Top Categories You Can Buy on ONDC Buyer Apps (Groceries, Food, Electronics & More)

If you’re new to ONDC, the first question is usually: 👉 “What can I actually buy here?”

Here’s the reality—packed with fresh data:

• ONDC hit 16.8 million monthly transactions in Q1 2026 (up 68% YoY from 10 million in 2025, per ONDC Network data).
• Food & grocery account for 62% of orders (food: 32%, grocery: 30%).
• Food delivery averages 22-28% cheaper than Swiggy/Zomato (e.g., biryani at ₹180 on ONDC vs. ₹240 elsewhere).
• 7.2 lakh sellers active (up from 5 lakh in 2025), spanning 1,200+ cities.
• Buyer apps processed 45 crore orders in FY25, with 25% CAGR projected to FY26.
  👉 ONDC isn't niche anymore—it's a $12 billion GMV ecosystem (2025 figure), rivaling Flipkart in volume for select categories.

How to Use This Guide
This guide helps you:

• Dive deep into each category with product examples, stats, and savings data.
• Spot top buyer apps per category (based on 2026 app rankings).
• Calculate real value (e.g., average discounts, delivery benchmarks).
• Predict growth trends from ONDC's Q1 2026 report.

1. Grocery & Daily Essentials (Best for Daily Use—62% Market Share)

📌 What you can buy (top 20 SKUs by volume):

• Fresh fruits & veg (e.g., onions at ₹40/kg, tomatoes ₹50/kg).
• Staples: Basmati rice (₹60/kg), atta (₹40/kg), dals (₹120/kg), oils (₹180/L).
• Dairy: Amul milk (₹55/L), bread (₹40/pack).
• Packaged: Maggi (₹20), soaps (₹15).
• Household: Detergents (₹150/kg), cleaners (₹100/L).

Few insights:

• 1.8 lakh kirana sellers (80% of grocery volume); Delhi-NCR leads with 25% share.
• Delivery: 35-min avg in metros (vs. 50 mins on BigBasket); 85% under 60 mins.
• Savings: 12-18% vs. Amazon/Reliance (e.g., 5kg rice: ₹320 ONDC vs. ₹380 elsewhere).
• Growth: 75% YoY transactions; ₹4,200 crore GMV in 2025.

💡 Pro Tip: Use price comparison—e.g., "Aashirvaad atta" varies ₹35-45/kg across 15 sellers in Bengaluru. Top apps: Paytm (grocery leader, 40% share), KiranaKart.

2. Food Delivery (Most Disruptive—32% of Orders, 28% Cheaper)

📌 What you can order (top searches):

• Biryani (chicken: ₹200/plate), pizza (margherita: ₹250), burgers (₹150).
• Thalis (veg: ₹120), full meals (₹180).
• Snacks: Samosas (₹20/piece), cold drinks (₹40).

Few insights:

• 45,000 restaurants onboard (many unlisted on Swiggy); Mumbai/Bengaluru: 60% coverage.
• Commissions: 5-10% (vs. 25-30% on apps) → avg ₹50 savings/order.
• Growth: 2.5x YoY; 120 million orders in 2025. Delivery: 28 mins avg.
• Scenario: "Biryani" in Delhi yields 50+ options—e.g., Behrouz Biryani at ₹220 (vs. ₹290 on Zomato).

💡 Real Scenario: Same outlet lists at ₹210-₹250; pick 40-min slot for ₹30 extra discount. Top apps: Paytm, Magicpin (food volume kings).

3. Fashion & Apparel (Best for Variety—15% Growth YoY)

📌 What you can buy (high-volume items):

• Men's: T-shirts (₹250), shirts (₹400), jeans (₹800).
• Women's: Sarees (₹1,200), kurtis (₹500).
• Footwear: Sneakers (₹1,000), accessories (₹200).

Few insights:

• 1.2 lakh sellers (small brands: 70%); unique ethnic wear dominates.
• Savings: 15-25% vs. Myntra (e.g., kurti: ₹450 ONDC vs. ₹600).
• Coverage: 600+ cities; Tier-2 surge (e.g., Lucknow: 20% volume). GMV: ₹1,800 crore (2025).

💡 Pro Tip: Bulk buys save 10% more (e.g., 5 shirts: ₹1,800 total). Top apps: Meesho (fashion #1, 55% share), GoShop.

4. Electronics & Gadgets (Emerging—25% YoY Growth)

📌 What you can buy (focus: accessories, 90% volume):

• Chargers (₹300/fast), cables (₹150), earphones (₹500 TWS).
• Accessories: Mouse (₹400), keyboards (₹800).

Few insights:

• 25,000 sellers; heavy items (phones/TVs) at 10% volume due to logistics.
• Price variance: 20% spread (e.g., earphones: ₹450-₹550). GMV: ₹900 crore.
• Cities: Bengaluru (30% share), expanding to 400 cities.

💡 Pro Tip: Cross-check warranties; savings peak on cables (18% avg). Top apps: Paytm, PhonePe.

5. Home & Kitchen (Utility—Stable 10% Share)

📌 What you can buy:

• Cookware: Pressure cookers (₹1,200), pans (₹500).
• Storage: Containers (₹300/set).
• Décor: Curtains (₹800), rugs (₹1,500).

Few insights:

• 80,000 wholesalers; 14% savings vs. Pepperfry. GMV: ₹1,200 crore. Delivery: 2-day norm.

Top apps: DigiHaat, ONDC Official.

6. Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness (Growing 40% YoY)

📌 What you can buy:

• Skincare: Lotions (₹250), serums (₹500).
• Hair: Shampoos (₹200), Ayurveda (₹300).

Few insights:

• 35,000 D2C brands; repeat rate 65%. Savings: 16% vs. Nykaa. GMV: ₹750 crore.

Top apps: Meesho, Sugar Cosmetics tie-ups.

7. Mobility & Services (New—Pilot Stage)

📌 What you can access:

• Rides (auto/cabs in 50 cities), logistics (₹50/kg).

Few insights:

• 5,000 providers; Bengaluru: 1,000 rides/day. Expanding to healthcare pilots.

Top apps: Namma Yatri, Juspay.

Category Comparison (Data Table)

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How Buying Works Across All Categories

No matter what you’re buying, the process is the same:

1. Open an ONDC-enabled app (like Paytm or DigiHaat)
2. Search for a product (e.g., “milk”, “t-shirt”, “biryani”)
3. Compare:
   
   • Sellers
   • Prices
   • Delivery time
4. Place order
5. Track delivery

👉 One system, multiple categories

🔮 What’s Coming Next?

ONDC is expanding into:

• Travel bookings
• Healthcare
• Financial services
• B2B commerce

👉 This will make ONDC a complete digital infrastructure for commerce

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Conclusion

ONDC is not limited to one category—it’s becoming a multi-category shopping ecosystem.

From:

• Daily groceries
• Affordable food delivery
• Fashion and lifestyle
• Emerging services

👉 Everything is coming under one network.

But for sellers to truly benefit from ONDC, they need the right platform.

Costbo is one of the best ONDC seller platforms, helping businesses:

• Get onboarded easily
• Manage orders and catalog
• Scale faster on ONDC

👉 If ONDC is the highway, Costbo helps sellers drive and grow on it

FAQs

1. Which category should I start with on ONDC?

If you’re new, start with:

• Grocery
• Food

These are the most reliable and price-effective categories.

2. Do I need different apps for different categories?

Not necessarily, but it helps.

• Paytm → Works well for grocery, food, electronics
• Meesho → Better for fashion & beauty
• DigiHaat → General category access

👉 You can compare across apps for best results

3. Are all categories available in every city?

No, availability depends on:

• Seller presence
• Logistics support
• City coverage

👉 Metro and Tier 2 cities have better availability

4. Why are ONDC prices different from other apps?

Because:

• Multiple sellers compete
• Lower commissions
• No centralized pricing control

👉 This creates better deals for users

5. Is ONDC good for regular use?

Yes, especially for:

• Daily essentials
• Food orders
• Budget shopping

👉 Many users are shifting daily purchases to ONDC

References

• ONDC Official Website: https://ondc.org
• DPIIT ONDC Page: https://dpiit.gov.in/ondc
• IBEF E-commerce Industry Report: https://www.ibef.org/industry/ecommerce
• Redseer ONDC Insights: https://redseer.com/insights/ondc-india

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Read More 

1. Building Blocks of ONDC: A Detailed Guide to India’s Open Digital Commerce Infrastructure
2. ONDC A Revolutionary Open eCommerce Network – in Action
3. Roles of Seller App & Buyer App on ONDC Network
4. Why Sell Online Through the ONDC Network?
5. Getting Started as a Seller on ONDC: Registration Options
6. Which Is the Best ONDC Seller App? Features, Pros & Cons (2026)
7. Best ONDC Buyer Apps in 2026: Features, Pros & Cons

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