# Get started

Five minutes. You need a phone or a computer with a browser.

## 1. Sign in

1. Open [app.rata.fyi](https://app.rata.fyi/).
2. Tap the Google button and pick your Google account. Rata accepts Gmail accounts only.
3. If Rata asks for your name, type the name that people in your groups know. Rata fills it from Google when it can.

Sign-in shows that you are a real person. It does not open a group: only the invite link of a group does that. Rata keeps your email and name on your device only. To sign out, tap your picture at the top of Home, then **Sign out**. On a phone that other people use, tap **Sign out and remove Rata from this phone** (two taps). It removes your groups, their keys and My money from that phone. Your groups stay on your other phones, and you can open them again from their invite links.

To look first, tap **See how it works** on the sign-in screen. The tour shows sample groups and needs no account.

## 2. Make a group

1. On Home, tap **New group**. When you have no groups yet, pick a type under "What are you sharing first?".
2. Pick a type: Trip, Home, Party, Gift, Poker or Other. The type sets the rules and the screens. See [Group types](https://help.rata.fyi/group-types).
3. Type a group name, for example "Goa trip".
4. Type the names of the people. Tap **Add name and invite to Rata** for each person.
5. Check the currency. INR is the default.
6. Save. Rata copies the invite link and shows the invite screen.

## 3. Invite people

Send the invite link to each person, for example in WhatsApp. They open the link, tap their name and join. See [Invite people and join](https://help.rata.fyi/invite).

## 4. Add an expense

1. Open the group and tap **Add**.
2. Type the amount and what it was for.
3. Check **Paid by** and **Split**. By default, you paid and all people share equally.
4. Tap **Save**.

See [Add expenses and splits](https://help.rata.fyi/expenses) for all the options.

## 5. Settle up

The top of the group shows your balance. Tap **Settle up** to pay with your UPI app or to record a payment. See [Settle up and UPI](https://help.rata.fyi/settle-up).

## Try it with sample groups

Tap your picture at the top of Home, then **Load demo groups**. Rata adds sample groups to this device. Your real groups do not change. To remove them, tap **Remove demo groups**.