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Restaurants · head to head

Grubhub vs Swiggy

Grubhub logo

Grubhub

Restaurants

Restaurant food delivery marketplace

From
$15/order
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Swiggy logo

Swiggy

Restaurants

Indian food delivery marketplace with Instamart quick commerce grocery built in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Swiggy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Grubhub commission fees of 15-30% significantly reduce restaurant profit margins; Swiggy restaurant commission of roughly 15 to 25 percent is commonly passed through as higher in-app menu prices, so the delivered price is not simply the counter price plus a fee.
  • They diverge on capability: Grubhub covers Delivery network, Swiggy covers Food delivery marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Grubhub and Swiggy actually diverge.

Attributes where Grubhub and Swiggy differ
AttributeGrubhubSwiggy
Starting price$15/orderFree
Pricing modeltransactionFree to download; delivery and platform fees per order, optional paid membership
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded2004Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Restaurants).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Grubhub

  • Delivery network
  • Order management
  • Customer reach
  • Marketing tools
  • Analytics
  • Loyalty programs
  • Toast
  • Square

Only in Swiggy

  • Food delivery marketplace
  • Instamart quick commerce
  • Swiggy One membership
  • Swiggy Dineout
  • Swiggy Genie
  • Swiggy for Business

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Grubhub

  • Point of Salenot Swiggy
  • Order Managementnot Swiggy
  • Inventory Controlnot Swiggy
  • Staff Schedulingnot Swiggy

Swiggy

  • A diner in an Indian city ordering restaurant food and wanting quick grocery top-ups in the same appnot Grubhub
  • A household comparing Swiggy One against Zomato Gold based on which platform they use morenot Grubhub
  • Someone needing same-day courier pickup and drop-off for a non-food item via Swiggy Genienot Grubhub
  • A restaurant partner using Swiggy for Business to manage online order volume and menu pricingnot Grubhub

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Grubhub

  • Commission fees of 15-30% significantly reduce restaurant profit margins
  • Limited geographic coverage compared to competitors like DoorDash
  • Driver availability issues in some areas leading to canceled orders
  • Limited independent restaurant partnerships compared to competitors
  • Average delivery time of 40 minutes is slower than Uber Eats (33 minutes) and DoorDash (38 minutes)

Swiggy

  • Restaurant commission of roughly 15 to 25 percent is commonly passed through as higher in-app menu prices, so the delivered price is not simply the counter price plus a fee.
  • Instamart's fast delivery promise depends on dense local dark-store coverage, so the speed and product range advertised in major metros do not extend evenly to smaller cities.
  • Delivery riders and Instamart pickers are engaged on a gig basis with earnings tied to order volume, a model that has drawn wage and working-condition scrutiny in India.
  • Swiggy One's value depends on using multiple Swiggy products regularly; a household that only orders food occasionally will rarely recoup the subscription cost.
  • As a newly public company since its 2024 IPO, Swiggy is under investor pressure to show profitability, and cost-cutting or fee changes driven by that pressure can land on riders, restaurants or diners with limited notice.

Pricing, plan by plan

Grubhub

$15/order
  • Basic$15/percent
    • Marketplace listing
    • Order management
  • Standard$20/percent
    • Delivery
    • Marketing
  • Premium$25/percent
    • Priority placement
    • Promotions

Swiggy

Free
  • Pay per orderFree
    • Delivery fee scaling with distance and demand
    • Platform fee on order total
    • Restaurant menu prices often marked up versus dine-in
  • Swiggy One$299/month
    • Delivery fee waivers across food, Instamart and Dineout orders
    • Additional discounts and offers at partner outlets
    • Also offered at a discounted annual rate

Which should you pick?

Choose Grubhub if

  • You need delivery network.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want order management.
Grubhub review

Choose Swiggy if

  • You need food delivery marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want instamart quick commerce.
Swiggy review

Questions people ask

Is Grubhub or Swiggy better?
Neither clearly leads. Grubhub starts at $15/order and Swiggy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Grubhub or Swiggy?
Swiggy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $15/order for Grubhub and Free for Swiggy.
Does Grubhub or Swiggy run on more platforms?
Grubhub runs on Web, Ios, Android. Swiggy runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Swiggy for free?
Yes. Swiggy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Grubhub starts at $15/order.
What is Grubhub best used for?
Grubhub is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what Swiggy is typically brought in for.
What can Grubhub do that Swiggy cannot?
Grubhub covers Delivery network, Order management, Customer reach, Marketing tools. Swiggy covers Food delivery marketplace, Instamart quick commerce, Swiggy One membership, Swiggy Dineout.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Grubhub: How much does Grubhub charge restaurants?

Grubhub charges restaurants a marketing commission of 5%, 15%, or 20% depending on the Marketplace plan, plus a processing fee of $0.30 plus 3.05% per order.

Source
Swiggy: Is Instamart a separate app from Swiggy?

No, Instamart quick commerce grocery delivery is built into the main Swiggy app rather than sold as a standalone download.

Grubhub: What does Grubhub cost customers?

Grubhub charges customers a $2.25 order processing fee plus $0.99 for delivery. A subscription offers $6.95 or $19.95/month for unlimited free delivery on eligible orders.

Source
Swiggy: What does Swiggy One include?

A paid membership bundling delivery fee waivers and discounts across food delivery, Instamart and Dineout dine-in bookings.

Grubhub: Does Grubhub offer promotional tools for restaurants?

Yes, Grubhub offers Sponsored Listings (3-10% premium on commissions) and Boost Programs (10-20% additional cost per order) to increase restaurant visibility.

Source
Swiggy: Is Swiggy a public company?

Yes, Swiggy Limited listed on Indian stock exchanges via an IPO in 2024.

Grubhub: Is Grubhub available in all cities?

No, Grubhub delivery service is not available in all cities, and the platform is less convenient in small cities with limited driver availability.

Source
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