Understanding the GrabOn Business Model: How It Works and Makes Money

GrabOn is one of India’s top-performing coupon and deals platforms, known for its clean interface, verified offers, and strong brand partnerships. But behind its user-facing simplicity lies a sophisticated affiliate-driven business model that powers sustainable revenue through technology, data, and strategic integrations.

For affiliates and entrepreneurs planning to build a deals or cashback platform, GrabOn is a case study in how to scale efficiently — not just by listing coupons, but by building a high-margin performance marketing ecosystem that monetizes every brand interaction.

Let’s break down how GrabOn works, how it makes money, and how you can replicate and improve upon GrabOn business model to create your own affiliate success story.

What is GrabOn? #

Founded in 2013 by Ashok Reddy, GrabOn started as a coupon aggregator and gradually evolved into a technology-driven affiliate platform. It connects users with verified deals across e-commerce, travel, food delivery, and retail brands.

Over the years, GrabOn has built a strong network of partnerships with major players such as Amazon, Swiggy, Zomato, Flipkart, MakeMyTrip, and BookMyShow — becoming one of the most trusted sources for online savings in India.

From a business perspective, GrabOn functions as a multi-channel affiliate hub, bridging the gap between brands and digital shoppers, while generating consistent commission-based revenue through its affiliate network integrations.

Key Metrics and Business Highlights #

If you are wondering what is the revenue of GrabOn and is it profitable, here are your answers

MetricApprox. Value / Insight
Founded2013
FounderAshok Reddy
HeadquarteredHyderabad, India
Monthly TrafficOver 8 million visits (as per SimilarWeb 2024)
Partner Brands2500+ active merchants across 30+ categories
Estimated Annual Revenue$8–10 million (₹65–80 crore)
Key Revenue ChannelsAffiliate commissions, brand campaigns, and API partnerships
Market PositionOne of the top 3 coupon websites in India alongside CouponDunia and CashKaro

GrabOn’s growth stems from its automation, clean UX, and affiliate-focused backend — a combination that allows the company to handle millions of transactions without bloating operational costs.

How Does GrabOn Work: GrabOn Business Model #

GrabOn operates as an affiliate marketing intermediary between online shoppers and e-commerce brands. Here’s how the workflow looks from an operational standpoint — designed for affiliates and entrepreneurs evaluating the model.

1. Affiliate Network Integration #

GrabOn partners with both direct merchants and affiliate networks like Cuelinks, Admitad, and Impact. Each deal, coupon, or cashback offer is tied to a unique affiliate tracking link.

When a purchase occurs through that link, GrabOn earns a commission from the merchant or network. This process is automated through APIs and postback URLs that track every click, sale, or lead.

2. Offer Aggregation and Automation #

GrabOn’s backend continuously aggregates active offers from merchants via APIs, brand dashboards, or manual submissions. These are categorized, verified, and updated dynamically across the site.

By minimizing manual maintenance, GrabOn ensures its listings stay fresh and accurate — a vital factor for user trust and search visibility.

3. Brand Promotion and Campaign Management #

In addition to affiliate commissions, GrabOn runs paid brand campaigns for visibility. Brands can pay to feature their deals prominently through:

  • Homepage banners
  • Exclusive deals or double-cashback promotions
  • Newsletter placements and app notifications

This creates an advertising revenue stream that complements the affiliate model.

4. Data Analytics and Targeting #

GrabOn uses behavioral analytics to track deal performance, click-through rates, and conversion patterns. This data is used to optimize high-performing campaigns and refine targeting for merchants, improving conversion rates and commission revenue.

5. API Distribution and Partnerships #

GrabOn licenses its coupon feed API to publishers, banks, and fintech companies that want to display deals within their platforms. This white-label integration model generates recurring B2B revenue, while increasing traffic for GrabOn’s merchant network.

How Does GrabOn Make Money? #

GrabOn business model combines multiple revenue streams — all built around affiliate marketing and partner monetization.

Revenue StreamDescriptionNature
Affiliate CommissionEarned from every tracked sale or lead completed via GrabOn’s affiliate links.Recurring, performance-based
Brand CampaignsPaid visibility through sponsored listings, banners, and exclusive partnerships.High-margin, campaign-based
Data Insights & AnalyticsAggregated data on redemption rates and customer behavior sold as insights to brands.Strategic, value-added
API & White-Label IntegrationsLicensing coupon and offer feeds to publishers or fintech apps.Recurring, B2B revenue
Cashback Margin (select verticals)Profit difference between merchant commission and cashback shared with users.Controlled, scalable margin

This hybrid business model enables GrabOn to diversify risk, maintain steady income, and scale operations efficiently — without being dependent on one revenue source.

Why GrabOn’s Business Model Works for Affiliates #

For affiliates and founders, GrabOn demonstrates a sustainable blueprint:

  • Automated offer management reduces manual work.
  • Affiliate diversification ensures steady income across networks.
  • B2B integrations expand market reach without additional marketing spend.
  • Data-driven campaigns boost brand performance and advertiser retention.
  • Low overhead with high scalability — perfect for founders entering competitive affiliate markets.

If you’re building a coupon or cashback platform, GrabOn’s model shows that true scalability doesn’t come from traffic alone — it comes from integration depth and automation maturity.

Conclusion #

GrabOn’s business model is proof that affiliate-based coupon platforms can grow into strong, self-sustaining businesses when powered by the right technology and partnerships.

It works because of its multi-revenue structure — affiliate earnings, brand promotions, data insights, and B2B API licensing. Each layer strengthens the other, creating consistent cash flow even during low shopping cycles.

For affiliates and entrepreneurs, the key takeaway is to build systems that run on automation and scalability — where your platform becomes the backend engine for brands, publishers, and users alike.

And that’s exactly what EnactSoft helps you do.

Want to build your own GrabOn-style affiliate platform — but faster, smarter, and built to scale globally? #

At EnactSoft, we help affiliates and entrepreneurs launch high-performance coupon and cashback platforms that match — and outperform — industry leaders like GrabOn.

We’re the only company that has helped 350+ affiliates launch 500+ platforms across 65+ countries, combining affiliate automation, API-based offer sync, and scalable tracking infrastructure.

Our affiliate Solution includes:
✅ Real-time deal feed automation
✅ Advanced cashback and affiliate tracking
✅ Partner API integrations
✅ Merchant and campaign analytics
✅ Custom branding and white-label options

Build a better, faster, and smarter version of GrabOn — built for the next decade of affiliate innovation.

👉 Launch your GrabOn clone with EnactSoft today.

FAQs #

1. Who is the owner of GrabOn and when it was founded? #

GrabOn was founded by Ashok Reddy in 2013 in Hyderabad, India. The platform quickly grew into one of India’s leading deal and coupon aggregators through its affiliate-driven business model.

2. How does GrabOn work behind the scenes? #

GrabOn integrates with merchants and affiliate networks to track purchases made via its deal links. It earns commissions on successful transactions and updates offers automatically through APIs and brand partnerships.

3. How does GrabOn make money? #

GrabOn earns through affiliate commissions, paid brand promotions, data insights, and white-label partnerships. Its revenue comes from multiple streams, including recurring affiliate income and campaign-based advertising fees.

4. What makes GrabOn’s business model scalable? #

Automation. GrabOn minimizes manual deal updates using API integrations and dynamic feeds. This allows it to handle thousands of offers simultaneously with minimal team overhead — making it scalable and efficient.

5. Can I build a platform like GrabOn for my affiliate business? #

Absolutely. EnactSoft specializes in building GrabOn-style platforms equipped with affiliate tracking, merchant dashboards, data analytics, and API-based deal automation — everything you need to launch and scale your affiliate business globally.