate orders

   Office lunches and party trays are where a 30% fee hurts most. Offer a direct ordering link and PayNow invoices.

4. 4

   Keep menus and prices in step

   Some restaurants price slightly higher on delivery apps to cover commission. Check your app contract for any price-parity terms first.

5. 5

   Track the split every month

   Compare orders and net takings per channel so you can see whether direct ordering is growing.

Licences and food safety

Selling online does not change your licence needs. The Singapore Food Agency says restaurants, caterers and takeaway kiosks need a food shop licence before they start, and a business that handles, cooks or processes food at a physical shop must have one even if it sells online.

If you deliver yourself, SFA points food delivery providers to Singapore Standard SS 672:2021, guidelines on delivering ready-to-eat food. It is voluntary but covers packaging, separation from raw food and keeping food at safe temperatures. See SFA's requirements for food delivery businesses.

Do it yourself or get help?

A simple PayNow ordering page for pick-up can be set up by an owner in a weekend using Shopify or a payment gateway's online store. The work that takes longer is the menu with modifiers, kitchen alerts, delivery zones and making sure orders cannot be missed at the pass.

Shopify Store (S$1,890) builds an ordering site with your menu, pick-up and delivery options and PayNow checkout. Online Payment Setup (S$290) adds PayNow and card payments to an existing website. If you need a full restaurant website with menus, bookings and an ordering link, see Business Website (S$1,490).