Josh
by VerSe Innovation (Dailyhunt)
About This App
Josh is a short-video social platform built by VerSe Innovation, the Bangalore-based company behind Dailyhunt. Launched in June 2020 immediately after India banned TikTok, Josh quickly became one of the top 10 most-downloaded social and entertainment apps in India by 2021, crossing 100 million downloads on Google Play. At its peak in 2022, it had 150 million monthly active users. Josh lets users create, share, and remix bite-sized videos of up to 120 seconds across categories like trending, dance, comedy, devotion, cooking, yoga, and glamour. The app is available in 12 Indian languages and uses AI-powered recommendations analyzing billions of daily data points to personalize feeds. It dominates the vernacular short-video space — most of its user base consists of non-English speakers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities. Creator tools include video effects, filters, music overlays, and duet/remix features. Josh is completely free to use. VerSe Innovation's revenue comes primarily from advertising (Rs 1,548 crore in FY25), subscriptions, and virtual asset sales. The parent company raised over $805 million at a $5 billion valuation in 2022. However, Josh has faced significant headwinds since 2023 — monthly downloads dropped 80% and MAU fell 50% as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts captured the mainstream short-video audience. Best suited for vernacular content creators and viewers in regional Indian languages who want a dedicated short-video platform rather than a feature within Instagram or YouTube. The app's strength is its deep Tier 2/3 penetration and regional language support. However, creators looking for large audiences or monetization opportunities will find Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts far more compelling — Josh's declining user base makes organic reach increasingly difficult.
Information updated 6 months ago
App Details
VerSe Innovation
Honest Review
4.3/5 on Google Play Store · Last verified 2026-04-25
What works well
- +12 Indian language support — strongest vernacular short-video platform
- +Deep penetration in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities
- +AI-powered feed personalization using billions of daily data points
- +Video creation tools with effects, filters, music, and duet/remix features
- +Completely free with no paywalls or subscription tiers
- +Backed by VerSe Innovation ($5B valuation, well-funded parent company)
What needs improvement
- -User base declining sharply — 80% drop in monthly downloads since 2023
- -Cannot compete with Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts for reach and discoverability
- -Limited monetization options for creators compared to YouTube Shorts
- -English-language content and international audience are minimal
- -Creator features have been paused or deprioritized in recent updates
Common user complaints
- !Video uploads frequently fail with repeated 'will start shortly' messages
- !Video playback quality is often blurry — data saver mode doesn't work properly
- !Cannot unlike a video after accidentally liking it — stays in liked list permanently
- !App consumes excessive mobile data even with data saver enabled
- !Content recommendation sometimes loops the same videos repeatedly
Learn Josh on YouTube
Hand-picked videos to help you get started — tutorials, demos, and reviews.
How to Use Josh Short Video App | Upload Videos on Josh App
Josh App Kaise Use Kare | How to Use Josh App
Josh App Se Paise Kaise Kamaye | Earning from Josh App
Josh Made in India Short Video App | TikTok Alternative Review
Indian Alternative To
Josh is a powerful Indian alternative to these international apps:
Is Josh an alternative to TikTok?
Yes, Josh by VerSe Innovation (Dailyhunt) is an Indian alternative to TikTok. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to TikTok →
Is Josh an alternative to Instagram Reels?
Yes, Josh by VerSe Innovation (Dailyhunt) is an Indian alternative to Instagram Reels. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to Instagram Reels →
Is Josh an alternative to YouTube Shorts?
Yes, Josh by VerSe Innovation (Dailyhunt) is an Indian alternative to YouTube Shorts. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to YouTube Shorts →
Is Josh an alternative to YouTube?
Yes, Josh by VerSe Innovation (Dailyhunt) is an Indian alternative to YouTube. It offers similar functionality while being developed and maintained in India.Explore other Indian alternatives to YouTube →
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