Methodology
In order to identify the best credit cards for food delivery and takeout, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare more than 1,500 credit card offers based on their rewards, initial bonuses, fees and other WalletHub Rating components. To be considered, a card must give extra rewards or perks on food delivery or takeout, relative to the card’s base earn rate.When comparing cards, we focus on the net rewards value the average person would earn on takeout and delivery purchases over the course of two years, after annual fees. This is calculated in terms of two-year cost, with negative amounts indicating savings.
WalletHub's Key Rating Components
Two-Year Cost: 38% – We calculate the average cardholder’s net cost over two years by factoring in annual fees and subtracting the value of rewards earned on food delivery purchases, other dining, and everyday spending. This helps determine whether the card’s rewards and perks outweigh its costs for frequent delivery users.
Rewards: 29% – We evaluate how rewards are earned and redeemed, with a focus on bonus rates for food delivery services (such as DoorDash and Uber Eats), purchases from restaurants, and related expenses. We also consider redemption flexibility and estimate the total value for the average cardholder.
Editor’s Rating: 12% – Our editors assess each card’s overall value for different types of users, focusing on its rewards potential and how it compares to other offers on the market.
Fees: 11% – We review all fees associated with each card, including annual fees, foreign transaction fees, and other charges that could reduce the card’s overall value.
User Reviews: 7% – We consider feedback from cardholders to gauge the overall user experience.
Other Features: 3% – We factor in additional benefits such as statement credits for food delivery services, complimentary delivery memberships, dining/delivery perks, special discounts, and other perks that add value for people who frequently get food delivered.
How Two-Year Cost Is CalculatedTwo-year cost is used to approximate the monetary value of cards for better comparison and is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.
Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using a non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example, if Card A offers credits with DoorDash, this feature would not be factored into calculations because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would use the benefit or exactly how much value they'd get from it).
Cardholder Spending Profiles
Given that different users have different goals and are likely to use their credit cards differently, we identified spending profiles that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. For each cardholder type, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g., groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for consumers and PEX data for businesses.
