We all love ordering food online, don’t we? We do it because it is quick, convenient, and perfect for those lazy evenings. But sometimes, the convenience comes with a price quite literally.
And if you’ve ever felt like you are paying more than your friend who ordered the exact same thing you are not imagining it.
Recently, an X (formerly Twitter) user sparked an online debate that made many people pause before hitting that “Place Order” button. The user, Siddharth Mishra, pointed out a surprising difference in the total amount charged by Zomato and Swiggy for the same food, from the same restaurant.
Siddharth posted two screenshots — one from Swiggy and one from Zomato — after ordering two Margherita pizzas (New Hand Tossed, Medium) from Domino’s Pizza. On Swiggy, the total came to Rs 402. But on Zomato, the bill shot up to Rs 555.70.
That’s a difference of over Rs 148 — not pocket change when you’re just ordering pizza. Sharing the screenshots with a pinch of humour, Siddharth wrote:
“Ordered the exact same food on Swiggy and Zomato.
@Swiggy charged Rs 402, @zomato Rs 550.
Bro, am I paying for pizza or a 5-minute Zoom call with the chef?”
The post quickly gained traction, and Zomato was quick to respond. Their explanation? The base price of the food was the same, but the final bill varied due to different discounts, GST charges, and restaurant packaging fees on each platform.
Zomato replied, check here:-
“Hi Siddharth, please note that the item value is the same on both platforms. The difference in the total bill is due to varying discounts applied, and GST and restaurant packages. These may vary from platform to platform and from restaurant to restaurant. We hope this helps.”
This isn’t the first time people have flagged price differences between food delivery apps. It happens more often than you would think. And while Zomato’s response seems fair from a business perspective, one can’t ignore the bigger issue: why does ordering food online feel like solving a puzzle sometimes?
Shouldn’t platforms show upfront comparisons or make pricing more transparent so customers can make informed decisions? When the same food from the same restaurant varies in cost based on which app you use, it’s bound to raise eyebrows.