Quick commerce platform Zepto has raised its free delivery threshold to Rs 149, an over 50% increase from the earlier Rs 99 level.
Under the revised structure, customers now need a cart value of Rs 149 to avail free delivery. For orders below this threshold, Zepto charges Rs 20 as delivery fee, which has been reduced from the Rs 30 it charged earlier for sub-Rs 99 orders. The company continues to waive handling fees, surge charges, convience fees on tobacco, and late-night fees across all orders, irrespective of cart value. Zepto’s aggressive fee waivers were introduced in early November 2025, in a move industry observers described as an effort to rapidly expand its market share amid intensifying competition and a potential public listing.
Combined with its Rs 99 free delivery threshold, the lowest in the market, the move had positioned Zepto as the most competitively priced player in India’s 10-minute delivery market.
Competitive Ripples in the Quick Commerce Sector
The move had also triggered competitive responses. Days after Zepto’s announcement, Swiggy’s Instamart launched its own fee waiver initiative, waiving delivery, handling, and surge fees on orders above Rs 299.
A comparison of current fee structures shows Zepto retains a pricing edge, though the gap has narrowed. Eternal-owned Blinkit, which has stayed away from any such fee waivers, offers free delivery on orders above Rs 199 and charges a Rs 5 handling fee on all orders. For orders below Rs 199, Blinkit levies Rs 30 as delivery fee, along with a Rs 20 small cart charge for orders under Rs 99, resulting in total fees of up to Rs 55 for low-value orders.
Assessing the Landscape: Instamart and Amazon Now
Swiggy Instamart’s free delivery threshold stands at Rs 299 for non-subscribers and Rs 199 for Swiggy One members. The platform charges Rs 30 as delivery fee for orders below Rs 199, Rs 9.80 as handling fee, and a Rs 15 small cart charge for orders under Rs 99, along with 18% GST on these fees, which pushes total charges to around Rs 65 for low-value baskets. For orders above Rs 299, all fees are waived.
Amazon’s quick commerce offering, Amazon Now, charges Rs 30 as delivery fee for orders below Rs 99, with free delivery above that threshold for Prime members. The Rs 10 handling fee is also waived for Prime subscribers, irrespective of cart value. For Prime members, Amazon Now thus offers a lower free delivery threshold than Zepto’s revised Rs 149, though the service has a smaller footprint compared to the three major players.
By contrast, Zepto’s revised structure means customers with orders below Rs 149 pay only Rs 20 as delivery fee, with no handling, surge, or small cart charges. For orders above Rs 149, all fees are waived entirely.