Last month, I needed to send my passport to the VFS office for visa stamping.
Problem? It was 4 PM. The office closed at 6 PM. I was stuck in a meeting.
Opened Dunzo. Booked a pickup. My passport reached VFS by 5:15 PM.
Cost me ₹89. Saved me a rescheduled appointment and a week of delays.
That is when Dunzo proved its worth. But three days later, I needed to move 15 boxes of books to my new office.
Dunzo would have bankrupted me. Porter moved everything in one mini-truck for ₹450.
If you are returning to India or already navigating life here, understanding Dunzo vs Porter is not optional. It is essential.
Let me break down which one you actually need.
What Each Platform Actually Does
Dunzo is your hyperlocal errand runner. Founded in 2015, it started in Bangalore delivering forgotten chargers and groceries.
Now? Documents, medicines, small packages, even groceries. Anything under 5 kg within the city.
Operates in 7 major cities: Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gurgaon.
Delivery time? Average 19-45 minutes depending on distance. Sometimes under 10 minutes.
Porter is the heavy lifter. Founded in 2014 as India’s largest intra-city logistics platform.
Bikes for small parcels. Mini-trucks for bulk items. Tempos for furniture.
Available in 22+ cities including all metros and tier-2 cities like Jaipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh.
Porter handles everything from a single envelope to an entire household move.
The fundamental difference? Dunzo is for speed on small items. Porter is for capacity on anything.
“Dunzo gets your forgotten laptop charger. Porter moves your entire office.”
Pricing: The Real Cost Breakdown
Dunzo Pricing
Small package (under 3 km): ₹40-60 Medium distance (5-8 km): ₹80-120 Longer trips (10+ km): ₹150-200
Surge pricing applies during peak hours. Rain? Add 20-30%.
Dunzo Daily subscription (₹149/month) offers free deliveries on groceries and essentials. Not applicable to courier packages.
Porter Pricing
Bike delivery: ₹40-80 (similar to Dunzo for small items) Mini truck (4-6 hours): ₹800-1500 Tempo (full day): ₹2000-3500
Transparent pricing. No hidden charges. You see the quote upfront.
Real Example:
Sending a 2 kg document package across Bangalore (12 km):
- Dunzo: ₹165
- Porter Bike: ₹95
Moving 20 boxes of files (100 kg) same distance:
- Dunzo: Would require multiple trips (₹800+)
- Porter Mini-truck: ₹450 (one trip)
Porter wins on bulk. Dunzo wins on ultra-fast small deliveries.
💡 Tip: Use Dunzo for urgent documents under 5 kg. Use Porter for anything over 10 kg or multiple items.
When to Use Dunzo
✅ Emergency document delivery – Passport, PAN card, certificates to government offices ✅ Forgotten items – Phone charger at office, keys at friend’s place ✅ Medical needs – Prescription pickup, lab sample drop ✅ Small urgent packages – Under 5 kg, need it there in 30 minutes ✅ Cash on delivery unavailable – Dunzo does digital payments only
I use Dunzo 2-3 times monthly. Always for urgent stuff under time pressure.
Last week? Forgot my presentation pen drive at home. Meeting in 40 minutes. Dunzo saved me.
When to Use Porter
✅ Bulk shipments – Multiple boxes, cartons, files ✅ Heavy items – Books, electronics, office equipment ✅ Furniture – Moving desks, chairs, shelves ✅ Scheduled pickups – Plan deliveries for next day ✅ Cash payments – Porter accepts both digital and cash
Porter is my go-to for office moves, buying furniture from IKEA, sending bulk samples to clients.
Recently helped a friend move apartments. Porter mini-truck carried everything in two trips. Total cost: ₹2200.
Three Uber XL trips would have cost ₹3500+ and taken twice as long.
Service Quality: My Real Experience
Dunzo (50+ deliveries):
- Speed: 9/10 (consistently fast)
- Reliability: 7/10 (occasionally no riders available)
- Support: 6/10 (chat support is slow)
- App experience: 8/10 (clean, simple)
Porter (30+ deliveries):
- Speed: 7/10 (slower but predictable)
- Reliability: 8/10 (better driver availability)
- Support: 7/10 (phone support helps)
- App experience: 7/10 (functional but cluttered)
Neither is perfect. But both deliver on their promises most of the time.
The Coverage Reality
Dunzo Cities: Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Chennai
Porter Cities: All above PLUS Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Kochi, Lucknow, Nagpur, Indore, and more.
If you are in a smaller city, Porter is more likely available. Dunzo is metro-focused.
Planning your return to India? Check my guide on which state is best for NRIs coming home for city selection tips.
Business Use Cases
Both platforms have business solutions. Here is how they differ:
Dunzo for Business (D4B):
- Multiple pickups/deliveries daily
- API integration available
- Ideal for restaurants, pharmacies, dark stores
- Order batching and analytics
Porter for Business:
- Bulk logistics for warehouses
- Regular supply chain needs
- API for order management
- Fleet management for enterprises
I use Dunzo for client document deliveries. Used Porter when setting up my home office (15 IKEA boxes in one go).
For understanding broader financial logistics after returning to India, my article on planning your finances after years abroad covers related topics.
My Practical Framework
Here is my decision tree after hundreds of deliveries:
Package under 5 kg + Need it urgently? → Dunzo Package over 10 kg or multiple items? → Porter Furniture or appliances? → Porter (always) Documents to government office today? → Dunzo Scheduled pickup for tomorrow? → Porter Metro city only? → Either works Tier-2 city? → Porter more likely
I keep both apps on my phone. Check both for availability before booking.
What They Do Not Tell You
Dunzo struggles with:
- Weight limits (strictly enforced)
- Night deliveries (reduced availability)
- Weekend surges (can double prices)
- Rural areas (zero coverage)
Porter limitations:
- Slower for small urgent items
- Bike option not always available
- Heavy trucks need advance booking
- Less coverage in some metro pockets
Neither is a silver bullet. Both are tools for specific jobs.
💡 Tip: Screenshot delivery details immediately. Makes dispute resolution much faster if something goes wrong.
The Verdict
For 80% of my courier needs? Dunzo.
For the 20% involving bulk or weight? Porter.
Dunzo is my digital errand runner. Porter is my logistics partner.
Your usage will depend on your situation. NRI returning with 50 boxes from the US? You will live on Porter for weeks.
Young professional sending documents occasionally? Dunzo handles it.
Both apps represent how Indian logistics has evolved. Ten years ago, I would have spent half a day at a courier office.
Now? Book in 2 minutes. Track in real-time. Focus on actual work.
Welcome to the efficiency of Indian urban logistics in 2025.
Quick Tips for Both Platforms
Before booking:
- Add frequent locations (home, office) for faster booking
- Check reviews of drivers when possible
- Enable notifications for pickup updates
During pickup:
- Take photos of package before handover
- Get tracking ID immediately
- Add delivery instructions in notes
For Porter specifically:
- Book heavy vehicles 2-3 hours in advance
- Confirm vehicle type matches your need
- Have loading help ready (drivers just drive)
For Dunzo specifically:
- Mark packages fragile if needed
- Call recipient to confirm they will be available
- Use Dunzo coins for discounts
For more tips on managing daily life in India, check my guide on high speed internet and other essential services.
TLDR: Quick Decision Guide
Choose Dunzo when you need:
- ✅ Ultra-fast delivery (under 1 hour)
- ✅ Small packages (under 5 kg)
- ✅ Emergency document delivery
- ✅ Metro city coverage
- 💰 Cost: ₹40-200 per delivery
Choose Porter when you need:
- ✅ Heavy or bulk items (10+ kg)
- ✅ Multiple packages in one trip
- ✅ Furniture or appliances
- ✅ Wider city coverage
- 💰 Cost: ₹40 (bike) to ₹3500+ (truck)
The Smart Strategy: Download both apps. Use Dunzo for 80% of urgent small deliveries. Use Porter for the 20% bulk/heavy stuff. Keep both as backup options.
Bottom Line: Neither replaces the other. They serve different needs. Master both and you have Indian urban logistics figured out.
About the Author: Mani Karthik returned to India in 2017 and has used both Dunzo and Porter 100+ times. He runs ManiKarthik.com helping NRIs navigate their return journey. Based in Bangalore, he considers both apps essential tools for modern Indian life.