Splitting a UK bill — the awkward bits, answered
Frequently asked questions
- How do I split a bill with service charge in the UK?
- Add the bill total and the optional service charge — Half & Half works out each person's share, service included. Split evenly and everyone chips in the same; itemise who had what and the service is shared in proportion, so nobody pays service on a meal they didn't have.
- Is service charge the same as a tip — do I have to pay it?
- No — a discretionary service charge is optional in the UK. You can ask for it to be removed and tip what you like instead. Half & Half lets you set it to any amount or turn it off, so the split matches what you actually paid.
- Can I split a bill unevenly when someone had more?
- Yes. Split evenly with quick fixes for extras, or itemise the bill line by line and tag who had what — either way everyone gets a penny-accurate share.
- Do I need to download an app or sign up?
- No app, no account, no email. Half & Half runs in your phone's browser — just open it at the table.
- Is it free?
- Completely free — no ads, nothing to buy.
- How do I share who owes what?
- When the split's done, send a tidy breakdown to the group on WhatsApp, or copy a share link so everyone sees what they owe.
Your privacy
Your bill stays on your device — the numbers you type never reach our servers, and the whole split happens in your browser. We don't use tracking cookies and we can't see who you are.
The only thing we collect is anonymous, cookieless feedback and basic usage counts, so we can tell which features help. Nothing that identifies you, ever.