ONDC vs Zomato vs Swiggy vs your own website
Updated October 20, 2026
For reach, Zomato and Swiggy win but charge the most (a reported 15%–30% plus 18% GST); ONDC offers lower commission (ONDC claims ~8–11%) across many buyer apps; newer zero-commission apps like Rapido Ownly and Waayu charge restaurants nothing or a flat subscription; and your own website charges 0% commission and gives you the customer data — but you drive the traffic. Most restaurants use a mix: marketplaces for discovery, and their own channel for repeat orders. Here's the honest comparison.
Menuthere is not affiliated with Zomato, Swiggy, ONDC, Rapido/Ownly or Waayu. Figures are each platform's own claims or third-party reporting, dated below.
In short
- Zomato / Swiggy: biggest reach, highest cost — reported 15%–30% commission + 18% GST.
- ONDC: lower commission (ONDC claims ~8–11%), sells across many buyer apps; you join via a seller app.
- Zero-commission apps: Rapido Ownly (no commission; ~20,000 restaurants, in the Rapido app since Jul 2026); Waayu (zero commission, flat subscription).
- Your own website: 0% commission, you own the customer and data — but you bring the traffic.
- Smart play: marketplaces/ONDC to be found; your own 0%-commission link for repeat orders.
as the channel you own.
The comparison at a glance
| Zomato / Swiggy | ONDC | Zero-commission apps (Rapido Ownly, Waayu) | Your own website (Menuthere) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission | Reported 15%–30% + 18% GST | ONDC claims ~8–11% | Zero (Ownly) / flat subscription (Waayu) | 0% |
| Reach / discovery | Highest | Across many buyer apps | Growing, city-limited | You drive traffic |
| Who owns the customer | The platform | Buyer app | The app | You |
| Customer data | Limited | Via seller app | Limited | Full — name, number, history |
| Payments | Platform settles | Via seller app | App settles | Razorpay / Cashfree / UPI to you |
| Setup | Free, verification | Via a seller app | App onboarding | Free plan |
| Best for | New-customer discovery | Lower-cost wider reach | Low-cost delivery where live | Repeat orders & owning the relationship |
Zomato and Swiggy
The incumbents with the most customers and the most expensive economics. Neither publishes a rate; Business Standard reported base commissions of 15%–30% of order value in July 2026, and 18% GST applies on the commission. Great for discovery, poor for repeat orders. See Zomato commission and Swiggy commission, and how to reduce it.
ONDC
An open, government-backed network: you list once (through a seller app) and appear across many buyer apps. ONDC's own F&B page claims it takes the industry-standard ~25–35% down to ~8–11%. Your real cost and experience depend on which seller app, buyer apps and logistics you use.
Zero-commission apps
A newer wave charges restaurants no per-order commission:
- Rapido Ownly — Rapido's food-delivery service on a zero-commission model. Business Today reported it listed close to 20,000 restaurants and went live inside the main Rapido app on 28 July 2026, using Rapido's rider network; customers pay a delivery fee rather than inflated menu prices.
- Waayu — markets itself as India's first zero-commission food-delivery app, using a subscription model instead of commission (reported one-time setup and a monthly subscription fee per outlet). It operates in Mumbai and other cities and has also listed on ONDC.
These can cut your delivery cost sharply where they operate, but coverage is still city-limited and the customer still belongs to the app.
Your own website
The only channel at 0% commission where you own the customer. With Menuthere you get a free ordering page and QR code menu, Razorpay, Cashfree and UPI into your own account, and WhatsApp ordering on your own number. The trade-off: you bring the traffic. That's why it pairs so well with the others.
So which should you use?
- Need new customers fast? Stay on Zomato/Swiggy for discovery — and manage the cost.
- Want wider reach at lower commission? Add ONDC through a seller app.
- Operate where a zero-commission app is live? Try Rapido Ownly or Waayu to cut delivery cost.
- Want to keep your margin and your regulars? Run your own 0%-commission channel and move repeat customers to it.
The restaurants that win don't pick one — they use marketplaces and ONDC to get found, and their own direct link to keep the customers they've already won.
FAQs
Is ONDC cheaper than Zomato and Swiggy?
ONDC claims it takes the industry-standard ~25–35% commission down to roughly ~8–11% on its network — well below the 15%–30% restaurants commonly report on Zomato and Swiggy. Your exact cost depends on the seller app and logistics you use.
What are the zero-commission food delivery apps in India?
Rapido Ownly runs a zero-commission model (listing close to 20,000 restaurants and live in the Rapido app since July 2026), and Waayu uses a flat-subscription, zero-commission model. Both are city-limited, so availability depends on where you operate.
Is Rapido Ownly really zero commission?
According to Business Today, restaurants on Ownly pay zero commission; the model relies on Rapido's rider network and a customer-paid delivery fee rather than commission or inflated menu prices.
Should I use ONDC or my own website?
They solve different problems. ONDC gives you reach across many buyer apps at lower commission; your own website gives you 0% commission and full customer data but no built-in traffic. Many restaurants use ONDC for discovery and their own link for repeat orders.
What's the cheapest way to take online orders in India?
Your own direct ordering page is the cheapest per order at 0% commission, because you only pay your plan. Use it for repeat customers, and use marketplaces, ONDC or zero-commission apps to discover new ones.
Sources (5)
- ONDC commission claim (~25–35% → ~8–11%) — ONDC F&B page: https://ondc.org/pages/food-and-beverages.html (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Zomato/Swiggy commission (15%–30%, Business Standard July 2026) — Menuthere live commission pages: https://menuthere.com/en/delivery-app-commission/zomato-india and https://menuthere.com/en/delivery-app-commission/swiggy-india (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Rapido Ownly (zero commission, ~20,000 restaurants, live in main app 28 Jul 2026, rider network) — Business Today: https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/story/no-platform-fees-20000-restaurants-rapidos-ownly-food-delivery-goes-live-within-the-main-app-545689-2026-07-28 (accessed 2026-10-21)
- Waayu (zero-commission, subscription model, Mumbai/other cities, launched on ONDC) — Inc42: https://inc42.com/startups/how-waayu-plans-to-eat-into-swiggy-zomatos-market-share-with-its-zero-commission-strategy/ and Business Standard press release: https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/waayu-india-s-first-zero-commission-food-delivery-app-launches-on-ondc-124091900333_1.html (accessed 2026-10-21)
- 18% GST on marketplace commission — Swipe: https://getswipe.in/blog/article/gst-reporting-zomato-swiggy-gstr3b-compliance (accessed 2026-10-21)