A Coimbatore resident has triggered a debate on social media after alleging that a meal ordered through Swiggy cost almost 81 percent more compared to purchasing the same food directly from a restaurant located just two kilometres away. The customer, identified as Sunder (@SunderjiJB), posted screenshots of both bills on X, pointing out the stark difference. He claimed his Swiggy order amounted to ₹1,473, while the identical dishes cost only ₹810 when purchased in person. “Hey @Swiggy, please explain. Why does ordering food in the app, 81% expensive than buying the same food from the same outlet, just 2kms away? Is this the real cost of convenience? The extra that I have to pay to get the food delivered is INR 663,” he wrote. His post quickly went viral, gathering over 2.1 million views and sparking widespread discussion about food delivery pricing.
Swiggy Defends Pricing as Platform Fees Continue to Rise
Responding to the issue, Swiggy has reiterated that menu prices on its platform are determined solely by partner restaurants. In a previous clarification on similar complaints, a Swiggy Cares representative explained, “We’re trying to maintain transparency in our services… the prices might be different online and offline as it is the sole discretion of the restaurant.”
The complaint comes amid rising platform fees on food delivery apps. Swiggy has hiked its platform fee three times in the last three weeks, now charging ₹15 per order including GST. Zomato has also increased its fee by 20 percent to ₹12 per order, excluding GST. Given Swiggy’s 20 lakh daily orders, this translates into around ₹3 crores in revenue solely from platform fees, while Zomato earns a comparable amount from 23–25 lakh daily orders.
Rising Costs of Quick-Commerce Turn Platform Fees into Lifeline
Despite revenue growth, both companies face profitability challenges, particularly due to their quick-commerce arms—Swiggy’s Instamart and Zomato’s Blinkit—which are resource-heavy. The platform fee, a charge levied in addition to delivery, packaging, restaurant charges, and GST, has thus become a crucial revenue stream, especially during the festive season.
Summary:
A Coimbatore man’s claim of Swiggy charging 81% more than direct restaurant prices went viral, sparking debate on delivery costs. Swiggy attributed price differences to restaurant discretion, while rising platform fees on Swiggy and Zomato boost revenues. However, profitability remains pressured by costly quick-commerce arms Instamart and Blinkit.
