Why the transfers pile up
Four friends (A, B, C, D) take a trip and three of them pay once each.
| Expense | Paid by | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging | A | $400 |
| Rental car | B | $120 |
| Dinner | C | $80 |
| Total | $600 |
Settling bill by bill: B, C and D pay A for lodging; A, C and D pay B for the car; A, B and D pay C for dinner. That is nine transfers, and A is paying B while B is paying A.
Work out each net balance
Each share is $600 ÷ 4 = $150. For each person, compute paid − share.
| Person | Paid | Share | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | $400 | $150 | +$250 (gets back) |
| B | $120 | $150 | −$30 (owes) |
| C | $80 | $150 | −$70 (owes) |
| D | $0 | $150 | −$150 (owes) |
The net balances always add up to zero. If yours don’t, something was entered wrong.
Match the biggest amounts
Line up the people who are owed and the people who owe, each from largest to smallest, and pair them from the top, sending as much as each pair allows.
- D → A $150
- C → A $70
- B → A $30
Nine transfers become three. Every pairing clears at least one person’s balance, so this never takes more than (number of people − 1) transfers. Even a group of ten settles in nine or fewer.
Checking it in the app
The Android app "Settle Up: Split the Bill" does exactly this. You only enter the expenses. The sample data in these screenshots uses Korean names and the ₩ symbol; the app itself runs in English.
Enter expenses with their payer
Add lodging, the car and dinner, each with the person who paid. The order you enter them in does not change the result.
Read transfers and balances
"Settle · N transfers" on the group screen is the final payment list. The Balances section below shows what each person paid and what they get back or owe.
FAQ
Some people already paid part of it back.
Record that payment like an expense. If D already sent A $50, enter it as paid by D, shared by A, Exact $50, and it comes off the balances.
Can everyone pay one person who then redistributes?
The app pairs the largest amounts automatically. Routing everything through one person usually adds transfers rather than removing them.
Settle Up: Split the Bill
No sign-up, no internet, and your records stay on your phone. Free on Android.