Short answer: Use Venmo groups if everyone already has Venmo and you mostly split costs evenly: Venmo tracks the expenses and you pay in the same app. Use Spliteroo if you want to scan receipts and split them item by item, or if your group isn't all on Venmo. Then pay with whatever app each person uses.
How Venmo groups work
According to Venmo's help center:
- In a group, you add shared expenses and Venmo splits each one equally among members automatically. You can adjust shares or leave people out of a specific expense.
- When it's time to pay, Venmo settles the group "with the least number of payments."
- A group can have up to 30 members, and every member needs a Venmo account.
- To leave a group, you have to be paid up first.
Since PayPal owns Venmo, this is also the answer if you searched for PayPal's bill-splitting app.
How Spliteroo works
- Create a group (a trip, a house, a dinner) and share it with friends by link. For a single bill, a friend can open its link with just a name and phone number, no account, and join that bill as a guest. Guest access covers bills only, not the whole group.
- Scan the receipt. The AI receipt scan fills in the items. Free accounts get limited credits, and Pro is unlimited.
- Split by item. Assign each line to the people who had it, or split one item by percentage (say 70/30 on a shared platter). Or split the whole expense equally. The scan also reads tax, discounts and fees such as service charges.
- See who owes whom. Every trip has a "Who owes whom" section. The Settle up screen shows "Your settle plan".
- Pay however you like: Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or cash. Spliteroo doesn't move the money.
- Export a PDF for your records.
- Multi-currency with live exchange rates is available on Pro, which helps on trips abroad.
Side by side
| Venmo groups | Spliteroo | |
|---|---|---|
| Moves money | Yes | No; pay in any app |
| Who can join | Venmo account holders, up to 30 members | Free plan: up to 10 friends; guests can join a single bill by link with a name and phone number |
| Default split | Equal; shares adjustable | Equal or by item; % within an item |
| Receipts | Not described in Venmo's group help pages | AI receipt scan (limited free, unlimited Pro) |
| Settling | "Least number of payments" | "Who owes whom" plus "Your settle plan" |
| Foreign currency | Not covered in the group help pages | Pro, live rates |
| Ads | Not covered here | Free plan has banner ads; Pro (monthly or discounted yearly) removes them |
| Export | Not covered here |
Which should you use?
A weekend where everyone has Venmo and splits evenly: Venmo groups. It's one app, and paying is built in.
A dinner where people ordered different things: Spliteroo. Scan the receipt, tap who had what, then settle on Venmo.
A friend who won't install anything: send them the bill link. They join that bill with a name and phone number and see their share. For a trip abroad, multi-currency needs Pro.
A big group of more than 10 people: Venmo's limit is 30 members. Spliteroo's free plan is capped at 10 friends, so check Pro before you pick it for a large group.
FAQ
Can I use Venmo groups without everyone having Venmo? No. Venmo's help center says group members need a Venmo account.
Does Venmo split group expenses unevenly? Expenses split equally by default, but you can adjust shares or exclude members on an expense.
Can I use Spliteroo and Venmo together? Yes. Track and split in Spliteroo, check "Your settle plan", then send each payment on Venmo.