Billy: The Bill Splitting Companion for Housemates

“I love my housemates, but I hate chasing them for money.” “I want to stay on top of bills, but they keep slipping through.” “I’m the responsible one — why does it always fall on me?” In sharehouses, managing bills is emotional. It’s not just about numbers — it’s about fairness, stress, and unspoken resentment. Most tools only track IOUs after someone has already paid. That means one person still carries the burden, and the problem never really goes away. We wanted to build something different — a system that takes the weight off everyone’s shoulders before it becomes a point of tension.

Billy began as a housemate matchmaking tool — but user feedback quickly revealed a deeper pain point: managing rising utility bills and financial tension in shared homes. We pivoted, aiming to solve the problem at its root. Our breakthrough came in building the first system to split and pay utility bills upfront, removing the burden of IOUs entirely. Technical roadblocks included email parsing for bill detection and integrating Australia’s New Payments Platform for instant payments. Throughout, we stayed focused on simplicity, trust, and emotional design — crafting Billy not just as a tool, but as a calm, reliable companion for shared living.

Billy’s impact lives in the little things — a household that laughs more and argues less. A person who no longer dreads the group chat. A housemate who used to forget bills, now never misses one. For our households, Billy has quietly become the glue that keeps things running smoothly. Financially, it saves users from late fees and emotional friction. Socially, it empowers people to live together with more trust and ease. And at a deeper level, it’s shifting how we think about shared responsibility — not as a burden, but as something we can actually enjoy.

Split + Pay, Not Just Track: Billy is the only app that splits utility bills and pays them on behalf of the household — removing the burden of up-front payments and awkward IOUs. Proactive Upfront Payments: Once a bill is detected, Billy calculates everyone’s share and securely charges them via the New Payments Platform. Email Integration for Bill Detection: No manual entry needed — Billy reads incoming bills from your provider emails and gets to work. A Friendly Companion, Not a Cold Tool: Billy’s character-driven interface adds warmth and play to an otherwise stressful topic — it’s like a digital roommate who’s on top of it all. Designed for Trust + Transparency: Everyone can see exactly what’s happening — who’s paid, what’s owed, what’s been settled. It’s fair, clear, and drama-free. Tailored for Real Life: Designed specifically for electricity, gas, water, and internet bills — the ones that matter most in shared homes.