Check This Before Tapping ‘Order Now’ on Food Delivery Apps

It does feel like a luxury to order your favorite cuisine online nowadays. The experience is fast and convenient, even if it is typically laden with tummy guilt and ruined exercise regimens, giving you the ultimate surrender to apathy on wet and dreary evenings or lazy weekends. While that biryani or pizza might satiate your taste buds, you might feel disappointed when you finally see the bill. There likely are going to be some 'hidden' costs that you did not expect, and knowing they exist can inform your choices the next time you order food for delivery.

Let's begin with the fact that every online food order in India includes a 5% goods and services tax (GST) as levied by both the Central Government and State Governments. So, for example, if you order food that costs ₹500, you would go from ₹500.00 to ₹525.00, just like that!

Now, factor in the delivery charges. These usually range between ₹40 and ₹50. Though GST isn’t added to delivery fees (as they’re often passed on to third-party partners), they still bump up the cost.

Next comes the platform fee or “convenience charge” introduced by many delivery apps. This fee, often ₹5 to ₹30, may seem small until you realize it also includes 18% GST. A ₹20 platform fee, for example, ends up costing ₹23.60.

All these extras add up, and your ₹500 order might suddenly touch ₹600.

Here’s what you can do: always review the bill breakdown before paying. Compare delivery apps, or better yet, order directly from the restaurant. Want more tips on money-smart decisions like these?

Head to ViralBake.com for practical updates, consumer insights, and smart daily reads that help you stay informed and in control. Your plate deserves value as much as flavor.