Top Social Networking Sites in India (2026 Update)
Which are the top social networking sites in India? In 2009 the answer surprised many: it wasn’t Facebook, it was Orkut. Comscore data we covered then showed Orkut with 12.8 million Indian visitors, three times Facebook. Today the picture is completely different. Here’s the updated list of the top social networking sites in India in 2026, with the latest numbers.
Quick answer: The top social networking sites in India are YouTube (about 500 million ad reach), Instagram (481 million), Facebook (403 million), Snapchat (213 million) and LinkedIn (170 million members), according to DataReportal’s Digital 2026 India report. WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app. Orkut, the 2009 leader, shut down in 2014.
Table of Contents
Top social networking sites in India (2026)
Figures are advertising reach estimates from late 2025, as reported by DataReportal. They aren’t the same as monthly active users and may include duplicate accounts.
- YouTube – about 500 million. India is one of YouTube’s biggest audiences, from music and cricket to tutorials and Shorts.
- Instagram – about 481 million. Reels made it hugely popular, especially after TikTok was banned in India in 2020.
- Facebook – about 403 million. Still big for groups, Marketplace and news, though younger users prefer Instagram.
- Snapchat – about 213 million, popular with teens and young adults.
- LinkedIn – about 170 million registered members, the top professional network in India.
- X (Twitter) – about 22 million, smaller but influential for news, politics and cricket.
Overall, DataReportal counts about 500 million social media user identities in India, around 34% of the population, so there’s still a lot of room to grow.
Messaging and Indian apps
WhatsApp is India’s most widely used messaging app, and Telegram is popular for channels and groups. Indian apps like ShareChat and Moj serve users in regional languages, while Koo, the Indian Twitter alternative, shut down in 2024.
Then vs now: India’s social networks in 2009
In December 2008 Comscore ranked Orkut first in India with 12.8 million visitors, followed by Facebook (4 million), Bharatstudent (3.3 million) and hi5 (2 million). Ibibo, MySpace, LinkedIn, PerfSpot, BigAdda and Fropper rounded out the list. Earlier, we had covered a report suggesting LinkedIn might be the most popular network in India, but QOT readers Quakeboy and Rajesh pointed out in the comments that Orkut was the real leader.
- Orkut – closed by Google in 2014.
- Facebook – grew from 4 million to hundreds of millions of Indian users.
- hi5, MySpace, BigAdda, Fropper, PerfSpot – faded away or shut down.
- LinkedIn – the only other network from the 2009 list still growing strongly.
Which platform should you use?
- Reaching the widest audience: YouTube and Instagram.
- Local communities and buying/selling: Facebook groups and Marketplace.
- Careers and B2B: LinkedIn.
- Regional-language audiences: ShareChat and Moj.
FAQ
Which is the most used social media in India?
YouTube has the largest reach, followed closely by Instagram, then Facebook.
How many social media users are there in India?
About 500 million social media user identities as of late 2025, according to DataReportal.
Is Orkut still available in India?
No. Google shut down Orkut in 2014.
I think facebook?!
Well Guys…… Dont Forget about Twitter, which is used by lots of people in India, though its micro blogging website, but a medium to be social. Orkut is slow and good for starters, Face-book is for advance users.
There are other Social Networking websites also, which are there but with the presence of these websites they are not very rich in popularity and has less followers.
Here it is for people who are interested in shopping. The social network for shoppers across the world
Orkut was first social website which i have used.But nowadays people mostly use facebook it easy and games are really awesome!!
Facebook is also useful for website.
I like ‘facebook’ than ‘orkut’ as it is simple and browsable friendly.
Orkut and facebook seem to be the sites mentioned the most times.
Orkut – great features. For users have great many friends its real real fun. Wt wid its diff communities, scraps, testimonials, vids, photos, Various different applications… Orkut has it all but one’s gotta luk around a bit.
Facebook – has great features too… Fun! Different groups, postings on walls, vids, links, photos, a vast vast collection of games, ads, etc etc.
Orkut and facebook has it all.. Orkut is a little more secure site. With more of privacy… Facebook on the other hand, is more like an open book, u do have privacy but their way of displayin updates, n all seems more open.
Both share the same features, but their way of presenting differs. It depends on the user’s choice.
I don’t think it would be fair to compare dem both. Both of dem are fantabulous in their own way ;) Njoy dem! :D
Though the post is Nice and thought provoking but i think that you have missed some sites to mention here such as https://twitter.com/ and http://twitsnaps.com -a photo and video sharing site on twitter.
As the trends speaks that twitter is having 11 rank in the word and twitsnaps is in top 1000 sites in India and no.1 in photo sharing domain in India.
They must be included here to complete your post.
Regards
Ashutosh
Promote some indian social media site like Newscola.com from IBIBO.COM, humsurfer etc.
Most of them have similar area and working style….no too much highly tech. Orkut, FaceBook are best names.
ibibo is best social networking site according to me..hope ibibo reaches its deserved heights.
How about bebo?
Orkut is good but i think its not as useful for professional as linkedin or facebook….my first choice is linkedin.
Linkedin is super !!
Hi,
At the outset thanks for the list. It is helpful. Just wanted to add a point here. Many of us have expressed our opinion on which site they liked and so on…but one needs to understnad that all the sites do not cater to same audience and hence should not be benchmarked togather either. LinkedIn is an excellent site for professionals and should not be pitched against Facebook/Orkut which are mainnly for fun.
Cheers….
I like orkut and Ibibo because in Ibibo free calls to friends option is there and we can create free blog, we can earn money, we can view our gmail/yahoo mails like so many options are there in ibibo.com
Hi orkut is widely used & itz the same case for Facebook. i found a new & trendy site recently.. here is the link for fellows who wish to socialize with indians (mainly nri)
http://www.apnacafe.com/
Thoug orkut remains the most popular social networking site for youngesters in india. But facebook is catching up and the difference is decreasing at a very fast rate.And linkedin is no way popular in india.Not more than 2% of the people usin social networking site wouls b using linkedin
vbharat is up coming social networking site with many tools to stay connected with friends and family, and colleagues.
Orkut is the best and is more user friendly