Splitwise has been the go-to app for splitting expenses for years — but its freemium model means the most useful features (like currency conversion and receipt scanning) sit behind a $7.99/month paywall. If you're looking for a free Splitwise alternativethat doesn't skimp on features, this guide covers the best options in 2026.
Why people look for Splitwise alternatives
Splitwise's free tier works for simple use cases, but it shows ads and restricts features that users expect to be standard — like full expense history exports and advanced currency support. Meanwhile, several newer apps offer the same core functionality without a subscription.
1. BillBuddies — Best overall free alternative
BillBuddies is a modern expense-splitting app built for friend groups, roommates, and travel companions. It covers all the fundamentals that make Splitwise useful: flexible split types, group management, multi-currency support, and a clear activity feed.
- Split equally, by exact amounts, or by custom percentages
- Create groups for trips, households, or recurring expenses
- Supports 160+ currencies — set a different currency per group
- Real-time balance updates across friends and groups
- Settle up via cash, UPI, or bank transfer
- No ads on the free plan
- Native Android app available
Where BillBuddies stands out is its clean, modern interface and zero-ad experience on the free tier. If you're primarily settling debts in cash or via bank transfer (rather than needing in-app payments like Venmo), BillBuddies handles everything Splitwise does for everyday expense splitting.
2. Tricount — Great for trips
Tricount is a solid free option focused on group trips. It's simple by design: add participants, log expenses, and let the app calculate who owes whom. The interface is clean and intuitive. The downside is that it lacks the ongoing friend-balance tracking that Splitwise and BillBuddies offer — Tricount is better for a one-off trip than for recurring roommate expenses.
- Completely free
- No account required (great for quick group trips)
- No ongoing balance tracking between friends
- Limited currency options compared to BillBuddies
3. Settle Up — Good for couples and small groups
Settle Up (formerly known as Debt Manager) is a capable alternative for small groups. It supports custom split types and has a clean UI. The app has a free tier with core features and a premium option for advanced reporting. It's a reasonable Splitwise alternative if you're splitting expenses within a couple or a very small friend group.
4. Spendee — Better for personal budgeting
Spendee is more of a personal finance app that has shared expense features. If your primary goal is tracking group debts and settling up, it's overkill. But if you want personal budgeting alongside group expenses, it's worth exploring.
Comparison: BillBuddies vs Splitwise
| Feature | BillBuddies | Splitwise (Free) | Tricount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start | Free (ads) / $7.99/mo Pro | Free |
| Ads | No ads | Ads on free tier | No ads |
| Split types | Equal, exact, % | Equal, exact, % | Equal, exact, % |
| Groups | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-currency | 160+ currencies | Pro only | Limited |
| Activity feed | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| UPI support | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Android app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Which Splitwise alternative should you choose?
For most users — roommates, friend groups, travel companions — BillBuddies is the strongest free alternative to Splitwise. It covers the core splitting, tracking, and settling-up workflow without ads and without a subscription gate on multi-currency support.
If you only need a one-off trip tracker with no account setup, Tricount is simpler. If you're already on Splitwise and use in-app payment integrations (PayPal, Venmo), that ecosystem lock-in may be worth the subscription cost.
But if you want a clean, ad-free experience that handles everyday expense splitting with friends and roommates, BillBuddies is worth trying.