Venmo is rolling out a major redesign over the next few months that aims to make the app more useful, social, and easier to navigate. This is the peer-to-peer payment app’s biggest shake-up since 2021.
The timing is notable. PayPal, which owns Venmo, is undergoing a reorganization to spin off Venmo as a separate business unit, a move widely seen as laying the groundwork for a possible sale. Stripe is reportedly interested in acquiring PayPal outright. In that context, a flashy redesign looks more like window dressing before a deal than a routine update.
The rollout begins this week and features will be added over the next few months. The entire redesign is expected to be available to all users by this fall.
One of the first changes users will notice starting this week is a revamped feed. Where previously you’d see a simple list of who paid whom, like GIFs, heart buttons, and comments, the new feed shows more diverse visuals and larger images, as well as more ways to respond to payments, including reactions and quick action buttons like “Pay Again” and “Say Thank You.” It’s also more personalized, with customized cashback offers from the brands you shop and product suggestions based on your previous purchases.
Another added feature is the ability for users to recommend their favorite local businesses directly through the app. A new “Give a Shoutout” button will appear below the payment in your feed.
Alexis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Venmo Sowa explained to TechCrunch, “One of the things we hear a lot, especially from Gen Z and younger viewers, is a real desire to support and champion local businesses and retailers that they love. With this feed redesign, we’re giving them the opportunity to share what we call social proof. In the future, they’ll also be able to give a thumbs up and almost say ‘I do’ in a way that supports that business.” Please go to your place. ”
Two new tabs, Send and Money, will also be rolled out in the coming months. Instead of having to dig through past contacts or usernames, the Send feed now shows your most frequently used contacts front and center in the row of profile icons. The ‘Groups’ feature for splitting bills has also been made more accessible, allowing users to split costs between up to 30 people.[送信]section, you can also send gifts to friends and schedule payments.
The Money tab, on the other hand, allows you to manage your spending and access your Teen Account and cryptocurrencies.
We’re also adding a new Rewards tab that brings all your limited-time offers together in one place. This is also where Venmo’s Stash program resides. Launched last November, the service offers users up to 5% cash back when they shop at their favorite brands within the app, with the money deposited directly into their Venmo Mastercard debit card.
Sowa said the redesign was the result of a year of user research, and “one of the biggest insights was just how many features and functionality we have.” [customers] I had no idea it existed in the app. ”
The update reflects a broader trend of what younger users expect from payment apps: less utility tools and more social platforms. For example, apps like Verse and Daylight offer the ability for users to keep track of their friends’ spending behavior, while European fintech app Revolut offers features such as group bill splitting and in-app chat.
Venmo’s core audience increasingly wants to see and share their financial activities just like any other feed, and the app is clearly trying to meet that expectation before potential new owners emerge.
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