Skip to main content

Don’t know what gift to give? Tendr adds a touch of class to sending cash

It may seem less thoughtful than that strange yet sentimental item your dear Aunt Susie picked out for you at the flea market, but if we’re honest, there’s a reason we say cash is king. And now, giving a monetary gift is getting a bit of a face-lift thanks to Tendr, “the elegant way to give and receive cash gifts.” If Venmo and Paperless Post had a love child, this would probably be it — the Brooklyn-based company combines online cash transfers with sleekly designed cards to make sending and receiving money easier and, somehow, less tacky.

1SentGift_SelectOccasion_
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Money has a long and proud tradition as being among the most desired gifts to give and, especially, receive,” Tendr CEO and co-founder Jeff Beil told Digital Trends. “[It’s] flexible and offers a much higher level of freedom. At Tendr, we aim to heighten the experience even further through a marriage of great technology and elegant design.” Ultimately, Beil said, his company is looking to make giving money more special than ever by putting design and sentiment first — so it’s like saying it’s the thought that counts, but there’s some real substance there, too.

3SentGift_CardDetailsl
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Noting that many consumers today find “online payment services too transactional,” Biel and co-founder Spencer Bagley feel that Tendr serves as a solution to a number of pain points. To send a gift, create an account either by way of Facebook or an email address, then begin personalizing the card and choosing the cash amount you’d like to deliver. You can choose to send a gift by credit card, direct deposit (by way of bank details), or Venmo, but be warned, your recipient will have to have a Tendr account to receive your generosity. Don’t worry, though — signing up is free (but there is a flat per­ gift price of $3). And if you’re paying someone by credit card, there’s an additional 2.7 percent fee. 

Tendr has already processed more than$1 million in gifts, a milestone the company reached just a year after it launched on Valentine’s Day 2014. And whereas previously, Tendr was only used for specific occasions (becoming a new parent, graduating, and such), it’s now open to all. Because really, who needs a reason to give or get cash?

So if you’re at a loss for what to get your Facebook friend who invited you to her birthday or that cousin you never see, consider Tendr. You’ll be an instant hit.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Don’t buy overpriced used iPhones with TikTok installed
Exploring TikTok's STEM feed on a phone.

If you want to download the TikTok app onto your iPhone and you live in the U.S., you’re currently out of luck due to an ongoing ban. Because of this, some would-be entrepreneurs are attempting to make a quick buck on eBay by selling iPhones with the TikTok app pre-installed.

People are attempting to sell used iPhones “Unlocked with TikTok App” on the site for as much as $50,000, as first noted by Wired. To make these deals even less appealing, some of these listings are for iPhone 12 Pro Max models first released in 2020, and not even the latest iPhone 16 models.

Read more
Don’t buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. 4 reasons to wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 series closeup

Samsung’s latest Unpacked event has wrapped up, and with it, we’ve been introduced to the Galaxy S25 series. As expected, the lineup includes the standard Galaxy S25, the middle-tier S25 Plus, and the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. Packed with impressive hardware like the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, AI-driven features, and camera enhancements, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly a powerful device.
But is it worth upgrading to right now? Depending on your current phone, you might find these updates more incremental than groundbreaking. There are compelling reasons to consider holding off until next year’s Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Let’s break down why waiting might be the smarter move.

A massive 200MP periscope telephoto camera

Read more
Don’t hold your breath for big upgrades on Samsung’s next foldables
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.

It seems Samsung is in no rush to rethink its foldable strategy, even if that means taking a backseat to innovation and letting the Chinese labels bear the burden of progressive experimentation.

One of Samsung’s manufacturing partners has revealed in an interview that the next slate of foldable phones from Samsung may not offer much in terms of upgrades. Instead, enthusiasts will have to wait for the 2026 slate to see any notable changes.

Read more