How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- WhatsApp, Paytm, and PhonePe form the core trio for messaging and UPI payments across India.
- Zomato and Swiggy cover food delivery and more, with membership programs that cut delivery fees for frequent orders.
- InShorts and Dailyhunt cover news differently: InShorts gives 60-word summaries in English and Hindi, while Dailyhunt covers 14 Indian languages.
- MyJio bundles telecom, recharge, payments, and entertainment for Jio users in one app.
- All eight apps are free to download, with optional paid extras such as Zomato Gold or Dailyhunt Premium Gold.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 WhatsApp | Messaging and calling | Free | Yes |
 Paytm | UPI payments and bill payments | Free | Yes |
 PhonePe | UPI payments and financial services | Free | Yes |
 Zomato | Food delivery and restaurant discovery | Free | Yes |
 Swiggy | Food, grocery, and dining out | Free | Yes |
 InShorts | Short news summaries | Free | Yes |
 Dailyhunt | News in Indian languages | Free | Yes |
 MyJio | Managing Jio services in one place | Free | Yes |
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The best apps in India
#1WhatsApp
Best for: Messaging and calling4.6/5 on
G2 (250 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit whatsapp.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
WhatsApp is the default way most people in India message each other. Chats and calls use end-to-end encryption, and the app runs on phones and in browsers, with groups, Status updates, stickers, and voice messages for everyday conversation. Because nearly everyone already has it, it doubles as the family group chat, the office channel, and the way small shops talk to customers.
The main limits are structural. You need a phone number to sign up, and managing backups and storage takes a few settings changes. Spam from business accounts can also build up. Still, for personal messaging in India, no other app matches its reach.
What we like- End-to-end encrypted chats and calls
- Works on phones and browsers
- Group chats, Status, and voice messages
Watch out for- Needs a phone number
- Backup and storage controls take setup
- Business spam can creep into chats
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Paytm packs a lot into one app. UPI payments go straight from your bank account to shops and friends, and the same app handles mobile recharges, bill payments, travel booking, and Paytm Money for investing. QR payments in stores are quick, and the app works across a huge range of merchants.
The trade-off is clutter. The home screen carries many services, so finding one feature can take a moment, and some services carry fees that are worth checking before use. Investment products also carry market risk, as Paytm itself notes. For an all-in-one payments app, Paytm remains one of the most complete choices in India.
What we like- UPI payments from bank accounts
- Recharges and bill payments
- Travel booking and Paytm Money in one app
Watch out for- App can feel crowded
- Some services carry fees
- Investment products carry market risk
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
PhonePe keeps its core job simple: fast, safe UPI payments. UPI Lite speeds up small transactions, UPI Circle lets you delegate payments with spending limits, and the app also covers recharges, FASTag, bill payments, insurance, and investments. PhonePe says one in three Indians uses the app, and it works at millions of merchants across the country.
PhonePe is less of a super-app than Paytm, which many users prefer, since the payments flow stays front and center. A few newer features need a recent phone, and merchant tools live in a separate business product. For straightforward UPI payments with a clean interface, PhonePe is a top pick.
What we like- Simple UPI flow with UPI Lite and UPI Circle
- Bill payments, FASTag, and insurance
- International UPI in select countries
Watch out for- Some features need newer phones
- Merchant services are a separate product
- Rewards vary over time
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Zomato is India's best-known food delivery app, with hundreds of thousands of restaurants across more than 800 cities. The app covers ordering, scheduling, Veg Mode for vegetarian diners, gift cards, and even food on trains. Restaurant pages, reviews, and photos help you decide before ordering, which matters in a new neighborhood.
Costs add up at peak times through delivery fees and surge pricing, and Gold membership benefits such as free delivery within 7 km and extra discounts apply at partner restaurants rather than everywhere. Coverage also thins out in smaller towns. For city dwellers who order often, Zomato is the most complete food app in India.
What we like- Huge restaurant coverage across 800 plus cities
- Veg Mode, scheduling, and gift cards
- Gold membership for frequent orders
Watch out for- Delivery fees and surge pricing at peak times
- Gold benefits vary by restaurant
- Smaller towns have fewer options
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Swiggy started with food delivery and now covers groceries and dining-out deals as well, which makes it a useful second app alongside Zomato. Restaurant discovery, ratings, and offers work much the same way, and bank offers and coupons appear often enough to cut the bill on regular orders.
Swiggy shares the same limits as its rival: delivery fees at peak times, grocery range that varies by city, and restaurant quality that varies by area. Having both Swiggy and Zomato on your phone lets you compare delivery times and offers before ordering, which is the practical reason many people keep both.
What we like- Food delivery plus groceries and dining-out deals
- Wide city coverage
- Frequent bank and coupon offers
Watch out for- Delivery fees at peak times
- Grocery range varies by city
- Restaurant quality varies
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
InShorts answers a simple problem: long news articles take time most people do not have. Each story arrives as a 60-word summary, with a link to the full article for stories that deserve more attention. The feed personalizes by interest, and editions exist in English and Hindi.
The format is also the limit. Sixty words cannot carry nuance, so InShorts works best as a morning scan rather than a full news diet. Regional language coverage is thinner than Dailyhunt. For a quick daily briefing in English or Hindi, InShorts is the fastest option on this list.
What we like- News in 60-word summaries
- English and Hindi editions
- Personalized feed by interest
Watch out for- Summaries skip detail
- No deep regional language coverage
- US expansion still in beta
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Dailyhunt is the news app for readers who prefer their own language. It offers personalized news in 14 Indian languages from many publishers, which makes it the strongest option on this list for Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, and other language readers. The feed mixes text and video, and an optional Premium Gold tier adds extra features.
The feed can feel crowded, and video quality varies by publisher. Premium Gold is an extra cost on top of a free app, so check what it adds before paying. For language-first news reading, Dailyhunt has no equal among mainstream Indian news apps.
What we like- News in 14 Indian languages
- Personalized feed from many publishers
- Optional Premium Gold tier
Watch out for- Feed can feel crowded
- Video quality varies
- Premium Gold costs extra
#8
MyJio
Best for: Managing Jio services in one place
Visit jio.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
MyJio is the companion app for Jio users, and it bundles a lot: recharge, bill payment, plan management, entertainment, payments, and support. Jio describes it as the all-in-one app for its mobile and Wi-Fi services, and for prepaid and postpaid users it removes the need to visit a store or website for routine tasks.
The obvious limit is that MyJio only makes sense with a Jio connection. The app also carries many services, so first-time users may need a few minutes to find what they need. For the large share of Indian phone users on Jio, MyJio is the most practical way to manage the connection.
What we like- Recharge, bill payment, and plan management
- Entertainment, payments, and support in one app
- Works for prepaid and postpaid users
Watch out for- Only useful with a Jio connection
- App carries many services
- Some features need a Jio number
How we chose
We compared official product pages, app store listings, and public usage patterns, and we favored apps that are widely available in India, free to download, and useful in daily life rather than niche tools. We weighed reach, language support, payment options, delivery coverage, and price, and we left out apps that are not officially available in India or that duplicate a listed app without a clear difference. Prices were taken from vendor pages where confirmed; all eight apps here are free to download, with optional paid extras noted in the text.
How to choose apps that work well in India
Start with language and network. An app that works in your language and on a slower connection will serve you better than a polished app that assumes fast Wi-Fi and English only.
Language first
Dailyhunt covers 14 Indian languages, InShorts covers English and Hindi, and most payment and delivery apps support Hindi and English plus regional options in places. If family members read in different languages, pick news and utility apps that match each reader rather than forcing one language on everyone.
Data, storage, and payments
Many Indian users run phones with limited storage and mobile data. Lighter apps and offline-friendly features matter more than extra polish. For payments, UPI apps such as Paytm and PhonePe work directly from bank accounts, so check that your bank supports UPI and that the app covers the billers and merchants you actually use.
Coverage where you live
Food delivery and grocery range vary sharply by city. Zomato and Swiggy both cover major cities well, but smaller towns may have only one of them, or neither. Before relying on an app for daily needs, check that it serves your area and that delivery times and fees are acceptable.
Frequently asked questions
Are these apps really free?
Yes, all eight apps are free to download and use for their core features. Optional extras cost money, such as Zomato Gold membership or Dailyhunt Premium Gold, but messaging, UPI payments, basic food ordering, and news reading do not need a subscription.
Do these apps work outside India?
Some do, with limits. WhatsApp works worldwide, and PhonePe supports UPI payments at select merchants in countries such as Singapore, the UAE, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Mauritius. Food delivery, grocery, and Jio services are tied to India, so expect them to stop working abroad.
Which app is best for news in Hindi or regional languages?
Dailyhunt is the strongest choice, with news in 14 Indian languages from many publishers. InShorts covers English and Hindi in short summaries. If you read in one regional language, Dailyhunt's language feed is the deciding feature.
Is UPI safe for daily payments?
UPI uses bank-level authentication, including UPI PINs, and apps such as Paytm and PhonePe add device checks and transaction alerts. Keep your UPI PIN private, verify the receiver's name before sending money, and never share one-time passwords with anyone claiming to be from a bank or app.
Do food delivery apps work in smaller cities?
Coverage varies. Zomato lists more than 800 cities and Swiggy covers many cities too, but restaurant choice and delivery speed drop outside major metros. Check both apps in your area before counting on delivery for daily meals.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.whatsapp.com
- https://paytm.com
- https://www.phonepe.com
- https://www.zomato.com
- https://www.swiggy.com
- https://inshorts.com
- https://dailyhunt.in
- https://www.jio.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.