The Open Network for Digital Commerce has grown from a pilot into a network processing tens of millions of monthly transactions across grocery, food, fashion, electronics and services. For a small seller the pitch is simple: list once through a seller app, and your catalogue becomes visible in every buyer app on the network — Paytm, magicpin, Mystore, Ola, Meesho's ONDC integration and dozens more — at commissions far below Amazon or Flipkart.
How it is different from a marketplace
| Amazon / Flipkart | ONDC | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the customer | The marketplace | You (via the seller app) |
| Commission | 8–25% by category + fees | Typically 3–8% total (seller app + buyer app + logistics) |
| Catalogue rules | Strict, platform-specific | Standard ONDC schema; seller app handles it |
| Logistics | Platform-fulfilled or self-ship | Self-ship, or plug-in logistics partners on the network |
| Discovery | Ads-driven | Location-driven; hyperlocal shows nearby stores first |
The trade-off: traffic is spread across many buyer apps and depends heavily on your location and category. Grocery, food and pharmacy in metros see strong volumes; niche products in small towns see less.
Step-by-step onboarding
- Pick a seller app. Popular ones: Mystore, eSamudaay, Bizom, GoFrugal, Ushop, SellerApp, Magicpin Seller. Compare monthly fees (₹0–₹1,000) and commission (2–5%).
- KYC: GSTIN (or PAN for GST-exempt sellers under the threshold), bank account, address proof, FSSAI licence for food.
- Catalogue: product name, images on white background, price, HSN, stock, weight/dimensions. Barcodes help matching — generate EAN-13 or SKU codes with the barcode generator.
- Serviceability: define your delivery radius (hyperlocal) or pan-India with a logistics partner.
- Go live. Orders arrive in the seller app; you accept, pack, and either deliver yourself or hand over to the network logistics provider.
Pricing correctly
Because ONDC commission is low, sellers often under-price. Work backwards from cost, packaging, shipping (volumetric!), commissions and target margin with the seller pricing workflow. For a 25×18×10 cm parcel, chargeable weight is 0.9 kg even if it weighs 400 g — check the volumetric calculator before quoting free delivery.
Fulfilment basics
- Print a 4×6 label with the order ID and AWB from the logistics partner — the shipping label tool works for self-ship orders.
- Include a GST invoice in the parcel; the buyer app shows it to the customer. The invoice generator produces a compliant PDF.
- Meet the promised TAT. Cancellation and late-delivery rates are visible to buyer apps and affect ranking.
What sells
- Hyperlocal grocery and daily essentials
- Food from restaurants and home kitchens (with FSSAI)
- Pharmacy (with licence)
- Regional and artisanal products — pickles, handloom, spices — where the buyer app searches by "near me"
- Repair, salon and home services (the services segment grew fastest in 2025–26)
Is it worth it?
Yes if you are a physical store in a city with strong buyer-app adoption and you can deliver locally — it is close to free incremental demand. Maybe if you are a D2C brand shipping nationally; volumes are still smaller than Amazon, but margins are far better. Not yet if you sell a niche product in a town where buyer apps have few users — revisit in six months.
FAQ
Do I need GST to sell on ONDC?
For intra-state sales below the threshold, sellers without GST can list through some seller apps using PAN. Inter-state sales require GST registration.
Who handles returns and refunds?
The seller app's policy applies, within ONDC's network rules. You set return windows; refunds flow through the buyer app.
Can I be on ONDC and Amazon at the same time?
Yes. Most sellers run both; keep stock synced to avoid cancellations.
How do I get paid?
Buyer apps settle to the seller app, which settles to your bank — typically T+2 to T+7 depending on the app.