What Postmates is and how it operates
Postmates was a food and goods delivery service that operated in the United States from 2011 until it was acquired by Uber in 2020. After the acquisition, Postmates stopped accepting new orders in most markets and merged its operations into the Uber Eats platform. If you are looking to order food delivery today, Postmates as a standalone app no longer exists — Uber Eats is now the primary service for users who previously used Postmates.
Before the shutdown, Postmates worked by connecting customers to restaurants, grocery stores, and retail shops through a mobile app. Customers would browse available merchants, place an order, and a Postmates driver would pick up the items and deliver them to the address provided. The service operated in hundreds of cities across the United States, though coverage varied by location and merchant availability.
The transition to Uber Eats means that former Postmates users can now access similar delivery services through the Uber Eats app instead. Uber Eats operates under the same basic model — you order through an app, a driver picks up your food or items, and they deliver to your address — but it is a separate platform with its own merchant network, pricing, and delivery fees.
Key Takeaways
- Postmates stopped operating as an independent service in 2020 when Uber acquired the company and merged it into Uber Eats.
- If you used Postmates before, you can now use Uber Eats to order food and goods delivery in most of the same markets.
- Uber Eats has its own set of restaurants and merchants, delivery fees, and service areas that may differ from what Postmates offered.
- Some former Postmates users received account credits or promotional offers when the service transitioned to Uber Eats.
Timeline of Postmates and the Uber acquisition
Postmates launched in 2011 as a delivery service focused on restaurants and retail goods. Over the next nine years, it expanded to hundreds of cities and became one of the major food delivery platforms in the United States, competing directly with services like DoorDash and Grubhub.
In July 2020, Uber announced it would purchase Postmates for approximately $2.65 billion. The acquisition was completed in December 2020. Following the purchase, Uber began the process of consolidating Postmates into its existing Uber Eats platform rather than operating both services separately. By early 2021, Postmates had stopped accepting new orders in most markets, and the app was eventually removed from app stores.
The merger was part of Uber's broader strategy to strengthen its food delivery business. At the time, Uber Eats was competing with DoorDash and Grubhub for market share, and the acquisition of Postmates gave Uber access to Postmates' customer base and merchant relationships in certain cities.
What happened to Postmates accounts and credits
When Postmates shut down, customers with active accounts had several options. Uber offered former Postmates users the chance to transfer their account information to Uber Eats or create a new Uber Eats account. Many users received promotional credits or discounts on their first Uber Eats orders as part of the transition.
If you had an outstanding Postmates account balance or unused credits at the time of shutdown, the process for recovering those funds depended on your specific situation. Uber sent notifications to affected users with instructions on how to claim any remaining balance. Some users were able to transfer credits directly to Uber Eats, while others had to contact Uber support to resolve their accounts.
If you had a Postmates account and did not receive information about your balance or credits, you can contact Uber support through the Uber Eats app or website to inquire about your former Postmates account status.
How Uber Eats compares to what Postmates offered
Uber Eats operates on the same general delivery model that Postmates used — you order through an app, a driver picks up your order, and it is delivered to your address. However, there are differences in how the two services function.
Uber Eats has its own merchant network, which means the restaurants and stores available on Uber Eats may not be identical to what was available on Postmates in your area. Some merchants may be on both platforms, while others may only partner with one. Delivery fees, service fees, and minimum order amounts also vary between merchants and can differ from what Postmates charged.
Uber Eats is integrated with Uber's broader ecosystem, so if you use Uber for ride-sharing, you may see shared promotions or account benefits across both services. Postmates, as an independent service, did not have this integration before the acquisition.
Service areas and merchant availability after the transition
Postmates operated in hundreds of cities before the shutdown, but not every city that had Postmates service now has full Uber Eats coverage. Uber Eats has expanded significantly since the acquisition, but availability still depends on your specific location and the merchants in your area who have partnered with Uber Eats.
If you live in an area where Postmates was available but you are not seeing Uber Eats service, it may mean that Uber Eats has not yet expanded to your location, or that fewer merchants in your area have partnered with Uber Eats compared to Postmates. You can check Uber Eats availability by entering your address in the app or on the Uber Eats website.
In some smaller markets, Postmates may have been the primary delivery option, and the transition to Uber Eats could mean fewer merchants are available for delivery. In larger cities, Uber Eats typically has a broader merchant network than Postmates had, so you may actually have more options.
Alternatives to Postmates for food delivery
If Uber Eats is not available in your area or you prefer not to use it, other food delivery services operate in most U.S. markets. DoorDash and Grubhub are the two largest competitors and operate in hundreds of cities. Both services work similarly to how Postmates did — you order through an app, a driver picks up your food, and it is delivered to your address.
Instacart focuses primarily on grocery delivery and convenience items rather than restaurant food, but it operates in many areas and may be useful if you are looking for non-restaurant deliveries. Some local restaurants and stores also offer their own delivery services or partner with smaller regional delivery platforms.
The service available to you depends on your location and which merchants have partnered with each platform. You can check which services operate in your area by downloading their apps or visiting their websites and entering your address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use the Postmates app to order?
No. Postmates stopped accepting orders in 2020 and the app is no longer available for read. If you have the app installed on your phone, it will no longer function. You can use Uber Eats instead, which is available in most areas where Postmates operated.
What if I had money in my Postmates account when it shut down?
Uber offered former Postmates users the option to transfer their account balance to Uber Eats or receive a refund. If you did not complete this process, contact Uber support through the Uber Eats app or website with your former Postmates account information to inquire about your balance.
Are the same restaurants on Uber Eats that were on Postmates?
Not necessarily. While many restaurants may be on both platforms, Uber Eats has its own merchant network. Some restaurants that were on Postmates may not be on Uber Eats in your area, and vice versa. Check the Uber Eats app to see which restaurants are available in your location.
Is Uber Eats the only option for former Postmates users?
No. DoorDash and Grubhub are available in most U.S. markets and offer similar delivery services. You can use any of these platforms depending on which merchants and areas they serve in your location.
Why did Uber shut down Postmates instead of keeping both apps?
Uber consolidated Postmates into Uber Eats to streamline operations and reduce costs. Operating two separate apps and delivery networks would have been more expensive and complicated than merging them into one platform.