Top 5 Most Popular Indian Short Video Apps | 100% Made in India
The ban on TikTok in 2020 created a huge opportunity for homegrown short video apps in India. But the launch of Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts made competition fierce. While some apps shut down and others merged, a few pivoted and found their niche.
Despite the onslaught from global giants, some Made in India short video platforms stood their ground. They survived by innovating and understanding local user needs.
In this post, let’s explore 5 popular indigenous short video platforms that have carved a niche for themselves. We will analyze their unique features, platform availability and available languages.
List of Indian Short Video Apps
1. Moj
Platform: Android, iPhone and iPad
Founders: Ankush Sachdeva, Bhanu Pratap Singh and Farid Ahsan
Moj was one of the fastest apps to launch after TikTok’s ban in India. Developed by Mohalla Tech Pvt. Ltd. – the same company behind the popular Indian social media app ShareChat. Moj was coded and launched within just 30 hours. In February 2021, Moj merged with MX TakaTak to create the largest made-in-India short video platform.
Moj comes in two versions – Moj and Moj Lite+ with the Lite version optimized for entry level smartphones. Both apps have amassed over 100 million installs each on the Google Play Store. The app also offers paid subscription Moj Plus for an ad-free experience.
2. Josh
Founders: Virendra Gupta and Umang Bedi
Josh was quickly launched by VerSe Innovation in the wake of TikTok’s ban in India. VerSe is the same Bangalore-based company behind the popular Indian news app Dailyhunt. With backing from major investors like Google, Microsoft and Qatar Investment Authority, Josh entered the short video space.
Josh comes in two versions – Josh and Josh Lite – optimized for different device capabilities. Together they have over 100 million installs on the Google Play Store, establishing Josh as a major contender in short video space.
The app focuses solely on short form videos, allowing users to create, watch, and live stream content. It incorporates monetization features like “Jems” – in-app points that fans can purchase and gift to their favorite creators.
3. Roposo
Founders: Mayank Bhangadia, Avinash Saxena and Kaushal Shubhank
With over 100 million installs on the Google Play Store, Roposo is one of the most popular short video apps to emerge from India. It was founded by three IIT Delhi alumni as a social-commerce platform, allowing people to sell items by making shoppable product videos.
In 2019, Roposo was acquired by Glance Digital, part of the Indian mobile technology company InMobi Group. Glance provides the daily news and wallpaper content on Xiaomi and Realme phones through their mobile lockscreen app.
As part of the Glance and InMobi ecosystem, Roposo offers creators the infrastructure to produce short videos and directly sell to their viewers through in-app shopping features.
4. Hipi
Founder/Owner: Zee Entertainment
Hipi is another short video platform launched by Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment. The app has more than 10 million downloads on Google play. Zee Entertainment has also integrated the Hipi App inside their OTT Platform ZEE5, making it accessible to 100M+ users of ZEE5.
The Hipi app is video only platform where you can post or view short videos. The app also has in-built shopping feature. The creators can leverage the shopping feature to monetize their content.
5. Trell
Platform: Android
Founder: Pulkit Agrawal, Arun Lodhi, Prashant Sachan and Bimal Kartheek Rebba
Founded in 2016, Trell is a social commerce platform that enables creators to sell products through short videos. Creators simply have to create engaging videos showcasing or reviewing products on the Trell app. The app provides the distribution and shipping infrastructure to help creators easily sell to a wide audience.
The app has rapidly grown in popularity, crossing over 10 million installs on Google Play alone. By leveraging influencer marketing and video commerce, Trell has emerged as a leading platform for lifestyle e-commerce in India.