A complete 2025 guide to saving money on food delivery apps like Zomato and Swiggy. Learn hidden tricks, discount codes, free delivery hacks, wallet rewards, and smart ordering tips for Indian users.
🌟 Strong Intro (No Questions)
Food delivery has become a daily habit across Indian households—whether it’s ordering breakfast before office, late-night biryani, or weekend desserts. But with rising delivery charges, platform fees, surge pricing, packaging costs, and rising GST, ordering online in 2025 can quickly burn a hole in your pocket. The good news is that you can easily reduce your monthly food delivery expenses by 20–40% using simple tricks, smart timing, wallet offers, and hidden discounts that most people never use.
This guide is designed for every Indian who wants to enjoy their favourite meals without draining their budget. These hacks combine perfectly with smart saving habits from Daily Money Hacks, budgeting strategies from Best Budgeting Apps, and practical spending control guides like Save ₹5000 Monthly.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Zomato & Swiggy prices can be reduced by 20–40% using simple hacks.
- Avoid peak hours to reduce delivery charges.
- Use wallet offers + UPI cashback for double savings.
- Choose combo meals instead of single meals.
- Avoid ordering from restaurants with high packaging fees.
- Memberships only make sense for frequent users.
📚 Table of Contents
- 🍕 Why Food Delivery Costs Are Higher in 2025
- 💡 17 Smart Ways to Save on Zomato & Swiggy
- 🪜 Step-by-Step Savings Routine
- 💳 Hidden Wallet Offers & Payment Tricks
- 🧾 Discount Codes & Offers (2025)
- 🍱 Best Food Types to Order for Maximum Savings
- 👪 Real-Life Indian Stories
- 📊 Comparison Tables
- 👍 Pros & Cons of Ordering Smartly
- ❌ Common Ordering Mistakes
- 🛠 Tools & Apps to Track Food Spending
- 🎯 Who This Guide Is For
- ✔️ Quick Action Checklist
- ❓ FAQs
- 🏁 Final Summary
🍕 Why Food Delivery Costs Are Higher in 2025
Food delivery apps now include:
- surge pricing
- platform fee
- packaging charges
- distance-based delivery charges
- GST on restaurant + delivery
- tip prompt
These extra charges easily add ₹40–₹120 per order.
But with smart ordering and budgeting knowledge from Save Money on a Small Salary, you can control these costs effortlessly.
💡 17 Smart Ways to Save on Zomato & Swiggy in 2025
⭐ 1. Avoid Ordering During Peak Hours
Delivery charges are highest:
- 12 pm – 2 pm
- 7 pm – 10 pm
Ordering before or after saves ₹20–₹70.
⭐ 2. Order Directly from Restaurant (Pickup Option)
Many restaurants offer:
- 10%–20% discount on direct pickup
- No packaging fees
- No delivery charges
⭐ 3. Use Zomato Gold / Swiggy One Only if You Order Often
Membership makes sense only if:
- You order 10+ times/month
Otherwise, it’s overspending.
⭐ 4. Order Combos or Family Packs
Combo meals reduce cost per item by 30–50%.
⭐ 5. Order from Cloud Kitchens
They usually have:
- lower packaging fees
- fewer taxes
- better offers
⭐ 6. Apply Wallet Cashback (PhonePe, Paytm, Amazon Pay)
Wallets often give ₹10–₹75 cashback per order.
Pairs well with savings from:
Apps That Pay You
⭐ 7. Add Items to Cart and Wait
Apps often send:
- 10% off
- ₹20–₹40 off
within 30 minutes.
⭐ 8. Avoid Restaurants with ‘High Packaging Fee’ Tag
Some charge ₹30–₹50 per item—avoid them.
⭐ 9. Compare Price on Restaurant Website
Some offer lower prices than apps.
⭐ 10. Use Credit/Debit Card Offers
Banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI run:
- flat ₹50 off
- flat ₹100 off
- 10% discount weekends
⭐ 11. Order During Festival Sales
Apps run massive offers during:
- Diwali
- Pongal
- Christmas
- IPL
- New Year
⭐ 12. Use No-Cost Delivery Restaurants
Some have free delivery under 2 km.
⭐ 13. Sort by “Offers Near You” Section
Gives 40–60% discounts.
⭐ 14. Use UPI Offers for Extra Cashback
UPI Lite + rewards help reduce cost further.
⭐ 15. Avoid Impulse Ordering
Plan meals weekly using insights from:
Family Budgeting
⭐ 16. Split Orders With Friends/Family
Pay fewer delivery charges.
⭐ 17. Limit Orders to Twice a Week
Use the rule:
Max 8 orders/month
This one rule saves ₹800–₹2000 monthly.
🪜 Step-by-Step Savings Routine (Beginner Friendly)
⭐ Step 1 — Set a Weekly Food Budget
Use budgeting tactics from Best Budgeting Apps.
⭐ Step 2 — Order only when discounts show 40%+
⭐ Step 3 — Check delivery charges
If more than ₹40 → skip.
⭐ Step 4 — Apply wallet + bank + promo code combo
Stack offers like a pro.
⭐ Step 5 — Track total monthly spending
Avoid crossing food delivery limits.
💳 Hidden Wallet Offers & Payment Tricks
You’ll save maximum by combining:
- Paytm cashback + Zomato coupon
- PhonePe rewards + restaurant discount
- Amazon Pay UPI cashback + Gold member offer
Wallets often give:
- Scratch cards
- 10–20% cashback
- RuPay UPI special offers
🧾 Best Discount Codes & Offers (2025)
(Generic examples; apps rotate regularly)
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| First order | 50% OFF |
| Wallet cashback | ₹25–₹75 |
| Bank card offer | 10% OFF |
| Zomato Gold | Free delivery |
| Swiggy One | Reduced surge fee |
| Festival offer | Flat ₹100 off |
🍱 Best Food Items to Order for Maximum Savings
| Food Type | Why It Saves Money |
|---|---|
| Biriyani family pack | Best value per serving |
| Chinese combos | Low packaging cost |
| South Indian meals | High quantity |
| Rolls / Wraps | Low GST + delivery safe |
| Thalis | Complete + cheap |
👪 Real-Life Indian Stories
👩💼 Ankita, Mumbai
Reduced monthly delivery cost from ₹3,800 → ₹2,100 using wallet + timing hacks.
👨🎓 Rohit, Pune (Student)
Switched to combo meals → saved ₹700/month.
👨👩👧 Gupta Family, Delhi
Planned weekend meals → saved ₹1,200/month.
📊 Comparison Tables
Zomato vs Swiggy Savings Comparison
| Feature | Zomato | Swiggy |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | Gold | Swiggy One |
| Delivery charges | Slightly lower | Higher in peak hours |
| Wallet offers | Good | Excellent |
| Restaurant variety | Very high | Very high |
👍 Pros & Cons of Smart Ordering
✔️ Pros
- Saves ₹800–₹2000 per month
- Reduces unnecessary spending
- Enjoy restaurant food affordably
- Helps maintain budgeting discipline
❌ Cons
- Requires planning
- Coupons keep changing
- Easy to overspend if not careful
❌ Common Ordering Mistakes
- Ordering during peak hours
- Ignoring packaging charges
- Not checking restaurant website
- Using membership unnecessarily
- Ordering small single items
- No budgeting discipline
🛠 Tools & Apps to Track Food Spending
- Spendee
- Walnut
- Money Manager
- Google Sheets
- UPI cashback apps
Helps you save more, similar to:
Save ₹100 Daily
🎯 Who This Guide Is For
- Students
- Working professionals
- Busy families
- People who order food often
- Anyone trying to save ₹1000+ monthly
- Budget-conscious individuals
✔️ Quick Action Checklist
- Avoid peak hours
- Use wallet cashback
- Choose combo meals
- Compare on restaurant website
- Track spending weekly
- Use coupons + bank offers
- Limit orders to twice a week
❓ FAQs
1. Is Zomato cheaper than Swiggy?
Depends on offers and location.
2. How much can I save using these hacks?
₹500–₹2000 per month easily.
3. Does membership give big savings?
Only if you order frequently.
4. Are wallet offers worth it?
Yes—great for stacking cashback.
🏁 Final Summary
Food delivery apps are incredibly convenient, but the costs can rise quickly. With simple timing tricks, wallet cashback, discount codes, smart ordering, combo meals, and weekly budgeting, you can cut your monthly food delivery expenses by 20–40% without sacrificing comfort or taste. Following these proven savings methods ensures your money stays in your pocket while still enjoying your favourite meals in 2025.
Disclaimer: This article is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Readers are advised to do their own research or consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.
