Rapido formally rolls out Ownly across Bengaluru with zero-commission food delivery model

Rapido formally rolls out Ownly across Bengaluru with zero-commission food delivery model

• Rapido launches Ownly food delivery app citywide in Bengaluru
• Ownly uses a zero-commission model for restaurants
• Ownly aims for transparent pricing with no hidden fees

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Rapido on March 3 formally launched its standalone food delivery app, Ownly, across Bengaluru, marking its full-scale entry into India’s crowded online food delivery market with a zero-commission model for restaurants.

The announcement follows a quieter pilot that began in August last year, when the app went live on the Play Store in select neighbourhoods such as Koramangala, HSR Layout and BTM Layout. The rollout expands the service citywide and signals Rapido’s intent to compete more directly with incumbents Swiggy and Zomato.

Ownly does not charge commissions to restaurants, the company said, and instead plans to levy a delivery fee on customers that covers logistics costs. The platform positions itself around what it calls “price honesty”, arguing that consumers should pay only for food and delivery, without layered platform fees or inflated menu pricing.

“Indian consumer habits are changing rapidly. Food ordering has become an integral part of everyday life across India, not just in metros but in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well. At Ownly, we see a strong opportunity to build a restaurant-first model that supports small and big partners to cater to the evolving needs of their customers. We believe that transparency, honesty and fairness are key drivers of long term growth for the sector and hope that Ownly can enable more people to enjoy the convenience of ordering in,” said Aravind Sanka, Founder - Rapido and Ownly.

Entering a tough market

Rapido’s move comes at a time when India’s food delivery market — estimated at roughly $8 billion annually — is largely controlled by Swiggy and Zomato. The two companies have built dense restaurant networks, deep logistics fleets and diversified into adjacencies such as quick commerce.

Food delivery has also been a margin-sensitive business, with high customer acquisition costs, delivery payouts and promotional spends weighing on profitability. Several smaller challengers over the years have struggled to scale.

Rapido appears to be betting that its existing hyperlocal logistics network — built for bike taxis and deliveries — can help reduce incremental costs for food fulfilment. Deliveries on Ownly are managed by Rapido’s network of partners, referred to as “Captains”.

Beyond discounts

The company said Ownly will focus on “everyday low prices” rather than discount-led growth. It also launched a marketing campaign titled “Food Promise”, built around a courtroom-style advertisement that highlights industry issues such as hidden fees and complex discount structures.

Ownly operates as a full-stack marketplace handling both discovery and delivery. The platform currently claims close to 20,000 restaurant partners and is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

With the citywide rollout in Bengaluru, Rapido has formally placed a bet on reshaping unit economics in food delivery. Whether a zero-commission structure can sustain margins at scale — while matching the reach and depth of established players — will likely determine how far Ownly can expand beyond its home market.