Which are the Top Social eCommerce Platforms in India in 2025?
Social eCommerce is transforming how people shop in India, combining the power of social media and online retail. With a growing number of users engaging with social platforms daily, businesses are leveraging social eCommerce to reach new audiences, increase engagement, and boost sales. In this blog, we explore the top social eCommerce platforms in India as of 2025, highlighting how they empower sellers and enhance the shopping experience.
The Rise of Social eCommerce in India
India’s social eCommerce surge isn’t accidental. With over 600 million social media users—projected to reach 1 billion by 2028, per Statista—platforms have become virtual marketplaces where discovery meets purchase. The average Indian spends 2.5–3 hours daily on social apps, a habit amplified by Jio’s data revolution and the proliferation of 5G since 2023. Unlike traditional eCommerce, where users visit dedicated sites like Amazon or Flipkart, social eCommerce thrives on organic engagement—friends sharing deals on WhatsApp, influencers reviewing products on Instagram Reels, or creators selling via YouTube Shorts.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, but 2025’s growth is driven by deeper factors: trust in peer recommendations, vernacular content reaching Tier II and III cities, and platforms integrating seamless payment systems like UPI. RedSeer reports that social commerce now accounts for 15% of India’s $120 billion eCommerce market, up from 5% in 2020. For sellers, this is a goldmine—low entry barriers, direct customer access, and a hybrid model blending social interaction with commerce.
Defining Social eCommerce in 2025
Social eCommerce in India isn’t just selling on social media—it’s a spectrum. Globally, it means completing transactions within platforms (e.g., Instagram Shopping). In India, it’s broader: a hybrid where sellers leverage social networks to market, negotiate, and often redirect buyers to external checkout pages. Platforms like Meesho and DealShare epitomize this, while WhatsApp’s Business API blurs lines between chat and commerce. The key? It’s personal, community-driven, and increasingly video-led, with short-form content dominating in 2025.
Top Social eCommerce Platforms in India (2025)
Here’s an updated list of the leading platforms reshaping India’s social commerce scene, based on current market traction, user base, and seller impact. These differ from our 2021 picks by reflecting new entrants, feature upgrades, and shifting consumer preferences.
1. Meesho
Overview:
Founded in 2015, Meesho has emerged as one of India's leading social eCommerce platforms. It allows individuals and small businesses to resell products via social media channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. With zero investment required, Meesho has democratized eCommerce, empowering homemakers, students, and small business owners to earn profits by sharing curated product catalogs.
Key Features:
- Zero investment business model for resellers
- Seamless sharing of catalogs via social media
- Integrated logistics and payment solutions
- Wide product range across fashion, home, and electronics
Why It's Popular:
Meesho's easy-to-use platform, robust logistics, and support system make it a favorite among first-time online sellers. The platform's commitment to empowering small businesses has led to rapid growth, processing millions of orders annually.
2. GlowRoad
Overview:
GlowRoad is another major player in India's social eCommerce ecosystem. Acquired by Amazon, it enables individuals to resell products through social networks. GlowRoad supports a diverse range of categories, including beauty, home, and lifestyle products.
Key Features:
- Zero-cost registration and quick onboarding
- Product sharing across multiple social platforms
- COD (Cash on Delivery) and online payment options
- In-depth training for new resellers
Why It's Popular:
GlowRoad's integration with Amazon provides sellers with improved logistics and product variety. Its simple onboarding process and educational resources help new sellers start and scale their businesses easily.
3. Shop101
Overview:
Shop101 is a mobile-first social eCommerce platform that helps entrepreneurs and small businesses sell products online. The platform facilitates easy store creation and product sharing via social channels.
Key Features:
- Create an online store in minutes
- Share products on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook
- Automated order management and payment processing
- Wide array of product categories
Why It's Popular:
Its mobile-first approach and simple user interface make it easy for anyone to set up an online store. Shop101 also offers training and customer support to assist new sellers.
4. Trell
Overview:
Trell started as a lifestyle social network and evolved into a leading video-first social commerce platform. It combines user-generated content with a shopping experience, allowing influencers to promote and sell products.
Key Features:
- Video-based content for product discovery
- Influencer-driven product recommendations
- Secure checkout and integrated logistics
- Extensive beauty, fashion, and lifestyle catalog
Why It's Popular:
Trell's video-first strategy enables brands to engage consumers through authentic product storytelling. This approach enhances customer trust and increases conversion rates.
5. Bulbul
Overview:
Bulbul is India's first live-streaming social commerce platform. It allows sellers to demonstrate products in real-time, enhancing customer engagement and improving purchase confidence.
Key Features:
- Live product demonstrations
- Interactive buyer-seller engagement
- Secure payments and logistics support
- Real-time customer support
Why It's Popular:
Bulbul's live-streaming model creates a dynamic shopping experience, allowing real-time customer queries and showcasing product features more effectively.
6. Facebook Marketplace and Instagram Shopping
Overview:
Meta's Facebook Marketplace and Instagram Shopping remain dominant forces in India's social commerce ecosystem. They provide direct-to-consumer selling opportunities for small businesses and individual sellers.
Key Features:
- Free listings on Facebook Marketplace
- Shoppable posts and stories on Instagram
- Integrated messaging for customer interaction
- Analytics for business insights
Why It's Popular:
These platforms offer unparalleled reach and audience targeting capabilities, making them essential for businesses looking to tap into the social commerce wave.
8. WhatsApp Business
Overview:
WhatsApp Business is a crucial tool for small sellers to engage customers, share product catalogs, and process orders directly through chat.
Key Features:
- Business profiles and catalogs
- Automated responses and customer support
- Secure payment integration via WhatsApp Pay
- Direct customer communication
Why It's Popular:
With over 500 million users in India, WhatsApp Business offers a familiar and convenient way for businesses to interact with customers and manage transactions.
Emerging Players
Shopsy by Flipkart: Launched in 2021, Shopsy hit 50 million MAUs by 2025, targeting budget buyers with WhatsApp-shared deals. It’s Flipkart’s social commerce arm, though less reseller-focused than Meesho.
Mall91: With 15 million+ users, this Noida-based platform (founded 2018) caters to vernacular audiences in Tier III–IV cities, raising $10 million in 2024.
Why Social eCommerce Thrives in India
Cultural Fit
Indians trust personal recommendations—80% of social commerce buyers cite peer influence as a factor (RedSeer, 2025). WhatsApp groups and Instagram Stories mimic bazaar-style haggling and word-of-mouth.
Mobile-First Nation
With 850 million smartphone users (TRAI, 2025), India’s mobile commerce (m-commerce) dominates, and social platforms are optimized for this—short videos, quick chats, and instant payments.
Rural Reach
Over 50% of social commerce sales come from beyond Tier I cities (Bain, 2025). Platforms like Meesho and Mall91 use regional languages and resellers to penetrate rural markets.
Cost-Effectiveness
Unlike Amazon’s fees, social platforms offer low-to-no entry costs. Meesho’s zero-commission shift and WhatsApp’s free chats make it viable for small sellers.
How Sellers Can Leverage These Platforms
1. Build a Presence
- Facebook Marketplace: List products free, target local groups.
- Instagram: Post Reels with product demos, use #ShopLocalIndia.
- WhatsApp: Create business catalogs, join community groups.
2. Use Video Content
- YouTube Shorts and Simsim thrive on video reviews. Sellers should invest in 15–30-second clips showcasing products—think unboxings or “how-to-use” guides.
3. Partner with Influencers
- Nano-influencers (5K–10K followers) on Instagram and YouTube offer high engagement at low cost—₹5,000–₹10,000 per post (2025 rates).
4. Optimize for Sharing
- Create shareable deals (e.g., “Buy 2, Get 1 Free”) for WhatsApp and Meesho resellers. Include vibrant images and short descriptions.
5. Track Analytics
- Use platform tools (e.g., Instagram Insights, Meesho Seller Dashboard) to monitor clicks, conversions, and top-performing categories.
Challenges in 2025
- Trust: Buyers hesitate with unknown resellers; platforms like Meesho now verify sellers (2024 initiative).
- Logistics: Rural deliveries lag, though DealShare’s kirana tie-ups help.
- Competition: With Flipkart (Shopsy) and Amazon eyeing social commerce, differentiation is key.
The Future of Social eCommerce in India
India's social eCommerce landscape continues to evolve, offering diverse opportunities for businesses and individuals to connect with consumers in innovative ways. Platforms like Meesho, GlowRoad, and Trell are driving digital empowerment by breaking traditional barriers and offering scalable, user-friendly solutions. As social commerce grows, these platforms will play a vital role in shaping the future of online shopping in India.
By 2030, social commerce could overtake traditional eCommerce in Tier II+ cities, driven by 5G, AR try-ons (Instagram, 2025 beta), and voice commerce (WhatsApp experiments). Meesho aims for 500 million users, while YouTube Shopping could dominate video-led sales. Sellers who adapt—embracing vernacular, video, and community—will lead this revolution.
