The PedidosYa Algorithm in 2026: How It Works and How to Rank Higher
Introduction
On PedidosYa, two restaurants with the same food and the same price can have very different revenue — for one reason: one appears first on the user's grid, the other does not. That difference is called ranking, and behind it sits an algorithm that weighs dozens of signals to decide the order in which each customer sees the restaurants in their area.
The good news: the PedidosYa algorithm is not magic. It is a system of inputs and outputs that you can optimise. The bad news: most restaurants that are buried low in the grid are not there because "the app is hiding them" — they are there because they are sending weak signals that the algorithm reads as "do not prioritise."
This article explains how the PedidosYa algorithm works in 2026, which factors carry the most weight, and which signals are operational (controlled by the restaurant) versus consumer-driven (harder to control). Then: the 9 actionable levers to move up the grid without paying extra commission.
Important disclaimer: PedidosYa does not publish its exact algorithm formula. What follows is based on factors that both PedidosYa's public partner documentation and real-world market performance have consistently revealed. These are typical observed signals; your account may have slightly different weightings depending on your country and category.
How It Works, in One Sentence
The PedidosYa algorithm orders the grid by showing each user the restaurants with the highest probability of generating a completed order and a good experience in their specific context (zone, time of day, order history). Everything else in the algorithm is how that probability is calculated.
Three blocks of signals combine to produce the final ranking:
Operational signals from the restaurant: preparation times, cancellations, availability, rating, photos, menu completeness.
Commercial and investment signals: partnership tier, active campaigns (boost, featured placement, PedidosYa Plus), discounts, promotions.
Consumer and context signals: user history, time of day, zone, day of the week, historical average order value.
The algorithm does not use a single global list. It personalises by user and by moment. That is why two phones on the same block can see the restaurants in a different order.
The Operational Factors That Carry the Most Weight (What the Restaurant Controls)
These are the inputs your team has direct control over. Almost all of the upside for a restaurant moving from average to top of the grid comes from here.
1. Preparation Time and Consistency
If you say your order is ready in 25 minutes but it consistently takes 45, the app penalises you. What the algorithm values most is consistency: the promised time and the real time aligned, with low variance.
Operational tip: adjust your preparation time in the PedidosYa Partners panel based on your actual operating hours (not your optimistic peak). A realistic preparation time that is consistently met outweighs a fast time that is routinely missed.
2. Cancellation Rate
Cancelling orders is the most damaging signal a restaurant can send to the algorithm. Cancellations due to "we are out of stock," "kitchen closed during open hours," or "no courier available" accumulate quickly and can suppress your ranking for weeks.
Tip: manually closing your store during a rush is better than accepting orders you are going to cancel. The algorithm prefers a closed restaurant over one that cancels.
3. Rating and Reviews
Your average rating (0 to 5) and your volume of recent reviews both matter. It is not just the number: recency and volume count. A 4.9 from 12 reviews a year ago is worth less than a 4.7 from 80 reviews this quarter.
Tip: a restaurant that actively requests reviews after each delivery (with a sticker on the bag, a note inside the box, or a post-delivery message) scales its ranking far faster than one that waits passively.
4. Catalogue Completeness and Quality
Restaurants with a complete menu — photos on every dish, full descriptions, loaded modifiers, organised categories — perform better in the algorithm's view. Why? Because they convert better. A higher conversion rate per impression is exactly the signal the algorithm wants to see.
Tip: a catalogue missing photos on some items puts you at a disadvantage from day one. The standard in a competitive grid is 100% of items with high-quality photos.
5. Availability and Opening Hours
Restaurants that are open during high-demand hours and do not randomly close because "there is no delivery rider" move up. Restaurants that appear and disappear lose ranking.
Tip: if your kitchen can handle it, add a lunchtime window alongside your evening service. The algorithm rewards consistent availability.
6. Conversion Rate (Impressions to Order)
This is where everything "non-operational" comes in: how many users who saw your listing actually placed an order. Cover photo, restaurant name, visible rating, "free delivery" or promotion badge, average order value — all of these affect CTR and conversion, which the algorithm uses as a strong input signal.
Tip: your cover photo is the fastest lever available. A professionally lit, well-composed hero shot of your signature product visibly lifts CTR within days.
The Commercial Factors (What the Algorithm "Rewards" Through Investment)
These are the paid/commercial inputs. They cost money, but they are measurable.
7. Partnership Tier
PedidosYa has tiers (which vary by country: basic, premium, top). The tier affects both commission and visibility. Premium tiers typically include better organic grid positioning and access to additional tools.
Tip: explicitly request a tier review every 3 to 6 months based on your volume. They will not offer it proactively.
8. Boost and Featured Positions
Paying to appear at the top during specific moments (boost by time slot, boost by zone) works if you measure it. It is ROI-measurable: compare sales during boosted hours versus non-boosted hours.
Tip: boost pays off if the order uplift covers the cost. For accurate measurement, run a real A/B test (boost Monday, no boost Tuesday, compare — then rotate).
9. PedidosYa Plus
Restaurants enrolled in the Plus programme appear with a visual badge and enter a "priority zone" for subscribed users. You share the discount cost with the app, so weigh the cost against the visibility gain.
Tip: if your average order value can absorb the Plus discount without killing your margin, trial it for 30 days and measure the incremental lift. If the margin does not hold up, it is not the right moment yet.
10. Active In-App Promotions
Promotions such as 2-for-1, percentage discounts, and free delivery are signals the algorithm reads as "competitive offer" and typically elevate visibility at specific moments. Note: many involve shared discounts, so the ROI is not simply "more orders" — it is "more orders minus margin lost on the promotion."
The Consumer Factors (What You Cannot Control but Can Leverage)
11. Personalisation Based on Order History
If a user has already ordered from you, the algorithm will rank you higher the next time they open the app. Loyalty matters: each returning customer pushes you up in their personalised grid.
Tip: invest in making the second order happen. A thank-you note + sticker with a QR code to your Instagram + a future discount coupon can convert a first order into a recurring relationship.
12. Zone and Delivery Radius
PedidosYa prioritises restaurants within your effective radius with good preparation times. Tightening your radius (smaller but more reliable typically outperforms large radius with long times) can improve your ranking in your core zone.
13. Time of Day and Context
The algorithm adjusts rankings based on the time of day. At lunch it prioritises restaurants with short preparation times; at dinner, restaurants with better overall experience ratings. Understanding which time window you are genuinely competitive in and focusing on that window is a worthwhile strategy.
👉 Want to know exactly which algorithm signals you are sending well or poorly? Request your free audit and we will evaluate it with AI in 5 minutes.
9 Levers to Move Up the PedidosYa Ranking This Month
These are the concrete levers, ordered by impact-to-effort ratio. Start with number 1.
1. Audit Your Listing Through a Customer's Eyes
Open PedidosYa on a customer's phone (not from the partner panel). Search your area. Check:
Does your cover photo look sharp and professional?
Is your rating visible? What is it?
Does any competitor have a "promo" or "free delivery" badge that you do not?
What position do you appear in within your category?
Document it with a screenshot. That is your baseline.
2. Professional Photos on 100% of Your Menu
It is not about "having photos" — it is about "having good photos." Portrait orientation, neutral background, real product (no stock image from your supplier), warm natural light. A single well-executed photo session measurably lifts CTR.
3. Fix Preparation Times to Reflect Reality
Go to the panel and enter your real measured time, not your optimistic one. Then consistently meet it. Consistency is the most valuable signal you can send.
4. Reduce Avoidable Cancellations to Zero
Stock critical ingredients at the start of each shift, respect your actual closing time, communicate clearly with couriers. Cancellations stay on your account for weeks.
5. Request Reviews After Every Order
A physical sticker on the box, a WhatsApp message post-delivery with a direct link, a QR code inside the packaging. Volume and recency of reviews move the needle.
6. Complete the Catalogue: Names, Descriptions, Modifiers
Every modifier adds a signal. Every well-organised category adds a signal. Every description with relevant keywords (vegetarian, gluten-free, spicy) helps the algorithm show you to the right person.
7. Enable Pickup If You Have Local Foot Traffic
Pickup lowers your effective cost and adds visibility for nearby users who filter by collection. It does not always pay off, but in office district zones it can be very effective.
8. Test Boost with a Real A/B Comparison
One week with boost during peak hours, one week without. Compare volume and ROI. If it pays off, sustain it. If not, redirect the budget.
9. Renegotiate Your Tier
If your volume has grown by more than 30% in the past three months or your rating has improved significantly, request a tier review. They will not offer it unprompted.
Common Mistakes When Fighting for PedidosYa Ranking
Paying for boost before having professional photos and a decent rating. You are amplifying a listing that does not convert. Build the foundation first, then invest.
Accepting orders when you cannot fulfil them. Cancellations due to "we do not have that product" are the worst possible signal.
Overhauling the entire menu every week. The algorithm needs consistency to evaluate you properly. Change dishes, not the structure.
Fighting your rating instead of requesting more reviews. Responding well to a negative review may recover that customer, but actively requesting more positive reviews moves the average rating far faster than trying to undo the negatives.
Checking your rank once and never again. Ranking is dynamic by user, time of day, and zone. You need periodic monitoring, not a single snapshot.
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Ranking?
The honest answer has three timeframes:
1 to 7 days: photo changes, descriptions, preparation times. Fast impact on CTR and visible conversion rate.
2 to 6 weeks: improvement in average rating (requires accumulating recent reviews), reduction in cancellations (the algorithm "forgets" bad history given time and good behaviour).
3 to 6 months: tier change, consolidated competitive positioning, stable ranking at the top of your category and zone.
If anyone promises you "top ranking in 48 hours," they are selling paid boost, not real optimisation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does the PedidosYa algorithm sort restaurants?
The PedidosYa algorithm orders the grid based on the probability of a completed order and a good experience for each specific user. It combines operational signals (preparation times, cancellations, rating, menu completeness), commercial signals (tier, boost, PedidosYa Plus, promotions), and consumer signals (order history, zone, time of day). The result is personalised by user and moment.
What factor matters most in the PedidosYa ranking?
No single factor is dominant. The combination of recent rating, very low cancellation rate, and conversion rate (impression to order) is the foundation every restaurant needs before investing in boost or Plus.
How do I rank higher on PedidosYa faster?
The fastest route: 1) professional photos on 100% of your menu; 2) reduce cancellations to near zero; 3) request reviews after every order; 4) align preparation times with your operational reality; 5) complete your catalogue with descriptions and modifiers. Once your foundation is solid, boost investment will pay off.
Is it worth paying for PedidosYa boost?
It is worth it if your listing already converts well. Paying for boost on a weak listing (no photos, low rating, cancellations) amplifies the problem. Run an A/B test (days with boost vs. days without) and measure the incremental lift before committing to it.
How long does it take to improve ranking on PedidosYa?
Visual changes (photos, descriptions, preparation times) have an impact within 1 to 7 days. Rating improvements take 2 to 6 weeks. Structural changes (tier, consolidated competitive positioning) take 3 to 6 months. Nobody reaches the top without paying for boost in 48 hours.
Why does my competitor rank higher if they have a lower rating?
They are probably on a higher tier, have active boost, are enrolled in PedidosYa Plus, have a better conversion rate due to a stronger catalogue, or the algorithm is showing them higher for a group of users where they perform better. The grid is personalised: what you see is not what everyone sees.
Conclusion
Climbing the PedidosYa ranking is not about a secret trick. It is about consistently sending the algorithm the signal that you are a reliable restaurant that will generate completed orders with good ratings and good timing. Eighty per cent of the upside is operational: photos, preparation times, cancellations, reviews, catalogue quality. The remaining 20% is commercial investment — and it only pays off once the operational foundation is solid.
If you want to know exactly which signals your account is sending well or poorly, and which levers to move first, we will audit it for free with AI in 5 minutes:
👉 [Audit your restaurant for free at Growth Delivery App](https://growthdeliveryapp.com/demo)