In Algeria’s still cash-dominated market, fintech platform Gifty is promoting a new approach to digital payments through a single app that centralizes shopping, bill payments, mobile top-ups and digital gift cards.

Gifty is an Algerian fintech platform that allows users to pay utility bills such as electricity, gas and water, as well as internet subscriptions and mobile top-ups directly from their smartphones. The app also provides access to millions of e-commerce products and more than a hundred partner retailers across the country.

The Algiers-based start-up was launched in 2023 by Abderrahmane Anemiche. In October 2025, he told Forbes Afrique: “My goal was clear: address the economy’s heavy reliance on cash and offer a simple, accessible service for both merchants and consumers.” He added: “My journey has taught me one thing: adapt, innovate and move quickly. That mindset is guiding Gifty as it aims to evolve into a neobank.”

The app is available on Apple’s iOS, Huawei’s AppGallery and Android, where it has already been downloaded more than 100,000 times, according to the Google Play Store. Its model is built around a digital wallet that users can fund through a local bank card or through a network of partner retail outlets.

This hybrid approach combines digital services with a physical retail network and is a key pillar of Gifty’s strategy. The company aims to support the shift toward digital payments while reaching users with limited access to banking services.

Beyond payments, the start-up is expanding into digital gifting. Users can send credit as personalized gifts, accompanied by images, videos or GIFs, turning each transfer into a more social and interactive experience.

Gifty is also developing B2B products for companies. Multi-brand gift cards, incentive programs and loyalty tools allow businesses to distribute digital rewards and track campaign performance through analytics dashboards. The platform says it has already processed millions of transactions and built a network of tens of thousands of authorized distribution points.

As financial inclusion remains a major challenge across Africa, Gifty reflects the emergence of local fintech players seeking to bypass gaps in traditional banking infrastructure. The company aims to position its platform as a gateway to Algeria’s digital economy, bringing together commerce, public services and everyday digital transactions.

Adoni Conrad Quenum