BRO TIPS🤝
SPLITTING ETIQUETTE
The unwritten rules of splitting bills with friends. From who picks up the tab to handling the friend who orders lobster — keep the vibes and the friendships intact.
6 min read·Feb 20, 2026
February 22, 2026
Splitting bills shouldn't require a math degree or an awkward group chat. In 2026, there are more bill splitting apps than ever — but which one actually works when you're standing at the restaurant table with six friends and a receipt that looks like a CVS scroll? We tested the top contenders so you don't have to.
Our evaluation criteria:
Bro Split takes a different approach: one person scans the receipt, everyone else joins via QR code or a 4-letter code, and the whole squad claims their items in real time. No accounts, no downloads, no app store. It runs right in the browser. The AI receipt scanner handles most bills accurately, and the portion-splitting feature lets you divide items like a pitcher of beer by how many glasses each person had.
Best for: Friend groups at restaurants who want to split on the spot. Zero setup required.
Splitwise is the OG of bill splitting. It excels at tracking ongoing expenses between groups — roommates, trips, regular dining buddies. You add expenses manually, and it keeps a running tab of who owes whom. The free tier has ads, and the pro version runs about $5/month. It requires accounts for everyone, which can be a friction point for one-off dinners.
Best for: Roommates and long-term groups who need ongoing expense tracking.
Tab is a straightforward bill splitting app that lets you photograph a receipt and assign items to people. It's clean and minimal. However, it requires everyone to have the app installed, and the receipt scanning can struggle with non-English receipts or messy handwriting. No real-time sync — one person manages the split.
Best for: Small groups (2-3 people) who don't mind installing an app.
Venmo and PayPal aren't bill splitters — they're payment apps. You still need to calculate who owes what manually, then request money. They're great for the payment step but don't help with the actual splitting. Plus, they require accounts and are region-locked (Venmo is US-only).
Best for: Sending money after you've already figured out the split yourself.
| Feature | Bro Split | Splitwise | Tab | Venmo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipt Scanning | AI-powered | Manual entry | Basic OCR | None |
| Real-time Sync | Yes, live | No | No | No |
| Account Required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App Download | No (browser) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QR Code Join | Yes | No | No | No |
| Portion Splitting | Yes | No | Basic | No |
| Price | Free | Free + Pro $5/mo | Free | Free |
| Works Globally | Yes | Yes | Limited | US only |
If you need to split a bill right now at a restaurant with friends, Bro Split wins. No installs, no accounts, real-time sync. If you need long-term expense tracking with roommates, Splitwise is your move. If you just need to send money and you're in the US, Venmo works. But for the "we're at the table and need to split this NOW" moment? That's Bro Split territory.
The unwritten rules of splitting bills with friends. From who picks up the tab to handling the friend who orders lobster — keep the vibes and the friendships intact.
Step-by-step guide to splitting restaurant bills with friends. Equal splits, pay-for-what-you-ordered, and handling shared items — without the awkward calculator moment.