Online food ordering is set to become more expensive for millions of users as food delivery giant Zomato has increased its ‘platform fee’ across India. Effective from Friday, March 20, 2026, the new rates are part of the company’s efforts to offset rising operational and logistics costs. This hike comes at a time when consumers are already grappling with high inflation and rising fuel prices.

The New Pricing Structure According to details available on the Zomato app, the platform fee has been revised from ₹12.50 to ₹14.90 per order (pre-GST). With the inclusion of taxes, users will now have to pay significantly more as a fixed charge on every transaction, regardless of the order value. This marks the first major revision since September last year. Interestingly, Zomato’s primary rival, Swiggy, currently charges a platform fee of ₹14.99 (inclusive of GST), bringing both market leaders to nearly identical pricing levels.

Why the Sudden Hike? The timing of this increase is closely linked to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The escalating conflict has led to a surge in global crude oil prices, which directly impacts the delivery expenses of gig workers and logistics partners. Additionally, supply chain disruptions in commercial LPG have hampered restaurant operations. Analysts suggest that the 19.2% jump in platform fees will help Zomato improve its unit economics and margins amidst these macro-economic pressures.

Market Competition and Alternatives While the industry duopoly moves toward higher fees, smaller players like Magicpin have decided to freeze their charges for the time being to remain accessible to customers. Furthermore, the entry of Rapido into the food delivery space with its service ‘Ownly’—which promises zero platform fees for now—is creating new dynamics in the market. However, with Zomato processing an average of 2 million orders daily, this incremental hike is expected to boost the company’s daily revenue by approximately ₹48 lakh.