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Messaging & social apps · Alternatives

Best imo alternatives in India (2026)

imo is a messaging & social apps product from imo, Singapore, 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.

imo review

Quick answer

The closest alternatives to imo are ShareChat (Free), Facebook (Free), Josh App (Free), Signal (Free) and JioChat (Free). ShareChat is the top-ranked option with a free plan.

Why businesses look for a imo alternative

Indian support and GST

imo is built in Singapore. 9 alternatives are made in India, where GST, TDS and UPI are usually handled natively and support runs on IST.

imo alternatives compared

Ranked by how closely each product matches imo's category, pricing model, platforms and business size, then by rating. Prices exclude GST.

#SoftwareStarting priceFree planPlatformsMade in IndiaRatingCompare
imo logoimo (current)FreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.1/5
1ShareChat logoShareChatFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.5/5
2Facebook logoFacebookFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.5/5
3Josh App logoJosh AppFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.5/5
4Signal logoSignalFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.3/5
5JioChat logoJioChatFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.4/5
6Pinterest logoPinterestFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.3/5
7Arattai logoArattaiFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.4/5
8Sandes logoSandesFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.3/5
9Mastodon logoMastodonFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.3/5
10Threads logoThreadsFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5
11Bluesky logoBlueskyFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5
12YouTube Shorts logoYouTube ShortsFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5
13Instagram Reels logoInstagram ReelsFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5
14Clubhouse logoClubhouseFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5
15Viber logoViberFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5
16Public App logoPublic AppFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.3/5
17Lokal logoLokalFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.3/5
18Kutumb logoKutumbFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.3/5
19Bolo Indya logoBolo IndyaFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSYes4.2/5
20Nextdoor logoNextdoorFreeYesWeb, Android, iOSNo4.2/5

Top 10 imo alternatives in detail

ShareChat logo

1. ShareChat

Mohalla Tech · Bengaluru · Messaging & social apps · 4.5/5

Indian-language social network built in Bengaluru.

Free

Free plan available

Compared with imo

  • Built in India (Bengaluru)
Josh App logo

3. Josh App

VerSe Innovation · Bengaluru · Messaging & social apps · 4.5/5

Short videos.

Free

Free plan available

Compared with imo

  • Built in India (Bengaluru)
Signal logo

4. Signal

Signal Foundation · Mountain View · Messaging & social apps · 4.3/5

Private messaging.

Free

Free plan available

JioChat logo

5. JioChat

Reliance Jio · Navi Mumbai · Messaging & social apps · 4.4/5

Messaging from Jio.

Free

Free plan available

Compared with imo

  • Built in India (Navi Mumbai)
Arattai logo

7. Arattai

Zoho Corporation · Chennai · Messaging & social apps · 4.4/5

Messaging app from Zoho.

Free

Free plan available

Compared with imo

  • Built in India (Chennai)
Sandes logo

8. Sandes

NIC · New Delhi · Messaging & social apps · 4.3/5

Government messaging app.

Free

Free plan available

Compared with imo

  • Built in India (New Delhi)

imo alternatives by what you need

How to choose a imo alternative

  • Businesses should set up official business profiles and catalogues.
  • Use official APIs for automation, never unofficial tools.
  • Review privacy settings for staff accounts.

imo alternatives — FAQs

What is the best alternative to imo in 2026?+

The closest matches to imo on App Advisor are ShareChat (Free), Facebook (Free), Josh App (Free). They are ranked by how closely their category, pricing model, platforms and target business size match imo, then by rating. The best choice depends on your team size and budget.

Is there a free alternative to imo?+

Yes. 20 of the 20 alternatives listed have a free plan or are free: ShareChat (Free), Facebook (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 imo?+

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.

imo vs ShareChat: which is better?+

ShareChat is the closest match to imo in our catalogue. Key differences: Built in India (Bengaluru). Compare them side by side before you book a demo.

How were these imo alternatives chosen?+

Every product listed sits in messaging & social apps or a category imo also covers, and imo'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.

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