What food delivery work is like
Orders come to you in the company's partner app. You pick each one up and take it to the customer. The two food companies we track work a little differently:
- Swiggy: a bike, an e-bike or a cycle is fine, and a rented one is allowed. You choose part-time or full-time shifts.
- Zomato: you need to be at least 18, with an Android phone (version 6.0 or newer, 2 GB RAM or more) and a two-wheeler that meets legal and safety rules. Zomato also mentions cycles. A background check comes before your first order.
How pay works
Both companies pay for each delivery, and the money goes to your bank account every week. Swiggy says earnings depend on your city and how many orders you deliver. Zomato also mentions a starting bonus (for a minimum number of orders in a set time) and a referral bonus; both vary by city.
What one reporter was actually paid. An Indian Express reporter did delivery work in Delhi for three days in January 2026. These are reported examples from those shifts, not rates and not averages:
- Zomato: ₹355 for 6 deliveries in one day's shift.
- Swiggy: ₹114 for 6 deliveries in one day's shift, lower because of penalties for orders turned down.
Each is a single shift, not what a typical full day pays.
Joining fees. Swiggy says its onboarding fee is around ₹1,500, varies by city and is cut in instalments after you join. Zomato also charges an onboarding fee for training and support, once or in instalments; its FAQ doesn't give the amount. More in our guide to joining fees.
Who food delivery suits
- You have a cycle, not a bike. Swiggy accepts a cycle, and you don't need a driving licence for one.
- You want to pick your hours. Swiggy lets you choose part-time or full-time shifts.
- You can live with pay that goes up and down. Pay is per delivery, so a slow shift pays less. The Swiggy example above shows that turning orders down can also cost you.
- You have a bank account. Both companies pay into it every week.
Would you rather deliver from a store or carry parcels? Compare quick commerce and parcel delivery.
How to apply
- Fill in the form on this page: name, phone, city and area.
- Our team calls you back about food delivery openings with hiring partners.
- Before the call, get your Aadhaar or Voter ID, PAN card, bank details and, for a motor vehicle, your driving licence ready. These are the documents Swiggy asks for.
