Comprehensive list of essential apps for living in India - Transportation, delivery, payment, and shopping done with just a smartphone

All life apps in India areIndian mobile phone number + OTP (one-time verification number)It moves based on Most apps do not allow you to sign up with a Korean number, so opening a local SIM is virtually stage 0. Next is the payment method, i.e.UPIIt's a setting.

UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is an instant transfer system between accounts operated by NPCI in India, where everything from a cup of chai at a street vendor to apartment management fees can be paid with a single QR scan. You can use it only if your Indian bank account and Indian number are linked.

• Google Pay— The UPI app that Koreans adapt to the fastest because its interface is familiar and clean.
• PhonePe— Highest market share in India. There are many additional functions such as utility bill payment and communication recharge.
• Paytm— Comprehensive platform type that adds a wallet function to UPI. Movie and train ticket reservations are also available.

1. Open SIM in India (bring passport and visa) → Secure number
2. Open an Indian bank account (for expatriates, the company-designated bank is faster)
3. After installing UPI app, link account, set UPI PIN
4. Testing with small payments at convenience stores and street vendors

The moment UPI is opened, all subsequent apps — taxi, delivery, grocery shopping — become convenient at once. International credit cards are often rejected by Indian apps, so it is good for your mental health to have UPI as your main payment.

If you want to move around Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida without your own car or driver, the answer is three apps. The locals' method is to install all three and compare prices and dispatch speeds.

• When dispatched, it appears on the app.OTP (ride verification number)After confirming with the driver, depart. Be sure to check the vehicle license plate as well.
• There is a cash payment option so you can use it even before setting up UPI, but it is convenient to pay within the app to avoid fighting over change.
• During peak commute times and rainy weather, fares rise and driver cancellations also increase. Let's call with some time to spare.
• Delhi Metro is the fastest and cheapest route to reach by subway. The combination of app calling and Metro significantly reduces congestion stress.

food delivery in indiaSwiggyandZomatois divided in two. You can think of it as Korea's Baedal Minjok, and restaurants in most cities have branches on one of the two apps. Even for the same restaurant, prices and promotions are different for each app, so the basic rule is to install both and compare orders.

• Swiggy— The overall delivery service is strong. You can save on delivery fees with a paid membership (Swiggy One).
• Zomato— Abundant restaurant review and rating data makes it easy to discover new restaurants. There is also a membership (Zomato Gold).
• EatSure— An app that lets you order from multiple cloud kitchen brands at once.
• Bistro·Swish— A new ultra-fast delivery service that delivers cooked food in less than 10 minutes. Centered in some metropolitan areas.
• FoodPanda·Deliveroo— Although it is a familiar name overseas, service availability in India varies depending on the region and time, so you need to check locally.

Three ordering tips. If you save the address including the tower, building, and lake and write the name of the gate (security office) in the memo field, the number of calls from the delivery person will drastically decrease. If you are concerned about the level of spiciness, please indicate your request.less spicyLet's make it a habit. It is also good to keep in mind that delivery fee surcharges apply during lunch/dinner peaks and in rainy weather.

The service that Koreans admire most while living in India isQuick Commerceall. Milk, eggs, vegetables, toilet paper, and even cell phone charging cables arrive at your doorstep within 10 to 20 minutes. The standard is to use three tiers: quick commerce for urgent items, large grocery apps for weekly groceries, and regular delivery for daily milk.

If you are worried about the hygiene of traditional markets, we recommend starting with an app that delivers cold chain meat and seafood, such as Licious or FreshToHome. If you use a subscription app like Country Delight, milk will arrive at your doorstep every morning, creating a rhythm of life similar to early morning delivery in Korea.

Almost everything that happens at home, from shopping for industrial products to cleaning the air conditioner and ordering cold medicine, can be handled through apps. Let’s get to know the representative players in each category.

online shopping

• Amazon— Create and use an amazon.in account based on an Indian address, separate from the Korean account. Stable processing of genuine products and returns.
• Flipkart— India’s leading e-commerce company. Sales on home appliances and mobile phones are strong.
• Meesho·ShopClues— Focused on ultra-low-priced, no-brand household goods. Used taking into account quality variations.

home service

• Urban Company— A de facto standard app that schedules verified technicians for cleaning, air conditioning inspection, plumbing, electricity, and home grooming. The price is clearly stated in the app, so there is no need to bargain.
• Yes Madam— Specializing in home salons and massages.
• Snabbit Pronto— A new quick home service that quickly calls a part-time housekeeper.

Pharmacy/Health

• Apollo Pharmacy— App from India’s leading pharmacy chain. Offline store linkage is a strength.
• Tata 1mg— Integration of drug delivery, ingredient search, and diagnostic test reservation.
• PharmEasy·Netmeds— Delivery of medicines and health products. Convenient for ordering regular medication.

Documents and parcelsDelhivery·DTDCIt is received and tracked through the same courier app, and in e-commerce delivery tracking,ShadowfaxYou often come across this name. However, there is a separate app that shows its true value to Koreans. as soon asPorterall.

• Porter— An app-based cargo calling service for everything from two-wheelers to mini trucks. Moving a single piece of furniture, a small move, or transporting excess baggage to the airport can all be handled like calling a taxi.
• Delhivery·DTDC— Sending parcels between cities. Pick-up reservations are available, so there is no need to register in person.
• Shadowfax— Last mile logistics services. The name you see when picking up online shopping returns.

In the early days of settling down, there is a lot of work to bring in or move used furniture and appliances, but a Porter mini truck can take care of most of the luggage of a studio apartment. Since the fee is displayed in advance on the app, there is no stress of on-site bargaining, and if you take a picture of the item before shipping, it becomes the basis for a dispute.

Finally, we summarize the entire sequence.① Open an Indian number → ② UPI payment settings → ③ Go to Uber·Ola·Rapido → ④ Eat with Swiggy·Zomato·Blinkit → ⑤ Do housework with Urban Company·Porter. If these five steps are completed, 80% of India's living infrastructure will be completed.