Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are answers to the most common questions. If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact us!

🔰 Basics

Q: Is Splitly free? A: Yes! All core features (creating groups, recording expenses, calculating settlements, collaboration) are forever free.

  • Free Plan: Access all features with up to 3 groups.
  • Premium Plan: Upgrade to remove ads, create unlimited groups, and use file upload features.

Q: Do I need to register an account? A: No. You can start using it immediately as a guest. Data will be stored temporarily in your browser.

  • Recommendation: To sync data across devices or prevent data loss from clearing cache, we recommend logging in with your Google account.

Q: Is this an App? Do I need to download it from the App Store? A: We use the latest PWA (Progressive Web App) technology.

  • No Download: Open it directly in your browser.
  • Install on Phone:
    • iOS (Safari): Tap the "Share" button -> Select "Add to Home Screen".
    • Android (Chrome): Tap the menu (three dots) -> Select "Install App" or "Add to Home screen".
  • Once installed, it works just like a native app, runs full screen, and even works offline!

💰 Features & Settlement

Q: How is the settlement calculated? A: We use a "Minimize Transactions" algorithm.

  • The system calculates everyone's "Net Balance" (Receivable - Payable).
  • It then finds the simplest path. For example: If A owes B $100, and B owes C $100, the system will suggest A pays C $100 directly, skipping the middle step.

Q: What about decimals? A: Splitly calculates with full precision first, then displays two decimal places.

  • Some cases produce repeating decimals (e.g., 1645 ÷ 3 = 548.333...), so you may see 488.33 or 488.34.
  • The difference comes from rounding plus 0.01 remainder allocation (assigning the remainder to one payment so totals balance exactly), not a math error.
  • For real transfers, your group can still agree to round to whole numbers if needed (e.g., pay 33 or 34 for 33.33).

Q: I paid my friend. How do I clear the debt? A: This is a manual action!

  1. Click on the debt item (or friend's name) in the "Settlement" section.
  2. In the details page, check "Mark as Settled".
  3. The debt will reset to zero and show as paid.

Q: Can I use multiple currencies? A: Currently, we recommend using one currency per group.

  • The system sums up numbers and does not perform automatic currency conversion.
  • For foreign expenses, convert them to the group's main currency before entering (e.g., spent 1000 JPY, roughly $10 USD, enter 10).

Q: Can I cancel my subscription anytime? A: Yes, absolutely! You can cancel at any time. You will continue to have access to all Premium features until the end of your current billing period.

Q: What happens if I have more than 3 groups after unsubscribing? A: Don't worry, your data is safe.

  • Preserved: All your existing groups and data will be completely preserved.
  • Delete: You can keep them or delete them as you wish.
  • Management Disabled: If you have more than 3 groups, you won't be able to create new groups or edit existing group members.
  • Full Usage: You can still normally edit expenses, participants, and all other features within your existing groups.
  • Restore: Once you reduce your groups to 3 or fewer, group management will be re-enabled automatically.

🔒 Data & Privacy

Q: Is my data safe? A: Very safe.

  • Guest Mode: Data exists only on your device. No record on our servers.
  • Login Mode: Data is encrypted and stored in Google's Firebase cloud database, accessible only by group members.

Q: Can friends edit without an account? A: Yes! Use the "Share Link" feature. Friends can join and start editing immediately without registering.

Q: I changed my phone. Is my data still there? A:

  • If Logged In: Log in with the same Google account on the new phone, and your data will appear automatically.
  • If Not Logged In: Sorry, guest data is bound to the old phone's browser and cannot be transferred. Please log in on the old phone first to sync data.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Q: Why did my data disappear? A: Common reasons:

  1. Not Logged In: You might have cleared browser cache or used Incognito mode, deleting guest data.
  2. Wrong Account: Check if you logged in with the same Google account used to create the data.

Q: The screen is frozen or acting weird? A: Try refreshing the page. If in PWA mode, close the app completely from the multitasking menu and reopen it. If the issue persists, contact us.

Q: How to contact support? A: For suggestions, bug reports, or partnership proposals, email us at: paji.contact [at] gmail [dot] com