Overview

Cartwheel is delivery management software for restaurant chains and catering businesses coordinating their own drivers with outside delivery fleets. It is best suited to operators who need rules-based dispatch and catering workflows; its fit is less clear for a small operation seeking a no-cost starting point.

Cartwheel grew out of a Los Angeles delivery restaurant and delivery operation serving hundreds of restaurants. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Los Angeles, it operates in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. For a broader category comparison, see Restaurant Delivery Management Software.

Key features

Hybrid Delivery automatically routes orders between in-house drivers and third-party providers in under a second. Operators can shape that routing around time of day, order size, driver availability, per-driver order limits and delivery zones defined by polygon or radius. That flexibility is useful for chains balancing their own fleet against outsourced capacity, though it is more capability than a single-fleet operation may need.

Catering workflows cover scheduled dispatch, pre-delivery checklists, vehicle-type routing, and photo and signature proof. Drivers get route planning, order checklists, proof of delivery and ID verification, with photo and signature capture. Together, these tools address the extra coordination and handoff evidence catering orders require.

Customer-facing tools include branded live tracking pages, promotional banners and Google Reviews integration. Cartwheel connects with ordering and delivery services including Toast, PAR, Olo, Qu, ChowNow, ezCater and Uber Direct. Its delivery network also reaches DoorDash Drive, Grubhub, Skipcart and more than 50 local fleets through one integration. The breadth can simplify provider coordination, while the value of that reach depends on which services an operator uses.

Cartwheel says its pre-negotiated third-party rates can be up to 27% below direct rates, and it can file late or cancelled delivery refund claims automatically. Those economics may offset some delivery costs, but the stated savings are a ceiling, not a guaranteed discount. Cartwheel reports completing a SOC 2 audit covering security and reliability controls. It also offers white-glove rollout support, dedicated enterprise account management and 24/7 live support.

Pricing

Cartwheel is paid software, with pricing from $65/mo. The named Cartwheel plan costs 99.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and includes 400 deliveries; each delivery beyond that costs $0.25. That allowance gives a restaurant a defined volume to budget against, but high-volume locations need to account for the per-order overage.

A second Cartwheel plan is 99.00 USD per month, billed per location. It includes 400 deliveries, full feature access, self-onboarding with a setup guide, and email support in under 24 hours; after expiry, orders cost $0.25 each. This is a clearer fit for a location seeking self-guided setup, while the monthly-billed plan states the same allowance with overage pricing but does not specify those onboarding and support terms. The two plan prices and billing terms should be compared against the number of locations and expected delivery volume.

There is no free plan among these offers. Cartwheel suits businesses prepared to pay a monthly fee and monitor delivery volume; operators with lower or uncertain demand may prefer to start with a free alternative.

Platforms

Cartwheel supports Android, iOS and web. Store and Dispatch mobile tools are described for phones and tablets, alongside a driver app with route planning and delivery documentation. That mix supports both in-store and on-the-road work across mobile devices and browsers.

Who it's for

Cartwheel is a strong match for restaurant chains and catering brands managing multiple driver types, scheduled catering dispatch and customer tracking. Its routing rules and network connections matter most when operations need to shift orders between an in-house fleet and third-party capacity. A small restaurant with straightforward dispatch needs may find the paid, delivery-count-based plans harder to justify.

Pros and cons

Flexible hybrid dispatch: Operators can automate assignments using time, order, driver and delivery-zone rules rather than relying on a single routing approach.
Catering-specific evidence: Checklists, vehicle routing and photo and signature proof support more involved deliveries.
Broad delivery connections: One integration reaches named national providers and more than 50 local fleets, potentially reducing the burden of coordinating providers.
Monthly cost plus overages: The plan allowance is 400 deliveries, after which each delivery costs $0.25; the no-free-plan model is a drawback for businesses testing demand.

Alternatives

Choose Shipday if a free entry point or a trial matters more than Cartwheel’s catering and hybrid-dispatch focus: Shipday has a free plan capped at 300 orders per month and offers a 14-day full-platform trial without a credit card. Its listed platforms are API and web.

APPY Delivery is worth considering for a free digital QR menu: its AppyQR Free plan includes up to 50 products, one active location and email support. MyOrderBox may suit a business prioritizing its own website orders, with a free Starter plan offering unlimited such orders and POS software for one terminal.

For other paid delivery-management options, consider Andromeda Delivery, BiteBerry DMS, Captain or PIE by First Delivery; their listed platforms include web and mobile. WISDOM is a paid alternative at 99.00 USD per month, with a $250 one-time setup fee and 25¢ per order; it describes fleet sizes from 3 to 300.

Verdict

Cartwheel is the better fit for restaurant chains and catering operators that need rapid dispatch across in-house and third-party drivers, with catering workflows and customer tracking in the same system. Its dispatch flexibility, broad delivery network and operational support are persuasive for complex delivery programs. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan or cannot predict whether 400 deliveries will cover your monthly volume.

	Cartwheel	Podfather
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$65/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web	Android, api, iOS, Web
Live delivery tracking	Yes	—
API access	—	Yes

Cartwheel vs Podfather

Cartwheel

Podfather