With a colossal population, massive smartphone adoption, and data rates that rank among the top-30 lowest in the world, India continues to be primed for the best mobile apps in the world. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that mobile-based entertainment has quickly become the norm among the over 600 million people with mobiles in India.
As is always the case, certain apps prove themselves to be far more popular than others. In the incredibly popular mobile spaces of over-the-top video, online gambling, and music streaming, three apps stand supreme, offering a tremendous range of options, easy navigation, and high-quality content.
So, which of India’s video, gambling, and music apps are the best and most popular in 2021?
A massive market dominated by a dynamic duo
India’s OTT video market is colossal already, with revenues from the sector expected to grow to nearly ₹14, 000 within the next couple of years. While there are many players in this vast scene, one of the longest-standing continues to be the biggest, Hotstar. Launched in 2015, Disney taking over its parent company, 21st Century Fox, has only taken the video streaming platform to new heights as Disney+Hotstar.
It’s the most subscribed to platform in the country, boasting around 300 million active users, seeing huge upticks in downloads, particularly around the annual IPL – which the app owns the exclusive streaming rights to. As explained in this Disney+Hotstar EYNTK piece, subscriptions are very affordable, ranging from ₹299 to ₹1, 499 per month, granting access to an extensive range of local, Disney, and sports content via the app.
Setting the standard in India’s burgeoning online gambling scene
The vast majority of Indian state governments are yet to react to the advent of online gambling, and yet, gambling websites have taken off across the nation. In such a space, one could assume that sites would offer the bare bones as there’s little to set the bar. However, some international brands have come in offering everything that they would in regulated markets, winning over players and earning trust for a burgeoning scene that’s presently valued at over ₹1, 000 crore.
Those that weigh in with a range of trusted payment methods, welcome bonuses and promotions, an extensive library of games, sports betting options, and an optimised mobile app find success in India. This is how Pure Win Casino rose to the top of the charts. As detailed in this Pure Win Casino review, the platform is fully regulated, features popular games like Lightning Roulette and Online Andar Bahar, and has a sportsbook included in its Android casino app.
The homegrown music app that’s dominating audio streaming
Certainly not a slouch in the exploding mobile entertainment scene, the music streaming market is already worth around ₹4, 800 crore, being driven by ad revenue from apps and web-based streaming platforms. As with online gambling and OTT video, there are already several top contenders in the online music space, but the one that reigns supreme is very much a homegrown platform.
Launched in 2010 by Times Internet of Gurugram, Gaana has become an indomitable force among mobile music listeners. The app is, by far, the most downloaded and used of all of the options, with this Gaana Music breakdown stating that it has over 200 million monthly users to stand as the largest commercial streaming service. It features Indian and international music, with one of its main strengths being that it draws from 21 Indian languages to offer a full, nationally-loved music platform.
India’s mobile entertainment markets grow with each passing month, with more and more innovative contenders attempting to muscle in and grab some popularity. In 2021, though, it’s Disney+Hotstar, Pure Win Casino, and Gaana that stand atop the three biggest sectors in India.