India’s top quick commerce platforms, Zomato and Swiggy, are once again revising their delivery charges as they prepare for a record surge in orders during the festive season. Both companies are increasing platform fees in a bid to manage rising costs and protect margins, even as customer demand continues to soar.
Zomato’s Growing Platform Fee Journey
Eternal Limited, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, has raised Zomato’s platform fee from ₹10 to ₹12 starting September 2. This move marks a 20% hike, the latest in a series of adjustments since the fee was first rolled out in August 2023.
The journey of Zomato’s platform fee so far:
- Aug 2023: Introduced at ₹2
- Late 2023: Increased to ₹3
- Jan 2024: Raised to ₹4
- Dec 31, 2023: Briefly hiked to ₹9
- Oct 2024: Revised to ₹7, then ₹10 as a “festive season fee”
- Sep 2025: Now at ₹12
The latest increase comes at a time when Eternal Limited is facing pressure on profitability. In Q1 FY26, the company reported a sharp 90% drop in net profit to ₹25 crore compared to ₹253 crore a year earlier. While revenue jumped 70% year-on-year to ₹7,167 crore, expenses outpaced growth, climbing to ₹7,433 crore.
Swiggy Follows Suit With Trial Hikes
Swiggy has also experimented with higher platform fees in selected cities. Last month, the company temporarily raised charges from ₹12 to ₹14, testing consumer response during peak demand.
Since its introduction of a ₹2 fee in April 2023, Swiggy’s platform charge has now risen sevenfold in just over two years. Company insiders suggest the increase may either roll back after the festive season or remain in place for specific occasions, depending on performance.
Festive Season and Consumer Impact
The festive months are traditionally the busiest for the food delivery and quick commerce industry, with orders reaching record highs. While the fee hikes may appear minimal per order, the cumulative effect across millions of deliveries is expected to substantially boost margins.
However, analysts caution that the growing fees reflect the sector’s capital-heavy, highly competitive nature. Rising operational costs, heavy discounts, and customer acquisition challenges continue to shape the strategies of both players.
As millions of consumers gear up for festive celebrations, all eyes are now on how Zomato and Swiggy’s pricing tactics influence order volumes—and whether these fee hikes become a lasting trend in the food delivery business.
