Popular bill-splitting apps to use with friends

Payments — especially between friends — are always a little awkward. You might get stuck splitting a dinner bill equally when you only had an appetizer and water, or your one friend who always forgets to pay you back forgot their wallet (again). Well, there are now bill-splitting apps that are designed to make payments between friends, groups or anyone else a lot easier.

Keep reading to find out about the features and uses of bill-splitting apps in Canada.

What are bill-splitting apps?

Bill-splitting apps are smartphone applications that allow you to divide up bills between friends, family and anyone else. Some even link to your credit or debit card so that you can send money instantly.

Whether you’re out to dinner, planning a weekend away or coordinating any other purchase with a group, these apps let you split up the cost so that everyone pays their fair share. They’re available on your mobile phone’s app store, so all you’ll need to do is download the app, sign up and start splitting.

Compare bill-splitting apps

There are a number of apps that allow you to send money to other banks, request money you’re owed or split a bill between a group. You can also use some of them to manage ongoing costs like shared expenses between roommates or sports teams.

Note that the availability of bill-splitting apps varies between countries. The information below, including whether apps are available for Apple or Android, is for users in Canada.

*Fees accurate as of November 5, 2023.

What types of payments can I split?

Depending on which app you choose, you can split a number of different expenses:

• Rent payments
• Household expenses
• Restaurant or bar bills
• Ongoing group or team expenses
• Hotel bookings, taxis or other travel expenses

How to compare bill-splitting apps

There are a few different apps out there, so here’s what to keep in mind when comparing your options:

• What is it best for? Each app allows you to split bills, but some are designed for specific purposes. Consider whether you’ll be using it for restaurant bills, bar tabs, shared expenses between roommates or any other purpose.
• What features does it offer? With so many options available, you’ll want to think about what features they each offer. This could include things like integrated notifications, uneven bill-splitting, recurring expenses, tip, taxes and beyond.
• Who can you split payments with? Some apps require everyone involved in the payment to sign up to the app, while others can send money to and request payments from people even if they don’t have the app installed. Check what restrictions apply and find out how many people you’re allowed to split bills with.
• Can you make payments? Some of these apps allow you to send and receive payments directly through the app, which is very convenient. If that’s the case, you might also want to look into how quickly payments are made.
• Are there fees? While many bill-splitting apps are free, some of them may require you to purchase the app or offer the option to unlock more features through in-app purchases. Keep an eye out for these fees and find out if there are any charges to send money within the app.
• Compatible devices. Make sure the app you have chosen can be downloaded on your smartphone — that is, either Android or iOS.

Are bill-splitting apps safe?

Generally, yes. But it’s best if you check the safety and security features of any bill-splitting app you sign up to. Some of them offer bank-level security when making payments, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure before you start using it. If an app also comes with a payment card, you can check the product disclosure statement to see who is issuing the card and which company will be responsible if your money is lost.

For most standalone apps, you can usually find information regarding security on the provider’s website. This information may include where your information is stored and how secure it is, and who to contact if there are security issues with your account.

How to sign up for a bill-splitting app

The sign-up process varies between bill-splitting apps and whether or not you need to link your bank account. With some apps, you might also need to confirm your identity using your driver’s licence, passport or other government-issued ID. You can download the app from your mobile phone’s app store and follow the step-by-step prompts to create an account.

Other ways to send payments between friends

If you’ve already figured out how to split the bill and you’re just looking to send money or get paid for a recent bill, you can try using these options:

• PayPal. Send or receive money to a mobile number or email address and link a credit or debit card to withdraw funds.
• Facebook Messenger. Send free money transfers by linking your debit card and clicking the dollar sign in the chat window with your intended recipient.
• Google Pay. Link your debit card or bank account to send money to an email address or phone number for free.
• Interac e-Transfer. Send money to anyone in Canada through online and mobile banking. Recipients will quickly receive an email or text notification when funds are sent. All you need is your email address, the recipient’s email address or phone number and access to online or mobile banking at a participating financial institution. Most major banks in Canada offer Interac e-Transfers, sometimes for a small fee per transaction ($2 or less).

Bottom line

Splitting bills and other expenses with friends and family can be awkward, especially with larger groups or people you’re not as close with. Luckily, there are a number of bill-splitting apps that do the hard work for you by dividing up bills fairly and breaking down costs for everyone to see.

But with so many options out there, you’ll need to pick one that’s best for your situation. If the app you choose doesn’t allow you to send payments, consider other ways to send and receive money.

Bill-splitting apps FAQs

• Is there an app for splitting bills?

  Yes, there are several apps that allow you to split the cost of a bill between a group. Most of these apps allow you to split bills evenly, or to divide the amount up proportionately to what each person owes.

• Do these bill-splitting apps count taxes and tip?

  It depends on which one you use, but most will allow you to split the tax and tip.

• What is the best bill-splitting app?

  The best bill-splitting app for you will depend on factors such as your phone's operating system and the type and size of bills you want to split. It'll also depend on whether you want a simple bill-splitting tool or advanced features such as spending trackers and currency conversions. Compare a range of bill-splitting apps to find one that's right for you.

• Do I have to pay to split bills?

  Most of these apps are free to download and use, but many of them charge for integrated payment features or to split bills with more than one group.

• Does everyone in the group need to have the bill-splitting app?

  In most cases, no. However, it will depend on which app you're using. Many of them allow you to simply show the amount owed to each person, or send them a payment request by text or email.

• Can I split a bill unevenly?

  It will depend on which app you choose, but generally speaking, yes, you can split bills however you'd like. So if someone ate more or less than someone else, you could adjust their share to be proportionate to what they owe. Plates by Splitwise offers this functionality, although the app is only available for iPhones and iPads.

• Does Splitwise work in Canada?

  Yes, you can use Splitwise to split bills in Canada. The Splitwise app is available to download for Apple and Android devices.

• How does the Splitwise app work?

  Splitwise is a free app that allows you to split expenses between groups. Whether you're paying for a dinner bill, a holiday or even rent, Splitwise allows you to divide up the expense so that everyone pays their fair share. You can also connect Splitwise to your PayPal account to send and receive payments, and you can use the app to keep track of who has paid what.