Zelle has announced that it will shut down its stand-alone mobile app on Tuesday. If you use Zelle for quick money transfers, you might wonder how this affects you. However, there’s no need to worry—most users won’t notice the change.
Zelle’s parent company, Early Warning Services, decided to close the app. In a blog post, Early Warning Services stated that very few transactions actually take place through the stand-alone app. Only about 2% of all Zelle payments are made using the app, while the vast majority happen through banks’ mobile apps.
If you are among the few who use Zelle’s app directly, you must sign up again through a participating bank or credit union to continue using the service. Once you do, you can still send and receive money as usual.
Why is Zelle shutting down its app?
Maintaining an app requires constant updates, security improvements, and customer support. Since most Zelle users already access the service through their bank, keeping a separate app running doesn’t make much sense. By removing the stand-alone app, Zelle can focus on improving its service within banking apps.
Zelle launched in 2017 as a faster, bank-backed alternative to Venmo. Unlike Venmo, which holds payments in a digital wallet before transferring them to a bank account, Zelle moves money instantly between bank accounts without fees. This makes it a popular choice for larger transactions, such as paying rent or splitting major expenses.
Zelle’s record-breaking growth
Despite shutting down its app, Zelle remains one of the most widely used payment platforms in the U.S. In 2024 alone, users sent a record-breaking US$1 trillion in payments through the service, higher than any other payment app, including Venmo.
While Venmo is often used for smaller, social transactions—like paying back a friend for dinner—Zelle is preferred for larger amounts due to its instant, fee-free transfers. With banks continuing to integrate Zelle into their apps, the service will remain a major player in the digital payments industry, even without its app.
