✨ New Feature

Split bills with anyone.
No app required.

Add a friend as a guest placeholder — they appear in balances immediately. When they sign up later, their full expense history is waiting for them.

How Guest Mode works

Guest Mode removes the biggest blocker in shared expense tracking: someone in the group doesn't have the app yet. Instead of waiting, just add them as a guest.

1

Add a guest

Tap "Add as guest" from the group invite screen. Enter their name and optionally their email. They're added to the group instantly — no invite accepted, no app installed.

2

Split normally

Assign the guest to any expense, just like a real member. Their name appears in balance summaries, debt calculations, and the members list — with a "Guest" badge.

3

They claim their history

When your guest signs up to FairShare using the same email address, all their groups, expenses, and balances are automatically migrated to their new account.

Perfect for every group situation

Guest Mode solves a real problem in every kind of shared group.

  • ✈️
    Travel groups — Your cousin joins the trip but isn't on FairShare yet. Add them as a guest so the accommodation booking gets split correctly from day one.
  • 🏠
    New flatmates — Someone just moved in. Start tracking their share of rent and utilities immediately, before they've had a chance to set up the app.
  • 💍
    Weddings & events — Coordinate expenses for guests who may never install a bill-splitting app, but still owe a share of the decorator or the cake.
  • 🍽️
    Restaurant bills — Someone at the table doesn't have the app. Add them as a guest, scan the receipt with AI, and assign their items. They can pay back the payer directly via UPI.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧
    Family trips — Track every family member's share, even those who don't use smartphones regularly. Full flexibility without forcing anyone to sign up.
  • 🎓
    Student groups — Group projects, shared study-room costs, or hostel supplies. Add anyone from your class — the history is there whenever they're ready.

Guest Mode vs. the old workarounds

Scenario Without Guest Mode With Guest Mode
Friend hasn't installed the app Manually track in notes or ignore until they download Add as guest instantly — balances calculated immediately
Guest signs up later Re-enter all their past expenses manually History migrates automatically on first login
Settling up Informal cash or manual UPI transfer Group settles on their behalf; guest gets full UPI access on sign-up
Group visibility Group balances are incomplete or estimated Accurate full-group balances from the start
Cost Free, always

The details

Seamless account claiming. When a guest signs up with the same email address they were added with, FairShare automatically finds all groups they were a part of, transfers their balance history, and removes the guest placeholder — all in a single step at first login.

No double entries. If someone already has a FairShare account with the email you enter, Guest Mode will alert you to invite them by email instead, preventing accidental duplicates.

Up to 5 guests per group. Each group supports up to 5 guest placeholders alongside unlimited registered members.

Clearly labeled. Guests appear with a "Guest" badge in member lists and balance summaries, so everyone in the group always knows who is and isn't on the app.

Works with all split types. Assign guests to equal splits, custom amount splits, or item-by-item splits from the AI receipt scanner — exactly like any registered member.

Frequently asked questions

No. Guests are added by name and optional email by any group member. They appear in balances immediately — no installation, no sign-up, no action required from them.
If the guest was added with an email address and signs up with that same email, FairShare automatically migrates their entire history — every group, every expense, every balance — to their new account. They'll see a confirmation snackbar: "You've been added to X groups — all set!"
A guest placeholder can be settled manually by another group member marking the payment done. Once the guest claims their account by signing up, they gain full access to FairShare's UPI one-tap settlement — GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, or BHIM.
Each group supports up to 5 guest placeholders alongside unlimited registered members.
Yes — completely free, like every feature in FairShare. No tiers, no paywalls, no limits on expenses assigned to guests.

Explore more FairShare features

Try Guest Mode free today

Add anyone to your group — no app required. Download FairShare and experience the easiest way to split bills with everyone.