According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple may be introducing a built-in bill-splitting tool in iOS 27 that makes splitting restaurant tabs faster and more seamless. The feature would let users scan a paper receipt with their iPhone camera and automatically divide costs among friends.
The current approach to splitting a dinner bill often involves one person covering the check while everyone else Venmos or Cash Apps their share. Apple’s new feature aims to consolidate receipt recognition, item allocation, and payment requests into a single streamlined flow, reducing the manual math and awkward follow-up texts.
Here is how it would work: a user points their iPhone at a paper receipt and snaps a photo. The system reads the itemized bill and lets the user assign specific dishes or line items to different contacts. It then calculates each person’s share, including tax and tip, and automatically sends a payment request through the Wallet and Apple Cash ecosystem. Apple Watch users can even approve payments directly from their wrist.
From a competitive standpoint, this puts Apple in direct contention with apps like Venmo, Cash App, Splitwise, and Tab — but with a deeper level of system integration that third-party apps cannot replicate. For the average iPhone user, it means fewer steps between the end of a meal and getting paid back for their share.
The feature is expected to be previewed at WWDC26 next week, where Apple is expected to showcase a range of iOS 27 updates. Apple is also celebrating the conference with a new “High Gloss” wallpaper and curated Apple Music playlists.
