Ever compared carts on Zomato and Swiggy, only to feel like you’re playing pricing roulette with your rupee? That’s the frustrating fiasco that fired up Ahmedabad customer Tanmay when he spotted a Rs 28 gap for the same Dal Makhni with Garlic Naan from the same restaurant – base price Rs 289 on both, but final bills Rs 167 on Swiggy vs Rs 194 on Zomato. His January 12, 2026, X tweet, armed with side-by-side screenshots, didn’t just call out the “unfair billing” – it unleashed a user uprising, with thousands tagging the apps in a chorus of “what gives?” Zomato’s quick comeback? A tax-and-discount dissection that did little to douse the debate. If you’re one of the many muttering “Zomato Swiggy price difference” while mid-scroll on January 13, 2026, this isn’t a one-off glitch – it’s a glimpse into the shadowy world of dynamic pricing, where restaurant deals dance differently on each platform, leaving diners to foot the fee frenzy. From Tanmay’s “say no to Zomato” hashtag to the netizen nitpicks on “false charging,” let’s break down the bill that’s billing the system – and why it might just be the math making you mad.
The Tweet That Tipped the Scales: Tanmay’s Rs 28 Rage Reveal
Tanmay (@jinxx_boy), your average Ahmedabad foodie fighting the Friday blues, wasn’t hunting for headlines – he was just hungry for honesty. Scrolling Swiggy for his Dal Makhni fix, he noticed the neighbourhood spot’s price parity play: Rs 289 based on both apps. But the checkout? A chasm: Swiggy’s subtotal dipped to Rs 144.50 after a hefty restaurant discount, tacking on a Rs 14.99 platform fee, free delivery (thanks to Swiggy One), and Rs 7.23 taxes for a total of Rs 167. Zomato? Same starting point, but a stingier Rs 120 coupon left the subtotal at Rs 169, taxes calculated on the post-discount subtotal pushing the final to Rs 194.60 – a Rs 28 premium for… pixels?
“The reason I will always prefer Swiggy over Zomato! Same item, same discount by the restaurant, different bills,” Tanmay tweeted, his frustration framed with flair. He didn’t stop at the screenshot slam: “NOTE: I recently observed that all the order prices I used to place in 2025 are now significantly costlier on Zomato. Is this for real? #SayNoToZomato.” Posted January 12, 2026, at 2:47 PM, it wasn’t a whine – it was a wake-up call, echoing the endless online echo chamber of “Zomato’s ripping us off” rants. Views? 5K+ in hours, shares spiking as shoppers shared their own “Swiggy savings” sagas.
Tanmay’s twist? Personal pain: “I have seen, observed and borne the higher price implications multiple times.” It’s the relatable rub – not a one-time oops, but a pattern that’s priced him out of loyalty.
Zomato’s Calculated Comeback: “Discounts Vary, Taxes Follow” – A Defence That’s Dividing
Zomato didn’t dawdle – @zomatocare dashed a reply by evening, the kind of canned clarification that’s as common as chat notifications. “Hey Tanmay, please note that the item value is the same on both platforms. The difference in the total bill is due to the discount applied on item value which may vary from platform to platform along with the taxes which are calculated on the subtotal value post restaurant discount.” It’s a textbook takedown: Blame the “variation” on vendor vibes (restaurants set per-app deals) and tax tricks (GST on the discounted subtotal, not the original), then DM deflect: “We’ve addressed your concern through DM. Please take a moment to check it out.”
The math? Mostly makes sense: Swiggy’s deeper Rs 144.50 cut vs Zomato’s Rs 120 means a lower tax base, free delivery tipping the scale further. But Tanmay? Not buying the breakdown: “I am not asking for your validation, I have seen, observed and borne the higher price implications multiple times. I am showing that it’s true what people are saying on the internet regarding price parity and false charging!!” His clapback? A clarion call to the crowd, turning a personal peeve into a public probe.
Swiggy? Silent as the savings – no need to chime in when the comparison crowns you king.
Netizen Nitpicks: “Zomato’s Greed” to “It’s Just Business” – The Debate Dishes
I am not asking for your validation, I have seen, observed and borne the higher price implications multiple times. I am showing that it's true what people are saying on the internet regarding price parity and false charging!!
— Tanmay (@jinxx_boy) January 12, 2026
Tanmay’s tweet didn’t tweet alone – it triggered a torrent of takes, from “Zomato’s gouging us” groans to “welcome to dynamic pricing” shrugs.
- Greed Grumbles: “Zomato’s always adding that extra ‘fee’ fairy dust – Swiggy stays sweet.” – 1K likes, a wave of wallet woes.
- Business Bites: “Restaurants play the platform game – deeper discounts on Swiggy for volume, Zomato pays a premium for prime time.” – 800 retweets, a nod to the negotiation nuances.
- Parity Pleas: “Time for FSSAI to force fair play – same item, same price, no app apartheid.” – 600 shares, spotlighting the squeeze on small spots.
- Humour Hooks: “Ordered biryani, got a bill that’s biryani for two apps – Zomato’s the spice thief!” – 500 chuckles, a dark laugh at the delivery debacle.
By January 13, 2026, the thread’s tallied 15K+ interactions – a viral verdict on the “dark side” of duopoly, where one customer’s call-out calls the question: Fair fare or foul play?
The Bigger Bill Breakdown: Dynamic Pricing’s Double-Edged Dal
Tanmay’s Rs 28 rift is the tip of the tandoor – a symptom of a system where “dynamic” means “differing by design.” Restaurants? They tailor deals per app: Swiggy’s subscriber surge scores sweeter coupons, Zomato’s Zomato Gold glitters with GST perks. Taxes? A tricky tango – 5% GST on food, but calculated on the post-discount subtotal, so a bigger cut cascades to costlier cash. FSSAI’s 2025 fine print? “No false pricing,” but the grey zone of “platform-specific promos” leaves loopholes wide as a wada pav.
The customer’s curse? A call for calibration: Mandatory manifests for menus, AI audits for anomalies, and a “parity pledge” that pins prices equal. Until then, users unite: Screenshots at the ready, rants reloaded.
Zomato Swiggy price difference? A chapter of comparison amid the convenience. Swiggy saviour or Zomato’s just “zoned out”? What’s your app allegiance? Spill in comments – tag a foodie foe for the feast of feels.
(Published: January 13, 2026 | Updated with thread trends)
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