Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based woman has sparked a discussion online after comparing the cost of ordering food through popular delivery platforms and a newly launched alternative. Her comparison between apps showed a significant difference in final prices, prompting debate about delivery charges, platform fees and the sustainability of low-cost delivery models.
The comparison was shared by Shreya Jha, who examined the price of ordering the same pizza through three different apps — Swiggy, Zomato and Ownly. The experiment quickly gained traction on social media, with many users discussing hidden charges and platform pricing strategies used by food delivery services.
Jha’s post comes at a time when competition in the food delivery sector is intensifying, especially with new players attempting to challenge the dominance of established platforms.
What is Ownly?
Ownly is a standalone food delivery application launched by the ride-hailing company Rapido. The service was officially introduced in Bengaluru on March 3, positioning itself as a low-cost alternative to existing delivery platforms.
According to its description on the Apple App Store, the app operates on a zero-commission model. It claims that customers will pay exactly what they see without additional platform fees or inflated menu prices.
The description states: “Ownly is a zero commission food delivery app built on one simple promise: What you see is what you pay.” The platform also claims there are no hidden charges or additional costs added during checkout.
However, attempts by some users to create accounts reportedly faced technical difficulties, with login OTPs not being generated despite repeated attempts.
Price comparison across apps
To test the difference in costs, Jha compared the price of ordering a corn pizza from Pizza Hut at its JP Nagar outlet across the three apps.
Zomato
On Zomato, the base price of the pizza was ₹119. However, several additional charges were added at checkout.
These included:
- Restaurant packaging charge: ₹25
- Delivery partner fee: ₹19
- Platform fee: ₹12.50
- Feeding India donation: ₹3
With GST and other charges included, the final bill rose to ₹191.37, significantly higher than the original menu price.
Swiggy
On Swiggy, the platform offered a ₹50 discount on the pizza. Despite the discount, the final price remained relatively high due to delivery-related charges.
The order included a delivery fee of ₹56, along with GST and other charges. As a result, the final price for the order came to ₹180.
Sharing her findings on social media platform X, Jha wrote that even after the discount, the customer still had to pay a much higher amount than the menu price.
Ownly’s lower final cost
The price comparison revealed a stark contrast when the same item was ordered through Ownly.
The pizza retained its original price of ₹119, with only ₹5.95 added as GST. This brought the total cost of the order to approximately ₹125, making it significantly cheaper than the other two platforms.
According to Jha’s observation, the absence of delivery charges, packaging fees and platform commissions helped keep the final cost much lower.
Questions about long-term sustainability
While the lower price attracted attention online, Jha also raised concerns about whether such a model would remain viable in the long term.
She questioned whether a delivery service operating without commissions or extra charges could sustain itself while covering operational costs such as logistics, rider payments and platform maintenance.
Her post asked whether the pricing difference could eventually collapse if the company struggles to maintain profitability.
Social media reactions
The comparison quickly went viral online, attracting numerous responses from users discussing the economics of food delivery services.
Some users suggested that Ownly may currently be operating in a growth stage, focusing on expanding its user base rather than immediate profits.
Others argued that sustainability would depend largely on high order volumes, which could help offset lower margins.
Another user noted that the strategy resembles the early business model adopted by Swiggy and Zomato when they first entered the market. In their initial years, both companies reportedly offered low commissions and free delivery to attract customers and build user habits before gradually introducing service fees.
Changing dynamics in food delivery
The discussion highlights the growing scrutiny of pricing practices used by online food delivery platforms. Customers increasingly question additional charges such as packaging fees, platform fees and delivery costs that can substantially increase the final bill.
As new competitors enter the market with alternative pricing strategies, the coming months may determine whether such models can survive in a sector known for thin margins and high operational costs.
For now, the comparison has sparked widespread debate about transparency in pricing and the evolving competition within India’s rapidly expanding food delivery industry.