Amazon Now vs Blinkit vs Zepto: Diwali Shopping Guide

Amazon Now has emerged as the most preferred Quick Commerce platform for last-minute festive shopping, ahead of Blinkit and Zepto, according to a recent study by LocalCircles. The findings suggest that Indian consumers are looking beyond delivery speed when choosing apps for Diwali essentials, with prices, product quality and additional charges playing a significant role in purchasing decisions.

According to the survey, 71% of quick commerce users prefer platforms offering the best prices or overall value, while 65% prioritise product quality. Another 43% prefer services that charge little or nothing extra, highlighting the importance of transparent pricing during the festive season.

The findings come as shoppers increasingly rely on quick commerce apps for last-minute purchases, including sweets, gifts, decorations, groceries and puja essentials. While these platforms compete on delivery speed, the survey suggests that affordability and trust can influence which app consumers choose for their festive orders.

Amazon Now Leads Last-Minute Diwali Shopping

Amazon Now ranked first in consumer preferences for last-minute festive shopping, with 22% of respondents selecting the platform. Blinkit followed with 19%, while Zepto secured 14% of the responses.

BigBasket received 12% of the preferences, matching the share of respondents who remained undecided. Swiggy Instamart was selected by 9%, Flipkart Minutes by 8% and JioMart Quick by 4%.

The results show that Amazon Now had the highest reported preference for last-minute festive shopping in the survey. However, the difference between platforms also indicates that consumer choices are spread across several services rather than concentrated entirely on one app.

The preference figures are based on the survey and should not be interpreted as market shares, total orders or revenue rankings. They reflect the choices reported by respondents for a specific shopping occasion.

Amazon Now vs Blinkit vs Zepto: Consumer Preferences

The LocalCircles study highlights differences between platforms in festive-shopping preferences and everyday usage. Amazon Now led the last-minute festive-shopping category, while Blinkit remained the most-used platform for everyday purchases.

• Amazon Now: Preferred by 22% of respondents for last-minute festive shopping and ranked among the top platforms for overall consumer ratings.
• Blinkit: Chosen by 19% for last-minute festive shopping but remained the most-used platform for everyday purchases, with 31% of users selecting it.
• Zepto: Received 14% of festive-shopping preferences and shared the highest overall consumer rating with Amazon Now.
• BigBasket: Secured 12% of festive-shopping preferences and performed strongly in product selection and exclusivity ratings.
• Swiggy Instamart: Received 9% of festive-shopping preferences.
• Flipkart Minutes: Recorded 8% of preferences for last-minute festive shopping.
• JioMart Quick: Received 4% of preferences in the survey.

Blinkit’s strong everyday usage alongside Amazon Now’s lead in festive preferences suggests that consumers may not use the same platform for every purchase. A shopper might choose one app for routine groceries but switch to another for festive products if prices, availability or additional charges are more attractive.

Why Prices and Product Quality Matter More Than Speed

Quick commerce platforms have built their appeal around delivering products within a short period. During Diwali, when households need decorations, ingredients, gifts and other essentials at short notice, rapid delivery can be particularly convenient.

However, the LocalCircles findings indicate that speed is only one part of the consumer decision. The survey found that 71% of users prioritise the best prices or overall value, while 65% focus on product quality.

For festive purchases, value can involve more than the price displayed beside an individual product. Shoppers may also consider the quantity received, freshness, product condition, brand reliability and whether the final bill represents good value for money.

Product quality is especially relevant when ordering sweets, packaged foods, ingredients and gifts. A fast delivery may offer limited benefit if the product does not meet expectations or is unsuitable for the occasion.

The results suggest that quick commerce platforms face a broader challenge during the festive season: they must provide convenience while maintaining competitive prices, reliable product standards and a checkout experience that customers can trust.

Extra Charges Are Increasing the Final Shopping Bill

Additional fees remain a significant concern for quick commerce users. According to the LocalCircles survey, 60% of respondents said delivery, handling, small-cart or other charges often increase their final bill beyond what they initially expect.

Within this group, 42% said the problem occurred very often, while another 18% said it happened often.

The findings help explain why 43% of users prefer platforms that charge little or nothing extra. Even when individual products appear competitively priced, multiple fees can make the total order more expensive than expected.

This issue can be particularly important for quick commerce customers who place relatively small orders. A delivery fee or small-cart charge may account for a noticeable portion of the total when the value of the products is limited.

During Diwali, consumers may place several separate orders for groceries, decorations and other essentials. If additional charges apply to each order, the cumulative expense can become a consideration when deciding which platform to use.

How Shoppers Can Avoid Unexpected Charges

Consumers can compare the final payable amount across available apps rather than choosing a platform based solely on advertised product prices or delivery promises.

• Check the complete bill: Review delivery, handling, small-cart and other applicable fees before placing an order.
• Compare product prices: Look at the total cost of the items in the basket rather than relying on a single discounted product.
• Review minimum-order conditions: Check whether a platform applies additional charges below a particular order value.
• Compare product availability: Confirm that the required festive items are available before switching platforms.
• Consider the total value: Factor in product quality, quantity, delivery timing and charges when deciding which app to use.

These steps can help shoppers make more informed choices without assuming that the platform with the lowest displayed price will necessarily provide the cheapest final order.

Most Quick Commerce Orders Are Below Rs 1,000

The LocalCircles study also found that quick commerce remains largely a small-ticket shopping habit. Around 69% of users typically spend between Rs 200 and Rs 999 per order.

The reported spending distribution was as follows:

• Rs 200–399: 20% of users.
• Rs 400–599: 27% of users.
• Rs 600–999: 22% of users.
• Rs 1,000 or more: 16% of users.

The figures indicate that many customers use quick commerce apps for everyday essentials and smaller festive purchases rather than consistently placing large orders.

For platforms, this spending pattern makes the relationship between order value and additional fees particularly important. A modest charge can have a greater proportional impact on a Rs 300 order than on a substantially larger basket.

For shoppers, comparing the total bill can therefore be more useful than comparing delivery promises alone. The most suitable platform may depend on the size of the basket, the products required and the charges applicable to that particular order.

Amazon Now and Zepto Share the Highest Consumer Ratings

In a separate consumer ratings exercise covering seven quick commerce platforms, Amazon Now and Zepto shared the highest overall score, receiving 27.5 out of 35 each.

BigBasket followed with a score of 26. Blinkit and Flipkart Minutes received 23.5 each, while Swiggy Instamart scored 22 and JioMart Quick received 19.5.

The ratings exercise offers another perspective on how consumers assess quick commerce services. While festive-shopping preference measures which platforms respondents would choose for a particular occasion, the ratings exercise evaluates platforms across consumer-facing criteria.

The two sets of results should not be treated as interchangeable. A platform can lead in a particular service category without necessarily receiving the highest overall rating or attracting the largest number of everyday users.

How the Platforms Performed Across Different Criteria

The study highlighted different strengths across the platforms rather than identifying one service as the leader in every category.

• Delivery speed: Blinkit received the highest rating for speed.
• Transparency of charges: Amazon Now and Zepto scored well on this measure.
• Product exclusivity and selection: BigBasket performed strongly in these areas.
• Overall consumer ratings: Amazon Now and Zepto shared the highest score of 27.5 out of 35.

These differences suggest that the choice of a quick commerce app may depend on a shopper’s immediate needs. Someone prioritising speed may value a different service attribute from a customer looking for a specific product range or greater clarity about fees.

For Diwali shopping, these factors can become more important when customers need specific items within a limited period. Product availability and the final bill may influence the decision as much as the promised delivery time.

How Reliable Are the LocalCircles Findings?

According to the supplied study details, the survey gathered more than 204,000 responses from quick commerce users across 130 districts. The separate consumer ratings exercise received 11,275 ratings.

The scale of the response provides a substantial collection of reported consumer views. However, the figures should be understood within the scope of the study rather than treated as a complete measurement of every quick commerce transaction in India.

Survey preferences do not necessarily translate directly into actual purchases, platform revenue or market share. Consumer behaviour can also vary by location, product category, delivery availability and the offers available when an order is placed.

Similarly, overall ratings summarise the responses collected through the ratings exercise. They do not guarantee that every customer will receive the same experience across different locations or orders.

The findings are therefore most useful as an indication of reported consumer priorities and preferences during festive shopping, rather than as a definitive ranking of every quick commerce service in the country.

What the Findings Mean for Quick Commerce Platforms

The results point to several areas in which quick commerce companies may need to compete during the festive season.

First, pricing and value remain important. With 71% of surveyed users prioritising the best prices or overall value, platforms may need to ensure that their offers remain attractive after all applicable charges are included.

Second, product quality matters. The 65% figure for quality-conscious consumers suggests that reliable products and appropriate handling are important alongside delivery convenience.

Third, transparent fees could influence customer loyalty. When 60% of respondents report that additional charges often push bills above expectations, clear communication about fees may help reduce unpleasant surprises at checkout.

Finally, different platforms have different reported strengths. Blinkit’s high rating for speed, Amazon Now and Zepto’s performance on transparency, and BigBasket’s strength in selection indicate that competition involves several factors rather than a single measure of service quality.

For the platforms, the challenge is to turn these service attributes into a consistent customer experience. For consumers, the results reinforce the value of comparing the basket, fees and available products before deciding where to order.

So, Which Quick Commerce App Wins This Diwali?

Based on the LocalCircles survey, Amazon Now leads in reported preferences for last-minute festive shopping, with 22% of respondents choosing it. Blinkit follows at 19%, while Zepto receives 14%.

However, the results do not establish a universal winner for every shopper. Blinkit remains the most-used platform for everyday purchases in the survey, and it received the highest rating for speed. Amazon Now and Zepto share the highest overall consumer rating, while BigBasket performed strongly in product selection and exclusivity.

The most suitable app for an individual order will depend on what the customer needs, which products are available, how quickly they are required and how much the complete basket costs after additional fees.

For consumers making last-minute Diwali purchases, comparing the final bill and product availability may be more useful than choosing an app based only on its delivery promise. The survey suggests that quick commerce companies will need to compete on value, quality and transparency as well as speed.

Key Takeaway

Amazon Now is the most preferred platform for last-minute festive shopping in the LocalCircles survey, followed by Blinkit and Zepto. Yet the broader findings show that quick commerce users prioritise value, product quality and transparent charges. With 60% reporting that extra fees often increase their bills beyond expectations and 69% typically spending Rs 200–999 per order, the final cost can be a decisive factor. Rather than declaring one app the winner for every situation, shoppers can compare product availability, quality, delivery and the complete checkout amount to choose the service that best fits their Diwali needs.