A Complete Guide to Venmo App Development Cost [Updated]

Last updated on July 21st, 2023

Venmo allows you to pay your roommates, friends, and family instantly using your mobile phone. This app allows people to send money to one another and create profiles. You can then easily find out who owes what when you split the bill or order online from people who won’t ship your items without you paying first (a practice called check-n-go).

Venmo is a social platform that enables two people to make money transactions quickly, easily, and without the need for login details.

According to BusinessOfApps, Venmo has over 700 million monthly payments and significant revenues. In 2021, payments totaled more than $200 billion and revenue reached $850 million, the highest growth rate in four decades.

This information will tell you about the growth of mobile payments and their impact on your daily life.

• 64% of internet users use mobile payment apps to purchase goods and services.

• Global mobile transaction values are expected to reach 8 trillion by 2024.

• 29.3% of North America’s eCommerce transaction values were accounted for by digital and mobile wallets.

• 1.31 Billion will use mobile payments applications by 2023.

• Apple Pay has been the most downloaded mobile payment app in America.

• 507 million are using Apple Pay.

• Zelle is the most popular mobile payment platform for peer-to-peer payments in the US.

• 79% global users used NFC POS terminals to pay cashless since the Covid-19 pandemic. This trend is expected to continue.

What is Venmo?

Venmo, a mobile app that works on iOS and Android devices, is used primarily for micropayments between people. It is used to pay friends for a meal, repay someone who lent them money, or share the rent in an apartment.

Venmo, like PayPal, connects to your bank, credit/debit, or checking account. It also offers an in-app balance.

Venmo is unique because in that each payment is attached to a message, either publicly or privately shared. Facebook and Twitter operate similarly.

Venmo also announced support for cryptocurrency in 2021. It is now possible to buy and sell four different cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin. For beginners, there are tutorials and guides.

Venmo will offer Amazon customers the option to pay using Venmo’s payment service after PayPal split from eBay in 2022.

Understanding Venmo’s Popularity

Braintree’s P2P payment app, Venmo was a hit and became a popular choice for millennials in 2012. Braintree bought it in 2012. The stories of Venmo’s ease and social quotient were soon heard by PayPal, who quickly acquired Braintree and made Venmo their brand.

The application saw a spike in demand immediately after becoming a PayPal member. It has been a huge demand, which has made it a formidable competitor in the industry and a great business model for many entrepreneurs who want to follow its growing trend.

Venmo’s easy-to-use interface, which reduces the learning curve, is one of the reasons Venmo has a loyal customer base in P2P payments. Entrepreneurs looking to create an app like Venmo may find it helpful to know how users move around the platform.

What Does Venmo Do?  

Users can download the Venmo app via the Apple Store, and the Google Play Store, and connect Venmo to a debit or credit account or a checking account. After registering, Venmo users can immediately start exchanging money with other Venmo users.

Venmo acts as an intermediary in peer-to-peer transactions. It connects two accounts that are involved in transactions. Let’s take John, who agrees to sell the bracelet to Jay for $70. John sends the money through Venmo to Jay, increasing Jay’s Venmo balance by $70 and decreasing John’s Venmo account by $70. Both parties doesn’t pay any fees.

The Venmo balance, which records all money transferred to and from the Venmo platform, is an electronic ledger. Venmo will deposit the funds to the recipient’s account. Otherwise, the funds are not in physical possession.

How to Send and Request Money  

You can send money by tapping on the Venmo Pay button or Request button. Enter the email address, telephone number, or username, and hit Enter. You can either withdraw funds from your Venmo account or transfer them into your bank account as the recipient. You will pay a different fee for Instant Transfer than you would for traditional delivery.

You can load your Venmo account using a bank debit card. You can make payments using the app even if you don’t have enough funds in your Venmo bank account. Your linked bank account will get debited if the payment exceeds your Venmo balance. Your balance will be debited if the transfer amount exceeds your current Venmo balance. There is no charge for paying with a linked credit or debit card.

Important Article: 10 Popular Mobile App Payment Gateways – A Complete Guide

Primary Features of Venmo App Development

• P2P money transfer  
• Make Purchases  
• Contacts  
• Real-Time Payments  
• Integration of Credit Cards and Bank Accounts   
• App Wallet Money Transfer  
• Request Payments  
• Chatbot Assistant  
• Split a bill  
• Cryptocurrency payments  

1. P2P money transfer  

Venmo-like applications allow you to transfer money between people. You can do this by entering the information on the debit card account that will receive the funds, and then enter how much and what currency you want to send. Transactions are done securely over a secure connection. There is no limit to the amount of money you can send and receive.

2. Make Purchases  

Venmo’s main focus is to pay someone immediately, rather than using other payment methods. Venmo money can be used to pay regular monthly expenses or a contract.

3. Contacts  

Venmo’s app must allow friends and family to receive payments. The contact list should enable them to search for and receive payments without revealing any personal information. Your Venmo-like app must have access to the contacts stored on a user’s phone to use this feature.

4. Real-Time Payments  

Payments should be immediate. These instant payments can be made to a friend or utility provider. You must offer your customers a convenient and efficient payment system that is real-time to allow them to do business.

5. Integration of Credit Cards and Bank Accounts   

A Venmo-like application must have credit card integration and banking accounts. This will make it easy for users to make payments and not have to fill out payment information each time they send or receive money.

6. App Wallet Money Transfer  

While there are many reasons to use a digital wallet for various reasons, the most important is its convenience. Venmo is a mobile payment app that allows you to send and receive money in just a few clicks. These apps are great for paying your bill at restaurants, paying friends for drinks, and even purchasing something online without your credit card details.

7. Request Payments  

This feature allows users to request money for Venmo users that owe money. To notify other users, this feature requires in-app messaging.

8. Chatbot Assistant  

Your app could be used by people who need immediate assistance. Chatbots are the best way to provide that assistance.

Chatbots can be programmed to interact with customers and answer the most frequently asked questions. Chatbots can answer pricing questions and offer discounts. They also can perform other important tasks that are too complex or time-consuming for humans to complete effectively.

9. Split a bill

It allows you to split your bill for any meal or purchase. Split a Bill works just like any other payment system, but it has a built-in feature that splits the cost between all those who are involved in the transaction.

If you split a dinner bill, splitting it will cost 25%. You can also choose the percentage that each person pays, ranging from 10% to 100%.

10. Cryptocurrency payments  

Digital money’s value is steadily increasing. From 2019 to 2025, the cryptocurrency market is expected to grow at a 56.4% CAGR. Many organizations accept cryptocurrency payments for products and services.

If you are planning to create a cutting-edge app with such features, it may be worth allowing your users to pay in cryptocurrency. This could however be expensive to develop.

At the moment, there are many mobile payment apps. To attract more customers, your app should have unique features.

Venmo offers a social feed integration option within its app. It allows users to share updates on their ‘payments’, which are then shared with their “friends’ feeds.”

When the app was launched in 2009, features like these were a big hit with users. It attracted a lot of younger users and was acquired by iTechnolabs can give you peace of mind knowing that your project will be in the best hands.

Also, read: A Complete Breakdown Cost to Build a Mobile App

Step-by-Step Guide to Developing an Application Like Venmo  

• Select the Optimal Development Platform 
• Hybrid apps 
• Native App 
• Cross-Platform Applications 
• Create UI/UX design concepts  
• Security and Compliance Issues  
• Create an MVP for Your P2P Solution
• Create and test your application  
• Release your application
• Support and maintain your app  

A step-by-step guide to creating an app like Paypal and a core look into Venmo App Development

1. Select the Optimal Development Platform  

First, choose your platform before you begin developing a mobile application. Android and iOS are the most popular platforms. However, hybrid platforms such as React Native can target both platforms using one codebase. Each platform has its pros and cons. You must decide which platform is best for your project.

2. Hybrid apps  

Hybrid Apps are compatible with multiple operating systems (OS), including Android and iOS. It uses the same development tools as other apps, but it is based on the idea of writing one program and then deploying it to every OS. This saves time, money, and costs.

React Native and Adobe PhoneGap are some of the most popular hybrid app technologies.

3. Native App  

Native apps are created in a particular computer programming language such as Objective C for iOS or Java for Android. These apps are reliable and fast, making them popular with other developers. Swift, Java, and C++ are the most popular native app technologies.

4. Cross-Platform Applications  

Cross-platform apps are compatible with many operating systems. Although they may look similar to hybrid apps it is not.

Many cross-platform apps can provide native-like performance. It is easier to develop cross-platform applications than native ones.

5. Create UI/UX design concepts  

Venmo and other P2P payment apps are becoming more popular for family members and friends to easily transfer money. Your users will quickly get bored of confusing interfaces. It is important to invest in user experience design and interface design. It is crucial to test your UX in the early stages of development. Also, consider the user journeys.

6. Security and Compliance Issues  

In P2P payment apps such as Venmo, security is the next thing to think about. This is not relevant to the financial world. Users will immediately leave the application if they find security holes they can’t fix and switch to a different company. Always include an option to conceal the user’s private data, such as their CVV or transaction numbers. Each country or economic group has its own rules and regulations that an app must adhere to. It will fail if it does not comply with these rules and regulations. App developers for mobile devices constantly check compliance requirements such as PCI DSS, data encryption, and two-factor verification. It is also a good idea to revisit the area you are interested in.

7. Create an MVP for Your P2P Solution  

MVP is the next stage in developing a P2P payment app. The Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, is the development process that lets you determine the core capabilities of the app.

Development experts recommend developing MVP to understand the basics of functions. This saves money and time. You can also test the MVP early and get feedback from users. If they are positive, you can make the MVP version available to them. This increases the app’s chance of success on the market.

8. Create and test your application  

Once the plan has been finalized, the tech stack is in place, and developers have created a development environment for your app, it’s now time to get started. Modern development includes both writing and testing code.

You must speak to your target audience and validate your idea with an MVP to make your app stand out and be successful in the app marketplace. It is a good idea to research the legal and certification requirements if you have your sights set on a specific target market.

9. Release your application.  

Once your app is developed, it’s time to release it. Users will likely start to sign up for your app because you have already spent marketing time.

Once the app has been launched, it is important to monitor what user behavior you observe to find any problems or areas for improvement. A survey can be a great way to gather feedback from customers during the MVP phase. This feedback can help you to target your development efforts and refine the user experience of your app.

10. Support and maintain your app  

You must think about maintaining and supporting your Venmo payment app if you are considering it. If you want your app to be a success, these are essential steps. As your app grows, you will need to keep the security protocols up-to-date. You can also add new features. Before downloading any updates, make sure they have been tested thoroughly!

Related Article: How Much Does it Cost to Develop Fleet Management Software?

Looking for development cost Like Venmo App?

It was all about Venmo’s revenue, the features it offers, and the cost of Venmo app development. All you have to do is hire a dedicated android app development company for a custom FinTech App Development.

iTechnolabs FinTech app developers are industry leaders and can assist you in creating scalable Venmo apps that meet your business needs. Contact our team to discuss your requirements and we will help you every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions For Venmo App Development

1. How much does it cost to build a P2P payment app like Venmo?

We have given below a general cost estimation of a P2P payment app like Venmo on the basis of the size and the sophistication of the app. Please take a look –

• Small App – $30000
• Moderately Complex App – $40000
• Highly Complex App – $60000

To be clear, the above data is a general idea of the banking app development cost. Other than the size and complexity of the app, there are many other factors that directly influence the app development cost. They are as follows –

• Complexity of the frontend and backend design
• Platform chosen for the purpose of development
• Native vs. cross-platform app development
• Size, diversity and location of the developers’ team
• Number of features and their complexity levels
• Number of third-party integrations
• Cost of release onto the app stores

When you hire iTechnolabs for the purpose of developing an app like Venmo, you get the option to use any one of the hiring models. The models take care that your P20 app development costs never surpass your budgetary limits.

2. What is Venmo’s business model?

There are three significant sources through which Venmo like apps make money. They are as under –

• Usually, Venmo does not charge any transaction fees from its users. However, in some special cases such crypto-currency sales, self-transfer, etc., Venmo claims some charge.

• Venmo partners with various businesses which can use its platform for facilitating payments for their users. For such partnerships, Venmo charges a stipulated percentage of commission.

• Venmo also makes money via sale of anonymised data with regard to consumers’ behaviours to various businesses. The businesses use such data to devise strategic marketing campaigns.