Swiggy & Zomato Commission Rates, Explained

The headline commission

Both platforms charge a percentage of the order value, typically 18% to 25% in 2026. The exact rate depends on your city, category, order volume and whether you signed an exclusivity or promotional plan.

What else comes off your payout

• Payment gateway fee — roughly 1.8-3% on prepaid orders.
• GST on the commission — 18% charged on the commission amount itself, not on the order.
• Your share of discounts — "40% off up to Rs 80" campaigns are usually funded largely by the restaurant.
• Ads / sponsored listing — pay-per-click placements inside the app, entirely optional but competitive in dense areas.
• Cancellation and packaging adjustments — deducted against complaints and refunds.

Add these up and the effective take rate on a discounted order often lands at 35-45%, not 22%.

Worked example on a Rs 500 order

• Menu price: Rs 500
• Restaurant-funded discount 30%: −Rs 150
• Commission 22% on Rs 500: −Rs 110
• GST on commission: −Rs 20
• Payment gateway: −Rs 9

You receive about Rs 211. If food cost is Rs 140 and packaging Rs 25, you made Rs 46 on a Rs 500 order.

How to actually reduce it

1. Stop permanent discounts. Run campaigns for 10 days a month, not 30. Discounting continuously trains customers to wait.
2. Raise average order value. Combos and add-ons spread fixed per-order costs.
3. Build direct ordering. Put a WhatsApp number on every bill and package insert. Direct orders carry zero commission — this is the main reason kitchens list on Cloud Kitchen Adda, where customers order straight on WhatsApp.
4. Negotiate at volume. Once you cross ~2,000 orders a month, ask your account manager for a revised slab in writing.
5. Use both platforms plus magicpin. Depending on one app removes all your leverage.

Should you still be on Swiggy and Zomato?

Yes — for discovery. They deliver new customers you cannot reach cheaply otherwise. The mistake is treating them as your entire sales channel instead of the top of your funnel. Read our Zomato vs Swiggy comparison and the Swiggy registration guide.