The Best Free Splitwise Alternatives in 2026

Splitwise has been the go-to expense-splitting app for years. But increasingly, users are frustrated with ads, timers on settling up, and features locked behind a premium paywall. If you're looking for a Splitwise alternative in 2026, here's an honest breakdown of your options.

1. Squara (Best Overall)

Platform: iOS & Android (coming soon) Price: Freemium - no ads on any tier

Squara is a new expense-splitting app built by an indie developer focused on two things: removing the friction that makes other apps painful, and solving the trust problems that most apps don't even acknowledge.

What makes it different:

• No ads. Ever. Not on the free tier, not on premium - never.
• No timers. Splitwise makes you wait 10 seconds before settling up. Squara doesn't.
• Free tier that actually covers daily use. One owned group, unlimited membership in others, 30 days of history, no artificial caps on expenses.
• Strict edit permissions. Only the person who paid for an expense - or the group owner - can modify or delete it. Nobody quietly changes what you're owed.
• Full audit trail. Every edit is logged with a timestamp and before/after values, visible in a per-group timeline.
• Mutual settlement confirmation. When someone marks a debt as settled, you get notified and must confirm before it counts.

Download Squara

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2. Splitwise (The Incumbent)

Platform: iOS & Android Price: Free with significant limitations; $3.99/month for premium

Splitwise is the most well-known option and has the largest user base. Its strengths include a solid iOS app, currency support, and a web interface.

However, in recent years it has become increasingly aggressive about monetization:

• Ads appear during basic flows (like settling up)
• A 10-second timer plays before you can settle - skippable only with premium
• Receipt scanning and some reporting features are premium-only

If you're already embedded in Splitwise and your friends use it, the switching cost is real. But if you're starting fresh, there are better options.

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3. Tricount

Platform: iOS & Android Price: Free (with optional donation)

Tricount is a solid, no-frills expense splitter. It has a clean interface and works well for one-off trips. Limitations: no persistent groups, no recurring expenses, and the sync between devices is not real-time.

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4. Settle Up

Platform: iOS & Android Price: Free with premium at $2.99/month

Settle Up is a well-designed app with good currency support and a clean UI. The free tier has a cap on the number of groups (3), which is a significant limitation for anyone who splits expenses regularly with multiple groups.

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The Bottom Line

If you want an ad-free expense splitting app with no timers and a free tier that actually works, Squara is the strongest new option in 2026. It's the only app that treats accountability as a first-class feature - not an afterthought.

Get started with Squara →

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Splitwise is a trademark of Splitwise Inc. Squara is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Splitwise Inc. in any way.