PhonePe Launches Indus Appstore as Competition to Google Play Store

PhonePe, the fintech platform owned by Walmart Inc., has launched the Indus Appstore in India, aiming to compete with Google’s Play Store. The new app store offers over 200,000 apps and games in 12 Indian languages.

To attract app creators, PhonePe has waived listing fees for developers until April 1, 2025. The Indus Appstore aims to revolutionize India’s digital journey by catering to the increasing mobile usage in the country.

Users can download apps across 45 categories and access content in 12 Indian languages. Developers benefit from no listing fees for the first year and the option to use third-party payment gateways. The platform also provides self-publishing tools, localization services, and features for app growth.

Indus Appstore introduces a short-video-based discovery feature to enhance app discovery for users. PhonePe plans to partner with smartphone manufacturers and aims to be available on major phone brands by the end of the year.

This move is part of PhonePe’s strategy to expand its digital ecosystem and compete with rivals like Paytm and Google’s GPay in the Indian market. CEO Sameer Nigam sees it as a step towards creating a more inclusive digital ecosystem in India.