We live in a time where everything is a click away, and quick e-commerce apps like Zepto and Blinkit are the perfect examples of this. The age of digitization, more empowered by the Covid-19 pandemic, has sowed the seeds for online facilities that have changed the face of grocery shopping.
After all, who would have thought we could ditch long queues at the departmental stores and supermarkets to get grocery delivery to our doorstep within 10 minutes?!
Online grocery delivery service platforms in India, such as Zepto and Blinkit, have given a new and possibly unimaginable spin to an age-old practice of grocery shopping. Promising a 10-minute delivery of household items, they are one of the leading e-commerce apps to make people’s lives easier. With a wide range of products at reasonable rates, as in your nearby “kiraane ki dukaan,” these apps have come to gain countrywide popularity.
This article pits Zepto vs. Blinkit to see which emerges as the winner. Read along to learn more about these quick commerce rivals as you find out the best between them.
Origin of Zepto
Zepto was founded in 2020 by two 19-year-old Stanford dropouts, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra. Headquartered in Mumbai, the startup is named after “zeptosecond,” an extremely small unit of time justified by this app’s quick delivery time. Currently, Zepto is serviceable in ten Indian cities, namely Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad. It will soon expand its operations to other cities as well.
Zepto Delivery Services Review
Zepto currently has a 4.8 rating on Google Play Store, with over ten million downloads. Below is our review of the app based on several factors:
Delivery Time
Zepto claims its average delivery time is between 8-10 minutes. The delivery time can vary according to the order size and the distance between the delivery location and their dark stores. We received our order within the estimated time of 8 minutes.
Packaging
All the products in our order came in an eco-friendly paper bag. The fruits were especially packed in a cardboard box to prevent squishing and keep them safe, and some items like vegetables came in a brown paper bag. We found this product-specific packaging decent.
Product Quality
The products were in good health, including the dairy products that were also fresh. We also ordered tomatoes, some of which were a bit flaccid. However, we reported the issue to the Zepto customer care team along with the images of the tomatoes. We were offered an instant refund as either a coupon or a refund in the source account (bank, UPI) which would reflect in 3-5 days.
We chose the latter, but if you are a frequent Zepto user, you can also go with the coupon mode of refund for convenient future uses. It is completely your choice.
Dark Store Model
Zepto follows a dark store model wherein it has multiple micro-warehouses in every serviceable city, as a result of which we get our orders so quickly. These dark stores are usually located in the neighborhood, take online orders only, and don’t serve the same purpose as other brick-and-mortar stores.
Tracking Capability
Zepto provides real-time tracking, which we found was very accurate and smooth as per the delivery partner’s in-transit location.
App User Interface
The theme of the Zepto app is purple, white, and pink. It has categorized different types of products as fruits and vegetables, cooking essentials, munchies, dairy products, beverages, etc., for customers’ ease of use. You can also search for a product that you want to buy and add it to the cart. The payment processes were also a smooth ride. We found the interface simple and similar to the other grocery shopping apps.
Zepto: Pros & Cons
Let’s look at the pros and cons of the app.
Pros
- Can be used in low-data mode/without data (offline)
- Instant delivery within 10 minutes
- Contains a wide range of products
- Reasonable pricing
- Provides discounts
- Product-specific packaging
- Prompt order updates
- Decent customer service
Cons
- You can only place orders via the app
- Significantly fewer deliverable areas
- Orders within the minimum order value incur delivery charges
Origin Of Blinkit
Founded in December 2013 by Albinder Dhindsa and Saurabh Kumar as ‘Grofers,’ Blinkit succeeded the company in 2021 as an express grocery delivery service. Headquartered in Gurgaon, the startup intends to make grocery items available to the users “in a blink of your eye,” thereby lending it its name. As of today, Blinkit is serviceable in and beyond the major Indian cities and is speedily making its way to small towns as well.
Blinkit Delivery Services Review
Blinkit currently has a 4.5 rating on Google Play Store, with over ten million downloads. Below is our review of the app based on several factors:
Delivery Time
Blinkit claims its average delivery time is 10 minutes. The delivery time can vary according to the order size and the distance between the delivery location and their dark stores. We received our order within the estimated time of 10 minutes.
Packaging
All the products in our order came in a transparent plastic bag. The fruits were especially packed in a cardboard box to prevent squishing and keep them safe, and some items like vegetables came in a brown paper bag. We found this product-specific packaging decent.
Product Quality
The products were in good health, including the vegetables that were also fresh. We also ordered a packet of milk, which was a day past its expiry date. However, we reported the issue to the Blinkit customer care team, along with the images of the expiry date mentioned on the milk packet. We were offered an instant refund as either credit in Blinkit wallet or a refund in the source account (bank, UPI) which would reflect in 5-7 days.
We chose the latter, but if you are a frequent Blinkit user, you can also go with the credit mode of refund for convenient future uses. It is, again, completely your choice.
Dark Store Model
Blinkit also follows the dark store model. It has multiple micro-warehouses in every serviceable city, as a result of which we get our orders within minutes.
Tracking Capability
Blinkit provides real-time tracking, which we found was almost accurate and smooth as per the delivery partner’s in-transit location.
App User Interface
The theme of the Blinkit app is white, yellow, and green. It has categorized different types of products as fruits and vegetables, cooking essentials, munchies, dairy products, beverages, etc., for customers’ ease of use. You can also search for a product that you want to buy and add it to the cart. The payment processes were also a smooth ride. We found the interface quite simple and similar to the other grocery shopping apps.
Blinkit: Pros & Cons
Let’s look at the pros and cons of the app.
Pros
- You can place orders from the app and website
- Instant delivery within 10 minutes
- The user interface is relatively easier
- Delivers from 6 am to 11 pm and even after 12 am in select cities
- Prompt order updates
- Exclusive facilities like printout delivery
- Contains a wide range of products
- Reasonable pricing
- Provides discounts
- Product-specific packaging
- Good customer service
- More serviceable areas
Cons
- The delivery time may exceed 10 minutes
- High demand times incur a surge charge of up to Rs 50/-
FAQ’s
Does Blinkit or Zepto Deliver 24/7?
No. Zepto is open to delivering orders between 7 am and 1 am, whereas Blinkit delivers orders between 6 am and 11 pm. Blinkit can also deliver its orders between 12 am and 6 am; however, this option is available only in select cities such as Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Noida, Panchkula, and Zirakpur.
Are Grofers and Blinkit the Same?
Yes. Blinkit was formerly known as Grofers. Grofers was launched in 2012 as an e-commerce website for grocery shopping which then became Blinkit after the brand owners came up with the idea of an express grocery delivery service.
Which Is Better, Blinkit or Zepto?
While both have their pros and cons, Blinkit was a clear winner for us because of its more expansive serviceability, lesser delivery charge, and exclusive printout feature. Both apps offer nearly the same performance regarding delivery time and product quality.
Are Zepto and Blinkit Indian Companies?
Yes. Zepto was launched by Aadit Palecha and Kaivalya Vohraan and is based in Mumbai. Blinkit, launched by Albinder Dhindsa and Saurabh Kumar, is based out of Gurgaon. Both the apps are Indian and are currently limited to countrywide operations only.
Final Words – Zepto vs. Blinkit
Quick commerce is rapidly seeing a rise in its portals. Today, the list is not exhaustive to Blinkit and Zepto but many others. With the convenience of having the grocery delivered from the comfort of their homes, that too, within minutes, one can hardly think of a reason to avoid this convenience.
In our opinion, Blinkit is the winner in its battle of the best q-commerce app against Zepto because of its more expansive serviceability, lesser delivery charge, and exclusive printout feature. Both apps offer nearly the same performance if you prioritize delivery time and product quality. However, in other ways, Blinkit takes the win for us.
We hope we could address your concerns and answer your queries. In case of further questions, feel free to write to us. We would be delighted to reach out to you.
