Zomato has raised its platform fee to ₹14.90 per order nationwide, a move that slightly increases the cost of online food delivery as the company tightens its monetisation efforts amid rising operational expenses and an industry-wide push toward profitability.
Fee increase and how it applies
The platform fee has been raised by ₹2.40 from about ₹12.50 per order. This fixed charge is added to every transaction in addition to restaurant prices, delivery fees, packaging charges and applicable GST. While the nominal hike is small, it adds to the overall bill and can be material for frequent users or low‑value orders.
Why Zomato is raising fees
Zomato introduced a platform fee in 2023 at around ₹2 per order and has increased it in stages since then. The company says incremental fee adjustments help offset growing costs across logistics, delivery operations, technology infrastructure and customer support. With unit economics in food delivery remaining tight, such measures form part of a broader strategy to improve margins and move toward sustainable profitability.
Impact on customers and ordering behaviour
Even small increases in fixed charges can influence price‑sensitive consumers. Higher platform fees, coupled with delivery and other charges, may prompt some users to order less frequently, consolidate orders, or wait for discounts and promotions before placing orders.
Wider industry context
Zomato’s revision follows a broader trend in India’s food delivery market where players are shifting from aggressive user‑acquisition pricing to more balanced revenue models. Competitors such as Swiggy have also explored similar fee structures and promotional changes as the sector focuses on long‑term financial stability rather than rapid expansion at the cost of profitability.
