Rapido has quietly turned up the heat in the food delivery game with the launch of its standalone app, Ownly, now live in pockets of Bengaluru like Koramangala and HSR Layout. The pitch is simple but disruptive — most meals under ₹150, essentials like chapati, rice, and eggs for under ₹100, and a platform that’s been built around keeping things affordable for both customers and restaurants.
But this isn’t just another budget-friendly food app. The real twist is in how Rapido plans to treat restaurants — charging a much lower commission than the duopoly of Zomato and Swiggy.
A Commission Model Restaurants Can Actually Breathe With
The current big players take 16–30% per order, not counting advertising and promo spends. Ownly instead uses a flat fee model — ₹25 on orders below ₹400 and ₹50 for anything above, pulling average take rates down to 8–15%. For small eateries, that’s the difference between scraping by and actually turning a decent margin.
Here’s how it stacks up:
| Platform | Avg. Commission | Fee Model |
|---|---|---|
| Ownly (Rapido) | 8–15% | ₹25 (<₹400), ₹50 (>₹400) |
| Swiggy | 16–30% | % of order + extra charges |
| Zomato | 16–30% | % of order + extra charges |
Restaurants have been asking for something like this for years — and Rapido seems to be positioning itself as the friendly alternative that can actually keep their business healthy.
Rapido Partners with Noida International Airport
Rapido has teamed up with Noida International Airport (NIA) to offer 24×7 bike and auto rides directly from the terminal, complete with a dedicated pick-up zone, clear signage, staff assistance, and app features like real-time tracking, digital payments, and SOS safety support. The move promises faster, more affordable last-mile travel for passengers while fitting into NIA’s vision of becoming a smart, connected transport hub.
No Hidden Markups, No Surprise Fees
Ownly’s cart page shows exactly what you’re going to pay before you hit “order.” Delivery charges, handling costs, any surcharges — all listed upfront. Restaurants can’t inflate menu prices compared to offline rates, and customers won’t find random “packaging” or “rain” fees sneaking in at the payment screen.
For budget-conscious users who’ve grown weary of inflated bills, this transparency could be reason enough to try a new platform.
Rapido’s Vision With Ownly
Rapido co-founder Aravind Sanka calls the food delivery move a strategic extension of what the company already does well:
“We’ve always focused on solving real-world urban mobility at scale. With Ownly, we’re using our fleet strength and hyperlocal know-how to make food delivery more affordable — for both the people ordering and the restaurants cooking.”
By tapping into its existing driver network, Rapido can keep delivery costs under control without a massive new logistics build — a smart move that also boosts earning opportunities for riders.
Ride Pooling Launch & Swiggy’s Exit Plan
This food delivery launch comes just as Rapido pushes into bike and car pooling with its new Hopr service in Bengaluru — aimed at commuters looking for cheaper daily travel.
Meanwhile, Swiggy, which owns around 12% of Rapido, is reportedly looking to sell its stake for as much as ₹2,500 crore — roughly a 2.5X return in just three years. Part of the reason? Swiggy now finds itself competing with Rapido directly in the food space.
The Bigger Picture
Rapido is betting that fair pricing + transparency will earn it loyalty where others have stumbled. For restaurants, lower commissions mean more cash in the bank; for customers, it means bills without sticker shock.
It’s still early days for Ownly, but if the Bengaluru test-run delivers the right mix of affordability, reliability, and scale, Zomato and Swiggy may have to rethink some long-guarded norms of the business — especially how they balance platform profits with partner well-being.
