Apple may be intending to introduce a feature for splitting expenses in iOS 27.
Apple is said to be getting ready to enhance the iPhone's financial capabilities by introducing a new built-in bill-splitting feature aimed at group meals, travel costs, and shared payments. A report from Mark Gurman indicates that the company is set to unveil this feature at WWDC next week as part of iOS 27.
This new tool will enable users to take a picture of a restaurant receipt, automatically divide the total into individual shares including tax and tips, assign specific items to various people, and send payment requests directly via Apple Cash. The feature is anticipated to be accessible within both the Wallet app and Messages, with payment requests also manageable through the Apple Watch.
Apple is quietly expanding its financial ecosystem once again.
The bill-splitting feature marks another significant advancement in Apple's ongoing efforts to enhance the iPhone's role in personal finance. Since the introduction of Apple Pay in 2014, Apple has gradually expanded into financial services, offering products like Apple Card, Apple Cash, savings accounts, and Tap to Pay for businesses.
This new addition seems primarily targeted at younger users who tend to handle shared expenses digitally rather than with cash or traditional banking methods.
The system reportedly functions by scanning a receipt with the iPhone camera, recognizing individual items, calculating tax and tip shares, and automatically generating payment requests. Users can then clear balances through Apple Cash without needing external apps.
Apple is also believed to be developing custom digital pass creation within Wallet, which would allow users to create their own event passes, gym memberships, and digital credentials directly on their devices.
This move puts Apple in direct competition with established expense-sharing and peer-to-peer payment platforms. Splitwise, one of the leading bill-splitting apps worldwide, has exceeded 10 million monthly active users and has assisted in managing over $90 billion in shared expenses since 2011.
Meanwhile, Venmo continues to process more than $275 billion in annual payments, while Cash App claims approximately 57 million monthly active users. By incorporating bill splitting directly into Wallet, Messages, Apple Cash, and the Apple Watch, Apple aims to eliminate the need for separate apps, keeping more financial transactions within its ecosystem.
Apple’s greatest advantage may lie in its integration. Unlike independent apps, this new feature will be deeply embedded within iOS, Messages, Wallet, Apple Watch, and Apple Cash all at once.
Why This Is Important
Apple seems increasingly dedicated to making the iPhone pivotal for everyday financial interactions. While bill splitting may seem minor compared to AI or hardware announcements, such ecosystem features often bolster long-term user loyalty more effectively than more superficial enhancements.
This strategic move could also exert pressure on third-party expense-sharing apps that depend on convenience to attract users. If Apple can streamline payment splitting across iPhones, many casual users might forgo downloading separate apps entirely.
However, Apple’s financial expansion has encountered hurdles. The Apple Card partnership with Goldman Sachs has faced financial difficulties, and the company previously discontinued its buy-now-pay-later service less than a year after its inception.
What to Expect Next
Apple is anticipated to officially introduce the new bill-splitting feature during WWDC, alongside broader iOS 27 announcements that will focus heavily on AI, enhancements to Siri, and Apple Intelligence. The update is expected to feature AI-driven photo editing tools, an updated Siri experience, and improved Wallet integration across Apple devices.
If the feature performs well, Apple may succeed in doing what it does best: transforming a separate app category into a built-in iPhone function that millions of users adopt simply because it is readily available.
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Apple may be intending to introduce a feature for splitting expenses in iOS 27.
Apple is said to be introducing a feature for bill splitting on iPhones, enabling users to scan receipts and automatically distribute expenses using Apple Cash.