What it does
Settlemate helps people find and claim money they are owed from class action lawsuits. Many people are eligible for these payouts but never claim them. The app simplifies the process by identifying potential claims based on a user's history with various companies and then helps them file the necessary paperwork to collect their share.
Where it shines
Settlemate's strength lies in its onboarding, which is engineered to create a powerful sense of need. The core of this is the "missed payout" reveal at 01:16. After a quick, gamified quiz about products the user has used (00:54), the app calculates and displays a specific dollar amount the user has supposedly forfeited. This use of loss aversion is far more compelling than a simple feature list. Furthermore, the app cleverly reframes this abstract number into tangible experiences, like "8 movie theater experiences" (01:20), making the value proposition crystal clear.
UX highlights
- Gamified Data Collection: The rapid-fire quiz (00:54-01:11) turns a potentially boring survey into a fast, engaging interaction, maximizing data collection with minimal friction.
- Anticipation Building: The "Calculating your estimated payout" screen (01:11) serves as a short, effective drumroll that makes the final number feel more significant and earned.
- Tangible Value Framing: Instead of just showing a dollar figure, the app translates it into real-world items (01:20-01:24), which helps users better understand and appreciate the value.
- Loss Aversion Hook: The entire flow is built around showing users what they've already lost, creating a strong motivation to use the app to reclaim it.
- Smart Priming: The app uses custom warm-up screens for both notifications (00:50) and ratings (01:25) before triggering system prompts, likely increasing opt-in rates.
- Progressive Disclosure: Information is presented in a logical sequence. The user first learns about the problem, provides their data, sees the scale of their personal loss, and only then is presented with the paid solution.
Monetization & growth
After a lengthy and engaging onboarding process, Settlemate presents a hard paywall at 01:38. There is no free trial offered. The app presents two subscription options: a monthly plan and a yearly plan, with the yearly option heavily discounted (showing "79% off") and its cost broken down to a daily price ($0.10/day) to make it seem more affordable. The paywall screen itself includes social proof, citing "4.9 Stars from 31k+ users" to build trust at the point of purchase.
Who it’s for
The app is for the average consumer who has likely used dozens of popular services (like Instagram, Apple, or Airbnb) but is unaware of the money they might be owed from various legal settlements. It targets users who are motivated by recovering lost money but are put off by the complexity of navigating legal claims themselves. The simple interface and clear value proposition make it accessible to a non-legal audience.
Notes & opportunities
The onboarding flow is long, which could risk user drop-off before the key value reveal. While the quiz is fast, the entire process from launch to paywall takes over 90 seconds. There could be an opportunity to test a shorter path to the payout calculation for users who are less patient. Additionally, the initial phone number request (00:31) adds friction early on; delaying this request until after the value has been demonstrated might improve conversion.