In 2025, “Cashless” doesn’t mean you need a credit card. Whether you are unbanked, protecting your privacy, or just stuck with a lost wallet, the gig economy has built several backdoors for you to get fed.
Here are the top 5 proven ways to order food delivery without a credit card or bank account.
1. The “Prepaid Visa” Loophole
You can buy a prepaid Visa or Mastercard (Vanilla, Green Dot) at almost any pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens) using cash.
- How to use it: Register the card on the provider’s website (usually required to make online purchases) and add it to DoorDash or Grubhub as a standard credit card.
- Warning: These cards often have “activation fees” of $3–$5.
2. PayPal Balance (Not Bank Linked)
Many people don’t realize that Grubhub and Uber Eats allow you to pay via PayPal using only your PayPal balance. You do not need a backup bank account linked if your balance is sufficient to cover the order.
3. Cash on Delivery (The Classics)
While rare on apps, direct restaurant delivery is the king of cash.
- Pizza Chains: Domino’s, Papa John’s, and Pizza Hut still allow you to select “Cash” at checkout in most US regions.
- Local Strategy: Use Google Maps to find “Chinese delivery near me” and call them. Independent restaurants almost always prefer cash to avoid paying 30% fees to apps.
- Learn more in our deep dive: How to Order Food with Cash in India & Global Markets.
4. Retail Gift Cards
Go to a grocery store, pay cash for a DoorDash or Uber Eats gift card, and load the credits onto your account. This effectively turns your physical cash into digital credit without ever needing a bank.
5. “Buy Now, Pay Later” (Zip Co)
Apps like Zip (formerly Quadpay) allow you to buy a DoorDash gift card and pay for it in 4 installments. While this technically requires some form of digital payment eventually, it allows you to order food now even if you don’t have the full funds immediately available.
