1. ShareChat
Mohalla Tech · Bengaluru · Messaging & social apps · 4.5/5
Indian-language social network built in Bengaluru.
Free
Free plan available
Compared with WhatsApp
- Built in India (Bengaluru)
Messaging & social apps · Alternatives
Best WhatsApp alternatives in India (2026)
WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp are ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free), Signal (Free), JioChat (Free) and Pinterest (Free). ShareChat is the top-ranked option with a free plan.
Why businesses look for a WhatsApp alternative
Indian support and GST
WhatsApp 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.
WhatsApp alternatives compared
Ranked by how closely each product matches WhatsApp'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | WhatsApp (current) | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.5/5 | — |
| 1 | ShareChat | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.5/5 | vs WhatsApp |
| 2 |  Josh App | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.5/5 | vs WhatsApp |
| 3 |  Signal | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 4 |  JioChat | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.4/5 | vs WhatsApp |
| 5 |  Pinterest | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 6 |  Arattai | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.4/5 | |
| 7 |  Sandes | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 8 |  Mastodon | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 9 |  Bluesky | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 10 |  YouTube Shorts | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 11 |  Clubhouse | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 12 |  Viber | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 13 |  Public App | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 14 |  Lokal | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 15 |  Kutumb | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.3/5 | |
| 16 |  Bolo Indya | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | Yes | 4.2/5 | |
| 17 |  Nextdoor | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 18 |  X (Twitter) | Free plan | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 19 |  LINE | Free | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.1/5 | |
| 20 |  Snapchat | Free plan | Yes | Web, Android, iOS | No | 4.3/5 |
Top 10 WhatsApp alternatives in detail
Free
Free plan available
Compared with WhatsApp
- Built in India (Bengaluru)
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Compared with WhatsApp
- Built in India (Navi Mumbai)
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Compared with WhatsApp
- Built in India (Chennai)
Free
Free plan available
Compared with WhatsApp
- Built in India (New Delhi)
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
Free
Free plan available
WhatsApp alternatives by what you need
Free WhatsApp alternatives
Indian alternatives to WhatsApp
How to choose a WhatsApp alternative
- Businesses should set up official business profiles and catalogues.
- Use official APIs for automation, never unofficial tools.
- Review privacy settings for staff accounts.
WhatsApp alternatives — FAQs
What is the best alternative to WhatsApp in 2026?+
The closest matches to WhatsApp on App Advisor are ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free), Signal (Free). They are ranked by how closely their category, pricing model, platforms and target business size match WhatsApp, then by rating. The best choice depends on your team size and budget.
Is there a free alternative to WhatsApp?+
Yes. 20 of the 20 alternatives listed have a free plan or are free: ShareChat (Free), Josh App (Free), Signal (Free). Free plans usually cap users, records or transactions, so check the limits against your monthly volume.
Is there an Indian alternative to WhatsApp?+
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.
WhatsApp vs ShareChat: which is better?+
ShareChat is the closest match to WhatsApp in our catalogue. Key differences: Built in India (Bengaluru). Compare them side by side before you book a demo.
How were these WhatsApp alternatives chosen?+
Every product listed sits in messaging & social apps or a category WhatsApp 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 WhatsApp alternative fits?
Tell us your team size and budget and we'll send a shortlist of three.
Related alternatives
ShareChat alternativesJosh App alternativesSignal alternativesJioChat alternativesPinterest alternativesArattai alternativesSandes alternativesMastodon alternativesBluesky alternativesYouTube Shorts alternativesClubhouse alternativesViber alternativesAll messaging & social apps alternativesBrowse all alternatives