Top 10 Fintech Companies and Apps in the UK and US
If you are searching for the top fintech companies and apps in the UK or US, you have come to the right place.
Today’s financial perspective is more flexible and accessible than ever. Digital payment platforms such as Revolut and Monzo simplify daily money management.
While investment applications like Robinhood and Cash App increase your money, even with additional changes
But with so many options, how do you know which one provides control, clarity, and development?
The key is understanding what your financial progress is, what you can catch on to, and where to invest your confidence and time.
By evaluating the right digital payment plaform, you can make smart decisions, adapt your wealth management, and create more effectively.
What Makes a Fintech Company or App Great ?
First of all, let’s talk about what makes these Fintech companies and apps in the UK and US great in today’s market, and then we dive into the list.
- Innovation and disruption: Leading Fintechs are not only digitizing old systems; They are strengthening them. Think about AI-operated budget, instant limit payment, or uninterrupted crypto integration
- User Experience (UX/UI): The most successful fintech prefers smooth, spontaneous design and friction-free workflows to keep customers busy.
- Product offerings: A great fintech platform does more than one thing well. From everyday banking and investing to loans and crypto, it becomes a one-stop hub for users’ financial needs.
- Safety and compliance: Top-level security is non-pervasive, as cyber threats have increased. Encryption, multi-factor authentication, and strict regulatory requirements are not only for facilities; They are the foundations of customer trust.
- Proven Development and Market Leadership: We focus on real traction companies: expansion of user bases, stable revenue growth, and industry recognition. Market leaders not only follow trends, they set them.
Top 10 Best Fintech Companies and Apps Dominating the UK & US
1. Revolut (UK)
The company has aggressively expanded its offerings, acquired SME bank Mettle, and launched premium subscription tiers that helped it achieve both unicorn status ($33B valuation) and profitability.
Established by Nicolay Stonsky and Vlad Yatsenko in 2015, London-based Fintech Powerhouse now serves 40+ million users and produces approximately $ 900 million annually.
What started as a simple journey money solution has exploded into a complete financial ecosystem that is redefining modern banking. Revolut stands by packing an unprecedented range of facilities in a clever app:
- Exchange between 28+ currencies at real rates
- Trade stock, ETF, and 100+ cryptocurrencies
- Stake digital assets and explore Web3 features
- Manage business finances through Revolut Business
The revolute can be set separately, which has the ability to innovate while maintaining the main functionality.
Whether you need a frequent passenger, immediate currency swap, an investor without diversifying your portfolio, or running the owner of a business, all hidden fees or clunky interfaces.
2. Stripe (US)
Established in 2010 by Irish Brothers Patrick and John Kolison, Stripe quietly became the backbone of $ 15 billion of online commerce.
While consumers rarely notice it, seamless payment infrastructure powers the digital economy. It includes developer-friendly APIs, internet fraud prevention systems, and a global transaction network.
Stripe supports everyone: from San Francisco-based giants like Amazon and Shopify to the latest startups; processing trillions of dollars each year.
Key achievements:
- Reached $95 billion valuation while maintaining its innovative edge
- Processes trillions in payments annually across 120+ currencies
- Strategic acquisitions like Paystack strengthened global reach
Unlike other digital payment platform, Stripe enables millions of businesses to focus on what they do best while it handles the money movement.
3. Monzo (UK)
Another of the best fintech companies operating in the UK
Monzo shows what happens when you treat customers like co-creators rather than account holders: you don’t just build a bank; you build a movement. Want to know their secret?
That bright orange card is more than plastic; it’s a badge of belonging to the anti-establishment money revolution.
Founded in 2015 by Tom Blomfield, this London-based challenger bank has turned its signature coral cards into a Gen Z status symbol while building an 8-million-strong community that influences product decisions.
Here’s why Monzo stands out:
- Makes banking social with real-time spending alerts and transparent money management
- Built credit tools that help thin-file users access loans and build scores
- Monzo cracked the code in 2024, with Facebook’s Eduardo Severin, gaining more than £ 600 million from a large-name backer, drawing in revenue of £ 250 million, proving that you can run a bank that is wildly and commercially successful.
4. Chime (US)
Chime Financial, Inc., another of the best fintech companies in the US, delivers fee-free mobile banking services in partnership with Stride Bank and The Bancorp Bank.
It is often referred to as the No-Nonsense Bank That’s Winning Over America.
Chime proves that when you design banking around people’s needs (rather than bank profits), customers respond, hitting 20 million users faster than nearly any other neobank in US history.
Am sure you are wondering how they achieved that? They didn’t try to reinvent banking; they just fixed what was broken.
It was founded in 2013 by Chris Britt and Ryan King. Chime has revolutionized basic banking for 20 million Americans by ditching everything people hate about traditional banks, no monthly fees, no minimum balances, and no overdraft charges.
Here’s why Chime stands out:
- Saves users real money with early paycheck access (up to 2 days sooner) and its no-fee Credit Builder card that helps improve credit scores
- Grew explosively to $1.2B revenue by focusing on underserved communities through smart referral programs
- Keeps evolving, recently expanded into teen accounts and joint banking while maintaining sky-high customer satisfaction
5. Wise (TransferWise)
Wise have become one of the major fintech companies in the UK and US offering border funds, using the actual exchange rate and using clear, upfront fees using the real exchange rate.
Kristo Kämann and Taavet Hinrikus founded Wise, previously known as TransferWise, in 2010.
Over 50 million users and in 2024, with an estimated annual revenue of about £ 650 million (~ USD 830m),
In its major milestone, Wise became the first major Fintech IPO of London through a direct listing at the London Stock Exchange in 2021, which proves its business model on a scale.
It has also pushed traditional banks to lower their fees, expanded services to support over 160 countries, and continued innovating to meet the needs of a globally connected economy.
It exposed how traditional banks hide fees in bloated exchange rates, and instead provide mid-market rates without any markup.
Over time, Wise expanded beyond individual transfers to include multi-currency accounts, business payroll and invoice equipment, and even crypto transfer, making it a platform for freelancers, remote teams, startups, and global businesses.
6. Robinhood (US)
Over 30 million users and in 2024, with an estimated annual revenue of $ 1.8 billion, Robinhood made waves by offering commission-free trading, a step that shook Wall Street and opened the door to start investing for everyday people.
Founded by Baiju Bhatt and Vladimir Tennev in January 2013, it has become one of the most influential names in retail investment.
The clean, gamified interface of the app also helped attract a small, technology-loving generation of investors, who were found to be intimidating or inaccessible.
While this design option attracted both praise and criticism, it was more acceptable in investing undeniably.
Key achievements:
- In 2021 was made public with an evaluation of more than $ 30 billion
- Avoid GameStop volatility and regulatory investigation
- Launch Roth IRA, Custodial Accounts, and Crypto Wallets
Today, the development of Robinhood continues, combining traditional investment with the rise of crypto and digital assets.
Whether you love it or question it, no one denies how a whole new generation thinks about money and markets.
Other Fintech companies in the UK and US include:
7. Zopa (UK)
Zopa was the world’s first peer-to-peer borrowing platform and has since developed into a full-service digital bank. It focuses on proper debt, high-interest savings, and moral finance.
Over time, it has developed into a full-service digital bank, serving more than 5 million users and producing an estimated £ 200 million (~ $ 250M USD) in annual revenue in 2024.
It was founded in March 2005 by David Nicholson, Richard Alden, and Gill Andrews, and is located in London.
What Zopa makes is its unique mix of innovation and morality. It began by cutting traditional banking middlemen, connecting borrowers and lenders directly.
After moving to digital banking, it became one of the early P2P platforms to survive and flourish for a long time, reaching a faster profitability than many of its peers.
In short, Zopa is not just trying to survive; it is an example of how Fintech can grow from responsibility while remaining right to its roots.
Key achievements:
- One of the longest-lasting fintechs
- Launched carbon-neutral operations
- Focus on responsible finance and fair access
8. PayPal (US)
Paypal remains one of the long standing fintech companies of all time in both the UK and US. While many early internet-era companies faded, PayPal adapted.
It began as an app for online money transfer service from eBay after the acquisition and the final spin-off. Then, it expanded aggressively through strategic acquisitions such as Braintree, Venmo, and Izettle.
These strategies allowed PayPal to remain competitive in e-commerce, point to point payments, and global retail.
Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and Luke Narek founded PayPal in December 1998, and the company later merged with X.com by Elon Musk. It is one of the original digital wallet pioneers.
Located in California, San Jose, PayPal has not only survived, but has grown in the rapidly growing fintech world, growing more than 435 million users to serve users and to draw in an estimated $ 30 billion in annual revenue in 2024.
Here’s why PayPal still leads the pack:
- Pioneered digital wallets and still perfects the craft with one-click checkout that online retailers love
- Processes $1.5 trillion annually – that’s more than many countries’ GDPs
- Adapts without losing focus – adding crypto support while maintaining core payment supremacy
PayPal proves that first-mover advantage means nothing without constant evolution.
While Apple Pay and Google Pay chase the spotlight, PayPal keeps powering the internet’s financial infrastructure, and with Venmo’s social payments capturing younger users, this OG fintech isn’t going anywhere.
9. Cash App (US)
Jack Dorsey’s 2013 creation has evolved from simple P2P payments into a $7.5 billion financial ecosystem that 50 million users, especially younger ones, absolutely love.
In the battle for Gen Z’s wallets, Cash App isn’t just winning, it’s rewriting the rules of financial technology apps
The numbers prove it works:
- Makes money social with $Cashtags and viral payment features that feel native to digital natives
- Offers way more than transfers, Bitcoin trading, stock investing, and cashback debit cards all in one place
- Perfectly captures Gen Z through free stock giveaways and seamless Twitter/X integration for creator payments
Cash App didn’t just build a payment tool; it created a financial culture where sending money feels as natural as sending a tweet.
While traditional banks struggle to connect with younger users, Cash App turned finance into something shareable, snackable, and fun.
10. Starling Bank (UK)
When Anne Boden launched Starling in 2014, only a few people believed that a digital rookie could challenge Britain’s banking establishment.
Nevertheless, by 2024, her brainchild yield has reached 10 million customers and revenue of £ 300 million.
One of Starling’s smartest moves has been the launch of its Starling Marketplace.
Rather than building every financial tool in‑house, the bank partners with leading fintech companies in the UK and US to offer investment platforms, credit‑building services, and expense trackers; all accessible directly within the app.
This collaborative approach gives users seamless access to best‑in‑class products without ever leaving their banking environment.
In short, Starling didn’t just challenge the big banks; it quietly raised the bar for them.
By focusing on what customers truly value: clean design, smart features, and meaningful, user-first experiences. Starling reshaped expectations across the industry.
And with no signs of slowing down, it continues to push the boundaries of innovation and customer-focused banking.
Let’s have a quick comparison table;
FINTECH | COUNTRY | YEAR FOUNDED | FOUNDER | ANNUAL REVENUE(EST) | UNIQUE FEATURES |
Revolut | Uk | 2015 | Nikolay Storonsky, Vlad Yatsenko | £700M ($900M) | Multi-currency, crypto, investing |
Stripe | US | 2010 | Patrick & John Collison | $15B | Developer-friendly payment processing |
Monzo | UK | 2015 | Tom Blomfield | £250M ($320M) | Community-driven budgeting tools |
Chime | US | 2013 | Chris Britt, Ryan King | $1.2B | No fees, early paychecks |
Wise | UK | 2010 | Kristo Käärmann, Taavet Hinrikus | £650M ($830M) | Transparent international transfers |
Robinhood | US | 2013 | Baiju Bhatt, Vladimir Tenev | $1.8B | Free investing, fractional shares |
Zopa | UK | 2005 | David Nicholson, Richard Eldon, Giles Andrews | £200M ($250M) | Ethical lending, savings |
Paypal | US | 1998 | Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, Luke Nosek | $30B | Digital wallet, Venmo, crypto |
CashApp | US | 2013 | Jack Dorsey (Square) | $7.5B | Send money, Bitcoin, Cash Card |
Starling Bank | UK | 2014 | Anne Boden | £300M ($380M) | Banking in Business, green finance |
Fintech Trends You Should Watch Out For
1) AI in personal finance: Your bank application is becoming smarter. AI now powers the hyper-personalized budgeting, and even suggests investments by your spending habits.
2. Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL): Proceeding on an impulse purchase. New rules and credit-building facilities are changing, which was once controversial in a valid financial industry.
3. Payment from border pay: Distance work and bounce with global freelancing, demand for immediate, low-cost international transfer has never been higher. Fintech cuts through the red tape of going across the border.
4. Blockchain and Crypto: These are no longer speculation. The blockchain is quietly doing everything from safe identity verification to institutional-grade payment systems.
5. Open Banking: Safe data sharing between banks and fintech means that you eventually get a complete picture of your finances, not many apps to understand your money.
If you want to stay ahead? Look at companies that are executing these trends while maintaining confidence.
You can also have a look at the top 10 best fintech companies in Nigeria and Africa.
This is where real innovation occurs.
Challenges and Opportunities in the UK & US Fintech Markets
Fintech is growing fast but the journey isn’t without bumps. Startups face strict regulations, security threats, and investors who can be quick to back out.
Still, the positives far outweigh the challenges. Fintech is reshaping how we manage money; whether it’s tracking daily expenses, investing spare cash, or running a business.
It’s making financial tasks faster, easier, and more in your control than ever before.
Conclusion
Whether you’re in London, LA, Manchester, or New York, the right fintech can seriously change how you handle your cash, for the better.
From Revolut to Starling’s, and Cash App’s to Robinhood, these apps are all about giving you more control over your money.
The message is clear: traditional finance is being disrupted not by banks, but by experiences.
Whether you are a freelancer needing borderless payments, a Gen Zer wanting social finance, or an entrepreneur seeking smart banking, there’s a fintech built for your needs.
Make your move? Try the apps that match your financial life, and your wallet will thank you.
Ready to Launch or Scale Your Fintech?
Are you building or marketing a fintech solution? At Oluboba, we help fintech companies scale in the UK and US with data-driven digital strategy, branding, and growth marketing. Get in touch with our team today.