New Delhi: Food delivery giant Swiggy has followed rival Zomato in raising its mandatory platform fee, increasing the charge by approximately 17% as the industry grapples with rising operational costs.

According to billing details on the Swiggy app, the fee has climbed to Rs 17.58 per order, up from the previous rate of Rs 14.99. This adjustment represents a hike of Rs 2.59, including pre-GST figures. The company informed its user base that the revised pricing is intended to help the firm “operate and maintain the platform.”

The move mirrors a strategy implemented by Zomato just last week, which saw its own platform fee rise by roughly 19%, adding an extra Rs 2 to every delivery.

Parallel Pricing Trends

With these latest revisions, the two dominant players in India's food delivery sector now maintain nearly identical fee structures. Zomato’s current pre-GST platform fee sits at Rs 14.90 per order, an increase from its earlier Rs 12.50 mark.

The trajectory of these fees has been aggressive since their inception. Zomato first introduced a Rs 2 platform fee in August 2023 and has incrementally scaled the cost across major markets. Its most recent prior adjustment occurred in September 2025, following a jump from Rs 6 to Rs 10 during the February festive season.

Industry analysts suggest the hikes are a direct response to a more expensive delivery ecosystem. Rising energy costs, specifically spikes in LPG and crude oil prices, have significantly increased overhead for both partner restaurants and delivery fleets.

Market Performance

Investor reaction to the pricing shifts has been mixed. Shares of Swiggy remained largely stagnant on the BSE on Tuesday, trading at Rs 273.40, a marginal increase of 0.33%. The stock has faced significant headwinds recently, declining more than 10% over the last month and nearly 40% over a six-month period.

In contrast, shares of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato, saw a gain of approximately 2% following its own fee hike announcement last week. The divergent market performances highlight the ongoing pressure on Swiggy to sustain margins in a highly competitive and cost-intensive landscape.

With inputs from IANS