Who owns the delivery apps now, and what changed for drivers
In 2025 most of the big names changed hands: DoorDash bought Deliveroo, Prosus bought Just Eat, Lyft bought Freenow, InPost bought Yodel and Evri merged with DHL eCommerce UK. For drivers and riders, very little changed on day one. Here is what to watch.
Last checked 29/09/2026.
A takeover rarely changes a rider's week straight away. It changes who decides the next set of rules. These are the deals that closed in 2025.
The deals
| Business | New owner | Completed | Day-one change for drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo | DoorDash | 2 October 2025 | None announced; app continues |
| Just Eat Takeaway | Prosus | October 2025 | None announced |
| Evri and DHL eCommerce UK | Merged; DHL takes a minority stake | 1 October 2025 | DHL eCommerce UK became Evri Premium in 2026 |
| Yodel | InPost | April 2025 | None announced |
| Freenow | Lyft | 2025; Gett UK agreed since | Rebranded Freenow by Lyft; black cab commission rises September 2026 |
What to watch
- New terms. Every change of supplier agreement or courier contract has to be accepted. Read what changed, especially on pay, cancellations and substitution.
- Commission and fees. The first visible change after the Freenow deal was a commission rise for London black cabs.
- Your records. When apps are merged or rebuilt, old statements sometimes become harder to reach. Download them now.
- Worker status cases. The Just Eat tribunal and the Bolt and Addison Lee rulings continue whoever owns the company.
None of it changes your tax. You remain self-employed with every one of them, and one return covers the lot.
Sources
Common questions
- Did anything change for Deliveroo riders after DoorDash bought it?
- Not on completion. DoorDash said the Deliveroo app would carry on as before and riders would keep working as they do, with investment promised in mapping, support and protections. Pay and rules are still set by Deliveroo.
- Is Yodel still Yodel?
- The brand continues, but InPost has owned it since April 2025. If your round is with Yodel, your contract is with the Yodel business under InPost ownership, so check any new terms you are sent.
About the author
Issac Davies, Founder of JoltMile
Issac Davies drives for gig apps in the UK and built JoltMile to show drivers what a shift actually pays once fuel, insurance and tax come off. Every guide here is checked against HMRC and gov.uk guidance, and is information rather than tax advice.
Track this automatically
The JoltMile app works this out from your own shifts, and keeps the figures ready for Self Assessment. Your first 10 shifts are free.
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