Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart: 2026 comparison table
| Metric | Blinkit | Zepto | Swiggy Instamart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Eternal (formerly Zomato) | Zepto (IPO approved, not yet listed) | Swiggy |
| Dark stores | 2,443 (June 2026) | 1,139 (March 2026) | 1,171 (June 2026) |
| Cities | Not separately disclosed | 66 | 131 |
| FY26 orders | 916.6 million | 640.2 million | 412.2 million |
| Orders per day (FY26 average) | ~2.51 million | ~1.75 million | ~1.12 million |
| Share of orders among the three (FY26) | ~46.6% | ~32.5% | ~20.9% |
| Orders per store per day (Q4 FY26) | 1,425 | 2,140 | 1,093 |
| Gross profit as % of NRV (Q4 FY26) | 27% | 18% | Not disclosed in source |
| Profitability status | Adjusted EBITDA positive | Loss-making | Contribution break-even |
| Best first launch for | Metro FMCG, premium, D2C | Impulse items, low-price packs | South India brands, food-adjacent products |
Key takeaways
- Blinkit leads on scale: 2,443 dark stores and Q1 FY27 NOV of ₹17,132 crore, up 86% year on year.
- Zepto leads on store productivity: 2,140 orders per store per day in Q4 FY26.
- Instamart leads on city coverage: 1,171 dark stores in 131 cities, with contribution break-even reached in May 2026.
- None of the three publishes a commission rate card. Margins are negotiated per brand and per category.
- Zepto is not the premium platform. It has the lowest value per order of the three.
- Ads are required on all three platforms. Zepto's ad revenue reached ₹1,635.73 crore in FY26.
Why most Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart comparisons are outdated
Many Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart guides that rank today still quote store counts of 400 to 900, which are figures from 2024 and early 2025. As of mid-2026, the three platforms together run more than 4,700 dark stores. Some guides also call Zepto the "premium" platform, but the brokerage data shows the opposite. This guide uses only company disclosures and brokerage reports published between June and July 2026.
Which is better for brands: Blinkit, Zepto or Instamart?
Blinkit is the better first platform for most brands because it has the largest dark store network and the highest order share. Zepto suits impulse items and low-price packs, because its stores process the most orders each day. Instamart suits brands with South India distribution or a natural link to food delivery.
Which is bigger: Blinkit or Zepto?
Blinkit is bigger on every scale metric. At the end of FY26, Blinkit had 2,243 dark stores, nearly double Zepto's 1,139. In FY26 Blinkit processed 916.6 million orders, against 640.2 million for Zepto and 412.2 million for Instamart. On a daily basis, that works out to about 2.51 million orders for Blinkit, 1.75 million for Zepto and 1.12 million for Instamart.
Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart dark stores: how many does each have?
- Blinkit: 2,443 dark stores as of June 2026, after adding 200 net stores in Q1 FY27.
- Instamart: 1,171 dark stores across 131 cities as of June 2026, with about 75 more planned in Q2 FY27.
- Zepto: 1,139 dark stores and 75 warehouses as of March 31, 2026, across 66 cities.
Across all three, the combined network grew nearly 48% to 5,026 stores in May 2026, up from 3,405 a year earlier (Equirus).
For brands: City-level presence matters more than the national total. Map each platform's store presence against the cities where your own distribution is strongest. Planning a launch? See our Blinkit onboarding service.
Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart market share: who leads?
Blinkit leads by orders. Zepto's UDRHP shows how the shares have shifted over two years:
| Year | Blinkit | Zepto | Instamart |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY24 | 39.7% | 26.0% | 34.3% |
| FY25 | 44.4% | 30.9% | 24.5% |
| FY26 | ~46.6%* | ~32.5%* | 20.9% |
*Calculated by The Quick Commerce from the FY26 order counts disclosed in Zepto's UDRHP.
Instamart's share of orders among the three fell from 34.3% in FY24 to 20.9% in FY26.
Which platform sells the most per dark store?
Zepto sells the most per store. It handled 2,140 orders per store per day in Q4 FY26, about 1.5 times Blinkit and about 2 times Instamart. Higher store productivity means your stock sells through faster, which makes it easier to meet fill rate targets and earn repeat purchase orders. It also means a stock-out costs you more sales on Zepto than on the other two.
Want help getting listed? Read about our Zepto onboarding service.
Is Zepto a premium platform? (Common myth)
No. Zepto's NRV per order was ₹387, which is 26% below Blinkit and 23% below Instamart. DAM Capital links this to Zepto's everyday-low-price positioning and its lower free-delivery threshold. Its gross profit was 18% of NRV, compared with 27% for Blinkit. DAM Capital also said the key metric to watch is whether Zepto can raise its free-delivery threshold from ₹99 to ₹199.
| Platform | Shopper profile | Best-fit products |
|---|---|---|
| Blinkit | Larger baskets, wide assortment | Premium, gourmet, new categories |
| Zepto | Value-seeking, frequent small orders | Impulse items, snacks, packs under ₹300 |
| Instamart | Shares customers with Swiggy food delivery | Food-adjacent products, South India brands |
Is Blinkit, Zepto or Instamart profitable?
- Blinkit: Adjusted EBITDA profit of ₹102 crore in Q1 FY27, up from a loss of ₹162 crore a year earlier.
- Instamart: Contribution margin of -0.2% of GOV in Q1 FY27, a 440 bps improvement year on year, with break-even reached in May 2026.
- Zepto: Adjusted EBITDA loss of ₹1,247.5 crore in Q4 FY26.
Why this matters for brands: A platform under profit pressure tends to push harder for margin increases, higher ad spend and stricter payment terms.
What changed for brands in 2026: the inventory-led model
All three platforms are moving towards buying and owning stock themselves.
- Blinkit now buys goods itself and sells them directly to shoppers. It disclosed losing about 1.8% of NOV to expired inventory, damaged goods, items lost in transit and theft.
- Instamart: Swiggy said IOCC status would let Instamart directly own and sell inventory.
- Zepto earns from platform commissions, advertising, delivery and logistics fees, and procurement and distribution.
For brands: You are increasingly selling to the platform itself through purchase orders. Expect closer checks on shelf life and packaging. SKUs with long shelf life and strong packaging get approved more easily.
Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart commission: what do they charge brands?
None of the three publishes a commission or margin rate card. Each platform buys stock on purchase orders at a margin below MRP, negotiated per brand and category. Public estimates from agency guides vary widely:
| Platform | Lowest estimate published | Highest estimate published | Most-cited band for packaged FMCG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blinkit | 2% | 28% | Mid-teens to low-20s % of MRP |
| Zepto | 2% | 28% | Mid-teens % of MRP |
| Instamart | 2% | 30% | A few points above Blinkit and Zepto |
Based on seven agency guides and calculators reviewed in October 2026. These are third-party estimates, not platform rates. Your signed vendor agreement is the only binding number.
Do you need ads on Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart?
Yes. Quick commerce app screens show very few products, so visibility on all three depends heavily on paid placement. Zepto's ad revenue grew from ₹49.17 crore in FY24 to ₹1,635.73 crore in FY26, a 33x increase. Set your ad budget as a percentage of platform sales, and track ROAS separately for each platform.
How to sell on Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart: required documents
- GSTIN and PAN
- Bank proof (cancelled cheque)
- FSSAI licence (for food and beverages)
- Trademark certificate or brand authorisation
- GS1 barcodes for every SKU
- APOB (Additional Place of Business) in each state where the platform's warehouse holds your stock
A category manager reviews every application. Applications with sell-through proof from other channels, a hero range of 5 to 10 SKUs and enough margin headroom are approved faster.
Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart: which should you launch on first?
| Brand type | Launch first on |
|---|---|
| Metro-led FMCG or D2C | Blinkit |
| Impulse items, snacks, beverages, packs under ₹300 | Zepto |
| Strong South India distribution | Instamart |
| Premium beauty, wellness, gourmet | Blinkit |
| Regional brand in 1 to 2 cities | Whichever platform has the most stores in your city |
| Thin gross margin on MRP | None yet; fix unit economics first |
If Instamart fits your brand, see our Instamart onboarding service, or run your own numbers with the Swiggy Instamart Fee Calculator.
90-day quick commerce launch plan
| Phase | Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare | 1 to 3 | Documents, APOB, GS1 barcodes, hero SKU selection, margin model for each platform |
| Launch on one platform | 4 to 8 | One city cluster, ads from day 1, fill rate above 95% |
| Prove velocity | 8 to 12 | Sell-through, ratings, ROAS, repeat purchase orders |
| Expand | After 12 | Pitch the next platform using your velocity data |
Launching on all three at once usually spreads inventory and ad budget too thin. The terms of your first agreement also tend to set the starting point for future negotiations.
Other quick commerce platforms to watch
Beyond the big three, brands should also track Flipkart Minutes, Amazon Now, BigBasket's BB Now and JioMart. Most brands should prove their unit economics on Blinkit, Zepto or Instamart before expanding to these.
Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart for shoppers
Check which app has a dark store nearest to your pin code. Blinkit offers the widest assortment, Zepto is positioned on everyday low prices, and Instamart works best if you already use Swiggy One.
FAQs
Which is the No. 1 quick commerce app in India?
Blinkit. It had about 46.6% of FY26 orders among the big three and 2,443 dark stores as of June 2026.
Is Zepto bigger than Instamart?
Yes, by orders. Zepto processed 640.2 million orders in FY26 against Instamart's 412.2 million, although the two have a similar number of dark stores.
Is Zepto good for premium brands?
Not usually as a first launch. Zepto's value per order is 26% below Blinkit's, and its shoppers lean towards value and impulse buys. Premium brands usually do better launching on Blinkit first.
How many orders do Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart handle per day?
Based on FY26 orders, Blinkit handled about 2.51 million orders a day, Zepto about 1.75 million and Instamart about 1.12 million.
Is Zepto listed on the stock market?
Not yet. SEBI approved Zepto's IPO on May 8, 2026, but the listing date has not been announced.
Which is cheapest for brands to sell on?
None of the three publishes a rate card. Compare your full cost per unit on each platform, including margin, ads and logistics.
What documents are needed to sell on Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart?
GSTIN, PAN, bank proof, FSSAI licence for food products, trademark or brand authorisation, GS1 barcodes, and APOB registration in each state where the platform's warehouse holds your stock.
Should a new brand launch on all three together?
Usually not. Launch on one, prove velocity, then use that data to negotiate with the next.
Which platform covers the most Tier 2 cities?
Instamart, with 131 cities. Zepto covers 66.
Methodology and sources
This Blinkit vs Zepto vs Instamart comparison uses company disclosures: Eternal Q1 FY27 results (July 22, 2026), Swiggy Q1 FY27 shareholder letter (July 30, 2026), and Zepto's UDRHP (June 2026). We also used the DAM Capital (July 2026) and Equirus (2026) brokerage reports. FY26 order shares and per-day order figures were calculated by The Quick Commerce from disclosed order counts. We update this page after every quarterly results season.