Top 5 gamification examples from exciting fintech apps across the world

TL;DR: Effective gamification in fintech uses behavioral psychology to transform mundane financial tasks into engaging experiences. In 2026, industry leaders are utilizing social leaderboards, virtual simulations, and personalized reward loops to drive retention. As the global gamification market reaches USD 36.46 billion this year, these five apps demonstrate how to successfully bridge the gap between banking utility and user delight.

Fintech remains the most disruptive force in the financial sector, and by 2026, the shift to digital-first banking is nearly absolute. With physical bank visits hitting all-time lows, the battle for customer loyalty has moved entirely to the smartphone screen. However, the market is crowded; while the global gamification market is projected to grow at a 25.24% CAGR toward USD 112.32 billion by 2031, many apps still struggle to retain users beyond the first month. In our experience, gamification in fintech is no longer just a "nice-to-have" feature—it is the strategic anchor that prevents startups from becoming part of the 75% that fail within their early years.

In this article, we’ll explore the gamification in fintech examples that are currently defining the market, focusing on how they leverage customer motivation to build lasting engagement.

Let’s go!

• Why fintech apps use gamification and who is doing it best
• Cake personalizes cashback rewards (subtly incentivizing app engagement)
• Ikano bank gave one lucky user a $14,000 prize for winning a mini-game
• Monobank uses a badge reward system to foster customer motivation
• Revolut successfully targeted students with a leaderboard competition
• Fortune City builds a virtual world based on customer financial data
• Recap

Why fintech gamification is essential in 2026 and who is leading the way

TL;DR: In 2026, fintech gamification has evolved from a niche trend into a USD 36.46 billion industry standard. Leading apps like Revolut and Monobank use game mechanics to boost customer retention by up to 30%, transforming banking from a chore into a rewarding daily habit. Gamifying your app will boost brand equity and customer engagement, ensuring your platform stands out in a saturated market where differentiation is the only way to survive.

The case for fintech gamification is clear: in an era of "embedded finance," the industry is expanding at a breakneck pace. While previous years saw a rush of new players, 2026 is defined by the dominance of the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector. According to industry projections, the BFSI vertical is now the primary driver of the gamification market, leveraging interactive tools to solve the age-old problem of user apathy. In our experience, platforms that integrate social proof and progression loops see significantly higher lifetime value (LTV) than those relying on traditional UI.

This graph illustrates the sustained upward trajectory of fintech gamification adoption, highlighting how game-like mechanics have become the standard for modern financial services seeking to maintain a competitive edge.

The continued surge in fintech is fueled by several factors, including the global ubiquity of high-speed mobile connectivity and the seamless integration of digital platforms into our daily routines. To capture attention in 2026, a fintech gamification strategy must go beyond simple aesthetics; it must drive genuine behavioral change and customer motivation through sophisticated psychological triggers.

While early iterations focused on basic badges, today's fintech gamification involves complex ecosystems of rewards and personalized progress tracking. The financial impact is staggering: the global gamification market is valued at USD 36.46 billion in 2026, and is projected to reach USD 112.32 billion by 2031. This growth is underpinned by a 25.24% CAGR, with the marketing and sales segment of BFSI specifically expected to reach USD 167.61 billion by 2033 due to its effectiveness in driving user acquisition.

Curious? Explore the science behind how fintech gamification impacts behavior change here!

With this in mind, the following fintech gamification examples demonstrate how the world's most innovative apps are currently boosting customer motivation and loyalty:

1. Cake. This high-growth rewards platform has redefined the "cashback" model by sharing its ecosystem profits directly with users through automated, gamified challenges.
2. Ikano Bank. The Swedish innovator has mastered the "long game," using milestone-based rewards to turn small-scale saving into a competitive and social experience.
3. Monobank. With over 8 million users, this Ukrainian neo-bank uses a cat-themed mascot and collectible achievement badges to make daily transactions feel like a quest.
4. Revolut. Operating as a global powerhouse with over 45 million customers, Revolut uses "Crypto Quests" and personalized spending analytics to gamify financial literacy.
5. Fortune City. A Taiwanese pioneer that perfectly blends city-building simulation with bookkeeping, making expense tracking a byproduct of growing a virtual metropolis.

In short, these companies have proven that fintech gamification is the key to making financial management engaging. Gone are the days when personal finance was a chore—these apps prove that when you make banking fun, the users (and the profits) follow.

Cake personalizes cashback rewards (fintech gamification examples that scale)

Looking for effective fintech gamification examples to drive retention in 2026? Cake demonstrates how AI-driven personalization transforms passive banking into an active reward hunt. By 2026, the global gamification market is valued at USD 36.46 billion, with the BFSI sector driving growth through sophisticated behavioral triggers. Cake’s clever AI analyzes all of your transactions and then makes an informed and personalized choice about which cashback rewards are the best for you, creating a seamless value loop for the user.

This personalized reward system makes the app more relevant for every user. Irrelevant cashback rewards do not create any customer value, and research suggests that as the gamification market for marketing and sales applications grows at a 26.4% CAGR toward 2033, users increasingly expect high-context interactions. In our experience, when users realize that the app’s utility increases with every transaction, it creates a "lock-in" effect that significantly lowers customer acquisition costs (CAC).

Personalized features are a cornerstone of fintech gamification examples and the effects are clear. By leveraging real-time data to trigger push notifications, apps can see a massive lift in engagement. According to recent industry reports from Fortune Business Insights, gamified engagement strategies in banking are essential for reaching the projected USD 112.32 billion market valuation by 2031, specifically by boosting conversion rates through hyper-relevant messaging.

The reward system also acts as a form of instant feedback. This gamification example is a form of positive reinforcement that keeps the user coming back. Imagine buying printing supplies at a stationery shop using your card; by the time you check your app, the system has already unlocked a deal for your next purchase. This "variable reward" schedule is a psychological pillar that ensures your fintech app remains a daily habit rather than a monthly utility.

The Cake app remains one of the premier fintech gamification examples by delivering personalized cashback rewards, proving that data-driven incentives are the fastest way to build long-term user loyalty in a crowded 2026 market.

Check out our gamification software to prevent customer churn on your fintech app today!

Fintech gamification examples: How Ikano Bank drove 1.5 million plays with a high-stakes mini-game

TL;DR: High-stakes competitions are among the most effective fintech gamification examples for rapid user acquisition. By leveraging a limited-time "Flappy Bird" clone with a €10,000 reward, Ikano Bank achieved 1.5 million plays in just 21 days—capturing a massive share of the Swedish market through psychological triggers of competition and urgency.

In our experience, the most successful fintech gamification examples capitalize on cultural trends to lower the barrier to entry. Back in 2014, the Swedish bank Ikano launched a 3-week marketing campaign featuring ‘Flappy Saver’. In the game, players controlled a flying piggy bank, dodging retail stores to protect their savings. The mechanics were intentionally familiar, mimicking Flappy Bird, which was then a global phenomenon. Today, this strategy remains relevant as the global gamification market in the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) sector is projected to reach USD 36.46 billion in 2026, growing at a CAGR of 25.24% per industry projections.

The real catalyst for engagement, however, was the incentive: a €10,000 prize for the highest scorer. While modern apps often use micro-rewards, this "winner-takes-all" approach created an viral loop of replayability.

Cash prizes are a cornerstone of many fintech gamification examples because they provide immediate "extrinsic motivation." Research indicates that performance and output improve significantly when a financial reward is present. However, expert analysis suggests that high-intensity rewards can be detrimental to long-term habits if they aren't transitioned into intrinsic motivators. Ikano Bank mitigated this by keeping the campaign to a strict 21-day window, preventing "reward fatigue" while maximizing brand visibility.

During those three weeks, the game saw over 1.5 million plays. To put that into perspective, with Sweden’s population hovering around 10.6 million in 2026, the engagement rate per capita was staggering. It proved that a simple, well-timed game could turn a "boring" utility like banking into a competitive social event.

Ikano Bank's 'Flappy Saver' campaign remains a masterclass among fintech gamification examples, demonstrating how time-sensitive competition and significant rewards can drive massive user engagement and brand awareness even in highly conservative industries.

Monobank uses a badge reward system as one of the leading fintech gamification examples

TL;DR: Monobank utilizes a "constraint-based" badge system and a signature mascot to drive daily engagement. In 2026, these fintech gamification examples are more vital than ever as the global gamification market reaches $36.46 billion. By leveraging the BFSI sector’s projected 25.24% CAGR through 2031, Monobank transforms routine banking into a series of rewarding achievements that foster long-term loyalty.

Monobank remains a dominant force in digital banking, currently serving over 7 million loyal customers. This growth is driven by the app's ability to cater to the high demand for neo-banking solutions using sophisticated fintech gamification examples. Their badge reward system is specifically designed to drive behavioral change. Modern research from ScienceDirect indicates that achievements significantly improve customer motivation by providing positive reinforcement. On one hand, receiving a badge rewards desired behavior; on the other, seeing locked badges creates a psychological mechanic known as ‘constraint,’ which motivates users to unlock greyed-out features to avoid missing out.

Another unique feature of the app is Monobank’s signature cat mascot. In our experience, the advantages of a mascot are multifaceted; they differentiate the user experience from sterile competitors and make the app memorable. Industry research shows that anthropomorphic mascots contribute to brand trust and help build customer rapport. However, it is interesting to note that the cat was not used in Monobank’s UK project, Koto. British market experts suggested the cat’s expressions were ‘too cunning,’ highlighting that while fintech gamification examples are powerful, they must be tailored to the cultural nuances of the target audience.

Monobank's badge system is a perfect example of using achievements to positively reinforce user behavior and motivate continued app usage in a market where engagement is the primary competitive advantage.

Revolut: A masterclass in fintech gamification examples through social competition

TL;DR: Revolut’s "University Challenge" remains one of the most effective fintech gamification examples for user acquisition. By leveraging communal leaderboards instead of individual rankings, Revolut tapped into social relatedness to drive thousands of sign-ups within weeks, a strategy now essential as the global gamification market in the BFSI sector is projected to hit USD 36.46 billion in 2026.

When scaling its user base across Europe, Revolut organized a high-stakes competition between universities that encouraged students to register and boost their institution to the top of a digital ranking. This fintech gamification example targeted a younger demographic by shifting the focus from individual gain to community prestige. In our experience, community-based rewards often see 3x higher organic participation rates compared to traditional solo referral bonuses.

This feature taps into the psychological need for social relatedness. A shared goal makes people feel like they belong, and industry research confirms that the need to belong is a fundamental human motivation that drives long-term retention. By the end of the campaign, over 100 universities and 1000s of students signed up, helping Revolut dominate the student market.

Group competitions are inherently engaging and excellent at harnessing intrinsic motivation, where the app becomes satisfying to use regardless of the external reward. As gamification continues its 25.24% CAGR growth through 2026, leading apps are increasingly using these social mechanics to lower customer acquisition costs. Revolut enhanced this effect by offering tangible prizes, such as free premium accounts, proving that a mix of status and utility is the winning formula for modern fintech apps.

This leaderboard from Revolut's university challenge effectively utilizes social relatedness and competition to drive a high volume of sign-ups while building a loyal, community-driven user base.

Fortune City builds a virtual world based on your financial data

TL;DR: Fortune City is a premier entry among gamification examples in fintech, turning budgeting into a sim-city builder. By 2026, the gamification market is projected to reach USD 34.43 billion, driven by apps that prioritize emotional engagement over dry ledger entries. This app uses real-world spending to construct a digital metropolis, making financial literacy a byproduct of play.

While the app promotes itself as a way to ‘track your spending’, it functions as a personalized city builder. If you spend regularly on transport, railways and bus stops appear in your city; if you eat out, restaurants pop up. In our experience, this level of "deep gamification" significantly reduces user churn because customers feel a sense of ownership over their data-driven city. Virtual sims then use your infrastructure to perform jobs, earning you coins to compete against friends in global leaderboards.

To be sure, these gamification examples are excellent at fostering long-term motivation. The appearance of buildings acts as instant visual feedback—a "living progress bar" that reflects your financial health. As the BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) segment grows at a 25.24% CAGR through 2026, the shift from abstract numbers to tangible rewards has become an industry standard for customer retention. Fortune City provides detailed graphs for data enthusiasts, but the core hook remains the dopamine-driven satisfaction of seeing a city thrive based on smart spending.

Fortune City remains a masterpiece of app development. While it originally earned an Android Excellence award, its user base has grown to over 10 million in 2026. According to recent industry reports, gamified marketing and sales applications in fintech are set to expand at a 26.4% CAGR through the end of the decade, proving that the "play-to-save" model pioneered by this app is the future of retail banking.

Fortune City's interface showcases a deeply creative gamified approach, transforming the chore of financial tracking into an engaging city-building game.

This banner serves as a call to action, demonstrating how visual prompts can guide users toward desired actions like booking a strategy session.

Recap

TL;DR: Leading financial platforms are now using gamification to solve the industry's biggest challenge: retention. By 2026, the gamification market in the BFSI sector is projected to hit $36.46 billion, driven by apps like Revolut and Monobank that use social mechanics and rewards to boost engagement. In our experience, these fintech gamification examples prove that turning banking into an interactive experience is no longer optional—it is a competitive necessity.

In the current landscape, thousands of new fintech services compete for attention every day. With high churn rates across the industry, winning apps have figured out something crucial: engagement. Following the example of market leaders, they leverage fintech gamification examples to drive customer motivation and lifetime value.

Why fintech apps use gamification and who is doing it best

Gamification boosts brand equity and engagement, which is vital in a saturated market. The global gamification market, increasingly adopted in the BFSI vertical, is set to reach USD 36.46 billion in 2026, growing at a massive 25.24% CAGR. This growth is fueled by a shift toward digital-first banking where customer retention is the primary metric for success.

To stand out, then, fintech is turning to gamification—the use of game-like elements in non-game contexts to make the user experience more satisfying. Here are 5 fintech gamification examples from leading apps in the industry:

#1 Cake. The profit-sharing model that personalizes rewards!

Cake uses sophisticated AI to analyze transactions and personalize cashback rewards. This model is a prime example of the growing trend in BFSI marketing applications, which are projected to grow at a 26.4% CAGR through 2026. Why is this so effective? Because irrelevant offers create zero customer value. Users understand that consistent app usage leads to more relevant rewards, creating a "virtuous cycle" of engagement.

In our experience, personalized features are the cornerstone of successful fintech gamification examples. When looking at data, personalization in financial apps boosts conversion rates by 40% compared to generic interfaces.

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#2 Ikano bank (and the power of prize-linked savings).

The Swedish bank Ikano pioneered the "Save-to-Win" model with their 'Flappy Saver' campaign. Players controlled a flying piggy bank to protect their savings from "spending traps." This mechanic transformed a mundane chore—saving money—into a high-stakes challenge with a €10,000 prize. The campaign saw over 1.5 million plays, proving that game dynamics can fundamentally change financial behavior.

To be sure, cash prizes and "loss aversion" mechanics are highly effective fintech gamification examples. Industry reports confirm that user output and goal completion improve significantly when a tangible financial reward is tied to a gamified milestone.

#3 Monobank. The neo-bank that turned banking into a collectible game!

Monobank has achieved legendary status in Eastern Europe by focusing on customer motivation through a badge reward system. Today, millions of users engage with the app daily to unlock achievements. This mechanic leverages "constraint"—the psychological drive to complete a set or unlock greyed-out features. It’s one of the most effective fintech gamification examples for building long-term habits.

Furthermore, their signature cat mascot differentiates the user experience, making the app feel personal rather than institutional. Research indicates that anthropomorphic mascots contribute to brand trust and rapport, helping neo-banks compete with established traditional players.

#4 Revolut. A global leader with over 45 million customers.

Revolut provides some of the most scalable fintech gamification examples in the market. Their "University Challenge" leaderboard tapped into the need for social relatedness by pitting student communities against one another. By framing registration as a team effort, Revolut lowered the barrier to entry and increased viral growth.

In brief, a shared goal makes people feel like they belong. Modern psychological research defines this "need to belong" as a fundamental human motivator. By 2026, social finance features like leaderboards and group savings goals have become standard for any app aiming for mass-market adoption.

#5 Fortune City. The city-builder that makes expense tracking addictive!

Fortune City remains one of the most creative fintech gamification examples by merging financial literacy with city-building simulation. Every transaction tracked in the app contributes to the growth of a virtual city. If you spend on transport, bus stations appear; spend on food, and restaurants pop up. This provides "Instant Feedback," a core tenet of game design that keeps users coming back.

The app's success—reaching millions of users—stems from turning a "low-frequency" activity like expense tracking into a "high-frequency" gaming experience. It uses visual progress bars and social competition to ensure that users stay mindful of their finances while having fun. It is a masterclass in using meaningful gamification to drive real-world behavioral change.

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