In a significant recognition for homegrown digital innovation, Google has crowned District, the all-in-one going-out platform from Eternal (formerly Zomato), as the Best App of 2025 on the Google Play Store in India. The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 18, as part of the tech giant's annual 'Best of Play' awards.
Celebrating India's Digital Champions
The 'Best of Play 2025' list serves as a barometer for the most impactful and beloved apps and games in the Indian market. This year, Google highlighted how winners are engaging users through deep local connections and a bold embrace of artificial intelligence. District, which consolidates dining and ticketing for movies and events, was praised for becoming the go-to social utility app for Indians.
Launched just last year in 2024, District is a subsidiary of the Gurugram-based Eternal. The parent company, which also operates Zomato, Blinkit, and Hyperpure, recently reported a 63% year-over-year decline in net profits for Q2 FY26. Its going-out business, which includes District, also saw a decline of nearly 26% YoY, generating Rs 189 crore in Q2 compared to Rs 154 crore in the same quarter last year.
Gaming and Personal Growth Winners Shine
Beyond the overall winner, Google also honored apps and games in specific categories. CookieRun India: Running Game was named the Best Gaming App of the year for its success in building strong connections with local players.
In the realm of self-improvement, invideo AI: AI Video Generator took the title of Best App for Personal Growth. The app empowers users to create videos directly from simple text prompts, democratizing content creation.
The full list of 2025's best apps includes:
- Toonsutra: Webtoon & Manga App - Best Hidden Gem
- Goodnotes: Notes, docs, PDF - Best App for Large Screens
- Luminar: Photo Editor - Best Multi-Device App
- Free Fire Max - Best Ongoing Game
The AI Revolution in Indian Apps
Google's announcement heavily emphasized the foundational role of AI in the Indian app ecosystem. The company revealed that over 69% of Indian users had their first interaction with AI through an app on their Android device.
The overall winner, District, itself leverages AI to analyze individual taste profiles and real-time local dining trends, providing users with bespoke, hyper-local recommendations. This win continues a trend, as last year's 'Best App of the Year' in India, Alle, also used generative AI to offer personalized fashion tips.
Further underscoring this trend, Google introduced a new collection for 2025 called Top Trending. This category spotlights apps that have driven key industry trends, such as Swiggy's Instamart for quick commerce, and Seekho and Adobe Firefly for showcasing gamification in learning and AI in art, respectively.
Google also highlighted the broader economic impact of its platform in India, stating that the Google Play and Android ecosystem has enabled over 3.5 million jobs and supported the Indian economy with over INR 4 trillion in revenue.
