In a synchronized move to protect margins, Swiggy has officially increased its platform fee to ₹17.58 per order (inclusive of GST). The 17% hike, which rolled out today, follows a nearly identical price adjustment by its primary rival, Zomato, earlier this week.
The new fee structure marks a significant escalation from the ₹14.99 previously charged, as food delivery platforms face mounting pressure from rising operational costs and a volatile energy market.
The “Duopoly” Price Alignment
For the first time, both major food delivery players in India have converged on a near-identical price point for their per-order “service” fee.
- Swiggy’s Hike: Increased from ₹14.99 to ₹17.58 (a ₹2.59 jump).
- Zomato’s Hike: Increased its pre-GST fee to ₹14.90, which also translates to approximately ₹17.58 for the consumer after taxes.
- The “Maintenance” Justification: Checkout screens on the Swiggy app now display a message stating the fee is necessary to “operate and maintain the platform” amid rising tech and logistical overheads.
Why Prices are Climbing (March 2026 Factors)
Industry analysts point to three critical “input shocks” that have forced this mid-quarter price correction:
- LPG & Fuel Costs: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has pushed commercial LPG and fuel prices to 20-month highs, increasing the “cost-to-serve” for both restaurants and delivery fleets.
- Quick Commerce Subsidy: Both companies are redirecting cash flow from their mature food delivery arms to fund the aggressive expansion of their quick commerce wings (Instamart and Blinkit).
- Profitability Targets: Following Swiggy’s late-2025 IPO, the company is under increased pressure from shareholders to show a clear path to sustained Adjusted EBITDA growth.
Comparison: The Evolution of the Platform Fee
What started as a nominal ₹2 charge in August 2023 has now become a multi-crore revenue lever for the industry.
| Period | Typical Platform Fee (Incl. GST) | Context |
| August 2023 | ₹2.00 | Fee first introduced to “offset” delivery costs. |
| Early 2024 | ₹5.00 | Standardized across major metros. |
| Sept 2025 | ₹12.00 | Increased to manage festive demand. |
| Jan 2026 | ₹14.99 | Post-IPO margin correction. |
| March 2026 | ₹17.58 | Current Rate (Post-Zomato alignment). |
The “Zero-Fee” Disruptor: Ownly
While the two giants move in lockstep, the market is watching Ownly, the new food delivery vertical launched by Rapido in Bengaluru.
- The Pitch: Rapido has pledged zero platform fees for customers, charging only a transparent delivery fee based on distance.
- The Risk: Analysts are waiting to see if price-sensitive “power users” will migrate to Ownly as Swiggy and Zomato push closer to the ₹20 fee milestone.
