Ele.me (饿了么 > 淘宝闪购) : Alibaba's Uber Eats locked in duopoly with Meituan for food delivery.

China's version of Uber Eats, Ele.me is Alibaba's food delivery platform locked in a duopoly with Meituan. Founded in 2008 in Shanghai, it pioneered online food ordering in China and was acquired by Alibaba in 2018. Ele.me benefits from deep integration with the Alibaba ecosystem - Alipay for payments, 88VIP membership benefits, and cross-promotion with Fliggy (travel) and Koubei (local deals).

Is Ele.me cheaper than Meituan for delivery?

Pricing between Ele.me and Meituan is competitive with overlapping promotions. Ele.me often offers better deals for Alipay users. Delivery fees are typically 3-8 RMB (.40-.10). Both offer subscription plans for free delivery.

Ele.me have an English version for foreigners?

Ele.me has no full English interface. The standalone app is Chinese-only. Alipay's international version offers some Ele.me integration for foreign tourists. Using translation apps alongside is recommended for navigation.

Can overseas users place orders on Ele.me?

Ele.me requires a Chinese phone number and Alipay for payments. Overseas users cannot order from abroad, but can use it during travel in China. Some international Alipay users may access limited features through the Alipay app.

How does Ele.me differ from Meituan?

Ele.me is China's Alibaba-owned delivery platform, the #2 player behind Meituan. It's deeply integrated with Alipay and Taobao, offers grocery delivery through Freshhema, and has pioneered drone delivery and AI routing.