India’s dominant food delivery platforms, Zomato and Swiggy, have again raised their per-order platform fees within days of each other, marking the latest increase in a series of price adjustments over the past three years. Zomato increased its fee by 19%, while Swiggy followed with a 17% increase, bringing its per-order charge to ₹17.58 from ₹14.99. Zomato’s fee rose from ₹12.5 to ₹14.9 per order.
The increases, while seemingly modest, result in both companies charging approximately ₹17.58 per order after taxes. Swiggy’s fee includes GST, whereas Zomato’s excludes taxes. The platform fee, initially introduced in 2023 at ₹2 per order, has evolved into a core monetization tool for both companies.
The fee hikes reflect a strategic shift as growth in food delivery moderates. Companies are now focusing on incremental pricing changes to enhance unit economics, rather than relying solely on restaurant commissions or delivery charges. This move comes as both companies face pressure to demonstrate a clear path to sustained profitability.
Swiggy reported a 54% year-on-year rise in operating revenue to ₹6,148 crore in Q3 FY26, but losses also widened to ₹1,056 crore. Zomato’s food-delivery segment grew 29% to ₹2,676 crore in the same quarter. At the group level, Zomato’s parent entity, Eternal, reported revenue of ₹16,315 crore and a net profit of ₹102 crore.
The critical question is how far these companies can push platform fees before consumers resist. India is known for its price-sensitive consumer market, and food-delivery platforms have previously misjudged consumer tolerance for higher charges. The incremental approach has so far minimized churn.
Platform fees, alongside restaurant commissions and advertising revenue, now form a structural pillar of the business model, requiring no additional logistics investment and improving with each order placed. As growth in the core food delivery business slows, the ability of platform fees to bridge the gap between promise and profit remains uncertain. Customers may eventually find cooking at home a more economical option.
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