The quick commerce industry has seen explosive growth in recent years, with platforms like Zepto vs Blinkit becoming household names in India. These platforms have changed the way people shop for groceries and daily essentials, offering delivery services that can get products to customers in just minutes.
Whether you’re preparing for a last-minute event or need to restock your kitchen, quick commerce platforms have made it easier than ever to get what you need without leaving home.
In 2024, the competition between quick commerce giants has intensified. Zepto and Blinkit are constantly evolving to attract more customers and improve their services.
A significant development in this space is Zepto’s launch of Zepto Postpaid, a new Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service that allows customers to pay for their orders later with interest-free repayments of up to INR 5,000.
Blinkit, on the other hand, already has an established BNPL service through its partnerships with LazyPay and Simpl, giving it a head start in offering flexible payment options.
This blog aims to provide a detailed comparison between Zepto and Blinkit, focusing on key aspects like delivery speed, product quality, customer service, and financial offerings like the BNPL services. By the end of this comparison, readers will have a clearer understanding of which platform better suits their needs.
Overview of Zepto vs Blinkit
Zepto Overview
Zepto was founded by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, two young entrepreneurs with a vision to revolutionize grocery delivery. Currently, Zepto operates in 9 cities across India, with ambitious plans to expand further.
By March 2025, the company aims to double its number of dark stores from 350 to 700, allowing them to serve more areas and increase delivery efficiency.
Recently, Zepto made a big move into the financial space with the launch of Zepto Postpaid, a BNPL service. This feature allows users to pay for their groceries later, with interest-free repayments of up to INR 5,000.
This addition highlights Zepto’s effort to stay competitive by offering not only convenience in delivery but also flexibility in payment options.
Zepto has shown impressive growth in the quick commerce space, securing over $1 billion in funding in 2024, raising its valuation to a whopping $5 billion. This financial strength allows Zepto to continue expanding its services and improving its technology.
Blinkit Overview
Blinkit, formerly known as Grofers, is owned by Zomato and has a strong foothold in the quick commerce market. Blinkit currently operates in 18 cities, giving it a broader reach than Zepto.
Blinkit has established partnerships with LazyPay and Simpl to offer BNPL services, making it easy for customers to pay later for their purchases.
Blinkit has become a top competitor in the quick commerce space, leveraging its existing partnerships and infrastructure to provide fast, reliable deliveries. With the backing of Zomato, Blinkit continues to lead in terms of service offerings and operational efficiency.
Overview of Zepto vs Blinkit
| Feature | Zepto | Blinkit |
|---|---|---|
| Founders | Aadit Palicha, Kaivalya Vohra | Albinder Dhindsa, Saurabh Kumar |
| Delivery Time | 8 minutes | 7 minutes |
| Cities Served | 9 cities | 18 cities |
| BNPL Feature | Zepto Postpaid (launching soon) | Offered through LazyPay, Simpl |
| Latest Valuation | $5 billion (as of 2024) | Not disclosed |
Delivery Speed and Coverage
Zepto Delivery Speed
Zepto is known for its ultra-fast delivery, with an average time of 8-12 minutes. The platform uses real-time tracking, allowing customers to monitor the progress of their orders. Zepto also prioritizes the safety of its delivery partners, limiting their riding speed to 15 kmph to reduce accidents.
Zepto’s coverage is currently limited to 9 cities, but with plans to expand its dark store network, the platform is aiming to serve more areas across the country by 2025.
Blinkit Delivery Speed
Blinkit is slightly faster than Zepto, with an average delivery time of 7-10 minutes. Its coverage is more extensive, reaching 18 cities in India. Blinkit has been able to maintain this speed due to its well-established dark store infrastructure, which ensures that deliveries are efficient and timely in larger urban areas.
Product Quality and Packaging
Zepto Product Quality
Zepto offers generally high product quality, especially when it comes to fresh produce. However, there have been occasional reports of inconsistencies, such as less fresh vegetables like lady’s fingers at certain times.
Zepto is also committed to eco-friendly practices, using paper packaging for most of its deliveries, which appeals to environmentally conscious customers.
Blinkit Product Quality
Blinkit’s product quality has received mixed reviews. While it often delivers fresh products, some customers have reported receiving overripe fruits or vegetables that are not as fresh as expected. Blinkit’s packaging varies more than Zepto’s, often using recyclable plastic bags.
Customer Service and Issue Resolution
Zepto Customer Service
Zepto provides efficient customer service but has some limitations. If customers receive a product they are not happy with, Zepto offers refunds but does not have an option for product replacement. The refunds can be issued as coupons for future orders or can be directly transferred to the customer’s bank account.
Zepto’s resolution process is usually quick, ensuring that customer complaints are handled promptly, but the lack of a replacement option can be inconvenient for those who prefer getting a fresh product over a refund.
Blinkit Customer Service
Blinkit offers a more flexible customer service experience. Unlike Zepto, Blinkit provides customers with both refunds and replacements, depending on what the customer prefers. This flexibility is a big advantage, especially when customers need their groceries replaced quickly rather than waiting for a refund.
Refunds on Blinkit are processed quickly and are credited directly to either the user’s wallet within the app or their bank account. The option for replacements makes Blinkit a good choice for those who want their groceries delivered correctly the first time or quickly replaced in case of an issue.
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Latest News: Zepto’s Entry into BNPL and Blinkit’s Partnerships
Zepto Postpaid
Zepto is preparing to launch a new Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) feature called Zepto Postpaid. This service will allow customers to make purchases and repay the amount later with interest-free repayments of up to INR 5,000.
Zepto Postpaid is currently in the early stages, and users can join a waitlist for exclusive early access to the feature. This new service is seen as a direct response to the growing competition in the quick commerce market, especially given that Blinkit already offers BNPL options through established partnerships.
Blinkit’s BNPL
Blinkit, on the other hand, has been offering BNPL services for some time through partnerships with LazyPay and Simpl. These partnerships allow Blinkit users to opt for flexible payment solutions, making it easier for customers to buy groceries without upfront payment and repay later, with the benefit of interest-free repayment.
While Blinkit is already ahead in offering BNPL services, Zepto’s upcoming Zepto Postpaid could change the competitive landscape by adding another layer of convenience for users.
Table: BNPL Comparison
| Platform | BNPL Service | Interest-Free Repayment | Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zepto | Zepto Postpaid | Yes, up to INR 5,000 | In-house |
| Blinkit | LazyPay, Simpl | Yes | PayU’s LazyPay, Simpl |
Pricing Comparison of Key Grocery Items
When it comes to pricing, there are some noticeable differences between Zepto and Blinkit for everyday grocery items. Both platforms offer competitive prices, but Blinkit generally has slightly lower prices on certain staples, while Zepto offers better deals on specific products like butter.
Price Comparison
For instance, the price of onions is the same on both platforms, but butter is Rs 23 cheaper on Zepto, while whole-wheat flour is Rs 21 cheaper on Blinkit. These small differences can add up over time, especially for regular grocery shoppers.
Table: Price Comparison of Grocery Items
| Item | Zepto Price | Blinkit Price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion (1 kg) | Rs 59 | Rs 59 | No difference |
| Butter (500 gm) | Rs 262 | Rs 285 | Rs 23 cheaper on Zepto |
| Whole-Wheat Flour (5 kg) | Rs 308 | Rs 287 | Rs 21 cheaper on Blinkit |
Ease of Use: App and User Experience
Zepto App
The Zepto app offers a simple interface that is easy to navigate. One of its standout features is the ability to function in offline/low-data mode, making it a great option for users with limited internet access or when mobile data is slow. However, while the app is functional, it sometimes lacks the smoothness and speed of its competitors, especially during high traffic times.
Blinkit App
The Blinkit app is known for its more polished and user-friendly interface. It offers a smooth experience, and customers can easily place orders through both the app and the Blinkit website, adding extra convenience.
Additionally, Blinkit provides real-time order tracking with detailed updates, which helps users know exactly when their groceries will arrive.
Both platforms offer great app experiences, but the choice between them depends on user preferences regarding specific features like offline mode and ease of navigation.
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Financial Performance and Growth
Zepto Financial Growth
Zepto has experienced significant financial growth in recent years. In the financial year 2022-23 (FY23), the company saw a massive 14.3X increase in its operating revenue, which rose to INR 2,024.3 Cr compared to the previous year’s revenue of INR 140.7 Cr. However, along with this growth came a widening of its net losses, which increased to INR 1,272.4 Cr.
Despite these losses, Zepto continues to attract investors, recently raising $340 million in a funding round led by General Catalyst. This latest investment has pushed Zepto’s valuation to an impressive $5 billion. With this new funding, Zepto plans to double the number of its dark stores from 350 to 700 by March 2025, further expanding its market reach and improving its delivery capabilities.
Blinkit Financial Growth
In comparison, Blinkit has been relatively quiet about its recent financial performance, but it maintains a strong position in the quick commerce market thanks to the backing of its parent company, Zomato. While Blinkit has not publicly shared details about its financial growth, its steady presence in 18 cities and strong infrastructure suggests that it remains financially stable and competitive.
Overall, both platforms are investing heavily in their growth, but Zepto’s rapid financial growth and expansion plans indicate its ambition to challenge market leaders like Blinkit in the near future.
Final Verdict: Which Platform Wins in 2024?
In 2024, both Zepto and Blinkit are strong contenders in the quick commerce space, offering a range of similar services but excelling in different areas.
Delivery Speed: While both platforms are known for ultra-fast delivery times, Blinkit is slightly faster, with an average delivery time of 7 minutes compared to Zepto’s 8 minutes. Blinkit also covers more cities, making it accessible to a larger audience.
Product Quality: Both platforms provide decent product quality, although there are occasional inconsistencies in fresh produce. Zepto has a slight edge in packaging with its eco-friendly materials, but Blinkit excels in offering quick refunds and replacements when there are issues with product quality.
Customer Service: Blinkit offers both refunds and replacements, giving customers more flexibility when handling product issues. Zepto, on the other hand, focuses on fast refunds but does not offer replacements, which may be a drawback for some customers.
BNPL Services: Blinkit currently leads with its Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services through partnerships with LazyPay and Simpl, but Zepto is set to introduce its own Zepto Postpaid service, which could change the dynamic once it launches.
Growth and Expansion: Zepto’s rapid growth and plans to double its dark stores indicate that it is on track to become a dominant player in the quick commerce space. With its recent funding and rising valuation, Zepto is catching up quickly to Blinkit and could soon challenge its lead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Zepto and Blinkit are well-established platforms in the quick commerce industry, offering customers the convenience of fast grocery deliveries. While Blinkit currently leads in areas like delivery speed and customer service flexibility, Zepto is rapidly expanding and bringing new services like Zepto Postpaid into the mix. With both platforms continuing to grow and innovate, consumers can benefit from trying both to see which one meets their needs better.
FAQs
What is the difference between Zepto and Blinkit in terms of delivery speed?
Zepto delivers in about 8 minutes, while Blinkit delivers slightly faster in around 7 minutes on average.
How do Zepto and Blinkit ensure the freshness of their products?
Both platforms have quality control measures, but there have been occasional issues with freshness, particularly with perishable goods like fruits and vegetables.
What is the new Zepto Postpaid feature and how does it compare to Blinkit’s BNPL services?
Zepto Postpaid is a Buy Now, Pay Later service offering interest-free repayments of up to INR 5,000. Blinkit offers similar BNPL services through partnerships with LazyPay and Simpl.
Which platform has better customer service, Zepto or Blinkit?
Blinkit offers both refunds and replacements, while Zepto focuses on fast refunds but does not offer replacements.
Are Zepto and Blinkit available in all major cities in India?
Zepto operates in 9 cities, while Blinkit serves 18 cities, giving it wider coverage across India.
Do Zepto and Blinkit offer discounts on groceries?
Yes, both platforms regularly offer discounts and promotional deals on groceries and other products.
Which platform is more eco-friendly in terms of packaging?
Zepto uses eco-friendly paper packaging, making it a better option for environmentally conscious consumers compared to Blinkit, which uses recyclable plastic bags.
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