The 7 Best Expense Splitting Apps in 2026 (Honest Comparison)

Splitting expenses shouldn't be complicated. You go on a trip, share some meals, split the Airbnb, and then someone has to figure out who owes what. The right app makes that painless. The wrong app makes it worse than just doing the math on a napkin.

We have tested every major expense splitting app available in 2026 and put together this honest comparison. We'll be upfront: SplitterUp is our app, and we think it's the best option for most people. But we aren't going to pretend the other apps don't exist or don't have their own strengths. Here's our honest take on all seven.

1. SplitterUp

Best for: People who want a modern, full-featured expense splitting app without a recurring subscription.

SplitterUp launched in 2025 and was built to address the shortcomings of existing expense splitting apps. It combines AI-powered receipt scanning, smart settlement optimization, and a clean modern interface into a single app that costs $4.99 once instead of charging a monthly fee.

The standout feature is item-level receipt scanning. Point your camera at a receipt and the app extracts every individual item, letting you assign each one to the person who ordered it. Tax and tip are proportionally distributed based on what each person actually consumed. This is a fundamentally different approach than apps that just scan the total.

Pros:

• AI receipt scanning with individual item extraction and assignment
• Smart settlement optimization minimizes the number of payments needed
• No daily expense limits on any tier
• One-time purchase ($4.99) instead of monthly subscription
• Native iPad-optimized layout with sidebar navigation (also runs on macOS)
• Full dark mode support
• Four types of home screen widgets
• Multi-currency support
• Smart re-splitting when group members change
• Privacy-first: no ads, no data selling
• Full data export (GDPR compliant)

Cons:

• Newer app, so the user base is still growing
• No web app yet (available on mobile and macOS)
• Fewer third-party integrations than more established apps

For a detailed comparison with Splitwise specifically, see our Splitwise alternative breakdown.

2. Splitwise

Best for: People who need a free basic option and don't mind ads or daily limits.

Splitwise is the most well-known expense splitting app and has been around since 2011. It has a large user base, which means there's a decent chance your friends already have it installed. The basic concept is solid: create groups, add expenses, and the app tracks who owes what.

The problem is that the free tier has become increasingly restrictive. You're limited to a handful of expenses per day (commonly reported as 3), and the interface is populated with ads. Splitwise Pro removes those restrictions but costs around $3 per month or ~$30 per year (pricing varies by plan and region), which adds up over time.

Pros:

• Large established user base
• Available on iOS, Android, and web
• Basic free tier available
• Well-known brand that friends may already use
• Decent settlement simplification

Cons:

• Free tier limited to a handful of expenses per day
• Ads in the free version
• Pro subscription is around $3/month (~$30/year)
• Interface feels dated compared to modern apps
• Item-level receipt scanning requires Pro subscription
• Limited dark mode (Android system-level only)
• No smart re-splitting when group membership changes

3. Tricount

Best for: European travelers who want a simple, free app for short group trips.

Tricount is popular in Europe and takes a no-frills approach to expense splitting. It's free for core features, doesn't require account creation for basic use, and does the core job of tracking shared expenses within a group. It now includes receipt scanning with OCR, dark mode, and Excel/PDF export. If you're planning a weekend trip with friends and just need something simple, Tricount gets the job done.

The tradeoff is that simplicity comes at the cost of depth. While Tricount covers the basics well, it lacks advanced features like item-level splitting with assignment, smart re-splitting, home screen widgets, and the polished tablet experience that newer apps offer.

Pros:

• Free for core features
• No account needed for basic use
• Simple and straightforward interface
• Receipt scanning with OCR
• Dark mode support
• Multi-currency with conversion
• Available on iOS and Android (web app discontinued)

Cons:

• No item-level splitting with per-person assignment
• Web app has been discontinued (mobile only)
• Limited split customization options
• Basic settlement optimization
• No smart re-splitting
• No home screen widgets
• Limited feature depth for ongoing shared expenses

4. Settle Up

Best for: Android users who want a capable, ad-free option with offline support.

Settle Up has been a solid option on Android for years and has a loyal following among users who prefer its approach. It offers a decent feature set including multiple split types, currency conversion, and an offline mode that syncs when you're back online. The free version is more generous than Splitwise's, though there's an optional Pro tier for additional features.

Where Settle Up falls short is in polish. The interface works but feels like it could use a design refresh. Receipt scanning is limited, and the app doesn't have the same depth of features as newer competitors like SplitterUp when it comes to item-level splitting and settlement optimization.

Pros:

• Free version is usable without major restrictions
• Offline mode with sync capability
• Decent multi-currency support
• Multiple split types supported
• Optional Pro upgrade (not required)

Cons:

• Interface could use a design refresh
• Limited receipt scanning capability
• Smaller user base than Splitwise
• iOS version is less polished than Android
• No item-level expense splitting

5. Cino

Best for: Users who want a social-media-style approach to expense sharing.

Cino takes a different approach by blending expense splitting with social features. The interface feels more like a social media feed than a financial tool, with real-time updates and a more casual, conversational tone. If you want expense tracking to feel less like accounting and more like a group chat, Cino aims for that vibe.

The downside is that the social-first approach means the actual expense management features are less deep than dedicated splitting apps. There's no receipt scanning, the settlement optimization is basic, and the app is still relatively new with a smaller user base.

Pros:

• Modern, social-media-inspired interface
• Real-time updates and notifications
• Casual, approachable tone
• Group chat-style expense discussions

Cons:

• Limited feature depth for expense management
• No receipt scanning
• Smaller user base
• Basic settlement optimization
• Social features may feel unnecessary for users who just want to split bills

6. Venmo

Best for: Quick splits between two people who already use Venmo for payments, or basic group expense tracking for US-based groups.

Venmo is primarily a payment app, but it has evolved. The core "split" feature lets you request money from friends after paying for something, and the payment happens instantly within the app. For a simple two-person split after dinner, Venmo's convenience is hard to beat.

In November 2023, Venmo launched Groups, which adds ongoing group expense tracking with support for up to 32 members and settlement optimization. This makes Venmo more competitive for group splitting than it used to be. However, it still lacks receipt scanning, multi-currency support, dark mode, and is limited to the US. For groups that need item-level splitting, spending insights, or international support, a dedicated expense splitting app remains the better choice.

Pros:

• Almost everyone already has it installed
• Instant payment settlement within the app
• Simple interface for quick one-off splits
• Groups feature supports ongoing group expenses (up to 32 members)
• Settlement optimization within Groups
• Social feed shows transaction activity

Cons:

• No receipt scanning
• No multi-currency support (USD only)
• US-only (limited international availability)
• No dark mode
• No item-level splitting
• No spending insights or analytics
• Groups feature is relatively new and basic compared to dedicated apps

7. Splid

Best for: Quick group calculations without needing to create accounts.

Splid's main appeal is its no-friction approach. You can create a group, add expenses, and see who owes what without creating an account or even downloading an app (there's a web version). It's the fastest path from "we need to figure out who owes what" to having an answer. Great for one-off situations like a dinner where you'll never need to track expenses with this group again.

The simplicity that makes Splid great for one-off calculations is the same thing that makes it inadequate for ongoing expense tracking. There are no advanced split types, no receipt scanning, no settlement optimization, and no persistent account to track your history over time.

Pros:

• No account creation required
• Web version available (no download needed)
• Extremely simple interface
• Works offline
• Fast setup for one-off calculations

Cons:

• Very basic feature set
• No receipt scanning
• No settlement optimization
• No persistent account or expense history
• Limited split customization
• Not suitable for ongoing group expense tracking

Quick Comparison Table

Which App Should You Choose?

The best app depends on your specific situation. Here are our recommendations by use case:

Best for roommates: SplitterUp. Ongoing shared expenses like rent, groceries, and utilities benefit from unlimited expense tracking, smart settlements, and receipt scanning for grocery runs. The one-time price makes it economical for long-term use. Read our complete roommate expense guide for strategies.

Best for group trips: SplitterUp. Multi-currency support, receipt scanning for restaurant bills, and smart settlements make it ideal for travel. No daily limits mean you can log every expense in real time without hitting a wall.

Best for quick one-off splits: Venmo. If you just need to split a dinner check between two people and send the money immediately, Venmo's simplicity and ubiquity win. No group setup, no ongoing tracking needed.

Best for budget-conscious users who want something capable: Tricount. It's free for core features, ad-free, and includes receipt scanning, dark mode, and multi-currency. If you don't need item-level splitting or smart re-splitting, Tricount covers a lot of ground.

Best for full-featured expense splitting without a subscription: SplitterUp. Among the apps that offer a comprehensive feature set, including receipt scanning, smart settlements, multi-currency, and a polished interface, SplitterUp is the only one that doesn't charge a recurring fee.

For a deeper feature-by-feature comparison between SplitterUp and Splitwise, visit our comparison page. See how SplitterUp handles specific use cases like travel & dining, rent, and groceries.