Rapido’s Ownly App Serves Up Savings, Dishing Out a Spicy Swipe at Swiggy and Zomato

Food delivery in Bengaluru is undergoing a shake-up. Rapido, the well-known bike taxi and logistics platform, has launched a new app called Ownly, promising to deliver meals at prices up to 15 percent lower than what users pay on Swiggy and Zomato. As the city’s tech-savvy diners compare options, restaurants and delivery partners are watching closely.

 

Key highlights of the launch

 

• Ownly debuted in select Bengaluru areas including Koramangala, HSR Layout, BTM Layout, Byrasandra, Tavarekere, Madiwala, and Hosur Sarjapura Road.

• Rapido has switched to a fixed-fee-per-order model instead of the traditional commission-based system, which on established platforms can run as high as 30 percent. Most orders incur a flat fee paid by the restaurant instead of a percentage cut.

• Participating eateries have welcomed the model, seeing relief from steep commissions and aggressive ad spends required for visibility on older platforms.

• Most food items on Ownly are priced at or below Rs. 150, with staples such as rice and eggs under Rs. 100. The app pledges “no hidden charges”; meals are delivered at “offline” prices, matching what customers pay at the restaurant itself.

• Ownly is operated as a subsidiary of Ctrlx Technologies, part of Rapido, and is currently available on Google Play Store for Bengaluru users. A wider rollout could follow after the local pilot phase.

• Swiggy, which previously invested in Rapido, has informed shareholders of plans to review their stake, indicating possible conflict of interest as Rapido enters the same market.

• Rapido’s four-million-strong bike delivery fleet will be harnessed for Ownly, leveraging existing logistics to attempt a cost and speed advantage.

 

How Ownly is different

 

Instead of taking a 16-30% share of each order (as is typical for Swiggy and Zomato), Ownly’s approach gives restaurants more control over their margins. Delivery fees are set at Rs. 25 for orders up to Rs. 400, Rs. 50 for orders above Rs. 400—resulting in a much lower effective commission between 8-15%. With tightly defined delivery zones, Ownly shows customers only restaurants nearby, aiming for efficient service and reduced fuel costs.

 

Industry response and challenges

 

The restaurant industry’s top body, NRAI, is in talks with Rapido about the new approach, hoping Ownly can disrupt what many small restaurant owners call unsustainable terms on existing platforms. Social media is full of posts from restaurateurs complaining about high commissions, hidden service charges, and negative payout experiences with Zomato and Swiggy.

While some see Ownly’s zero-commission model as a breath of fresh air, others warn of the risks and logistical hurdles challengers have faced before. Food delivery is a tough market; companies must fulfill quickly, keep costs low, and balance restaurant, customer, and delivery rider needs.

 

What’s next for Bengaluru’s food delivery scene?

 

Rapido’s Ownly has triggered a long-awaited debate on pricing and platform fairness. Whether Ownly can outlast, expand, and truly compete depends on how the pilot unfolds—and if restaurants, riders, and customers feel the promised benefits.

For now, Bengaluru residents have one more app to try, and the established players are taking notice.

 

Sources: Indian Express, India Today, Hindustan Times, The Hans India