Skip to content
Potluckguide

Getting started

Potluck runs in your browser, on your phone and on your computer. There is nothing to download first, and it costs nothing.

Create an account

Section titled “Create an account”

  1. Open Potluck and tap Get started.

  2. On Join the table, fill in Your name, Email and Password. The password needs at least 8 characters.

    The Join the table screen with fields for your name, email and password, and a red Create account button.The Join the table screen with fields for your name, email and password, and a red Create account button.

  3. Tap Create account. If Potluck asks you to confirm your email, open the link it sends you.

Already have an account? Tap Sign in instead. You can type your password, or tap Email me a sign-in link and sign in from your inbox without one.

The Welcome back screen with Email and Password fields, a Forgot password? link, a red Sign in button, an Email me a sign-in link button, and New here? Create an account.The Welcome back screen with Email and Password fields, a Forgot password? link, a red Sign in button, an Email me a sign-in link button, and New here? Create an account.

Set up your profile

Section titled “Set up your profile”

The first time you sign in, Potluck asks two quick things.

  1. First, the basics. Add a photo if you like (PNG, JPG, WebP or GIF, up to 5 MB), check your Display name, and confirm your Time zone and Default currency. Potluck guesses the time zone from your device. New groups you create start in your default currency.

    Step 1 of 2, First, the basics: a round avatar with initials, an Add a photo link, the display name, a time zone set to America / Toronto, a default currency of USD, and a Looks good button.Step 1 of 2, First, the basics: a round avatar with initials, an Add a photo link, the display name, a time zone set to America / Toronto, a default currency of USD, and a Looks good button.

  2. Tap Looks good.

  3. Start a group. Pick Create a group, or I have an invite link to paste a link someone sent you. Maybe later takes you straight to Home.

You can change all of this later on the Me page.

Install Potluck as an app

Section titled “Install Potluck as an app”

Potluck is a web app you can add to your home screen. It then opens full screen, without the browser bars, and it can send push notifications.

iPhone and iPad

Section titled “iPhone and iPad”
  1. Open Potluck in Safari.
  2. Tap the Share button.
  3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen, then Add.

Android

Section titled “Android”
  1. Open Potluck in Chrome.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu.
  3. Tap Install app (on some phones it says Add to Home screen).

Computer

Section titled “Computer”

In Chrome or Edge, click the install icon at the right end of the address bar, then Install. Potluck gets its own window and a spot in your dock or Start menu.

On Android and on a computer, right-click or long-press the installed icon to jump straight to Add expense or Plan something.

A tour of Home

Section titled “A tour of Home”

Home is where Potluck tells you what needs you right now.

Home on a phone. A greeting reads Afternoon, Noor. Below it, a dark balance card says All told, you owe $35.10, split into You owe $35.10 and Owed to you $0.00, with one group listed. Under that, a Needs you card asks about Dinner at mine with Can't and Going buttons, then a Coming up list. The tab bar at the bottom has Home, Groups, a big plus button, Plans and Me.Home on a phone. A greeting reads Afternoon, Noor. Below it, a dark balance card says All told, you owe $35.10, split into You owe $35.10 and Owed to you $0.00, with one group listed. Under that, a Needs you card asks about Dinner at mine with Can't and Going buttons, then a Coming up list. The tab bar at the bottom has Home, Groups, a big plus button, Plans and Me.
  • The greeting says how many things need you.
  • Your balance adds up every group in your default currency: All told, you owe or All told, you are owed, with You owe and Owed to you underneath and one line per group. Tap a group to open it. Groups in other currencies show up as Plus balances in that currency.
  • Needs you lists plans waiting on you: polls where you have not added your times yet, and plans where you have not said whether you are going.
  • Coming up shows plans that are on the calendar. See all opens Plans.
  • Your groups lists your groups, with a shortcut to a New group.

Getting around

Section titled “Getting around”

On a phone, the tab bar at the bottom has Home, Groups, Plans and Me. The big plus button in the middle opens What are we doing? with three shortcuts: Add expense, Plan something and Settle up.

The What are we doing? sheet with three choices: Add expense (Somebody paid for something), Plan something (Find a night that works) and Settle up (Square things away).The What are we doing? sheet with three choices: Add expense (Somebody paid for something), Plan something (Find a night that works) and Settle up (Square things away).

On a computer, the same places sit in a rail on the left, with an Add button at the top and Notifications as its own item. On a phone, unread notifications show as a badge on Me.

Home on a computer. A rail on the left holds the Potluck name, an Add button, and links to Home, Groups, Plans, Notifications with a badge of 6, and Me. The balance card and Needs you sit in the middle, with Coming up and Your groups on the right.Home on a computer. A rail on the left holds the Potluck name, an Add button, and links to Home, Groups, Plans, Notifications with a badge of 6, and Me. The balance card and Needs you sit in the middle, with Coming up and Your groups on the right.

Next: start a group.

Open Potluck

Guide text and screenshots underCC BY-SA 4.0.