When you’re dining out with friends and the bill arrives, you’re often faced with the dilemma of whether to split the bill evenly or pay only for what you ordered. This can be a hassle, especially if you’re someone who always ends up covering the entire check. Fortunately, there are various credit card features and third-party apps that can help streamline the process of splitting bills with others, whether it’s a restaurant tab, a group vacation, rent, or utility payments among roommates.
Some of these services may require you and your group to sign up, such as PayPal or Venmo, but they are typically free to use. Here are some tools to consider for splitting bills:
### AmEx Send and AmEx Split
American Express credit cardholders can use these options to conveniently divide costs among friends or family members, even if they don’t have an AmEx card. AmEx Send allows you to pay other Venmo or PayPal users with no fee, while AmEx Split lets you cover a purchase with your AmEx card and then divide the cost among other users.
### Venmo
The Venmo Credit Card provides a unique QR code that links to your Venmo account, allowing friends or family to scan it and cover their portion of a purchase. The Venmo Groups feature also allows for bill splitting within the app, but note that there is a 3% fee when paying with a credit card.
### Splitwise
Splitwise is an app that helps you split expenses and keep track of pending payments. It requires creating an account, adding group members, and using PayPal or Venmo to send payments. Splitwise itself does not charge processing fees, but there may be fees from PayPal or Venmo if using a credit card.
### Tab
Tab allows you to claim specific items from a receipt, split purchases, and calculate tax and tip proportionally. It offers various functions for different needs, such as splitting costs evenly for special occasions.
For covering large bills and maximizing rewards, consider offering to pay with a rewards credit card like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card or the American Express Gold Card, depending on the type of expense. Ensure you’ll be reimbursed and can pay off the balance to avoid interest charges.
When it comes to travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option for booking group trips and earning rewards. For rent and utilities, the Bilt World Elite Mastercard Credit Card and Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offer unique rewards for these specific expenses without extra fees.