Launch · Financial Services

CRED launches paid advisory app Circle

By Startup Enthusiast · 18 August 2026

What they do

CRED is a members-only club for creditworthy Indians with a credit score of 750 or above

The company launched Circle by CRED, a beta app offering paid one-on-one sessions with specialists

Sessions cost Rs 25 per minute and cover careers, money, wellness, and relationships for select members

CRED launched Circle by CRED, a new beta application for its members.
The app facilitates direct one-on-one advisory sessions between users and domain specialists.
Over 100 vetted Residents are available to provide advice on various topics.
Sessions are available daily from 6 PM to 10 PM IST via text, audio, or video.
The platform charges Rs 25 per minute for these advisory interactions.
Initial access is limited to select CRED members with a waitlist for others.
Residents are independent third-party providers operating under Dreamplug Technologies.
Miten Sampat serves as the interim CEO following Kunal Shah's departure.

This launch expands CRED's ecosystem beyond simple bill payments into personal advisory services.
It leverages the existing community of over 17 million members for network effects.
The move signals a strategy to monetize user engagement through premium features.
Competition exists in the online mentoring space with platforms like Topmate and Preplaced.

CRED operates a members-only club model for financially responsible individuals.
The core service includes credit card bill payments across major Indian banks.
Members earn rewards and can manage their credit scores within the app.
The platform also facilitates UPI payments for everyday transactions.
CRED claims to have over 25 million creditworthy members globally.
The app maintains high ratings of 4.8 out of 5 on app stores.
Dreamplug Technologies legally operates the Circle service as a separate entity.

Customers: Affluent credit card users and consumers seeking financial products
How it makes money: A consumer fintech platform that monetizes through financial products and category expansion
What sets it apart: Targets a harder-to-reach, higher-value customer segment rather than mass-market fintech users