Zomato launches Host Mode in India: Guests can now order food without seeing prices

Ever handed your phone to a guest to order food on Zomato, only to watch them scroll through the menu and pick the cheapest dish? Zomato has introduced a new feature called Host Mode that hides food prices when someone else is paying for the meal. The feature is now available across India and allows guests to choose what they want without knowing how much each dish costs.

Interestingly, Host Mode started as a simple social media suggestion. Last month, Ayushmaan Agarwalla, a marketing manager at Itu Chaudhuri Design, suggested a similar feature called Mehmaan Mode in a LinkedIn post tagging Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal. Goyal responded, “Thanks for the suggestion. Shipping it this week.” Zomato says the feature went live within 72 hours, arriving just in time for the festive season.

What is Zomato Host Mode and why is it needed?

The idea addresses a familiar situation in Indian households. You’re hosting friends or relatives and offer to order dinner. Everyone agrees, but the moment the menu opens, guests suddenly become very careful about prices.

Someone who wanted biryani might settle for a cheaper snack. Another person might simply say, “Anything is fine.”

Host Mode removes prices from restaurant menus and the shopping cart, allowing guests to select dishes freely. The person hosting the gathering can check the final amount before placing the order.

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How to activate Zomato Host Mode

Zomato has made the feature available through several sections of its app. Here’s how it works.

1. Open Zomato and tap the Host Mode option on the home screen, restaurant menu page or under Profile > Your preferences.
2. Select Switch on Host Mode to activate it.
3. All food prices disappear from restaurant menus and the cart.
4. Hand your phone to guests and let them add dishes.
5. Tap Exit host mode to review bill when everyone finishes choosing.
6. Unlock the bill using your fingerprint, face authentication or device passcode.
7. Review the total amount and available savings before placing the order.

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Can guests see the final bill?

According to Zomato, prices remain hidden until the host authenticates and exits Host Mode. The feature works at the browsing and cart stages, keeping the cost private when guests choose their food.

There is one practical catch. Hiding prices doesn’t stop someone from adding expensive dishes or ordering more than expected. The host still needs to review the final bill before paying.

For a feature that began with a customer’s LinkedIn suggestion, the turnaround was unusually quick. And for Indian households preparing to host guests during the festive season, it addresses a small but familiar awkward moment around ordering food.

The guests can now concentrate on choosing dinner. The host gets to worry about the bill privately.