1 month ago
Rising Delivery Fees Push Budget Food Apps into Spotlight
Food delivery apps in India are charging more for each order.
Swiggy and Zomato now take about Rs 17 and Rs 15 per order, up from just a few rupees.
Because of this, new cheap apps like Ownly and Toing are becoming popular.
Ownly, run by Rapido, plans to open in many big cities.
Experts worry that cutting prices too much might hurt the companies and the restaurants that use them.
Swiggy and Zomato platform fees have risen to Rs 17.58 and Rs 14.90+tax, about six times the original Rs 2‑3.
Budget delivery apps Ownly (Rapido) and Toing (Swiggy) are gaining traction as consumers seek lower prices.
Ownly plans to expand to Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune and Chennai within a quarter.
Experts warn that aggressive price cuts may not be financially sustainable for platforms or restaurants.
Zomato is focusing on its Bistro kitchen‑automation model to improve margins at Rs 50‑150 price points.
- Who
- Swiggy, Zomato, Rapido, Ownly, Toing, industry experts
- What
- Rising delivery fees and growth of budget food delivery apps
- Where
- India – Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai
- When
- 2025
- Why
- Cost pressures and consumer price sensitivity
Key facts
- Swiggy platform fee
- Rs 17.58 (incl. taxes)
- Zomato platform fee
- Rs 14.90 (incl. taxes)
- Ownly expansion cities
- Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai
- Toing launch year
- 2025
- Ownly average daily orders
- Rs 3,000
Quotes
Deepinder Goyal
Vice‑chairman & non‑executive director, Eternal (parent of Zomato)
“"These platforms are offering the same restaurants, similar or longer delivery times, and lower menu prices funded by lower commissions and delivery fee — making the revenue gap even more unsustainable. There’s no new use case being unlocked here. The customer traction is purely price-driven, and price-driven traction without structural economics tends to resolve itself,"”
financialexpress.com
“"In the online food delivery segment price will play a differentiator but if you do not complement it with choice and experience, it will be difficult to retain users,"”
financialexpress.com










