Generation Z is coming in hot, and coming in strong.
According to a study that came out last year that was republished by the New York Post, people who were born between 1997 and 2015 now make up 32% of the world’s population, and about 24% of them have already entered the workforce. This young generation is full of ambition and creativity, and basically grew up immersed in technology. Consequently, Gen-Z’s demand for top-performing mobile apps and software is highly justified, especially when these tools can help elevate their work and personal lives.
Many Gen Z-ers are already active in the workforce, and they place a lot of importance on technology that helps
them manage their finances. Yet it’s also important to point out that Generation Z consists of a wide pool of young
people, ranging from 10-year-old children to 23-year-old young adults. This means mobile app developers
and neobanks have to cater to different maturity levels, interests, and needs for their fintech products to be
successful. Companies also need to consider that some Gen Z-ers don’t have a paycheck yet, however, they still need
an app for pocket money, less they resort to cash or a parent’s extra debit card. So, how can fintech companies
design apps that cater to such a wide and constantly-evolving audience?
Empathize with your users, and Gen Z-ers will flock to your product
The secret behind the companies that seem to effortlessly meet the wants and needs of Gen Z lies in building a brand that young people can identify with. For the younger generation to even consider using a product, they have to examine the brand first, and figure out the answers to questions like:
- What do they stand for?
- What’s their mission and vision?
- Are they here to genuinely help me, or try to rip me off?
- Are they involved in charitable work?
- Are they ethical and inclusive?
These are usually the questions a Gen Z user asks before committing to a product or a brand, in our experience.
Luckily, companies are becoming aware of this, and are making conscious efforts to show their potential users and
audience that they genuinely care.
Smooth, fun, intuitive: these are the ingredients Gen Z-ers look for in fintech apps
Both Gen Z-ers and Millennials want fintech apps that are fast, secure, and accurate, and a highly intuitive UX/UI also plays a key role. Someone who is used to exclusive online payments, next-day delivery services, and on-demand entertainment is undoubtedly looking for a seamless fintech experience. Gen Z-ers have their eye on decentralized cryptocurrency transactions, as well, so that’s another feature they will be looking for within a fintech app.
The truth is that this generation is far more tech- and financially-savvy than Millennials or Baby Boomers. They are highly cause-driven, and tend to support companies that align with their personal values and goals. What’s more, they are already used to emerging technologies, and they have very high expectations from any new app that they’re trying out. So, companies have to offer more than just basic bank features: the entire process has to be a seamless and engaging experience for someone to remain a long-term user.
Our List of the Top 6 Fintech Products Catering to Gen Z
With all the hype around the topic, we’ve compiled a list of 6 fintech products that stand out for Gen Z-ers. These
apps have managed to appeal to a tech-savvy generation that’s always on the move and has little patience for
slow-performing apps, so they’re worth knowing. Take a look at the list below and see what these tools have to offer
that makes financial tasks fun for young people.
Pixpay
Giving and receiving pocket money is a straightforward experience, if we’re talking about cash. However, cashless payments have risen exponentially in the wake of the pandemic, and not a lot of kids and teens have access to debit cards. There are very few fintech apps that let minors create an account to manage their allowances and pocket money, but Pixpay is aiming to change that.
The French startup wants to enhance the experience of giving and receiving pocket money with the help of its highly
intuitive and fun mobile app. It’s one of the most kid- and teen-friendly fintech apps on the market that allows
young Gen Z-ers to manage their finances safely. A lot of finance apps don’t allow children under 18 or 14 to have
accounts, which offers Pixpay that competitive edge.
Quirk
Quirk
is a colourful startup app that helps people manage their money according to their personality. The app is a truly
unique take on tailored financial services, using a personality test to determine each user’s wants, needs, and
spending style. These tests are based on psychological principles that are supported by expert psychologists. Quirk
uses behavioural research to deliver a personalized product experience. They also share educational content and
insights to improve spending habits. To add to the challenge, the app allows users to set up spending goals, track
subscriptions, and much, much more.
Cleo
Imagine a fintech app roasting you for spending way too much money. Well, the developers of Cleo
have embraced this idea, and added a feature to their finance app that roasts you for being irresponsible with your
money. The app has a chat feature you can turn on where the AI drags you for ludicrous purchases, not saving enough,
and other uninspired financial decisions. To make matters worse, it even sends you memes. Talk about tough love…
Still, it’s a really fun take for a fintech app, and apart from the fun stuff, it’s highly useful, as well. Cleo
helps you with your budgeting by allowing you to save money fast with goals, hacks, or with an autosave
feature.
Mitto
Mitto
encourages users to spend money consciously and contribute to a more sustainable planet. With Mitto, you get to
awaken the activist within you and discover the environmental impacts of your purchases. With this feature, the
company aims to educate its users on the impact of their payments, encouraging a more conscious behaviour when it
comes to spending money. Moreover, with Mitto, you also get discounts on sustainable brands and services, and the
app helps you save money, compare spendings with friends, and is available for teens, as well.
Zelf
Gen Z-ers love to chat using messaging apps. If only there was a technology that could let you talk with an AI bot within a chat app, like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp or Telegram, that could also help you handle your finances. Imagine sending voice messages or typing your financial needs in a chat window, and getting an instant response. It sounds pretty amazing, and the good news is, this technology actually exists.
Zelf
is the ultimate Gen Z fintech app, because it’s not even an app to begin with, it’s just an AI in a chat window that
is super-fast, reliable, and gets things done incredibly well. You can register for a card directly within a chat
app, and once you have an account, you can ask Zelf to check your balance, send money, set spending limits, create
invoices, and more. Revolutionary stuff.
Paid
If you’re a freelancer, Paid
should definitely be installed on your phone, immediately. Paid allows gig economy workers and freelancers to
receive payment as soon as their work is completed, instead of waiting for late invoices. The app acts as an
intermediary between freelancers and their clients, making sure that working together is a smooth process for both
parties. Paid guarantees you will receive payment within three days of completing a project, but they also take a
small cut for this service. Additionally, Paid takes care of certain administrative tasks that enable freelancers to
focus on their work-client relationships.
Key Takeaways
One of the biggest things that these startups are extremely good at is being unique. Differentiating yourself in creative ways in a competitive and saturated market such as fintech is a huge achievement in itself. Managing finances is a necessary task and it can be hard to find the fun factor.
These companies have gone above and beyond the average finance app formula to come out as true innovators. They’re constantly working to understand their audience’s behaviours and thinking patterns, their concerns and goals. It’s these kinds of insights that give them ample playground to continue improving their product.
The main focus of the fintech apps presented here is to deliver enjoyable experiences around money. It’s not just about building a bank or a budgeting tool, it’s about looking at a user’s needs holistically and trying to understand how to support them, in the moment and in the long run. Operationally, this means both exceptional user experience and top-notch community engagement outside the product.
Our team at Tapptitude can help you build the kind of fintech product where the user’s experience comes first. If you’re looking for a product partner just as passionate as you are about digging into what users need most and turning that into a successful fintech app, we can’t wait to hear about your awesome concept.
Robert Demeter
Contributing Writer
A contributing writer at Tapptitude, Robert has a strong passion for technology and a sharp eye for detail. His research skills and tech-savvy approach to any topic guarantee that no stone is left unturned before he puts pen to paper. When he’s not juggling words on a screen, he is usually lost in a video game or movie, or playing his guitar. Robert’s greatest enemy is the blank page.
