Glovo vs UberEats: The Spanish Multi-Category Delivery Alternative

Why Switch from UberEats to Glovo?

UberEats is the global delivery arm of Uber, the San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant. In Europe, UberEats leverages Uber’s existing infrastructure and brand recognition to compete in food delivery. But UberEats is fundamentally a US company: profits flow to US shareholders, data is processed under US jurisdiction, and the company’s priorities are shaped by the US market. UberEats has also retreated from several European markets where it could not achieve profitability, leaving consumers and restaurants stranded.

Glovo, founded in 2015 in Barcelona, Spain by Oscar Pierre and Sacha Michaud, takes a different approach. Glovo is not just a food delivery app — it is a multi-category delivery platform that handles food, groceries, pharmacy products, packages, and literally anything you need picked up and delivered in your city. The “Anything” feature is genuinely unique: a courier will go to any location, pick up whatever you need, and bring it to you. Glovo operates in approximately 25 countries, with particular strength in Southern and Eastern Europe where UberEats has limited or no presence.

In 2022, Glovo was acquired by Delivery Hero SE, a German company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and one of the world’s largest delivery platforms. This gives Glovo the backing of a major European player while maintaining its Barcelona-based operations and Mediterranean identity. For consumers in Southern and Eastern Europe, Glovo is often the platform with the most restaurant and shop options, the fastest delivery, and the broadest range of what you can order.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Glovo	UberEats
Food delivery	✅ Restaurants and dark kitchens	✅ Restaurants
Grocery delivery	✅ Supermarkets + Glovo dark stores	✅ Limited grocery partnerships
Pharmacy delivery	✅ Available in many markets	⚠️ Limited
”Anything” delivery	✅ Courier picks up anything	❌ Not available
Package delivery	✅ Point-to-point courier	❌ Not available
Subscription plan	✅ Glovo Prime	✅ Uber One
Southern Europe coverage	✅ Strong (Spain, Italy, Portugal)	⚠️ Present but less dominant
Eastern Europe coverage	✅ Strong (Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Balkans)	⚠️ Limited
Northern Europe	❌ Limited	⚠️ Present via Uber infrastructure
North America	❌ Not available	✅ Dominant
Data jurisdiction	✅ EU (Spain) 🇪🇺	⚠️ US 🇺🇸
Parent company	✅ Delivery Hero (Germany) 🇪🇺	⚠️ Uber (USA) 🇺🇸

Pricing

Glovo’s pricing for consumers is competitive with UberEats and often more flexible:

Glovo delivery fees: From €1.99 per order, varying by distance, demand, and restaurant. Many restaurants offer free delivery during promotions or above minimum order values.
Glovo Prime: €3.99-5.99/month — free delivery on food orders above a minimum threshold, discounted delivery on groceries, exclusive offers
Service fee: Small service fee per order (typically €0.50-1.50) in addition to delivery fee
UberEats delivery fees: From $0.99-7.99 per order depending on distance and demand
Uber One: $9.99/month — $0 delivery fee on eligible orders over $15, 5% discount on eligible orders

Glovo’s delivery fees are competitive in most markets, and the Glovo Prime subscription is notably cheaper than Uber One in many European markets. For the “Anything” courier service, pricing is based on distance, typically starting at €3-5 for short distances within a city.

For restaurants, Glovo’s commission structure typically ranges from 20-35% depending on the service level (marketplace listing only versus logistics delivery). This is comparable to UberEats’ commission structure, though specifics vary by market and restaurant agreement.

Privacy & Data Sovereignty

Glovo’s Spanish foundation and German parent company provide EU-native data protection:

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain — fully under EU jurisdiction and GDPR
Owned by Delivery Hero SE, a German company listed on Frankfurt Stock Exchange — additional EU governance and transparency
Order data, delivery addresses, payment information, and personal data processed within the EU
Not subject to the US CLOUD Act, FISA Section 702, or other US data access legislation
Full GDPR data subject rights: access, rectification, deletion, and portability
Published privacy policy with clear data processing purposes and retention periods
Data Protection Officer appointed as required by GDPR
Location data used for delivery coordination, subject to EU data minimization principles

Delivery app data is highly revealing — it shows where you live, what you eat, when you are home, what medications you order, and your spending patterns. Keeping this data under GDPR protection, with a European company that cannot be compelled by US courts, provides meaningful privacy advantages for European users.

Migration Guide

Switching delivery apps requires no migration — just start using a different app:

Download the Glovo app (2 minutes) — Available on iOS and Android. Create an account with your email or phone number.
Set your delivery address (1 minute) — Enter your home and/or work address. Glovo will show you all available restaurants, shops, and services in your area.
Explore beyond food (5 minutes) — Browse not just restaurants but also grocery stores, pharmacies, and local shops. Try the “Anything” feature to understand Glovo’s full capability — you can have a courier pick up items from any store in your city.
Place your first food order (5 minutes) — Order from a restaurant, compare the delivery fee and estimated time with what UberEats would charge for the same restaurant (if available on both platforms).
Consider Glovo Prime — If you order more than 3-4 times per month, the Glovo Prime subscription at €3.99-5.99/month typically saves money through free and reduced delivery fees.
Set Glovo as your default — After a few orders, make Glovo your go-to delivery app. Keep UberEats as a backup for the rare cases where a specific restaurant is not on Glovo.

Estimated total time: 15 minutes | Difficulty: Very Easy

Real-World Use Cases

Expat in Bucharest, Romania: A French professional working in Bucharest found that UberEats had very limited restaurant selection in the Romanian capital. Glovo, by contrast, partners with hundreds of local restaurants, supermarkets, and pharmacies across Bucharest. She uses Glovo for weeknight dinners, Saturday grocery runs (delivered from a local Kaufland in under 30 minutes), and even pharmacy deliveries when she needs over-the-counter medication. The “Anything” feature came in handy when she needed a phone charger from an electronics store delivered to her office. Glovo is effectively her on-demand logistics platform for daily life in Bucharest.

Restaurant owner in Barcelona, Spain: A tapas restaurant in the Eixample district joined Glovo to expand beyond dine-in revenue. Glovo’s strong local brand recognition in Barcelona — the company’s home city — means the restaurant appears prominently to nearby customers. The commission rate is comparable to UberEats, but order volume is significantly higher because Glovo is the dominant platform in Barcelona. The restaurant owner estimates that 35% of his total revenue now comes through Glovo delivery orders. He also uses Glovo’s promotional tools to offer lunchtime discounts that drive incremental volume.

Tourist in Lisbon, Portugal: A German couple visiting Lisbon for a week discovered Glovo as the dominant delivery platform in the city. They used it for late-night food delivery to their Airbnb, for ordering Portuguese pastries and coffee in the morning, and for having sunscreen and water delivered to them near the beach via the “Anything” feature. The app worked seamlessly with their German bank card, and the delivery fees were consistently lower than what they were accustomed to paying for Lieferando in Berlin. They continued using Glovo for the rest of their trip across Southern Europe.

Company Background

Glovo was founded in 2015 by Oscar Pierre and Sacha Michaud in Barcelona, Spain. Pierre, a young Spanish-French entrepreneur, conceived Glovo as more than a food delivery app — it was envisioned as an “everything delivery” platform that would use a network of couriers to connect people with any product or service available in their city. The “Anything” feature — where users can request pickup and delivery of virtually any item — was a core part of the original vision, not an afterthought.

Glovo grew rapidly across Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and parts of Africa, raising over EUR 1 billion in venture capital funding. The company’s aggressive expansion strategy focused on markets underserved by US delivery platforms — the Balkans, the Caucasus, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa — building a footprint that no US competitor could match in these regions. By 2022, Glovo was operating in approximately 25 countries.

In 2022, Delivery Hero SE — the German delivery platform giant listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange — acquired Glovo in a deal valuing the company at approximately EUR 2.3 billion. The acquisition brought Glovo into one of the world’s largest delivery ecosystems (Delivery Hero operates in over 70 countries) while preserving its Barcelona headquarters, brand identity, and operational approach. Under Delivery Hero’s ownership, Glovo has continued to develop its multi-category delivery model, including the expansion of Q-commerce (quick commerce) through dark stores for ultra-fast grocery delivery.

The company has also been at the center of the European debate on platform worker rights. Spain’s 2021 “Ley Rider” (Riders’ Law) — partly inspired by the Glovo employment model — required delivery platforms to classify riders as employees. Glovo initially challenged this classification but has been adapting to the regulatory landscape. The broader EU Platform Workers Directive, adopted in 2024, is pushing all European delivery platforms toward greater worker protections. Glovo’s Spanish roots place it at the forefront of this transition.

Glovo employs over 2,000 people at its Barcelona headquarters and offices across its markets. The company has invested in technology including route optimization, demand prediction, and dark store logistics. Its multi-category approach — moving beyond food into groceries, pharmacy, retail, and courier services — positions it as a broader urban logistics platform rather than just a food delivery app.

Security & Compliance

Glovo implements security and compliance measures for handling consumer data and payment processing:

GDPR compliance: Full compliance as a Spanish company, reinforced by German parent company (Delivery Hero) governance. Appointed Data Protection Officer and documented data processing activities
PSD2 compliance: Payment processing meets EU Payment Services Directive 2 requirements, including Strong Customer Authentication for online payments
PCI DSS: Payment card data handled in compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards
Data encryption: TLS encryption for all app communications and data transfers, encrypted storage for personal data and payment information
Account security: Two-factor authentication, secure password requirements, and suspicious login detection
Rider safety: Real-time GPS tracking during active deliveries, in-app emergency assistance, and insurance coverage for couriers
Regulatory compliance: Operating licenses and compliance with local food safety, delivery, and commerce regulations in each market
Consumer protection: EU consumer protection laws apply, including right of withdrawal, transparent pricing, and clear terms of service

Integration Ecosystem

Glovo’s integrations span restaurant operations, retail, and delivery logistics:

Restaurant POS integration: Direct integrations with restaurant point-of-sale systems including Lightspeed, Orderbird, and other European POS platforms for automatic order acceptance and menu synchronization
Retail partnerships: Integrations with supermarket chains, pharmacy networks, and retail stores for multi-category delivery fulfillment
Q-commerce infrastructure: Glovo’s dark store network for ultra-fast grocery and essentials delivery, with proprietary warehouse management systems
Payment processing: Multiple payment methods including credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash on delivery, and local payment methods per market
Business accounts: Glovo for Business platform enabling corporate accounts with centralized billing, expense tracking, and employee ordering controls
Delivery logistics API: Enterprise API for retail and restaurant chains to integrate delivery fulfillment into their own ordering systems
Marketing platform: Restaurant and retail partner marketing tools for promotions, sponsored listings, and targeted customer campaigns
Analytics: Partner dashboard with order volume, customer satisfaction, delivery performance, and revenue analytics

Who Should Switch?

Glovo is ideal for:

Consumers in Southern and Eastern Europe where Glovo often has the broadest restaurant and shop selection
People who need more than food delivery — groceries, pharmacy, packages, and the “Anything” courier service
Travelers in Glovo markets looking for a single app that handles all delivery needs in cities across Southern Europe, the Balkans, and beyond
Restaurant and shop owners in Glovo’s markets seeking a major delivery platform with strong local market presence
Anyone who prefers European platforms — Glovo and its parent Delivery Hero are EU companies keeping delivery economics in Europe

The Bottom Line

Glovo is the most versatile delivery platform available in Southern and Eastern Europe, offering not just food delivery but a complete multi-category logistics service. The “Anything” feature — having a courier pick up and deliver virtually any item in your city — remains genuinely unique and remarkably useful. With backing from Delivery Hero (Germany), Glovo has the scale and resources to compete with US delivery giants while maintaining its Barcelona-rooted European identity.

UberEats has a stronger global presence and may offer a more polished app experience in some markets. But in Glovo’s core territories — Spain, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Poland, the Balkans, and beyond — Glovo typically offers more restaurant choices, faster delivery, and broader service categories. For consumers in Southern and Eastern Europe, Glovo is not just an alternative to UberEats — it is the local champion. Use it for food tonight, groceries tomorrow, and anything else the city has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I order through Glovo besides food?

Glovo is a multi-category delivery platform, not just a food delivery app. You can order restaurant meals, groceries from supermarkets and Glovo's own dark stores, pharmacy products, flowers, gifts, electronics from local stores, and even use the 'Anything' feature to have a courier pick up and deliver virtually any item from any location in your city. This makes Glovo more versatile than pure food delivery apps like UberEats.

In which countries does Glovo operate?

Glovo operates in approximately 25 countries, with particular strength in Southern and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. Key European markets include Spain, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Moldova, and others. Glovo also operates in Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Kazakhstan. Its coverage in Southern and Eastern Europe is often stronger than any US competitor.

Who owns Glovo?

Glovo was acquired by Delivery Hero SE, a German company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, in 2022. Delivery Hero is one of the world's largest food and grocery delivery platforms, operating in over 70 countries. The acquisition made Glovo part of a major European delivery ecosystem while maintaining its Barcelona headquarters, brand identity, and operational independence in its markets. The combined entity has significant scale to compete with US delivery giants.

What is Glovo Prime?

Glovo Prime is a subscription service that provides free delivery on food orders above a minimum threshold, discounted delivery on grocery orders, and exclusive promotions. The subscription typically costs €3.99-5.99/month depending on the market. For users who order several times per month, Glovo Prime pays for itself quickly. It is comparable to DoorDash's DashPass or UberEats' Uber One subscriptions.

How does Glovo handle rider employment?

Glovo's rider model has been a subject of significant debate, particularly in Spain. In 2021, Spain's 'Riders Law' (Ley Rider) required delivery platforms to classify riders as employees rather than independent contractors. Glovo initially contested this but has been adapting to the regulatory environment. In other markets, rider classification varies according to local labor law. The broader trend across the EU — including the EU Platform Workers Directive — is toward greater protection for platform workers, and Glovo is adjusting its model accordingly.