Thu, 17 Sept 2026
11:28:49 am
Rudransh Sangwan
Published at: September 17, 2026, 9:53 AM
Synopsis
Compare Zomato and Swiggy for restaurants across orders, commissions, advertising, customer reach and profit per order to find the right platform mix.

For Indian restaurant owners, choosing between Zomato and Swiggy comes down to orders, customer reach, commissions, advertising costs and most importantly, profit per order. Current company data shows Zomato has a larger disclosed food delivery user and restaurant partner base, while Swiggy continues to grow strongly.
| Factor | Zomato | Swiggy |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly food delivery users | 27 million+ | 19.2 million |
| Restaurant partners | 300,000+ | 275,400 |
| Food delivery scale | Larger disclosed base | Large and growing |
| Restaurant discovery | Strong search and discovery | Strong marketplace discovery |
| Delivery network | Large | Large |
| Speed focused offering | Available | Bolt |
| Advertising | Sponsored listings and ads | Restaurant advertising |
| Membership | Zomato Gold | Swiggy One |
| Affordability | Offers and Gold benefits | Strong affordability focus |
| Commission | Contract based | Contract based |
Zomato currently has the larger disclosed food delivery scale, while Swiggy remains a major source of restaurant orders and continues to expand its food delivery business.
| Latest disclosed metric | Zomato | Swiggy |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly food delivery users | 27 million+ | 19.2 million |
| Restaurant partners | 300,000+ | 275,400 |
| Food delivery value | ₹37,993 crore FY26 NOV | ₹9,490 crore Q1 FY27 GOV |
| Food delivery growth | 16% FY26 | 18% YoY Q1 FY27 |
The figures come from different reporting periods and company metrics, so they should not be treated as a direct like for like comparison. They do show the scale of both marketplaces.
There is no fixed commission rate that applies to every restaurant. Commercial terms can vary by restaurant, location, cuisine, order value and agreement.
| Restaurant cost | What it affects |
|---|---|
| Commission | Platform cost on orders |
| GST on applicable fees | Total platform expense |
| Restaurant discounts | Amount retained from sales |
| Advertising | Customer acquisition cost |
| Packaging | Cost per delivered order |
| Refunds | Lost revenue |
| Cancellations | Potential payout reduction |
| Food cost | Product margin |
| Net payout | Actual marketplace realization |
| Contribution per order | Restaurant profitability |
The important number is not the advertised commission. It is the final contribution left after all costs.
| Restaurant type | What matters most | Platform factors to test |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud kitchen | Orders and contribution | Customer acquisition and repeat orders |
| QSR | Speed and order frequency | Delivery speed and visibility |
| Premium restaurant | Higher AOV and repeat customers | Discovery and reviews |
| Local restaurant | Local demand | Search visibility and delivery radius |
| Late night restaurant | Night time orders | Late night availability |
| New restaurant | Customer acquisition | Reviews, discovery and advertising |
Swiggy's speed focused Bolt service and affordability initiatives can be relevant for QSR and fast preparation restaurants, while Zomato's large discovery ecosystem can be useful for restaurants trying to build visibility.
Restaurants should run both platforms and compare their actual economics instead of relying only on industry averages.
| Restaurant performance metric | Zomato | Swiggy |
|---|---|---|
| Total orders | ||
| Gross sales | ||
| Average order value | ||
| Commission | ||
| GST on platform fees | ||
| Restaurant discounts | ||
| Advertising spend | ||
| Refunds | ||
| Cancellations | ||
| Packaging cost | ||
| Net payout | ||
| Food cost | ||
| Contribution per order | ||
| Repeat customers | ||
| Advertising cost per order |
Contribution per order = Net payout minus food cost minus packaging and other variable costs
A platform delivering more orders is not automatically more profitable. The platform producing higher contribution after all costs may be more valuable for a particular restaurant.
Using both platforms can expand customer reach and reduce dependence on a single marketplace.
| Channel | Main purpose | What to measure |
|---|---|---|
| Zomato | Discovery and orders | Orders, AOV and contribution |
| Swiggy | Incremental demand | Orders, AOV and contribution |
| Direct ordering | Repeat customers | Repeat rate and customer retention |
| WhatsApp ordering | Direct repeat business | Orders and customer cost |
| Own website | Customer ownership | Direct sales and repeat orders |
Restaurants should also track advertising separately. More visibility is useful only when the incremental profit from additional orders is greater than the advertising spend.
| If your priority is... | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Maximum customer reach | Monthly users and local demand |
| More orders | Orders by platform |
| Lower costs | Total effective platform cost |
| Higher profit | Contribution per order |
| New customer discovery | Search visibility and conversion |
| Repeat customers | Repeat order rate |
| Better advertising ROI | Incremental orders versus ad spend |
| Lower platform dependence | Both platforms plus direct ordering |
The latest disclosed data gives Zomato the larger food delivery scale, while Swiggy continues to show strong growth. For an individual restaurant, however, local demand and actual net contribution matter more than national platform size.
The most practical approach is to test both platforms, track the complete cost of every order and move advertising spend toward the platform producing better profitable demand.
Which is better for restaurants, Zomato or Swiggy? It depends on orders, costs, customer reach and profit per order.
Is Zomato cheaper than Swiggy for restaurants? There is no fixed rate. Costs vary by restaurant, agreement, discounts and advertising.
How much commission does Zomato charge restaurants? The commission varies according to the restaurant's individual agreement and applicable charges.
How much commission does Swiggy charge restaurants? Rates vary by restaurant and agreement, with advertising and other costs also affecting the total.
Which gives more orders, Zomato or Swiggy? It depends on location, cuisine, pricing, ratings, delivery radius and customer demand.
Should a new restaurant join Zomato or Swiggy first? Joining both and comparing actual orders, payouts and profitability can provide a better answer.
Should restaurants use both Zomato and Swiggy? Yes, using both can increase customer reach and reduce dependence on one platform.
How can restaurants make more profit from Zomato and Swiggy? Control food costs, pricing, discounts and advertising while tracking profit per order.
How do restaurants calculate Zomato profit per order? Subtract food, packaging and other variable costs from the final Zomato payout.
How do restaurants calculate Swiggy profit per order? Subtract food, packaging and other variable costs from the final Swiggy payout.
Is Zomato better for restaurant discovery? Zomato has a large restaurant discovery ecosystem, but results vary by location and restaurant.
Is Swiggy better for fast food restaurants? Swiggy's speed focused services can benefit restaurants with quick preparation and delivery.
Which is better for a cloud kitchen, Zomato or Swiggy? Both can be useful. Compare orders, costs, payouts and contribution margins.
Which is better for small restaurants, Zomato or Swiggy? Compare local orders, commission, advertising costs, average order value and net payout.
Which platform is better for premium restaurants? Premium restaurants should compare average order value, discovery, repeat orders and contribution margin.
Does Zomato charge restaurants for advertising? Yes, Zomato offers paid advertising and sponsored visibility options for restaurants.
Does Swiggy charge restaurants for advertising? Yes, Swiggy provides advertising and promotional options for restaurant partners.
How much does Zomato and Swiggy take from a ₹500 order? The amount varies based on commission, taxes, discounts, advertising and other applicable charges.
Which is better for restaurants in India in 2026, Zomato or Swiggy? The better option depends on your restaurant's actual orders, costs, payouts and profit.
How can I compare Zomato and Swiggy for my restaurant? Compare orders, sales, AOV, commission, discounts, ads, refunds, payouts, food costs and contribution per order.

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