Trip Circle
Real-time group travel, all in one app
iOS & Android · React Native
Trip Circle is a full-stack, real-time group travel management application built for mobile (iOS & Android) using React Native + Expo. It brings together everything a group of travellers needs — planning, communication, and finances — into one beautifully designed platform.
The app is backed by a robust Node.js + Express + PostgreSQL server powered by Socket.IO for real-time communication, and features deep-linked push notifications to keep every member of a trip up to date, even when the app is closed.
Key features.
Trip Management
Create and manage trips with destinations, travel dates, cover images, estimated budgets, and a complete member roster.
Real-Time Group Chat
A full WhatsApp-style chat for every trip — text, photo sharing, emoji reactions, replies, mentions, and editable/deletable messages.
Expense Splitting
Log shared expenses with smart equal or custom splits, track who paid, and monitor budget vs. actuals in real time.
Journey Planner
A dedicated tab to plan and view the day-by-day itinerary of a trip.
Member Management
Invite travellers via trip invitations, manage member roles, and track trip activity logs.
Smart Push Notifications
Deep-linked notifications powered by Notifee and Expo Notifications route users straight to the right trip and tab — even from a cold start.
Secure Authentication
Email/password login plus Google Sign-In, protected by JWT tokens and bcrypt password hashing.
Discover
Browse and join public trips from other travellers.
Why it exists.
Plan Together
From the moment a trip is created, every member has a shared destination, date range, and budget they can see and contribute to.
Talk Together
The integrated group chat eliminates the need for a separate WhatsApp group, keeping all trip-related conversations in context.
Pay Together (Fairly)
Equal and custom split options mean everyone knows what they owe and what was spent — removing the awkwardness of post-trip money conversations.
Stay in the Loop
Real-time socket events and push notifications mean no member ever misses an update — a new message, a new expense, or a trip invitation.