Zero Commission Ownly Could Break Zomato Swiggy

India’s digital platform economy has grown through intense competition and frequent changes in business models. Sectors like ride hailing and food delivery often see companies testing new pricing strategies. These moves aim to attract restaurants, delivery partners and customers.

Because of this competitive environment, market leadership can change quickly. A new pricing model or service idea can disrupt existing platforms. Companies often compete by offering lower commissions, better incentives or simpler pricing structures.

A similar development may now be unfolding in the food delivery sector. Ride hailing platform Rapido has launched a new food delivery service called Ownly in Bengaluru. The move places the company in direct competition with established platforms Zomato and Swiggy.

The launch has drawn attention because of Rapido’s pricing strategy. Most food delivery platforms charge restaurants commissions between 25 and 35 percent per order. In contrast, Ownly is offering a zero commission model for restaurants.

Instead of charging restaurants a percentage commission, the platform asks customers to pay a flat delivery fee of ₹30. This approach aims to attract restaurant partners who often raise concerns about high commission costs on existing platforms.

The strategy reflects a model Rapido previously used in the ride hailing industry. In that sector, the company introduced a flat daily fee system for drivers instead of commission based pricing. The approach helped Rapido expand its presence quickly across many cities.

Reports suggest the company now handles millions of rides every day in hundreds of cities. This growth helped Rapido build a large network of drivers and riders across India.

Another advantage for the company is its existing infrastructure. Rapido already has around two million riders and tens of millions of monthly users on its platform. This network allows the company to add food delivery services without building a system from the ground up.

Despite the new competition, the food delivery industry remains financially challenging. Companies such as Zomato and Swiggy continue to operate with thin margins while also investing heavily in quick commerce and logistics.

Whether Rapido’s zero commission model can remain sustainable in the long term is still uncertain. However, the launch of Ownly in Bengaluru has already sparked discussion about how pricing strategies may reshape India’s food delivery market.