Best Free Expense Splitting Apps in 2026

Splitting expenses with friends, roommates, or travel companions shouldn't be complicated. The right app makes it easy to track who owes what and settle up without awkward conversations. We've tested the most popular expense splitting apps to help you find the best free option.

What to Look for in an Expense Splitting App

Before diving into our recommendations, here's what makes a great expense splitting app:

• Easy expense entry: Adding expenses should take seconds, not minutes
• Flexible split options: Equal splits work sometimes, but you often need more flexibility
• Clear balances: See at a glance who owes who and how much
• Simple settlement: Easy ways to settle debts (or integration with payment apps)
• Group management: Create different groups for roommates, trips, events
• Generous free tier: Core features should be free, not paywalled

Best Free Expense Splitting Apps in 2026

1. Rafin - Best Overall Free Tier

Rating: Excellent | Free tier: Very generous

Rafin stands out by offering not just expense splitting, but complete personal finance management in its free tier. While competitors limit free users to basic splitting, Rafin includes budget tracking, savings goals, and multi-currency support at no cost.

Free Features:

• 10 expenses per day (no cooldown)
• No ads
• Attach receipts to expenses
• 5 split types: equal, exact amounts, percentages, shares, and itemized
• Unlimited group members
• Budget tracking with categories and monthly limits
• Savings goals with progress tracking
• Multi-currency support
• Instant balance calculations and settlement suggestions

Paid Features (Pro $5.99/mo or $49.99/year):

• Unlimited groups
• AI receipt scanning
• Bill import via email
• Spending insights and charts
• Recurring expenses
• Data export

Best for: Users who want expense splitting plus budget tracking and savings goals in one app.

2. Splitwise - Most Popular

Rating: Good | Free tier: Limited

Splitwise is the most well-known expense splitting app, and for good reason. It's been around since 2011 and has a large user base. The interface is simple and the core functionality works well.

Free Features:

• 4 expenses per day max (10-second wait for 3rd and 4th expense)
• Basic expense splitting (equal, percentages, exact amounts)
• Group expense tracking
• Balance calculations
• Payment reminders

Paid Features (Pro $3.99/mo or $39.99/year):

• Unlimited expenses (no daily limit)
• Receipt scanning and attachments
• Currency conversion
• Itemization
• Charts and expense search
• No ads

Limitations: Free tier capped at 4 expenses/day (10-second wait for 3rd and 4th), plus ads and no receipt attachments. No budget tracking or savings features at any tier.

Best for: Users who only need basic splitting and have friends already on the platform.

3. Tricount - Best for Travel

Rating: Good | Free tier: Good

Tricount is particularly popular in Europe and excels at group travel expense tracking. The interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy to add expenses on the go.

Free Features:

• Unlimited trips/groups
• Multi-currency support
• Offline mode
• No account required (can share via link)

Paid Features:

• Remove ads
• Custom categories

Limitations: No budget tracking, limited to expense splitting, no AI features.

Best for: Quick trip expense splitting without requiring everyone to create accounts.

4. Settle Up - Simple and Straightforward

Rating: Good | Free tier: Good

Settle Up keeps things simple. It's a no-frills expense splitting app that does one thing and does it well. The interface is intuitive and there's no learning curve.

Free Features:

• Group expense tracking
• Multiple currencies
• Sync across devices
• Export to PDF/Excel

Limitations: Basic feature set, no budget tracking, no AI features.

Best for: Users who want the simplest possible expense splitting solution.

5. Venmo/PayPal - Payment-Focused

Rating: Fair | Free tier: Good

While primarily payment apps, both Venmo and PayPal have added expense splitting features. The advantage is instant payment—you can split and pay in one step.

Free Features:

• Split payments
• Request money
• Instant transfers (within app)

Limitations: Not designed for ongoing expense tracking, no balance accumulation, no budget features, primarily US-focused (Venmo).

Best for: One-time splits where you want immediate payment, not ongoing expense tracking.

Comparison Table

Our Recommendation

For most users, Rafin offers the best value. Unlike Splitwise's restrictive free tier (4 expenses/day max with a 10-second wait for the 3rd and 4th, plus ads), Rafin gives you 10 expenses per day, no cooldowns, no ads, and lets you attach receipts—all free.

Plus, Rafin includes features that no other app offers: budget tracking, savings goals, and all 5 split types in the free tier. You're essentially getting more than Splitwise Pro for free.

If you're already entrenched in the Splitwise ecosystem with all your friends, it may be easier to stick with what you know. But if you're starting fresh or frustrated with Splitwise's limitations, Rafin is the clear choice.

For quick one-off trips where not everyone wants to create an account, Tricount's link-sharing feature is convenient.

The Bottom Line

Free expense splitting apps have come a long way. You no longer have to pay for basic features like multi-currency support. The best apps now include comprehensive personal finance features alongside expense splitting.

Try a few and see which interface you prefer. They're all free to start, so there's no risk in testing them out with your next group dinner or trip.