The harsh fact: 9 out of 10 fintech apps are abandoned within the first few weeks.

Why?

The competition is fierce with nearly 30,000 players worldwide. And user expectations have never been higher. Fail to deliver the features they demand? Your app will be in their past.

What's more,

Many fintech apps make big promises they can't keep.

They lure users in with an app that has fascinating features, in the future. But that future never come because the app can’t release feature quickly or catch up with user demands.

In today's landscape, a great fintech app isn't just about basic money transfers - it's about creating a seamless, intuitive experience that feels like a personal financial assistant in your users' pockets.

So how to make them love your apps? Let's walk through the 20 must-have features in this blog

Table of contents [ Hide ]
What is a fintech app?
18 must-have features for fintech apps
1. Seamless onboarding
2. Advanced security measures
3. Intuitive dashboard
4. AI-powered financial insights
5. Multi-account integration
6. Real-time transaction tracking
7. Customizable budgeting tools
8. Investment tracking & guidance
9. Instant money transfer
10. Bill payment & management
11. Credit score monitoring
12. Savings & investment automation
13. Live chat and chat bot integration
14. Expense splitting
15. Receipt & document management
16. International currency support
17. Customizable alerts & notifications
18. Dark mode & accessibility
How much does it cost to build a fintech app?
Meet BiPlus: Your fintech app development partner

What is a fintech app?

A fintech app is a mobile or web application that leverages technology to provide innovative financial services. These digital platforms simplify everything from banking and investing to budgeting and payments.

Think of them as your 24/7 financial command center that fits right in your smartphone.

Some popular types of fintech app include:

  • Mobile banking apps
  • Payment and money transfer apps 
  • Personal finance and budgeting apps 
  • Investment apps 
  • Crowdfunding and fundraising apps
  • Blockchain and cryptocurrency apps
  • Lending apps (or loan app)

18 must-have features for fintech apps

The success of every fintech app is based on its ability to contribute to the ever-changing needs and trends of the market. An effective fintech app does not only mean an application with aesthetic designs but also a comprehensive and useful tool that support users

By understanding the potential features available, you can tailor your applications to earn the loyalty of your users.

Let's walk through 20 hand-picked must-have features for a fintech app.

1. Seamless onboarding

Features Fintech App - Seamless onboarding
Nobody likes complicated signup processes. Your app should offer:

  • Quick registration with minimal steps
  • Multiple authentication options (email, social media, phone)
  • Biometric login (Face ID, fingerprint)

2. Advanced security measures

Features Fintech App- Advanced security measures
Trust is currency in financial apps. Essential security features include:

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Real-time fraud detection
  • Instant transaction alerts

3. Intuitive dashboard

Features Fintech App - Intuitive dashboard
Your app's dashboard should be:

  • Clean and uncluttered
  • Personalized financial overview
  • Easy-to-read graphs and charts
  • Quick access to key financial metrics

4. AI-powered financial insights

Features Fintech App - AI Powered
Integrate intelligent analysis that:

  • Tracks spending patterns
  • Provides personalized budget recommendations
  • Predicts potential financial risks
  • Suggests savings opportunities

5. Multi-account integration

Features Fintech App - Multi-account integration
Allow users to:

  • Connect multiple bank accounts
  • View consolidated financial statements
  • Transfer funds between accounts seamlessly
  • Track investments across platforms

6. Real-time transaction tracking

Features Fintech App - Real-time transaction tracking
Offer comprehensive transaction management:

  • Instant transaction notifications
  • Categorized expense tracking
  • Merchant details and location
  • Spending analysis by category

7. Customizable budgeting tools

Features Fintech App - Customizable budgeting tools
Provide robust budgeting features:

  • Create multiple budget categories
  • Set spending limits
  • Receive over-budget alerts
  • Visual representation of financial goals

8. Investment tracking & guidance

Features Fintech App - Investment Tracking
For investment-focused users:

  • Portfolio performance tracking
  • Real-time market data
  • Investment recommendations
  • Risk assessment tools

9. Instant money transfer

Features Fintech App - Instant Money Transfer
Enable quick and secure transfers:

  • Peer-to-peer transfers
  • International money transfers
  • Low transaction fees
  • Multiple transfer methods

10. Bill payment & management

Features Fintech App - Bill payment & management
Streamline bill management:

  • Centralized bill tracking
  • Automatic payment scheduling
  • Bill split functionality
  • Payment reminders

11. Credit score monitoring

Features Fintech App - Credit score monitoring
Integrate comprehensive credit insights:

  • Free credit score checks
  • Credit health recommendations
  • Personalized improvement tips
  • Credit report analysis

12. Savings & investment automation

Features Fintech App - Investment Tracking
Make saving effortless:

  • Automatic savings rules
  • Round-up investment features
  • Goal-based saving plans
  • Micro-investment options

13. Live chat and chat bot integration

Features Fintech App - Live chat and chat bot integration
Provide multiple support channels:

  • In-app chat support
  • AI chatbot for quick queries
  • Video call support
  • Comprehensive FAQ section

14. Expense splitting

Features Fintech App - Expense splitting
Simplify shared expenses:

  • Group bill splitting
  • Tracking shared expenses
  • Request and send money within groups
  • Settlement tracking

15. Receipt & document management

Features Fintech App - Receipt scanning
Create a digital financial archive:

  • Receipt scanning and storage
  • Tax document organization
  • Export financial reports
  • Cloud synchronization

16. International currency support

Features Fintech App  - Sending internationally
For global users:

  • Multi-currency accounts
  • Real-time currency conversion
  • Low-fee international transactions
  • Currency rate tracking

17. Customizable alerts & notifications

Features Fintech App  - Customizable alerts & notifications
Keep users informed:

  • Transaction alerts
  • Low balance warnings
  • Investment performance updates
  • Personalized financial recommendations

18. Dark mode & accessibility

Enhance user experience:

  • Dark/light mode toggle
  • Screen reader compatibility
  • Adjustable text sizes
  • Color-blind friendly design

How much does it cost to build a fintech app?

Building a fintech app involves multiple factors that influence the overall development cost.

It depends on complexity, features, and development approach.

Here's a breakdown to help you understand the investment required.

Estimated cost to build a fintech app

Development StageApp With Basic FeaturesApp With Advanced FeaturesApp With Complex Features

Planning & Design

$5,000 - $10,000

$10,000 - $20,000

$20,000 - $35,000

Core Development

$30,000 - $50,000

$50,000 - $100,000

$100,000 - $200,000

Feature Integration

$10,000 - $20,000

$20,000 - $50,000

$50,000 - $100,000

Security Implementation

$5,000 - $10,000

$10,000 - $25,000

$25,000 - $50,000

Third-Party Integrations

$5,000 - $15,000

$15,000 - $30,000

$30,000 - $60,000

Testing & Quality Assurance

$5,000 - $10,000

$10,000 - $20,000

$20,000 - $40,000

Deployment & Initial Support

$5,000 - $10,000

$10,000 - $20,000

$20,000 - $35,000

Total Estimated Cost

$65,000 - $125,000

$125,000 - $265,000

$265,000 - $520,000

Basic Fintech App ($65,000 - $125,000)

  • Limited features
  • Simple user interface
  • Basic security measures
  • Minimal third-party integrations

Medium Complexity App ($125,000 - $265,000)

  • More advanced features
  • Complex security protocols
  • Multiple payment integrations
  • Moderate AI and personalization

Advanced Fintech App ($265,000 - $520,000)

  • Full-featured enterprise-level solution
  • Advanced AI and machine learning
  • Comprehensive security systems
  • Multiple platform support (iOS, Android, Web)
  • Advanced analytics and reporting

Cost-Saving Tips

  • Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
  • Prioritize core features
  • Choose offshore or nearshore development teams in South East Asia/ India.
  • Use cross-platform development frameworks

📌 Pro Tip: At BiPlus, we're based in Vietnam so we can provide significantly low-cost fintech app development services.

Meet BiPlus: Your fintech app development partner

Our developers excel in Java, Python, and Node.js, enabling us to build comprehensive backend systems.

For mobile development, we leverage Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS, ensuring native-level performance and seamless user experiences.

In our recent project with a fintech company, we helped them achieve 3x feature release in one year and a 20% revenue increase in payment services.

🎯 You can read our full story here.

Our fintech app development services include:

  • Mobile app development
  • Back-end development
  • User experience (UX) and User interface (UI) design
  • Application and network security
  • Cloud computing
  • Payment processing APIs
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning integration
  • Blockchain implementation

Contact Us to discuss your fintech app development, we'd love to meet you.