20 Best Apps Every Indian Should Have on Their Smartphone

Must-Have Apps for Indian Smartphone Users

Payments and Finance

• BHIM / PhonePe / GPay: UPI payments — all three work universally but BHIM is government's official UPI app
• Paytm: Recharges, bill payments, mini loans, insurance
• Groww / Zerodha Kite: Mutual fund SIP and stock investing — zero commission on direct mutual funds
• Cred: Credit card bill payment + exclusive offers; cashback on timely payments
• Jupiter / Fi Money: Neo-banks with better savings rates and spending analytics

Government Services

• DigiLocker: Store Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, vehicle RC digitally. Legally valid copies.
• mParivahan: Check vehicle RC, insurance, PUC. Traffic challan payment.
• UMANG: 2,000+ government services: PF balance, ITR, gas booking, PAN, passport status
• Aarogya Setu: Health services, vaccine certificates, COVID records
• eShram: Unorganised sector worker registration for social security benefits

Health

• ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account): Create your health ID, store medical records
• Practo: Book doctor appointments, teleconsultation, pharmacy, lab tests
• 1mg / PharmEasy: Medicine delivery, lab tests at home (up to 25% cheaper than offline)
• HealthifyMe: Indian food calorie tracker, personalised diet plans

News and Information

• Inshorts: 60-word news summaries — best for staying current without wasting time
• Sameer (CPCB): Official AQI (air quality) monitoring app for India
• Bhumi: Land record app (varies by state — check your state's official land records app)

Productivity and Utilities

• Signal: Secure messaging alternative to WhatsApp; end-to-end encrypted
• Notion: Notes, project planning, personal wiki
• TrueCaller: Identify unknown callers, block spam calls — essential in India with high spam call volume
• Google Maps: Navigation + real-time traffic; Street View available for major Indian cities

Travel

• IRCTC Rail Connect: Official train booking. Don't use third-party apps for train tickets — they charge extra convenience fees.
• RailYatri / Where is My Train: Real-time train tracking without booking
• Rapido: Bike taxi — fastest and cheapest for short urban distances