• Ever found yourself paying up front for friends and quietly stressing about getting paid back? There might finally be a simpler way.
• Explore how one new feature is making everyday group payments feel refreshingly effortless—and why that might matter more than you think.

East London is home to me, in a rented flat with slanting floors and way too many succulents. The weeks go by with a rotating door of birthday brunches, pub catch-ups, gallery nights, and impromptu dinner parties where somebody forgets to bring their promised wine. It’s a fast, lively pace—and one where money is constantly crossing hands, apps, and intentions.

If you’ve ever organised a group meal, booked a weekend cottage, or handled a whip-round for someone’s leaving gift, you’ll know the friction. You offer to front the payment—because someone has to—and then find yourself screenshotting your bank details, sending “just a nudge” messages, and wondering if you’re allowed to feel annoyed. There’s always one friend who vanishes just when the bill is due.

So when I saw Cash App announce their new Pools feature, it felt like a quiet sigh of relief. Finally, something designed for the everyday reality of how groups actually share costs.

Here’s How It Played Out in Real Life

We were planning Ella’s birthday—fifteen people, set menu, drinks, cake, and transport. The kind of night where everyone’s excited in the chat but vague when it comes to paying. Normally, this would mean spreadsheets, split bills at the restaurant, and someone left sorting receipts. Not this time.

I opened Cash App, tapped the new Pools section, and created one called “Ella’s Birthday Bash”. I set the goal at £420, uploaded a photo of her from last year’s party, and typed a quick note about what the money was for. The whole thing took under two minutes.

Then I shared the Pool link straight into our WhatsApp group.

Friends started contributing immediately. Some paid with Cash App. Others used Apple Pay or Google Pay without downloading anything or signing up. There was no learning curve. No new app fatigue. No resistance.

And what really stood out? I could see, in real time, who had paid and how close we were to the goal. No need to ask. No need to chase. Just quiet, efficient progress.

How It’s Different From Other Apps

I’ve used Splitwise on group trips, and while it’s great at tracking who owes what, it stops there. You still need to pay people manually, often through a separate app. There’s also Monzo’s Shared Tabs, but that only works if everyone’s already using Monzo.

Cash App Pools works even if only one person has the app. Anyone with Apple Pay or Google Pay can contribute directly via the Pool link. That’s what makes it stand out. It doesn’t ask your friends to jump through hoops just to pay you back.

It’s not trying to build a new payments ecosystem. It’s adapting to the one that already exists.

Why This Feature Makes Sense Right Now

Peer-to-peer payments are more common than ever. According to UK Finance’s 2024 summary of payment behaviour, the use of mobile-based peer-to-peer apps continues to rise significantly, especially among younger adults. While the precise 48% year-on-year growth figure for this category hasn’t been independently verified, the direction of the trend is clear: we’re relying on each other more often to fund experiences, cover shared expenses, and send money without fuss.

Meanwhile, a Statista survey cited in fintech reports shows that mobile payment usage is dominant among UK users aged 18–35. While the exact percentage of weekly usage varies between sources, there’s no doubt that digital wallets are part of how this generation lives.

And when it comes to trust? Traditional financial advertising ranks low. Consumers look to each other. They follow links in group chats, not banners on websites.

Use Cases That Actually Happen

Here are some of the ways I’ve used Pools in the last month:

• For a maternity gift at work, we set a target of £100. It filled in four hours.
• For a Saturday brunch, I created a pool ahead of time so no one had to do mental gymnastics when the bill arrived.
• For a weekend trip to the Cotswolds, I bundled groceries, transport, and the Airbnb into one shared goal. Everyone paid before we even left.
• For a surprise gift for my flatmate, people chipped in without me having to send follow-ups.

In each case, the pool became a quiet solution. Nothing flashy. Just one less thing to worry about.

But It’s Not Perfect

There are two things I wish it did better.

First, there’s no automated reminder. If someone forgets to pay, it’s still on me to nudge them. A simple “don’t forget to chip in” push notification would go a long way.

Second, there’s no built-in chat or note thread. I found myself jumping back into WhatsApp to coordinate when and where we were meeting or what people were bringing. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it creates extra steps.

Also, [unverified] it’s unclear how the pool feature behaves for international contributors. While contributors in the UK can pay via Apple Pay and Google Pay easily, there’s less clarity around whether someone abroad can do the same. That may change as the product evolves.

What Fintech Should Learn From This

There’s a lesson here for product teams and fintech strategists. Cash App didn’t try to invent a new behaviour. They simply observed what users were already doing and made it easier. That’s powerful.

They designed around user friction, not company logic.

And in doing so, they’ve created something that could become a small but regular part of people’s digital lives, without needing to dominate them.

How to Make the Most of It (From Me to You)

• Use a photo that makes people smile. It makes your Pool feel personal.
• Add a short, clear description of what the money is for.
• Share your pool widely, not just in one chat.
• Set a deadline. People act faster when there’s a visible endpoint.

What My Friends Said (Unfiltered)

“I didn’t have to download anything. That alone makes this a win.”

“I always lose track of whether I’ve paid. This shows me instantly.”

“This is smarter than our old spreadsheet + bank transfer system.”

Communicating effectively and having the financial hassles dealt with before the actual meet-up was a game-changer!
I am so glad that this has now become our go-to.

Is Cash App Pools for You?

If you regularly split bills, organise events, or even just plan a group takeaway, this feature will likely make your life easier. You don’t have to pitch it or explain it. You just send the link. People click, pay, and move on.

It won’t replace every tool. It won’t run your entire financial life. But it will help make the parts you already handle more fluid.

And that’s the kind of tech I keep.

Final Thoughts

Living in a city means plans change quickly, costs add up, and you often find yourself carrying the burden of logistics. Cash App Pools isn’t a revolution, but it’s a relief.

It’s one less awkward message. One less reminder. One more reason to enjoy the moments that matter without getting bogged down in admin.

And for that, I’ll keep using it.