Is FairSplitter free to use?

Yes, FairSplitter is completely free. All features — expense splitting, group management, multi-currency tracking, and settlement recording — are included at no cost with no subscription required.

Do my friends need to install FairSplitter to split expenses?

No. You can add anyone by name and phone number without them needing the app — useful for splitting with people who aren't tech-savvy. If your friend does have FairSplitter, you can also link to their account by email or phone so you both see the shared balance.

How do I split a bill unevenly between friends?

Tap Add Expense, enter the total amount, then choose a split method: Equal splits it evenly, Percentage lets you assign a share to each person (e.g., 60%/40%), and Custom lets you type each person's exact amount. FairSplitter automatically calculates who owes what.

How do I settle up with friends?

FairSplitter shows your net balance with each person — who owes whom and the exact amount. When a payment happens (cash, bank transfer, UPI, PayPal, Venmo, or any method), you record it in the app to mark the debt settled. FairSplitter tracks the record; the actual money transfer happens through whichever payment method you prefer.

Can I use FairSplitter for international trips with multiple currencies?

Yes. FairSplitter supports multiple currencies with automatic conversion, so you can add expenses in local currency (euros, yen, pesos, etc.) and see balances converted to your home currency. This makes it straightforward to settle up after an international trip.

Can I use FairSplitter offline?

Yes. You can add and view expenses without an internet connection. Any changes made offline sync automatically when you reconnect.

What's the difference between a friend and a group in FairSplitter?

A friend is a one-on-one connection for tracking expenses between two people. A group lets you add multiple people under one name (e.g., 'Bali Trip 2025' or 'Apartment 4B') so all shared expenses for that context stay organized together. You can have both: individual balances with each friend, and separate group balances.

Can I edit or delete an expense after adding it?

Yes, you can edit or delete any expense at any time. Every change is logged in the activity history so all group members can see what was updated and when.

How do I add a friend in FairSplitter?

You can add a friend by email address, phone number, or just their name. If they have a FairSplitter account, linking by email or phone connects your balances so you both see the same figures. If they don't have the app, adding them by name still lets you track what they owe you locally.

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties.

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How-ToExpense SplittingGuide

How to Add and Split an Expense in FairSplitter

Step-by-step guide to adding expenses and splitting bills equally, by exact amount, by percentage, or by shares in FairSplitter.

FairSplitter Team·March 1, 2026·4 min read

Adding and splitting an expense in FairSplitter on iPhone

FairSplitter lets you split any expense equally, by exact amount, by percentage, or by shares — all from a single screen. Here's exactly how to do it.

How to Add an Expense

Open FairSplitter. You land on the Home tab, which shows your net balance and a list of friends.
Tap the + button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
The "Add an expense" screen opens. Fill in the fields:

Field	What to enter
Description	What the expense is for — e.g., "Dinner at Mario's"
Amount	The total cost — e.g., 84.00
Date	Defaults to today; tap to change
Category	Tap to choose a category
Currency	Defaults to your preferred currency
Split with	Search for friends by name or select from contacts
Group	Optional — attach the expense to a group
Paid by	Defaults to "You" — tap to change if someone else paid

Tap Save in the top-right corner. Balances update immediately.

Shortcut: On any friend's detail screen, tap the + button to add an expense with that friend pre-filled in the "Split with" field.

How to Choose a Split Method

By default, FairSplitter splits the expense equally. To change how it's divided:

On the "Add an expense" screen, tap the split row — the line that shows how the expense will be split.
The Split Options modal opens with four tabs.

Equal

Divides the total evenly among everyone included.

When to use: Restaurant bills where everyone ordered similarly, shared accommodation, any cost that should be split the same way.

Example: $90 dinner, 3 people → each person owes $30.

Exact

You type the precise dollar amount each person owes. Amounts must add up to the total.

When to use: One person ordered significantly more, someone didn't have a drink, any situation where the amounts aren't the same.

Example: $90 dinner — Alice had more courses:

Alice: $45
Bob: $25
Carol: $20
Total: $90 ✓

Percent

You assign a percentage to each person. Percentages must total 100%.

When to use: Splitting rent by room size, recurring bills where one person uses more, any split based on a ratio rather than a fixed amount.

Example: $1,200 rent — larger room vs. smaller room:

Alice (larger room): 60% → $720
Bob (smaller room): 40% → $480

You assign a number of shares to each person. FairSplitter calculates each person's proportion from the total shares.

When to use: Groups where some people consume more (e.g., families with children counted as half-shares), or when you want to express ratios without doing percentage math.

Example: $120 grocery run — one person bought more:

Alice: 2 shares
Bob: 1 share
Total: 3 shares → Alice owes $80, Bob owes $40

Changing "Paid by"

If someone other than you paid, tap Paid by on the expense form and select the correct person. This is important — FairSplitter uses the "Paid by" field to calculate who is owed money back.

Example: Bob pays $90 for dinner with Alice and Carol, split equally:

Set Paid by to Bob
Alice and Carol each owe Bob $30
Bob's balance goes up by $60

Editing or Deleting an Expense

To edit: Open the expense from the Activity tab or from a friend's detail screen → tap Edit → change any field → tap Save.

To delete: Open the expense → tap Delete. All affected balances recalculate immediately. The deletion is recorded in the activity history so everyone can see what changed and when.

Common Questions

Can I split an expense between only some members of a group?

Yes. When adding the expense, set the Group field to your group but only add the specific people in the Split with field who were actually part of this expense. The others won't be affected.

What if I save with the wrong split method?

Open the expense, tap Edit, then tap the split row to change the method. The balances update automatically when you save.

Can I change who paid after saving?

Yes — open the expense, tap Edit, change the Paid by field, and save. Balances recalculate immediately.

Does the currency matter per expense?

Yes. Each expense can use a different currency. FairSplitter handles the conversion so balances are shown in a consistent currency for each person or group.