Every Order Costs More: Zomato Users Have Paid 645% More in Platform Fees Over 31 Months

Food delivery platform Zomato has significantly increased the platform fee it charges customers, raising it to ₹14.90 per order (pre-GST) as of March 2026. The latest revision marks a steady upward trend in additional charges levied on users, making online food ordering progressively more expensive across India.

The increase, implemented nationwide, comes after the previous hike in September 2025 when the fee was set at ₹12.50 per order. The platform fee, distinct from delivery charges and taxes, is collected by aggregators to offset operational expenses and improve revenue streams. The move reflects growing cost pressures in the food delivery ecosystem, particularly amid rising fuel prices and broader economic uncertainties.

Since its introduction in August 2023 at just ₹2 per order, Zomato’s platform fee has surged by approximately 645% over a span of 31 months. The fee has been revised multiple times in short intervals, indicating a calibrated strategy to gradually pass on operational costs to consumers without abrupt shocks to demand.

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A timeline of the increases shows consistent upward revisions, with the fee rising from ₹3 in late 2023 to ₹4 in early 2024, followed by ₹5 and ₹6 within months. A major jump came in October 2024 during the festive season, when the fee was doubled to ₹10, marking a sharp increase aligned with peak demand periods. Subsequent hikes in 2025 and 2026 have further elevated the cumulative burden on users.

Industry observers point out that rising crude oil prices, partly driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, have increased last-mile delivery costs, prompting aggregators to revise their pricing structures. Higher logistics expenses, combined with the need to sustain profitability in a competitive market, are key factors behind the repeated fee hikes.

For consumers, however, the impact is evident in the overall cost of ordering food online, even when menu prices remain unchanged. As platform fees continue to rise alongside delivery charges and taxes, affordability concerns may influence ordering patterns, potentially reshaping consumer behaviour in India’s rapidly evolving food delivery market.

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