Uber Becomes McDonald’s Preferred Delivery Partner in 14 Countries

By Grace Kim

Uber has won preferred delivery-partner status for McDonald’s orders placed through the chain’s app in 14 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada and France, Bloomberg reported. The arrangement opens a route to more than 45 million U.S. loyalty members and sharpens Uber’s challenge to DoorDash, which controls about 59% of delivery-app spending, according to Consumer Edge data.

For customers, the first visible consequence is likely a driver rather than a different app. If they order a Happy Meal through the McDonald’s app, an Uber driver will probably deliver it, Bloomberg reported.

Until the change, McDonald’s split app orders between Uber and DoorDash. The preferred-partner designation puts Uber on the inside track for those orders, though Bloomberg’s report does not promise Uber will handle every order in every market.

“This marks our broadest expansion with McDonald’s to date,” said Uber president and COO Andrew Macdonald.

Bloomberg reported that McDonald’s previously shared the app order flow with DoorDash. Uber now holds preferred delivery status in 14 countries and the chain’s exclusive delivery and rideshare rewards role.

What changes for McDonald’s app orders?

• Delivery routing: Orders placed in the McDonald’s app in 14 countries will likely be fulfilled by Uber drivers, Bloomberg reported.
• Third-party access: McDonald’s remains on both Uber Eats and DoorDash, so the deal changes direct-app routing rather than broader availability.
• Deal economics: Bloomberg did not disclose the financial terms, order volume or revised division of orders under the preferred-partner structure.

For diners, the plain takeaway is simple: direct app orders are likely to bring an Uber driver, while McDonald’s availability on other delivery apps stays in place.

How does the rewards tie-in work?

Bloomberg reported that Uber also became McDonald’s exclusive delivery and rideshare rewards partner. Some MyMcDonald’s Rewards members can already trade points for discounts on Uber rides. The arrangement extends the commercial relationship beyond food delivery and into Uber’s ride business.

Bloomberg said the deal opens access to more than 45 million U.S. loyalty members. That pool could expose more consumers to Uber’s ride service and deepen their use of the platform.

The loyalty arrangement is broader than a one-off fulfillment contract, but its effect will depend on adoption. Bloomberg’s report did not quantify how many members have exchanged points for ride discounts or how much delivery business the agreement covers.

The rewards deal adds a second customer connection for Uber beyond delivery and gives McDonald’s members a way to use loyalty points outside the restaurant order.

Where does this fit in the delivery fight?

DoorDash’s scale remains the benchmark. Consumer Edge data puts DoorDash at about 59% of delivery-app spending. McDonald’s preferred-partner designation gives Uber a supply-side foothold, but the reported terms do not indicate that Uber has taken 59% or any other share of McDonald’s app orders.

DoorDash announced plans to buy Instacart in late October, and Uber countered earlier this month with an Amazon Prime delivery deal, Bloomberg reported. In the chronology provided, the McDonald’s agreement adds another distribution advantage for Uber as the companies compete for delivery spending and consumer orders.

The deal narrows a competitive gap without erasing it: McDonald’s gives Uber reach, while DoorDash’s 59% spending share remains the larger benchmark.

What will show whether the partnership delivers?

The key issue is whether customers convert. Bloomberg did not disclose what McDonald’s earns from Uber or how many orders Uber will handle. The rewards link adds a measurable test: whether MyMcDonald’s Rewards members use their points for Uber discounts at scale, and whether direct app orders build sustained delivery volume.

On the diner side, the immediate test is whether Uber becomes the default driver across all 14 countries rather than merely the preferred option. For DoorDash, losing preferred status makes Uber the stronger candidate for McDonald’s app orders, even though McDonald’s remains on DoorDash.

For Uber, access to more than 45 million U.S. loyalty members is only as valuable as the customer response. The next phase will show whether the 14-country designation converts that reach into lasting delivery volume and Uber ride redemptions.