Wizz app
Wizz is a Paris-based, Voodoo-owned social discovery mobile app for users aged 16-24 that matches people by strict age-group and pre-moderates all content for safety. It monetizes via advertising across 12+ networks, in-app subscriptions, and Boost visibility purchases, serving 3M monthly active users primarily in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Wizz app does
Wizz is a Paris-based social discovery mobile application, founded in November 2018 by Thomas Donninger and operated as Wizz SAS under French holding company Voodoo. The app matches users for friendship and chat based on strict age-group segregation — users aged 16-17 may only connect with peers within one year of their own age, and users 18-24 may connect across the full young-adult range. The product is built on iOS and Android and is distributed through the Apple App Store, Google Play, and direct download from wizzapp.com, with a primary user base of 3M monthly active and 16M cumulative users concentrated in the US, UK, Canada, and parts of Europe. Geographic expansion into South America (Brazil) is announced for 2027.
The technical stack is defined by a youth-safety architecture rather than by social-graph innovation. Age assurance combines Yoti's facial age estimation (with liveness detection) and an optional biometric ID verification layer added in December 2025. All text, images, and video are pre-moderated before delivery using Bodyguard (text), Cinder (AI-driven moderation at scale plus manual review), Hive (video), and AWS Rekognition and TwoHat (fallback). Profile photos are matched to age-verification selfies via AWS Machine Learning, and banned users are blocked at the device level using Fingerprint. Wizz holds one of only three European seats in the Tech Coalition child-safety alliance.
Wizz operates a freemium consumer model. Core discovery and chat are free; revenue is generated from in-app advertising served through 12+ networks and mediation platforms (Google AdMob, Meta Audience Network, AppLovin, Unity Ads, Mintegral, InMobi, Liftoff, Moloco, Pangle, PubMatic, BidMachine, Bigo), Boost (a paid visibility feature), weekly/monthly subscriptions, and one-time in-app purchases. The 4B+ ads served in a single year underscores the ad-led monetization, while the freemium positioning reflects deliberate targeting of under-25 users, who carry below-average CPMs but high engagement.
Wizz app firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wizz app
- Legal name
- Wizz SAS
- Website
- https://wizzapp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wizz is a Paris-based, Voodoo-owned social discovery mobile app for users aged 16-24 that matches people by strict age-group and pre-moderates all content for safety. It monetizes via advertising across 12+ networks, in-app subscriptions, and Boost visibility purchases, serving 3M monthly active users primarily in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wizz app industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Social Discovery App
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dating & Relationship Networks (BPAMABAF)
Keywords
Where Wizz app is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wizz app business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising: Wizz monetizes through display advertising using multiple ad networks and mediation platforms including Google AdMob, Facebook (Meta), AppLovin, Unity Ads, Mintegral, and others. The company has set standards for ad safety with over 4 billion ads served.
- In-App Purchases and Subscriptions: Users can purchase Boost to increase profile visibility (appear first in recommendations), and weekly or monthly subscriptions for premium features. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled 24 hours before the billing period ends.
- Boost Feature: Users can pay an additional fee to appear first in other users' recommendations, increasing visibility and invitation to start conversations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free tier - Basic social discovery features |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium Subscription |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Boost Feature |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Wizz app product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wizz is a social discovery mobile application for iOS and Android that matches users by age group (16-24) for making new connections and chatting with peers. The platform uses Yoti facial age estimation for age verification, AWS Machine Learning for identity verification, and pre-delivery content moderation through Bodyguard, Cinder, and Hive. The service operates on a freemium model combining in-app advertising, premium subscriptions, and transactional features such as Boost.
Product overview
Wizz is a social discovery mobile application for iOS and Android targeting Gen Z users. The core product matches users by age group for making connections and chatting with peers. The platform includes a two-phase age verification system using Yoti's facial age estimation technology and optional biometric ID verification to ensure users are placed in appropriate age communities. Content pre-moderation is handled via AI partners Bodyguard, Cinder, and Hive with human oversight. The platform operates on a freemium model with premium features including Boost (paid visibility increase) and Bulk Chat (message up to 100 users at once), plus weekly or monthly subscriptions. Wizz is headquartered in Paris, France, and claims approximately 3 million monthly active users as of 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wizz App Social discovery mobile application for iOS and Android that matches users by age group for making new connections and chatting with peers. Features age verification, identity verification, and pre-moderation of all content. Targets Gen Z users aged 16-24.
Quantifiable outcome
- 810 million messages exchanged in January 2026
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wizz app
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Wizz app technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration23 records
AI capability7 records
Feature5 records
Wizz app partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CindercoreCinder provides AI-driven content moderation at scale. Wizz partnered with Cinder to power content moderation for its Gen Z-first app. Cinder also provides manual moderation services for reports.
- Tech CoalitioncoreWizz became a member of the Tech Coalition, a global industry alliance dedicated to combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Wizz is one of only three European members alongside Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Snap. Wizz completed the six-month Elevate pilot program before gaining membership and will participate in working groups on financial sextortion prevention, trust and safety transparency, and age assurance.
- YoticoreYoti provides facial age estimation technology trusted by the UK Home Office and NHS. The technology analyzes selfies to estimate user age with liveness detection to prevent bots. Yoti deletes the selfie image as soon as an age estimate is given. Wizz has partnered with Yoti for five years.
- BodyguardcoreBodyguard provides text content moderation for Wizz, scanning all text before it is sent to detect violations of community guidelines including nudity and drug content.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreAWS Machine Learning is used to verify that 100% of profile images match the face from age verification, ensuring users are authentic. AWS Rekognition is also used for image moderation fallback.
- ThorncoreThorn provides enhanced CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) detection tools. Wizz implemented Thorn's tools as part of the Tech Coalition Elevate program.
- NCMEC (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)coreWizz established automated and manual reporting flows to NCMEC's CyberTipline for reporting child sexual exploitation and grooming.
- Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)coreWizz collaborates with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to strengthen their approach to child safety, as part of their Tech Coalition membership.
- Google AdMobminorGoogle AdMob is one of Wizz's advertising partners that displays advertisements and monetizes the Wizz Service.
- Meta (Facebook)minorFacebook (Meta) is one of Wizz's advertising partners for displaying targeted advertisements.
- AppLovinminorAppLovin is one of Wizz's advertising networks/mediation platforms for displaying advertisements.
- UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)coreWizz's partnership with the UK ICO ensures that their policies and technologies align with the highest standards for youth safety and data protection, particularly regarding children's information under the Age Appropriate Design Code.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wizz app competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yubo: France-based social discovery app explicitly targeting Gen Z for friend-making rather than dating. Closest direct competitor to Wizz — same age-group matching, same European origin, same safety-investment narrative, and overlapping target user demographic.
- Hoop: Mobile app for Gen Z users to make new friends, with similar swipe-to-match discovery mechanics and a comparable demographic. Closely comparable product category and target audience to Wizz.
- BeReal: Authenticity-focused Gen Z social app acquired by Voodoo in 2024, making it a sister company under the same parent. Targets the same demographic with a different mechanic (dual-camera daily posts vs. age-bucketed chat) but shares the parent-company infrastructure and Gen Z anti-likes positioning.
- Wink: Earlier Gen Z social discovery app that experienced safety controversies and platform removals — directly comparable cautionary precedent for Wizz's age-verification and content-moderation strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Bumble: Publicly-traded social/networking platform whose Bumble BFF product explicitly addresses friend-making for the same demographic Wizz targets. Larger and broader portfolio but overlapping value proposition in the friendship-discovery use case.
- Snap (Snapchat): Large publicly-traded social platform with a dominant Gen Z user base. Overlaps with Wizz in messaging and youth audience, and competes for the same ad dollars through Snap Ads.
- Instagram (Meta): Dominant social platform with significant Gen Z user share. Competes with Wizz for attention, ad inventory, and creator-driven social discovery — and is also one of Wizz's ad-network partners.
Emerging players
- Locket Widget: Direct-to-friends sharing widget that gained viral traction among Gen Z in 2022. Comparable in target demographic and mobile-only distribution, though narrower in use case (lock-screen photo sharing vs. discovery).
- Marco Polo: Video messaging app positioned around private, asynchronous connection with close friends — overlapping with Wizz's emphasis on real connection without the pressures of public social-media metrics.
- Bunch: Group video-chat app targeting Gen Z gamers and friend groups. Comparable in demographic and friend-first product framing, though centered on multi-player video rather than 1:1 discovery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Wizz app social profiles
Digital presenceWizz app compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Wizz app financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wizz app leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Wizz app funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wizz app M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wizz app
What does Wizz app do?
Wizz is a social discovery mobile application for iOS and Android that matches users by age group (16-24) for making new connections and chatting with peers. The platform uses Yoti facial age estimation for age verification, AWS Machine Learning for identity verification, and pre-delivery content moderation through Bodyguard, Cinder, and Hive. The service operates on a freemium model combining in-app advertising, premium subscriptions, and transactional features such as Boost.
Is Wizz app a public or private company?
Wizz app is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Wizz app founded?
Wizz app was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wizz app based?
Wizz app is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Wizz app make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are in-App Purchases and Subscriptions and boost Feature.
Who are Wizz app's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yubo, Hoop, BeReal and Wink. Broad incumbents are Bumble, Snap (Snapchat) and Instagram (Meta). Emerging players are Locket Widget, Marco Polo and Bunch.
Does Wizz app have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wizz app.
What industry is Wizz app in?
Wizz app's product category is Youth Social Discovery App. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMABAF, Dating & Relationship Networks. Its NAICS code is 519290 and its SIC code is 7990.