Postmates
Postmates operates an on-demand delivery marketplace connecting consumers with local restaurants, grocery, and retail merchants via independent couriers. It was acquired by Uber in December 2020 for $2.65 billion and now operates under Uber Eats.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Postmates does
Postmates is an on-demand delivery marketplace founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco. The platform connects three constituencies — consumers, local merchants (predominantly restaurants but also grocery, alcohol, and retail), and independent couriers — through iOS, Android, and web applications. Its "anything from anywhere" positioning extended the service beyond restaurant meals to groceries, alcohol, and convenience retail, differentiating it from peers focused primarily on restaurant food. The core product is the Postmates Delivery Platform, supplemented by Postmates Pickup (takeout without delivery fees) and Postmates Unlimited (a $9.99/month subscription with reduced fees).
The company monetizes through four streams: customer delivery fees (~50% of revenue), merchant commissions of 15-30% per order, the Postmates Unlimited subscription, and an Enterprise API Platform that contributed 8-12% of revenue via integrations with Starbucks, Walmart, and Apple. Distribution is mobile-first and self-serve, with consumers ordering directly and couriers signing up independently; merchants onboard via a self-service portal. Hyperlocal density in major U.S. urban markets and Puerto Rico was the operating thesis, supported by relationships with small- and medium-sized restaurants.
In December 2020, Uber acquired Postmates for approximately $2.65 billion in an all-stock transaction, integrating the Postmates operations and brand into Uber Eats to consolidate its North American third-party delivery position. Prior to the deal, Postmates had raised roughly $778M across 14 rounds led by Tiger Global Management, Spark Capital, and Founders Fund, and pursued adjacencies including autonomous last-mile delivery pilots with Ford and the 2021 spin-out of Serve Robotics into a standalone sidewalk delivery robot company. The company also faced structural headwinds, including thin margins, high customer acquisition costs, and regulatory exposure around gig worker classification (notably California's AB5 law).
Postmates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Postmates
- Legal name
- Postmates Inc.
- Website
- https://postmates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Postmates operates an on-demand delivery marketplace connecting consumers with local restaurants, grocery, and retail merchants via independent couriers. It was acquired by Uber in December 2020 for $2.65 billion and now operates under Uber Eats.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Postmates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- On-Demand Delivery Platform
- NAICS
- Couriers and Express Delivery Services (49211)
- SIC
- Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Restaurant Meal Delivery Platforms & Aggregators (AFAIAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Delivery & Restaurant Logistics Platforms (BPAMAHAB), Restaurant Meal Delivery Platforms (TLAAAHAA), On-demand Grocery Delivery Platforms (CRAFAFAA), Marketplace-Managed Parcel Delivery (In-House Seller Fulfillment) (TLAAAFAA)
Keywords
Where Postmates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Postmates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Customer Fees: Customer fees represent approximately 50% of earnings, charged for delivery services
- Merchant Commissions: Merchant commissions of 15-30% per order charged to restaurants and merchants
- Postmates Unlimited Subscription: $9.99/month subscription program offering unlimited deliveries with reduced fees
- Enterprise API Integrations: Enterprise API integrations with companies like Starbucks, Walmart, and Apple contributing 8-12% of total revenue
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Postmates Unlimited annual subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
Postmates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Postmates operates a three-sided on-demand delivery marketplace connecting consumers with local restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers through a fleet of independent couriers. Customers order food, drinks, groceries, alcohol, and other goods via the Postmates mobile app or website for delivery or pickup. Postmates also offers a subscription program (Postmates Unlimited) and enterprise API integrations enabling brands to embed delivery into their own channels.
Product overview
Postmates operates as a three-sided marketplace connecting customers, local merchants, and independent couriers through its digital platform. The core offering is the Postmates Delivery Platform, supplemented by Postmates Pickup for takeout orders and Postmates Unlimited subscription for $9.99/month. The Enterprise API Platform, contributing 8-12% of revenue, enables partners like Starbucks, Walmart, and Apple to integrate on-demand delivery. Postmates was acquired by Uber in December 2020 for approximately $2.65 billion, after which its operations were integrated into Uber Eats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Postmates Delivery Platform On-demand food, grocery, and alcohol delivery platform connecting customers with local merchants through independent courier fleets, operating across major U.S. urban markets and Puerto Rico. Customers place orders via iOS/Android apps or the website.
- Postmates Pickup Takeout and pickup service allowing customers to order from local restaurants and retrieve orders directly without delivery charges.
- Postmates Unlimited Subscription membership program at $9.99/month offering free delivery on eligible orders and additional perks to drive customer loyalty and repeat usage.
- Enterprise API Platform B2B integration platform enabling enterprise partners such as Starbucks, Walmart, and Apple to offer on-demand delivery through Postmates infrastructure, contributing 8-12% of total revenue.
Companies that use Postmates
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Postmates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Postmates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KrogercoreKroger switched on rapid delivery service through Uber Eats, Uber, and Postmates apps, allowing customers to access Kroger's grocery offerings through multiple delivery platforms.
- Ford Motor CompanyminorFord partnered with Postmates to pilot a last-mile autonomous delivery program in Miami, involving over 70 local businesses. Specially equipped Transit Connect vans with a multi-locker delivery system were used for research purposes, studying how consumers and businesses interact with autonomous delivery vehicles.
- Uber TechnologiescoreUber acquired Postmates for approximately $2.65 billion in an all-stock transaction in December 2020, combining Uber Eats and Postmates under one umbrella to create a stronger third-party delivery marketplace across North America.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Postmates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DoorDash: Largest US third-party food delivery marketplace connecting consumers, restaurants, and Dashers. Direct competitor to Postmates across consumer delivery, restaurant commission structure, and subscription (DashPass), making it the closest comparable on business model and customer base.
- Uber Eats: Uber's owned-and-operated food delivery marketplace; now Postmates' sibling platform following the 2020 acquisition. Comparable on three-sided marketplace model, courier network, and enterprise API integrations, and the principal competitor Postmates was consolidated with.
- Grubhub: US-focused restaurant delivery marketplace acquired by Just Eat Takeaway. Comparable as a third-party delivery platform for SMB restaurants with a diner subscription (Grubhub+) and a similar commission model.
- Caviar: Premium restaurant delivery marketplace originally independent, now owned by Block (Square). Comparable as a curated food delivery marketplace targeting higher-end restaurants with a similar three-sided structure.
- Deliveroo: UK-headquartered on-demand food delivery marketplace operating across Europe and parts of Asia. Comparable on three-sided marketplace model, courier network, restaurant partnerships, and subscription (Deliveroo Plus).
- Seamless: US corporate-focused food delivery marketplace owned by Grubhub. Comparable on restaurant delivery model with a specific concentration on office/workplace ordering, overlapping with Postmates' urban SMB and consumer segments.
Emerging players
- Instacart: On-demand grocery delivery marketplace connecting consumers with retail grocers and personal shoppers. Comparable as a marketplace-based delivery business but focused on grocery rather than restaurant meals — overlap with Postmates' grocery and alcohol use cases.
- Gopuff: Vertically integrated instant-needs delivery platform operating micro-fulfillment centers. Comparable on 'anything delivery' positioning and 24/7 convenience, but operates a dark-store model rather than a pure restaurant marketplace.
Broad incumbents
- Just Eat Takeaway: Global online food delivery marketplace operator combining Just Eat and Takeaway.com brands. Comparable as a broad incumbent in restaurant delivery marketplaces with a similar merchant commission model and subscription layer.
Regional players
- Zomato: India-headquartered restaurant discovery and food delivery marketplace with international operations. Comparable on three-sided restaurant marketplace model and subscription (Zomato Gold), though geographically distant from Postmates' core US footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Postmates social profiles
Digital presencePostmates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Postmates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Postmates subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Postmates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds14 records
Investors35 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Postmates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Postmates
What does Postmates do?
Postmates operates a three-sided on-demand delivery marketplace connecting consumers with local restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers through a fleet of independent couriers. Customers order food, drinks, groceries, alcohol, and other goods via the Postmates mobile app or website for delivery or pickup. Postmates also offers a subscription program (Postmates Unlimited) and enterprise API integrations enabling brands to embed delivery into their own channels.
Is Postmates a public or private company?
Postmates is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Postmates founded?
Postmates was founded in 2011. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Postmates based?
Postmates is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Postmates make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Customer Fees are the primary driver. The others are merchant Commissions, postmates Unlimited Subscription and enterprise API Integrations.
Who are Postmates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Caviar, Deliveroo and Seamless. Emerging players are Instacart and Gopuff. Just Eat Takeaway is listed as a broad incumbent. Zomato is listed as a regional player.
Does Postmates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Postmates.
What industry is Postmates in?
Postmates's product category is On-Demand Delivery Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAMAA, Restaurant Meal Delivery Platforms & Aggregators, with a secondary code of BPAMAHAB, Food Delivery & Restaurant Logistics Platforms. Its NAICS code is 49211 and its SIC code is 4210.