A Joint Account invite gives your partner app access with the permissions you choose. In dividi, the email is the account identifier; it does not mean an email message is sent to their inbox.
That detail matters because a couple may use one email for Gmail, another for Apple, and another for dividi. The invite needs the email tied to the partner’s dividi account so it can appear inside the app.
What a Joint Account invite does
When you share a Joint Account, dividi creates a link between three things: the Joint Account, the guest email, and the permission set you select. The app stores the invite as a pending share until the guest accepts it.
The guest must already have a dividi account. When the invited account opens dividi, the app can show a pending invite with the permissions visible before acceptance. This is an in-app workflow, not an email delivery workflow.
Which permissions can you choose
The invite sheet lets the owner choose permissions one by one. Starting with everything off is allowed; that gives the invited member read access without letting them change the routine yet.
| Permission | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Add bills | The guest can add new bills in the Joint Account. |
| Edit bills | The guest can modify existing bills. |
| Add transfers | The guest can register transfers between members. |
| Delete bills | The guest can delete only the bills they created. |
| Add goals | The guest can create goals in the Joint Account. |
| Edit goals | The guest can modify goals. |
| Delete goals | The guest can delete only the goals they created. |
The invited member can never delete the shared Joint Account. If access no longer makes sense, the owner can cancel the share, and the guest can cancel their own access.
What the invited partner sees before accepting
Before the guest joins, dividi shows an acceptance sheet with the permission list. They can see which actions are allowed and which ones are not before tapping accept.
The app also makes one baseline clear: the guest can view all bills and expenses in that shared account. That visibility is the point of the Joint Account. Even if editing is limited, both people can read the same month before deciding what to do next.
If the invited person already has a Joint Account, dividi blocks acceptance and points them to manage the existing account first. That avoids two active Joint Accounts competing for the same shared routine.
Three permission setups that usually make sense
Read-only first works when a couple is still testing shared visibility. Leave every permission off. Your partner can see the account and join the conversation without changing anything.
Shared bill entry works when both partners pay expenses during the month. Turn on Add bills and, if you trust the editing workflow, Edit bills. Keep delete permissions tighter until the routine is stable.
Full shared routine works when both people actively manage bills, goals, and transfers. Turn on Add bills, Edit bills, Add transfers, and the goal permissions you actually use. Treat delete permissions as a separate decision because they affect the record of the month.
What to avoid when inviting someone
Do not guess the email. Ask which email the person uses to sign in to dividi. If the invite is tied to a different account, it may not appear where they expect it.
Do not turn on every permission just to finish setup faster. Permission design should reduce friction, not make the account feel uncontrolled on day one.
Do not tell your partner to look for an inbox message. The current invite flow is in-app. A simple script is clearer: “Open dividi with the email you use for your account, and the invite should appear there.”
How this fits with fair splitting
Invites and permissions are the access layer. The money layer still depends on the agreement you make together: who pays, what counts as shared, and whether bills are split equally or by percentage.
If incomes are different, the full EN-US guide to splitting bills when incomes are different explains the proportional method. If your next shared priority is protection, the guide to an emergency fund for couples shows how to turn that agreement into a goal.
In dividi, a Joint Account is useful because it gives both of you the same place to see bills, permissions, transfers, and goals. It does not make decisions for the couple; it makes the decision visible enough to manage together.
FAQ
Does a Joint Account invite send an email?
No. The email identifies the partner’s dividi account. The invite is accepted inside the app, so the partner should open dividi with the email tied to their account.
Can the invited member edit everything?
Only if the owner turns on those permissions. Add bills, Edit bills, Add transfers, Add goals, Edit goals, Delete bills, and Delete goals are separate choices.
Can a guest delete the Joint Account?
No. The guest can never delete the shared Joint Account. Delete permissions only apply to bills or goals the guest created.
Can permissions change later?
Yes. The owner can return to Joint Account settings, review active shares, and change permissions for an accepted share.
What if my partner already has a Joint Account?
dividi blocks acceptance when the invited user already has an active Joint Account. The app points them to manage the current account first.
Next step
Start with the smallest permission set that fits the month you are actually sharing. Then review it after one billing cycle: did both of you see the same bills, did the right person add entries, and did transfers stay clear?
If the answer is yes, you can expand permissions. If the answer is no, the calmer move is to narrow access and make the agreement clearer before adding more actions.
To try the flow with your own account, download dividi. To compare limits and Premium features before inviting someone, see the plans page.
