Help & Support

    Help Center

    Everything you need to know about XpensePal. Find guides, tutorials, and answers to common questions.

    Getting Started

    Step 1

    Create an Account

    Sign up with your email address to get started. No credit card required - it's completely free!

    • Visit xpensepal.com and click 'Get Started Free'
    • Enter your name and email address
    • Create a secure password
    • Verify your email address
    Step 2

    Create Your First Group

    Start by creating a group for your specific expense sharing needs.

    • Click 'Create New Group' on your dashboard
    • Choose a group type: Trip, Household, Couple, or Other
    • Give your group a name (e.g., 'Weekend Trip to NYC')
    • Add an optional description
    • Click 'Create Group'
    Step 3

    Invite Group Members

    Add friends, roommates, or travel companions to your group.

    • Click 'Add Members' in your group
    • Enter email addresses of people you want to invite
    • They'll receive an email invitation to join
    • Even if they don't have an account yet, they can still be included in expenses
    Step 4

    Add Your First Expense

    Start tracking expenses using our advanced features including AI scanning and manual receipt entry.

    • Click 'Add Expense' in your group
    • Choose from Regular, Recurring, Receipt, or AI Scan tabs
    • Use AI Receipt Scanner to automatically extract details from photos
    • Use Manual Receipt Entry to add items and assign costs to specific people
    • Set up recurring expenses for bills, rent, or subscriptions
    • Choose how to split it (Equal, Percentage, Custom, or Exact amounts)
    • Add optional notes or receipt photo

    Expense Splitting Methods

    Equal Split

    Divide the expense equally among all group members

    Example:

    $100 dinner split 4 ways = $25 each

    Best for:

    Restaurant bills, shared activities, group events

    Percentage Split

    Split based on agreed percentages

    Example:

    $200 rent split 60%/40% = $120/$80

    Best for:

    Rent, utilities, subscription services

    Custom Amounts

    Set specific amounts for each person

    Example:

    $150 groceries: Person A pays $80, Person B pays $70

    Best for:

    Complex situations, different consumption levels

    Shares Split

    Split based on shares (e.g., 2 shares vs 1 share)

    Example:

    $90 bill: Person A has 2 shares ($60), Person B has 1 share ($30)

    Best for:

    Roommates with different room sizes, varying usage

    Key Features

    AI Receipt Scanner

    Take a photo of your receipt and we'll pull out all the details for you

    • Take a photo of any receipt
    • We extract the merchant, amount, date, and items automatically
    • Works with different receipt types and languages
    • Expenses get categorized automatically

    Manual Receipt Entry

    Type in receipt items yourself and split costs between specific people

    • Add items from receipts one by one
    • Assign specific costs to different people
    • Mark items as shared between everyone
    • We calculate the split amounts for you
    • Great for complicated receipts with lots of items

    Recurring Expenses

    Set up expenses that repeat automatically—great for rent, bills, and subscriptions

    • Create a template once, use it over and over
    • Pick how often it repeats: daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly
    • Expenses get added automatically on schedule
    • Turn recurring expenses on or off anytime
    • Handy for rent, utilities, and monthly subscriptions

    Multi-Currency Support

    Split expenses in over 100 currencies with exchange rates that update automatically

    • Works with all the major currencies
    • Exchange rates update automatically
    • Works great for trips abroad
    • Converts currencies for you automatically
    • Payment methods that work in different countries

    Payment Method Integration

    Works with 50+ payment platforms—PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, and lots more

    • PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Google Pay
    • PhonePe, Paytm, UPI, Interac, Revolut
    • Wise, Monzo, PayID and more
    • Region-specific payment methods
    • Custom payment method support

    PDF Reports & Analytics

    Download PDF reports with charts showing where your money goes

    • Comprehensive expense breakdowns
    • Spending pattern analysis
    • Individual and group summaries
    • Handy for tax season and reimbursement requests
    • Customizable date ranges

    Smart Notifications

    Automated reminders and real-time alerts

    • Email reminders for unpaid expenses
    • Real-time notifications for new expenses
    • Payment status tracking
    • Escalating reminder system
    • Payment request notifications

    Advanced Group Management

    Sophisticated group organization and tracking

    • Multiple group types: Trip, Household, Couple
    • Flexible member management
    • Complex expense splitting algorithms
    • Real-time balance tracking
    • Hamburger menu navigation

    PWA Support

    Install as a native app on any device

    • Install on mobile and desktop
    • Works offline with cached data
    • Native app-like experience
    • Push notifications support
    • Automatic updates

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How does the AI Receipt Scanner work?

    Simply take a photo of any receipt and our AI automatically extracts the merchant name, amount, date, and individual items. The system uses advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology with machine learning to read text from images and categorize expenses. No manual entry required - just snap and go!

    What is Manual Receipt Entry and how does it work?

    Manual Receipt Entry allows you to add individual items from a receipt and assign specific costs to group members. You can add items like 'Pizza $15', 'Drinks $8', etc., and assign each item to a specific person or mark it as shared. The system automatically calculates exact split amounts based on your assignments.

    How do Recurring Expenses work?

    Recurring Expenses let you set up automatic expense templates for bills, rent, subscriptions, etc. You can set the frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly), start and end dates, and the system will automatically generate expenses. You can pause/resume recurring expenses and manually generate individual instances when needed.

    What payment methods does XpensePal support?

    We support 50+ payment platforms worldwide including PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, UPI, Interac, Revolut, Wise, Monzo, and PayID. We also support region-specific payment methods and allow you to add custom payment methods for any platform not listed.

    Can I use XpensePal for international trips with different currencies?

    Yep! We support 100+ currencies with exchange rates that update automatically. Great for trips abroad, remote teams, or expenses in different currencies. Everything converts automatically and shows in your preferred currency.

    How do PDF reports work and what information do they include?

    PDF reports include expense breakdowns, spending charts, summaries for individuals and groups, payment status, and date ranges you can customize. Handy for taxes, reimbursement requests, or just keeping records. You can create reports for specific groups or time periods.

    What happens if someone doesn't pay their share?

    Our platform includes automated reminder systems that send escalating notifications via email. You can also manually send payment reminders and payment requests. The system tracks payment status and provides clear audit trails for all transactions. For persistent issues, we provide dispute resolution tools.

    Can I install XpensePal as an app on my device?

    Yes! XpensePal is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that can be installed on any device - mobile or desktop. Once installed, it works like a native app with offline capabilities, push notifications, and automatic updates. You can install it from the hamburger menu in the expense manager.

    How do I assign specific items from a receipt to different people?

    Use the Manual Receipt Entry feature when adding an expense. Click 'Add Receipt Items' and you can add individual items like 'Pizza $15', 'Drinks $8', etc. For each item, you can assign it to a specific group member or mark it as shared among everyone. The system automatically calculates the exact amounts each person owes.

    Is my financial data secure?

    Yes! We implement bank-grade security with end-to-end encryption, secure cloud infrastructure, and compliance with international data protection standards. Your financial information is encrypted both in transit and at rest. We never store payment credentials - we only facilitate P2P payments between users.

    Still Need Help?

    Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is here to help you with any questions or issues.