You’re hungry. You open an app. You see a $15 burrito, but by the time you hit the checkout screen, that burrito costs $28. It’s soul-crushing. Between the "service fee," the delivery fee, and the small order surcharge, the math just stops making sense. But if you’re one of the millions of people already paying for an Amazon Prime subscription, you’re basically leaving money on the table if you aren't using the free Grubhub Amazon Prime benefit.
Seriously.
This isn't just a limited-time coupon or a "first order only" trick. Amazon and Grubhub inked a deal that fundamentally changed how Prime members eat. Originally, it was a one-year trial. People liked it. Then, in mid-2024, they made it a permanent fixture of the Prime membership. If you have Prime, you have Grubhub+. It’s that simple, yet a surprising number of people still haven't toggled the switch to turn it on.
What is this Free Grubhub Amazon Prime Perk Anyway?
Let’s be real: "Free" usually comes with a massive asterisk. In this case, the asterisk is actually pretty small. Grubhub+ is a monthly subscription service that usually costs $9.99. It gives you $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 from eligible restaurants. When Amazon integrated this into Prime, they effectively added $120 of annual value to your Prime sub without raising the price of Prime itself.
It's a strategic move. Amazon wants to be your everything-store, and Grubhub desperately needs to compete with the sheer market dominance of DoorDash and Uber Eats. By hooking into the Prime ecosystem, Grubhub gets access to over 180 million U.S. members. You get to stop paying $5.99 just to have a bag of Thai food driven three miles to your house.
The math works out fast. If you order takeout just twice a month, you've saved more than the cost of a couple of fancy lattes.
Why Amazon is Doubling Down on Food
Amazon’s history with food is... messy. Remember Amazon Restaurants? Probably not. It folded in 2019 because they couldn't figure out the logistics. Instead of building their own fleet again, they just bought a stake in Grubhub's parent company, Just Eat Takeaway.com. This gives them the infrastructure without the headache of managing millions of individual delivery drivers directly.
How to Actually Activate Your Benefit
Don't expect it to just work automatically because you used the same email address for both. You have to "handshake" the accounts.
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First, go to the Amazon website or app and search for "Grubhub." You'll see a landing page that looks very "Amazon-y." Click the "Activate" button. It will ask you to sign into your Grubhub account or create a new one. Once you link them, the $9.99 monthly charge for Grubhub+ vanishes.
Pro tip: You don't even need the Grubhub app anymore if your phone is cluttered. You can actually order Grubhub directly through the Amazon app and website now. It’s a bit weird at first—seeing "Taco Bell" next to "AA Batteries"—but it works perfectly.
The Fine Print (The Parts People Miss)
Is it truly "free"? Yes, the subscription is. But you still pay the service fees.
People get mad about this. They see "zero delivery fee" and assume the total will match the menu price. It won't. Grubhub still charges a service fee to keep their app running, and you absolutely should still tip your driver. If you don't tip, your food will likely sit on a counter getting cold because drivers see the low payout and skip the job.
Also, the $12 minimum is a hard line. If your subtotal is $11.98, the delivery fee kicks back in. Throw in a side of ranch or a soda. It's cheaper to spend $1 more on food than $5.99 on delivery.
Why This Matters for Your Budget in 2026
Inflation has been a beast. We’ve all seen it. The "convenience economy" took a hit because people realized they couldn't justify $30 for a single meal. By leveraging free Grubhub Amazon Prime, you’re essentially clawing back some of that discretionary income.
Think about the perks:
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- Lower Fees: Obviously.
- Lower Menu Prices (Sometimes): Grubhub+ members sometimes get "member-only" pricing or 5% back on pickup orders.
- Better Support: Plus members usually get priority when a driver goes rogue or an order is wrong.
Honestly, the 5% credit on pickup orders is the sleeper hit here. If you’re already driving past the pizza place on your way home, order it via the app through your Prime-linked account. You pay the store price, pay $0 in fees, and get a small credit back for your next meal.
The Competitive Landscape: Prime vs. The World
DoorDash has DashPass. Uber Eats has Uber One. Both cost about $10 a month.
If you're paying for Chase Sapphire or certain American Express cards, you might already have those for free too. But for the average person who doesn't want to manage five different credit cards, the Amazon-Grubhub marriage is the easiest win.
What’s interesting is how Grubhub has stayed relevant. They were the first big player, then they got sleepy and let DoorDash take the lead. Now, with Amazon's marketing muscle behind them, they’re the "value" choice. They aren't always the fastest, and their app isn't always the prettiest, but if the goal is "food at my door for the lowest possible price," this combo wins.
A Few Real-World Examples
I talked to a guy in Chicago who uses this for his office lunches. He was spending $60 a month on delivery fees alone. By switching his primary ordering to his Prime-linked Grubhub account, he basically gave himself a $700 annual raise.
Or consider a busy parent. It’s 6:00 PM on a Tuesday. The fridge is empty. The kids are screaming. The "delivery fee" is often the psychological barrier that prevents you from just ordering the damn pizza and saving your sanity. When that fee is zero, the friction disappears.
Common Troubleshooting and Issues
Sometimes the link breaks. It’s annoying.
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If you see a charge on your credit card for Grubhub+ after you linked it, it usually means your Amazon Prime membership lapsed or your payment method on Amazon failed. Double-check your "Memberships and Subscriptions" tab in your Amazon account settings.
Also, if you share an Amazon Prime account via "Amazon Household," the Grubhub benefit doesn't always automatically transfer to the second adult. You might need to sign in with the primary account holder's credentials to get the link to stick.
What to Do Right Now
Don't wait until you're starving to set this up. Do it now.
- Open your Amazon app.
- Search for "Grubhub Prime."
- Hit "Activate."
- Link your accounts.
- Check your "Rewards" tab in the Grubhub app—they often throw in a $5 or $10 "welcome back" credit for Prime members that expires quickly.
Once you’re set up, start comparing. Next time you want food, check the price on DoorDash versus your Prime-enabled Grubhub. Nine times out of ten, the free Grubhub Amazon Prime connection will save you between $4 and $8 per order.
Stop paying the "convenience tax" twice. You already paid for Prime. Use it. Take that saved delivery fee and put it into your savings, or better yet, give it to the driver. They're the ones doing the heavy lifting anyway.
If you’ve already linked your accounts and it’s still showing fees, check your order subtotal. Remember that $12 minimum? It’s the most common reason the "free" part doesn't kick in. Add a drink, save the fee, and move on with your night. High-quality food shouldn't require a high-stress bill.