If you order food online these days, you probably notice an extra line on the bill called platform fee. Both Zomato and Swiggy started this charge at just ₹2 per order back in 2023. By March 2026, it has climbed to around ₹17.58 per order on both apps.

The two charts show how the fees have grown step by step.

Swiggy Platform Fee Timeline

April 2023: ₹2.00
October 2023: ₹3.00
July 2024: ₹6.00
October 2024: ₹10.00
August 2025: ₹14.00
September 2025: ₹14.99
March 2026: ₹17.58 (including GST)

Swiggy’s fee has gone up by nearly 779% since it first started.

Zomato Platform Fee Timeline

August 2023: ₹2.00
October 2023: ₹3.00
January 2024: ₹4.00
April 2024: ₹5.00
July 2024: ₹6.00
October 2024: ₹10.00
September 2025: ₹12.00 (later moved to ₹12.50)
March 2026: ₹14.90 (pre-GST, which brings the effective amount close to ₹17.58 with taxes)

Zomato’s fee has increased by about 645% in the same period.

Zomato made the latest move on March 20, 2026, raising it from ₹12.50 to ₹14.90 pre-GST. Swiggy followed a few days later and took its fee to ₹17.58 inclusive of GST. Now both platforms charge almost the same effective amount to customers.

These updates have been widely reported in Economic Times, Times of India, NDTV Profit, and Livemint.

What About Other Platforms?

Magicpin, the third-largest player in food delivery, has kept its platform fee at ₹14.20 per order for now. Its founder and CEO Anshoo Sharma said the company decided not to raise it at this time to support restaurant partners and keep food delivery more accessible for customers, especially when costs are rising across the board.

In the quick commerce space, things vary. Some players like Zepto have removed or adjusted certain handling and surge fees in recent months, while others focus more on delivery or cart-based charges rather than a fixed platform fee.

Why the Fees Keep Rising

Zomato and Swiggy introduced the platform fee as a small convenience charge in 2023. Over time it has become a regular part of every order.

The main push behind the repeated hikes is rising operational costs, especially fuel, which affects delivery partners heavily. Restaurant costs for gas and other inputs have also gone up. The platform fee gives the companies a stream of revenue that has almost no direct variable cost attached to it. This helps them improve margins as they work towards steady profitability.

Both companies have been raising the fee gradually. They often test small increases first, sometimes in select cities, and roll them out widely once orders do not drop much.

What This Means for Users and Restaurants

For regular customers, the platform fee now adds ₹17-18 on top of food price, delivery charge, and GST, even on a normal ₹300-400 order. Many people have started feeling the total bill creep up steadily.

Restaurants also see the impact. Higher final bills can sometimes lead to fewer orders, so some smaller places have adjusted their menu prices to manage the extra costs passed on by the platforms.

The Bigger Picture for Founders

This steady climb in platform fees shows how Zomato and Swiggy have moved from heavy spending on growth and discounts to protecting and improving margins on every order.

For anyone building a marketplace or delivery business, a few practical points stand out:

A small fixed charge introduced early can grow into a meaningful revenue stream if you increase it slowly over time.
Gradual hikes are easier for users to accept than sudden big jumps.
In a high-cost environment, such fees help cover rising expenses without touching restaurant commissions or partner payouts too aggressively.

Food delivery continues to be a tough space with tight margins. Zomato and Swiggy still need to balance delivery costs, restaurant relationships, and day-to-day operations. The platform fee has become one clear tool they are using to strengthen their numbers.

The charts make it plain: what started as a Rs 2 charge has turned into a noticeable part of the bill in just three years. As fuel and other costs keep moving, these fees may see more changes ahead.

Data sources: Economic Times, Times of India, NDTV Profit, & Livemint. Charts above are based on app updates from 2023 to March 2026. Magicpin fee details reported in March 2026 coverage.

This is part of our ongoing look at Indian startup trends and market shifts case studies on desifounder. We will keep sharing updates as new numbers come in.