1. BeReal
BeReal · Paris · Messaging & social apps · 4.1/5
Photo-sharing app that prompts friends to post one unfiltered front-and-back camera shot daily.
Free
Free plan available
Messaging & social apps · Alternatives
Best Instagram alternatives in India (2026)
Instagram is a messaging & social apps product from Meta, Menlo Park, priced at Free with a free plan. We compared 20 alternatives on published price, free plan, platforms and made-in-India support: 20 have a free plan, 9 are built in India.
Quick answer
The closest alternatives to Instagram are BeReal (Free), ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free), Signal (Free) and JioChat (Free). BeReal is the top-ranked option with a free plan.
Why businesses look for a Instagram alternative
Indian support and GST
Instagram is built in United States. 9 alternatives are made in India, where GST, TDS and UPI are usually handled natively and support runs on IST.
Instagram alternatives compared
Ranked by how closely each product matches Instagram's category, pricing model, platforms and business size, then by rating. Prices exclude GST.
| # | Software | Starting price | Free plan | Platforms | Made in India | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Instagram (current) | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.4/5 | — |
| 1 | BeReal | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.1/5 | |
| 2 |  ShareChat | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.5/5 | vs Instagram |
| 3 |  Josh App | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.5/5 | vs Instagram |
| 4 |  Signal | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 5 |  JioChat | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.4/5 | vs Instagram |
| 6 |  Pinterest | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 7 |  Arattai | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.4/5 | |
| 8 |  Sandes | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 9 |  Mastodon | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 10 |  Bluesky | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 11 |  YouTube Shorts | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 12 |  Clubhouse | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 13 |  Viber | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 14 |  Public App | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 15 |  Lokal | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 16 |  Kutumb | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 17 |  Bolo Indya | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.2/5 | |
| 18 |  Nextdoor | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 19 |  X (Twitter) | Free plan | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 20 |  LINE | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.1/5 |
Top 10 Instagram alternatives in detail
2. ShareChat
Mohalla Tech · Bengaluru · Messaging & social apps · 4.5/5
Indian-language social network built in Bengaluru.
Free
Free plan available
Compared with Instagram
- Built in India (Bengaluru)
Free
Free plan available
Compared with Instagram
- Built in India (Bengaluru)
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Compared with Instagram
- Built in India (Navi Mumbai)
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Compared with Instagram
- Built in India (Chennai)
Free
Free plan available
Compared with Instagram
- Built in India (New Delhi)
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Instagram alternatives by what you need
Free Instagram alternatives
Indian alternatives to Instagram
How to choose a Instagram alternative
- Businesses should set up official business profiles and catalogues.
- Use official APIs for automation, never unofficial tools.
- Review privacy settings for staff accounts.
Instagram alternatives — FAQs
What is the best alternative to Instagram in 2026?+
The closest matches to Instagram on App Advisor are BeReal (Free), ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free). They are ranked by how closely their category, pricing model, platforms and target business size match Instagram, then by rating. The best choice depends on your team size and budget.
Is there a free alternative to Instagram?+
Yes. 20 of the 20 alternatives listed have a free plan or are free: BeReal (Free), ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free). Free plans usually cap users, records or transactions, so check the limits against your monthly volume.
Is there an Indian alternative to Instagram?+
Yes. 9 alternatives are built in India, including ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free), JioChat (Free). Indian products usually handle GST, TDS and UPI natively and bill in rupees.
Instagram vs BeReal: which is better?+
BeReal is the closest match to Instagram in our catalogue. Compare them side by side before you book a demo.
How were these Instagram alternatives chosen?+
Every product listed sits in messaging & social apps or a category Instagram also covers, and Meta's own products are excluded. Prices, free plans and platforms come from each vendor's official website. App Advisor does not sell any of this software.
Free shortlist
Not sure which Instagram alternative fits?
Tell us your team size and budget and we'll send a shortlist of three.
Related alternatives
BeReal alternativesShareChat alternativesJosh App alternativesSignal alternativesJioChat alternativesPinterest alternativesArattai alternativesSandes alternativesMastodon alternativesBluesky alternativesYouTube Shorts alternativesClubhouse alternativesAll messaging & social apps alternativesBrowse all alternatives