Swiggy & Zomato Commission Charges in 2026: What Restaurants Actually Pay

A clear breakdown of food delivery app commission charges in India in 2026, the hidden fees, and how restaurants can reduce their dependon on aggregators.

If you list your restaurant on food delivery apps, you already know the commission stings. But many owners don't realise how much leaves their pocket once every fee is added up. Here's an honest breakdown for 2026 — and what you can do about it.

What commission do delivery apps charge in India?

Commission rates vary by city, cuisine, and your negotiated contract, but most restaurants pay somewhere in the range of 18% to 30% per order. On top of the base commission, you typically also absorb:

Payment gateway fees (1–3%)
Packaging and handling deductions
Discount funding — when you "participate" in app-wide offers, you often co-fund the discount
Advertising spend to stay visible in a crowded listing

Add it up, and the effective cut on many orders lands well above the headline commission number.

A real example

Say your restaurant does ₹2,00,000/month in delivery-app orders at an effective 25% commission:

	Amount
Monthly order value	₹2,00,000
Commission (25%)	– ₹50,000
You keep	₹1,50,000

That's ₹6,00,000 a year handed to the platform. For many small restaurants, that's the difference between profit and loss.

Want your own number? Try our free commission calculator to see exactly what you're losing per year.

Why the commission feels unavoidable

Aggregators bring discovery — new customers who'd never find you otherwise. That's genuinely valuable for acquisition. The mistake is paying that same 25% on your regulars — people who already know you and would happily order direct.

How to reduce your commission dependency

You don't have to delist from delivery apps. The smart play is to shift repeat customers to a direct channel:

Create your own ordering link (e.g. via Torq Orbit) with WhatsApp ordering and zero commission.
Insert a flyer or QR code in every delivery bag: "Order direct next time & save — scan here."
Offer a small direct-only perk — free delivery, a freebie, or a loyalty stamp.
Keep aggregators for discovery, your own store for loyalty.

Even moving 30% of your orders direct can save lakhs per year.

The bottom line

Delivery-app commission is the single biggest controllable cost for most Indian restaurants. You can't negotiate it to zero — but you can build a direct, commission-free channel for the customers who already love you.

See how much you could save →