Guide · updated 5 November 2026
Best Hindu devotional apps: how to pick one
There is no single best app, because Hindu devotional apps do different jobs.
Some are panchang and festival calendars. Some play bhajans and aartis. Some book pujas at temples. Some are for reading mantras, stotras and chalisas with their meaning. This guide sorts them by job. We make Grivam, so it is included, along with where it is weaker.
Which app suits which need
| If you want to | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I want to understand what I chant, in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi or English | Grivam | Meaning and four scripts on each mantra, stotra and chalisa |
| I want today’s tithi, festival dates and reminders, with no internet | Hindu Calendar – Drik Panchang | Detailed panchang, offline use and reminders are stated on its listing |
| I want to book a puja or send an offering to a temple | Sri Mandir | Puja booking is its main service |
| I want to listen to bhajans and aartis | Sri Mandir, or a devotional audio app | Grivam has no audio yet |
| I want a calm, ad-free place for morning and evening prayers | Grivam | Free with no ads, and opens to prayers by time of day |
| I want to learn about a temple before visiting | Grivam | Temple guide with sthala puranam and how to reach |
| I need an app in the store today | Hindu Calendar – Drik Panchang or Sri Mandir | Grivam’s Android app is not live yet |
Side-by-side comparison
Three apps with clearly different jobs, compared on what matters for daily bhakti: languages, offline use, audio, puja booking and reminders.
| Grivam | Hindu Calendar – Drik Panchang | Sri Mandir | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built mainly for | Reading mantras, stotras and chalisas with meaning; temple guide; daily panchang | Panchang, Hindu calendar, festival and fasting dates, muhurta, kundali | Virtual temple, booking pujas, bhajans and aartis, daily mantra |
| Cost | Free. No ads, no subscription | Free. Ads can be removed with a paid yearly or monthly plan (App Store listing) | Described as free to use. Puja prices are not stated on the page we read |
| Languages | English, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi (menus, meaning, and script choice) | English and Hindi (App Store listing) | Not stated on the page we read |
| Works offline | No. It needs a connection | Yes. The listing says it does not need internet to use | Not stated |
| Audio (bhajans, aarti, chanting) | No | Not stated | Yes. Songs, bhajans and aartis are listed |
| Puja or offering booking | No | Not stated | Yes. Online puja booking (Pooja Seva) |
| Reminders | No | Yes. Festivals, Choghadiya, Hora and Upavasa reminders | Not stated |
| Panchang | Daily, with city pages for Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru | Detailed. Any city, many timings | Daily panchang is listed |
| Where to get it | Website now. Android app coming soon | App Store listing read (iPhone and iPad) | Website, with Play Store and App Store links |
Who each app is best for
Hindu Calendar – Drik Panchang
Best for people who plan their week around panchang: tithi, festival and vrat dates, muhurta and Choghadiya. It is stated to work without internet and to send reminders. Language choice is English or Hindi.
Sri Mandir
Best for people who want to take part in a puja from far away, light a virtual lamp, or listen to bhajans and aartis. Its puja service is the main feature; check prices inside the app.
Grivam
Best for people who want to read and understand a mantra, stotra or chalisa in their own language and script, in a calm space without ads, and to learn about a temple before a visit. It is newer and smaller, with no audio, no booking and no reminders.
What Grivam does, and does not do
Does
- Shows mantras, stotras and chalisas with transliteration and meaning, in Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu or English letters.
- Has a temple guide with sthala puranam and how to reach each temple.
- Shows a daily panchang, worked out in your browser.
- Lets you send a prayer request.
- Is free, with no ads and no sign-up.
Does not (yet)
- No audio of bhajans, aartis or chanting.
- No puja or offering booking.
- No reminders or notifications.
- No offline mode. The Android app is coming soon and is not in the store yet.
- No aarti pages yet. The library is small because we publish only texts we have checked.
What to check in any devotional app
- Is the text reliable? A mantra with a wrong syllable is worse than none. Look for apps that say how they check their text.
- Is there a meaning? Chanting is better when you know what you are saying.
- Can you read it in your script? Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu and English letters matter to different families.
- Is your language supported for the menus and the meaning, not just the mantra?
- Ads and prices. Some apps show ads in the middle of a prayer. Some charge for features you expected to be free.
- Privacy. A prayer app should not need your contacts or location to show you a mantra.
Finding the right kind of app
Mantra and stotra app
Look for the text, transliteration and meaning side by side. Grivam does this for its published mantras, including Shiva Tandava Stotram and Rama Raksha Stotram.
Chalisa app
For a chalisa you mostly want clean text and the meaning of each verse. See Hanuman Chalisa and Durga Chalisa on Grivam.
Panchang and calendar app
Panchang timings depend on the city, so pick an app that lets you choose your place. Grivam has a daily panchang; a dedicated calendar app goes much deeper.
Puja and aarti apps
These are built around booking pujas, offerings, bhajans and aartis. Grivam does not do these yet.
Temple guide
Grivam’s temple guide covers the story, deity and route for each temple.
How we reviewed, and when
Last updated: .
- Competitor facts come from each app’s own public page: the Apple App Store listing for Hindu Calendar – Drik Panchang, and the official About page for Sri Mandir. We read them on 5 November 2026.
- We did not install or test the other apps. If a page did not say something, the table says “Not stated”. That is not the same as “No”.
- Grivam facts are what the Grivam website does today. We make Grivam, so we are not neutral, and we have tried to list its gaps first.
- Nobody paid to be listed here. Other apps exist that we could not read, so this is not a complete list.
- Apps change often. Please check the store listing before you decide.
More: Grivam vs other mantra apps · About the Grivam app · FAQ