Why You Need a Bill Splitting App
We have all been there. The check arrives at the table, and suddenly everyone is doing mental math, pulling out their phones, and debating who ordered what. It is one of the most universally awkward moments in modern social life. Bill splitting apps exist to eliminate this friction entirely. They calculate each person's share, track who owes whom, and facilitate instant payments so you can get back to enjoying the evening.
In 2026, the bill splitting app landscape has evolved significantly. Some apps focus purely on calculation, others on payment transfer, and the best ones combine both into a seamless experience. The right app for you depends on where you live, how you pay, and how complex your splitting needs are.
This guide reviews the best bill splitting apps available today, covering global options as well as popular Korean payment platforms that have pioneered some of the most innovative splitting features in the world.
1. Splitwise: Best for Ongoing Group Expenses
Splitwise has been the gold standard for group expense tracking since its early days, and in 2026 it remains the most popular dedicated bill splitting app worldwide. Unlike payment apps that focus on individual transfers, Splitwise maintains a running ledger of who owes whom across multiple expenses over time.
How It Works
You create a group (such as "Apartment" or "Europe Trip 2026"), add members, and log expenses as they occur. Splitwise automatically calculates the simplest way to settle all debts. Instead of six people sending money back and forth in a tangled web of payments, Splitwise simplifies the math so that the minimum number of transfers are needed to make everyone whole.
Pros
- Excellent at tracking expenses over days, weeks, or months
- Supports equal, unequal, percentage, and itemized splits
- Simplifies complex multi-person debts into minimal payments
- Works offline and syncs when you reconnect
- Available on iOS, Android, and web
- Integrates with Venmo, PayPal, and other payment platforms for settling up
- Free tier is generous enough for most users
Cons
- Not a payment app itself; you still need Venmo, Zelle, or another service to actually transfer money
- The free version includes ads and limits some features like receipt scanning
- Splitwise Pro costs around $5/month for advanced features like currency conversion and receipt scanning
- Can feel like overkill for one-time bill splits; it is designed for ongoing expense tracking
Best For
Roommates splitting rent and utilities monthly, friend groups on multi-day trips, and any situation where expenses accumulate over time and need to be settled periodically rather than immediately.
2. Venmo: Best for Quick Payments in the US
Venmo is the most widely used peer-to-peer payment app in the United States, and its bill splitting features have become increasingly sophisticated. If your social circle is primarily US-based, Venmo is likely the fastest way to split and settle a bill in a single app.
How It Works
After paying a bill, you can use Venmo's split feature to request specific amounts from friends. Enter the total, add the people involved, and Venmo calculates each share. Payment requests are sent directly through the app, and friends can pay with a single tap from their Venmo balance, linked bank account, or debit card.
Pros
- Nearly everyone in the US already has Venmo, so there is no friction in getting friends to pay
- Split and pay in one app; no need for a separate calculator
- Social feed adds context to payments ("dinner at the new Korean BBQ place")
- Instant transfers to Venmo balance are free
- Venmo debit card allows you to spend your balance directly
- Supports splitting with groups directly from the payment screen
Cons
- Only available in the United States
- Instant bank transfers incur a small fee (around 1.75%)
- Standard bank transfers take 1-3 business days
- Credit card funding carries a 3% fee
- The social feed can feel like oversharing for those who prefer private transactions
- Limited splitting methods compared to dedicated apps like Splitwise; best for simple equal splits
Best For
US-based friend groups who want the simplest possible experience for splitting restaurant bills, event costs, and one-time shared expenses.
Tip: If you want to split a bill but do not want to send individual payment requests, use a free calculator like nbbang.org first, then have each person send their share directly via their preferred payment app.
3. KakaoPay: Best for Korean Users
KakaoPay is deeply integrated into the Korean digital ecosystem through KakaoTalk, the messaging app used by virtually everyone in South Korea. For Korean users or anyone living in Korea, KakaoPay is by far the most convenient way to split bills.
How It Works
KakaoPay's bill splitting feature is built directly into KakaoTalk group chats. After paying for dinner, you open the group chat with your friends, tap the "Send Money Request" feature, enter the total amount, select the participants, and choose to split equally or by custom amounts. Each friend receives a notification in the chat and can pay with a single tap. The money transfers instantly.
Pros
- Built into KakaoTalk, which virtually all Koreans already use daily
- No separate app needed; splitting happens inside your existing group chat
- Native N빵 (N-Bang) equal split feature with one tap
- Supports custom amount splits for itemized bills
- Instant transfers with no fees between KakaoPay users
- QR code payments at most Korean restaurants and stores
- Payment reminders are sent automatically through chat
Cons
- Only available in South Korea; requires a Korean bank account and phone number
- KakaoTalk adoption outside of Korea is minimal
- No expense tracking or running ledger feature like Splitwise
- Not useful for international groups or travel outside Korea
- The splitting feature is basic compared to dedicated bill splitting apps
Best For
Anyone living in South Korea or splitting bills with Korean friends. The seamless integration with KakaoTalk makes it the fastest, most frictionless bill splitting experience available anywhere.
4. Toss: Best Korean All-in-One Finance App
Toss has rapidly become one of South Korea's most popular fintech apps, offering everything from banking and investments to bill splitting and payments. For Korean users who want more than just messaging-based payments, Toss provides a robust financial platform with excellent splitting features.
How It Works
Toss's "Split Money" feature lets you create a split request, enter the total amount and number of participants, and share the request via a link. Friends can pay through the Toss app or even through bank transfer if they do not have Toss installed. The app tracks who has paid and sends reminders to those who have not.
Pros
- Clean, modern interface that makes bill splitting intuitive
- Share split requests via link; recipients do not need the Toss app to pay
- Tracks payment status so you know who has paid and who has not
- Automatic payment reminders
- Free instant bank transfers between Korean bank accounts
- Broader financial features: banking, investing, credit score monitoring
- Supports both equal and custom amount splits
Cons
- Only available in South Korea with a Korean bank account
- Requires phone verification and Korean identity authentication
- No long-term expense tracking like Splitwise
- Less social integration than KakaoPay; you cannot split directly within a chat
- The app can feel overwhelming with so many financial features beyond bill splitting
Best For
Korean users who want a comprehensive finance app that also handles bill splitting well. Particularly useful when splitting with people who may not all be on KakaoTalk or when you want link-based payment requests.
5. Zelle: Best for US Bank-to-Bank Transfers
Zelle is not technically a bill splitting app, but it is one of the most practical tools for settling up after a split. Built directly into most major US banking apps, Zelle transfers money between bank accounts instantly with no fees and no separate app to download.
Pros
- Built into most US bank apps; no separate download required
- Instant transfers directly between bank accounts
- Completely free with no transaction fees
- Widely trusted since it operates through established banks
- Money goes directly into your bank account, not a separate wallet
Cons
- No built-in bill splitting or calculation features
- Only available in the US
- Cannot reverse payments once sent, which is a risk for incorrect amounts
- No social features or payment history context
- Both sender and receiver must have Zelle-enabled bank accounts
Best For
Settling up after using a calculator tool like nbbang.org to determine each person's share. Ideal for roommates handling monthly rent and utility splits where you just need to transfer money efficiently.
6. Revolut and Wise: Best for International Groups
If your friend group spans multiple countries or you are splitting expenses during international travel, currency conversion becomes a major factor. Revolut and Wise (formerly TransferWise) are the best options for international bill splitting in 2026.
Revolut
Revolut offers a built-in bill splitting feature where you can split expenses with other Revolut users, track group spending, and settle debts in multiple currencies. The app converts currencies at the interbank rate with minimal markup, making it significantly cheaper than traditional banks for cross-border payments. Revolut also supports group vaults for shared savings goals, which is useful for planning trips.
Wise
Wise focuses on international money transfers with transparent, low fees and mid-market exchange rates. While it lacks a dedicated bill splitting feature, its multi-currency account lets you hold and send money in dozens of currencies. For groups traveling internationally, having everyone on Wise means you can settle bills in whatever local currency makes sense without hidden conversion fees.
When to Use Which
- Use Revolut when your group all has the app and you want built-in splitting features with multi-currency support
- Use Wise when you need to send money internationally to someone who may not be on the same platform, and transparency of fees matters most
7. Apple Cash and Google Pay: Best for Casual One-Off Splits
Both Apple Cash (for iOS) and Google Pay (for Android) offer built-in peer-to-peer payment features that work well for quick, casual bill splits. Neither has sophisticated splitting tools, but both allow fast transfers between users of the same ecosystem.
Pros
- No extra app to download; built into the phone's operating system
- Send money through iMessage (Apple) or directly in Google Pay
- Fast and familiar interface
- Free for standard transfers
Cons
- Apple Cash only works between iPhone users; Google Pay between Android/Google users
- No built-in bill splitting calculator
- Limited features compared to dedicated payment apps
- Cross-platform transfers are not possible
Best For
Quick, small-amount splits when both people use the same phone ecosystem. Works well in combination with a calculator tool to determine amounts first.
The Korean Payment App Advantage
South Korea is often cited as one of the most advanced digital payment markets in the world, and for good reason. The bill splitting features in Korean apps like KakaoPay and Toss are significantly ahead of their Western counterparts in terms of integration and user experience.
The cultural context matters here. The Korean concept of N빵 (N-Bang) is so deeply embedded in daily life that payment apps had to build splitting as a core feature, not an afterthought. When everyone at a table expects to split equally and settle instantly, the app that makes this easiest wins.
In the US and Europe, bill splitting has traditionally been more of an add-on feature. Venmo started as a payment app that happened to offer splitting. Splitwise started as a ledger that did not handle payments at all. In Korea, splitting and payment were designed as one unified action from the beginning.
This design philosophy is worth noting because it signals where global payment apps are heading. As more countries adopt real-time payment systems and as social commerce grows, expect Western apps to increasingly emulate the seamless splitting experience that Korean users have enjoyed for years.
How to Choose the Right App for Your Situation
With so many options available, choosing the right bill splitting app comes down to a few key factors:
- Where do you live? If you are in the US, Venmo or Zelle is probably the path of least resistance. In Korea, KakaoPay or Toss. International groups should look at Revolut or Wise.
- Is this a one-time split or ongoing? For a single dinner, a calculator like nbbang.org plus your preferred payment app is all you need. For ongoing roommate expenses or a week-long trip, Splitwise is the better choice.
- Do all participants use the same app? The best app is the one everyone already has. There is no point choosing the "best" app if half your group needs to download something new.
- Do you need multi-currency support? For international groups, Revolut or Wise will save you significant money on conversion fees compared to standard bank transfers.
- How complex are your splits? If you always split equally, any app works. If you need itemized splitting with shared items and tax distribution, use a dedicated calculator first.
Our recommendation: For most people, the best approach is to use a free, web-based calculator like nbbang.org to determine each person's share, then settle up using whatever payment app your group already uses. This separates the calculation from the payment and gives you maximum flexibility.
The Bottom Line
Bill splitting in 2026 is easier than ever, thanks to a mature ecosystem of apps and tools. Whether you prefer the social simplicity of Venmo, the ledger power of Splitwise, the seamless Korean integration of KakaoPay, or the fintech sophistication of Toss, there is a solution that fits your needs.
The most important thing is to pick a method and use it consistently. The small upfront effort of logging an expense or running a quick calculation saves you from the much larger social cost of unresolved debts and financial tension with the people you care about.
Start with our free N-Bang calculator the next time you need to split a bill, and settle up through whatever payment app your group already uses. It takes less than a minute and keeps everyone happy.