11 Best Apps Replacements to different Paytm features in India

Paytm is a giant in the Indian market. Demonetization has only resulted in increasing its use of multifold. The vigorous push that the use of Paytm received in small and medium enterprises just can’t be underestimated. No matter which shop you visit right from a hawker to an international grocery store Paytm has left a mark at every place. However, its use is not just limited to payments. It has further spread its web to encompass a host of other services like mobile recharge, metro card recharge, transportation ticket booking, movie tickets etc. Now, you can even go ahead and get a debit card for yourself and also purchase digital gold on the platform. But, we must note here that Paytm has always tried to be the Jack of all trades. Neither has it ever aimed at nor has it ever been successful in becoming the mast of any. There is always a better alternative to which you can easily switch to for the services provided by Paytm. Let’s have a look at Paytm like apps in India.

Best Paytm Alternatives for distinct usages

1. Paytm replacements for Mobile Recharges, Bills & Merchant Payments

Mobikwik

If you are in search of a better alternative for Paytm for your recharge and bill payment needs, Mobikwik can solve your problem. Mobikwik in itself is capable of performing a lot of functions that you use Paytm for. You can store money in your Mobikwik wallet and this money can be used for recharge payments as well as for paying off your bills.

Though the reach of Mobikwik was pretty small initially, it has been growing steadily. A number of shops that accept Paytm have also started accepting Mobikwik payments and thus there is a cut-throat fight for market share between the two. If you listen to me, you will find it hard to let go of Mobikwik if you experience its clean interface and instantaneous transactions for yourself first.

Just like Paytm, Mobikwik has not restricted itself merely to these services. It also offers the option of booking bus tickets. But here Paytm defeats Mobikwik by not just allowing users to book bus tickets but also air tickets at unbelievable discounts. Mobikwik is constantly working at expanding its reach. It is not just working on the brick and mortar stores for this purpose but also incorporating online shopping stops like Swiggy, IRCTC, eBay, and Dominos.

FreeCharge

If you are looking for Paytm Alternatives for Recharge then Freecharge is here. An app actually led to the popularity of going the online way for mobile recharges and bill payments. The clean interface and the various discounts provided by FreeCharge made it a huge hit in no time.

Though the initial version of this app was worth going gaga over, it has been steering away gradually from its initial vision since it was acquired by SnapDeal. With this business deal, we had to bid goodbye to the best deals and discounts available at FreeCharge. However, what the corporate world couldn’t take away from this app was its lovable ease of use.

The best part about it is that it is extremely reliable. Through the years, I have been a regular user of FreeCharge, and not once has my mobile recharge failed. It has been as instantaneous as ever and has not posed any trouble whatsoever. It will update you on the best plans that you should keep an eye at and will also offer the best deals provided by carriers for every state. Lately, FreeCharge has also started venturing into the field of merchant payments. Though its reach is still a far cry from reaching that of Mobikwik or Paytm, it is slowly getting there.

2. Send And Receive Money Paytm substitutes

PhonePe

PhonePe was one of the first apps to use UPI or Unified Payments Interface and can be considered as the best Paytm alternative to send and receive money. UPI technology was initiated by the Reserve bank of India (RBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). What makes this technology really attractive is that it has helped to carry out transactions at a lightning bolt speed. The money is directly transferred from the account of the sender to the receiver without any interference. This is helpful in several ways.

First, it has eliminated any digital wallet in between.

Second, it makes the process a piece of cake. The sender doesn’t even need to know the account number of the receiver. Merely knowing the phone number with which the account is linked is enough.

Third, since it has eliminated the presence of an e-wallet altogether, there is no cap on the number of transactions. Fourth, it’s two-way authentication process has brought a new aspect of security to the entire process.

It’s not just the easily navigable interface of PhonePe that has been attracting hordes of users but also the fact that it allows users to use several accounts. It is not just limited to sending and receiving money and has worked at mobile recharge payments as well. PhonePe has many more features than the BHIM app. If transferring money is your main reason behind using Paytm, you shouldn’t really think twice before switching over.

Google Tez or Pay

Google has ventured into every sphere of our lives. Tez is yet another example of the same. Though it uses UPI and there is not much difference between the functions performed by Tez and Paytm, one feature stands out. It allows you to simultaneously hold a conversation while transactions. Trust me, this boosts the security of your transactions multifold.

You don’t need to knock one door and the other searching for merchants who will accept payments through your Tez account. The app does the work for you. Tez also has a unique feature called cash mode. Cash mode gives a further boost to your privacy and security. You are allowed to conduct a transaction with a person near you without disclosing your personal identity.

If you are forgetful and keep faulting on your bill payments, Tez will even take care of that and never allow you to miss out on an important bill payment again. Google’s app supports all major banks in India.

If you are quite upset with the amount in your wallet, just participate in the contests held by Tez. You have a chance of winning up to Rs. 1,00,000.

Oxygen Wallet

On the face of it, there is not really anything that makes Oxygen stand apart from the other e-wallet applications. It is the best e-wallet alternative to Paytm. However, when you have a closer look, you will realize that it is much more than merely a copy of Paytm. It is not just limited to the transaction features of the other e-wallets. It also allows you to transfer money to the bank account of the receiving party wither through MMID or by entering the IFSC and bank account number. Its partnership with RBL bank will help you to create a prepaid VISA debit card.

It is a neat feature that has a number of pros to it. This VISA debit card behaves like any other card of its type. There are two benefits to this endeavor. You will not lose out on any personal information while carrying out a transaction at any partner store because you are simply using an online card. If you do manage to lose access to your card, the only thing that you will lose out on is the amount with which you created the card, all thanks to its prepaid feature.

Oxygen as a payment gateway has gained mass acceptability in the online shopping circuits. The benefits of this outreach are accrued by you. It provides you access to a vast range of discounts and offers. One amazing feature of this app is that it allows you to create gift cards for KFC, Cleartrip, etc. for your near and dear ones. Thus, you will never feel lost when you have to get something on a close one’s special occasion again.

ItzCash

The USP of this app is its clean interface and simple approach bill payment alternative for Paytm. It has all the basic features of the major e-wallets in the market. It allows you to recharge as well as send and receive money in your wallet. It supports a wide variety of bill payments like DTH, gas, water, electricity, etc. It is as simple as it gets and has absolutely no frills and whistles. If a basic application is all that you are looking for, go with this option. It is a much-needed sigh of relief from the complex world of Paytm.

SBI Buddy

Creating an account on this app is one of the easiest things to do. It supports 13 languages so no citizen will ever face a problem in using this app. After installing this app, you can send money to any person in your contact list.

Its functions extend further and also cover booking flight tickets, paying due bills, booking hotels, reserving a seat in the movie theatres, etc.

ICICI Pockets

This feature-rich app launched by the ICICI bank is even more helpful for the customers of TATA Sky. You can earn cashback when you recharge with this app. It is extremely easy to use and you just need to scan the QR Code for the same.

This app will also ensure that your online shopping doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. There is a section for offers where you can keep a track of all the latest offers and discounts which will make online shopping an even better experience for you.

Apart from this, there is a list of other functions that this app performs. The next time you go out dining with your friends you wouldn’t need to break a sweat over splitting the bill. This app makes it easier for you. Also, you can use it for a variety of purposes and that makes it the best Paytm alternative for bill payments like postpaid, gas, electricity, landline, etc. You wouldn’t even need to worry about carrying out repetitive transactions. This app remembers your last transactions and is very much capable of repeating them again.

In addition, it also allows you to enjoy NFC payments and link several wallet cards with your wallet.

3. Paytm’s Online Shopping replacements

Amazon

Paytm Mall that had been incorporated by Paytm has indeed gone through much evolution. The variety of products on sale have increased and so have the discounts being offered. However, it is way behind other e-commerce giants in this arena. One of them is Amazon which is the best alternative to Paytm for buying goods online. Amazon scores multiple points over Paytm for certain reasons. Firstly, the most obvious reason is that the variety of products offered by Amazon cannot even be compared with Paytm. Secondly, it also offers amazing services. These features increase further when you opt to become a prime member. Opting for the premium version is also not too heavy on your pockets. At a bare minimum cost, you can avail delivery within one or two days of placing the order. I don’t think that I need to elaborate further on the range of movies and tv series offered by Amazon Prime. It is a massive hit amongst the youngsters already.

The situation has started looking even merrier after the launch of Amazon’s own e-wallet service which shows promising outcomes in the near future. Since Amazon Pay is already being used in a major part of the globe, it will not be a tough nut to link it to the transaction channels in India. Just the e-commerce sector of Amazon is enough to beat Paytm. Add Prime video and wallet services to it and you will find it extremely hard to turn down Amazon.

4. Paytm alternative for Travel

Goibibo

Goibibo had given a tough fight to Make My Trip until it was acquired by it and a good alternative to Paytm for Travel bookings. It allows you to earn Gocash on every flight and hotel booking. The same is credited to your account and can be availed or any future bookings. This platform is well renowned for offering one of the lowest ticket prices in the market. The cashback deals keep getting updated and there is no dearth of amazing offers at any time.

As you would have understood by this article, there is no other Paytm alternative app that brings all the services under one roof. However, if you prefer to go for the best in every field, you have a lot of options at your disposal.

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