Zelle Shuts Down Standalone App, Redirects Users to Bank Platforms

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Zelle has officially discontinued its standalone app for cash transfers, effective Tuesday, redirecting users to sign up through their banks. The change comes as the app struggled with low usage, with only 2% of Zelle transactions conducted through its dedicated platform.

Launched in 2017, Zelle quickly grew to support over 143 million users and became one of the leading cash transfer services in the U.S. However, the decision to shut down the app was influenced by the increasing prevalence of banks and credit unions providing Zelle’s services directly within their own applications.

Upon signing into the now-defunct app, users receive a message stating it is “no longer available for sending and receiving money.” The message continues to inform them they can log in until August 11, 2025, but encourages users to enroll through one of the more than 2,200 financial institutions that offer Zelle.

The transition aligns with Zelle’s shift in focus. The company stated that the app will now serve as a platform for consumer education on digital scams and fraud, while also providing a directory of banking apps supporting Zelle services.

The shutdown marks a significant moment for the payment processing platform, which has seen a growing shift towards integrated banking solutions. “This change will not impact the vast majority of consumers who use Zelle to send or receive money,” the company stated in a recent blog post.

As of 2025, over 2,200 financial institutions in the U.S. provide customers access to Zelle, which together account for 98% of the company’s financial transactions. Zelle reported processing 3.6 billion transactions amounting to $1 trillion in payments in 2024, reflecting a 28% increase from the previous year.

With this adjustment, Zelle continues to emphasize the importance of ensuring user safety within digital transactions. Customers will benefit from a streamlined experience by utilizing their existing bank applications, where they can send money efficiently through connections that already exist, such as phone numbers or email addresses.

Despite the cessation of its standalone service, Zelle remains committed to serving users by guiding them through available options for continued access to their services. This pivot underscores the evolving landscape of money transfers and the broader trend of banks consolidating such capabilities within their ecosystems.