7 PayPal Money Pool alternatives in the UK

Money pool apps and group payment tools can make it easier to collect money, split bills, or manage shared expenses. PayPal Money Pools could be an option, but you may be looking for an alternative to organise shared costs, collect payments online, or keep track of who owes what.

Some services are better for one-off collections, such as gifts or events, while others are designed for ongoing shared spending, travel costs, splitting bills with friends or family, or handling payments in different currencies.

In this guide, we’ll look at 7 PayPal Money Pool alternatives in the UK, including banks, payment apps, collection tools, and of course, Wise. We’ll explain how each one works so you can choose the option that fits you best.

Why was PayPal Money Pools discontinued in the UK?

PayPal Money Pools was originally introduced in 2017 as one of the best ways to collect money from a group online for shared expenses, group gifts, or events.¹ But the original version of the Money Pools was discontinued in the UK in 2021 as part of wider changes to PayPal’s products and services.²

Then later in 2024, PayPal relaunched its Pool Money feature, allowing the users to create a pool, invite others to contribute, and transfer the collected funds to their PayPal balance.³ The updated feature was initially launched in the United States, Germany, Italy, and Spain, but UK users also now have access to it.

Key things to look for in a group payment or spending app

If you’re comparing PayPal Money Pool alternatives, it helps to check how each app handles shared payments, collections and bill splitting. Here are some key features to consider before choosing group payment or money pool apps:

• How you collect money: Some apps use payment links anyone can join, while others require everyone to have an account.
• Amount splitting options: Check whether you can split bills equally, set custom amounts for each person, or track who owes what over time
• Fees and limits: Check for transfer fees, currency charges or limits on how much you can collect.
• UK availability: Features can vary by country, so make sure the app works fully for UK users.
• Multi-currency support: Not all apps may accept international payments in multiple currencies from the UK, so it's helpful to double-check this feature in the app if you split expenses with people overseas or need to pay bills in a different currency.

📚Read More: how to pay a bill in euros from the UK

7 PayPal Money Pool alternatives

If PayPal Money Pools doesn’t fit the way you want to collect money or manage shared expenses, there are several other apps and services you can use in the UK.

Here is an overview of some of the best PayPal Money Pool alternatives, including collection tools, banking apps and bill-splitting services.

Collctiv

Collctiv could be your alternative to PayPal Money Pool if you want a quick way to collect money from a group without everyone needing the same app. It lets you create a payment link or QR code and share it with friends, family or colleagues, who can pay by card or digital wallet.

This makes Collctiv a good option for events, group gifts or one-off shared costs like paying the restaurant bill, but it’s less suited if you need to track ongoing expenses.

With Collctiv, you can ask for and send money for free. There is no set withdrawal fee, but if you want to, you can give 2% of the amount you withdraw.⁴

Collection Pot

Using Collection Pot you can create a pot, share the link and let people add money and messages in one place.

This PayPal Pool alternative also works best for one-off collections rather than ongoing shared spending, since it doesn’t track who owes what over time. Everyone can contribute without needing to create an account, making it an easy option to share with a group.

Setting up a Collection Pot is free, but fees may apply depending on how the money is paid in or withdrawn, including a small charge per contribution, a cash-out fee in some cases, or a storage fee if the pot stays unused.⁵

Splitwise

Splitwise works differently from a money pool, as it’s designed to track shared expenses rather than collect money in one place.

You can record who paid for what, split costs equally or unequally, and see who owes money over time, which can help when sharing travel costs, household bills or group spending.

The basic Splitwise version is free to use, but some extra features require a paid subscription, and payments may need to be settled separately using a bank transfer or payment app.⁶

Revolut

You can use Revolut as a PayPal Money Pool alternative if you want to split bills or manage shared spending in one place. With the Group Bills feature, you can divide payments, request money, and track what everyone owes inside the app.⁷

Anyone can join a Group Bill even without opening a Revolut account, but the feature works best if most of the group uses Revolut to send and receive payments.

Standard Revolute accounts are free, although some features, such as currency conversion or certain transfers, may include fees depending on how you use the account.

Monzo

With Monzo Split, you can divide payments and keep track of shared spending directly in the app. You can open a Single Split for a one-off payment, or start a Running Split to track multiple expenses over time, such as during a trip or when sharing household costs.

You can invite people to join a split using a link, and they don’t need a Monzo account to pay, which makes it easier to use with a group.

The feature is free for Monzo users, although some extra options are only available on paid plans, and certain payments or international transfers may include fees.⁸

Starling

Starling Bank also lets you split bills and request money from contacts through its app. With the Split the bill feature, you can divide a payment and see who still needs to pay, and with Settle Up you can send a payment link to people who don’t have a Starling account. They can pay using a card or mobile wallet without joining the app.

Opening an account on Starling is free, although some services, such as international transfers or certain withdrawals, may include fees.⁹

Wise

You can use Wise as a PayPal Money Pool alternative to split bills, collect money from a group, or manage shared spending, including in different currencies. With a Wise account, you can send, receive and manage money with other people without needing a shared wallet.

For one-off expenses, such as splitting a restaurant bill or sharing costs during a trip, you can use Bill Split to divide one or more transactions and send a payment link to each person. This can be useful when not everyone uses the same app, as people can pay using the link, and you can choose which currency you want to receive.

If you share expenses regularly, Spend with Others feature lets you keep money in one place and track spending together. This can work well for couples, housemates or close friends who have ongoing shared costs, rather than a single payment.

Opening an account with Wise is free, although transparent fees apply for some transfers, currency conversions or withdrawals depending on how you use the account*. You can hold and send money in 40+ and see the fees before you convert, which can make it easier to split costs across different currencies.

💡Learn how Wise works

Which option is best for you?

The right PayPal Money Pool alternative depends on how you plan to use it. Some apps are designed for simple collections, while others focus on tracking shared expenses or splitting payments between people who use the same service.

For example, if you only need to split a restaurant bill or collect money for an event, a basic bill-splitting or collection app may be enough. But if you’re travelling, sharing costs over time, or paying in different currencies, you may need more flexibility.

With Wise, you can split multiple transactions, choose which currency you want to receive, and send payment links to people even if they don’t have a Wise account. Transfers use the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees, which can help when sharing costs across countries.

In the end, the best option depends on your situation and how you want to manage your shared spending.

🔍Read more: how to use Wise to pay bills

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 13 March 2026