Whenever you go out for a group dinner, there’s one part that’s always a bit awkward: splitting the bill. Thankfully, bill-splitting apps take care of all the confusion and math for you! Let’s take a look at the top three bill-splitting apps available today…
3. Plates
While Plates might be the most complicated and time-consuming bill-splitting apps available, it’s also the most fun, which is why it earned the bronze award. You open this app at the beginning of the meal, and it gives everyone in the group a virtual plate. Then, as each person orders items, you can add them to a specific person’s plate to add it to their bill, or place it in the middle to split it among the entire group. It’s certainly fun to see all the virtual plates. Another great thing about Plates? It can easily handle large parties, allowing up to 10 virtual plates!
There are a few downsides. First, all the virtual plates and fun mean Plates takes some time to use. Meanwhile, the app is only available on iOS currently. Hopefully, the company releases it for Android users soon!
2. Settle Up
Our runner-up, Settle Up, can handle much more than simple brunch bills – it can take care of any bill of any kind! Most impressively, it allows users a ton of control, allowing them to split payments evenly or select individual amounts for each user to pay. You can also send the receipts and expenses to anyone via email, even if they don’t use the app. Settle Up is especially good for those who live in separate countries, as it can add local exchange rates and currencies. It even stores old exchange rates, in case a user changes the date of a bill split.
Sadly, Settle Up is not free right out of the box. Instead, the free version of the app comes with ads, which can become quite annoying for those who use the app all the time. If you love Settle Up, you should definitely spring for the premium version. It doesn’t have ads, and it also allows you to add photos and color-coordinate your different groups.
1. Splitwise
Without a doubt, Splitwise has become the best bill-splitting app available. Why? Well, not only is it the most versatile on the market, but it’s also completely free! Plus, like Settle Up, it works for much more than dinner bills – though it’s excellent for that as well! In addition to keeping track of all your expenses and IOUs to others, it also tracks all of your borrowing and lending over time. That way, you can see just how much you’re spending and how much others owe you! Meanwhile, the app has integrated everything from Paypal to Venmo, making payments and withdrawals easier than ever. And everyone can use Splitwise: it has web, iPhone, and Android versions.
Thanks to these fantastic bill-splitting apps, there’s no need to worry about split bar bills or even split rend anymore. Simply download the right one for you and save some serious time!
Sources: The Balance, U.S. News.