Best apps to split expenses and track personal spending (2026)
There are plenty of apps to split bills with friends, but most stop at "who owes whom". If you also want to know what you actually spend each month — your own costs plus your share of every trip and flat — the choice narrows. Here's an honest comparison of the most popular options.
What to look for
- Fast entry: if adding an expense takes more than a few seconds, nobody keeps it up.
- Fair splits: equal, percentages, shares and item by item for restaurant bills.
- Currencies: essential for trips.
- Personal spending: your real monthly cost, not just group balances.
- Privacy and price: what's free, and what your friends can see.
Quick comparison
| Splitwise | Tricount | Settle Up | Settlia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group balances | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple currencies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ free (conversion in Pro) |
| Add by text or voice with AI | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Receipt scan, item by item | Paid plan | — | — | ✓ |
| Personal spending space | — | — | — | ✓ (private) |
| Bank statement import | — | Via bunq | — | ✓ (Pro) |
Based on public information at the time of writing; features and plans change, so check each app.
Splitwise
The best-known option, with a long track record and wide adoption. Great for simple group balances. The free plan has limits and ads, and several conveniences (like receipt scanning) are part of its paid plan.
Tricount
Simple and quick to start, popular for trips in Europe. It's now part of bunq, which adds banking features for bunq users. Good for one-off group events.
Settle Up
Solid multi-currency support and works offline. A practical choice for travel groups who want something straightforward.
Settlia
Built around speed and the full picture. You type ("dinner 80, I paid, split with Ana and Leo"), say it, or snap the receipt and the AI builds the expense, assigning each item to each person. Besides groups, the Spending tab adds your share of every group to your private personal expenses, with a monthly forecast, recurring costs and bank statement import in Pro. Free plan with up to 3 groups.
Settlia: Free vs Pro
| Free | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Active groups | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Splits, balances, payments, multiple currencies | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI: receipt scan, voice, text | 3 of each per month | Unlimited (fair use) |
| Convert a receipt to the group's currency | — | ✓ |
| View the group in a second currency | — | ✓ |
| Recurring expenses | — | ✓ |
| PDF / CSV reports | — | ✓ |
| Personal spending + your share of groups | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced forecast and AI saving tips | — | ✓ |
| Bank statement import | — | ✓ |
Pro costs $6.99/month or $59.99/year.
Which one should you pick?
- Just a quick trip balance: any of them works.
- Lots of restaurant bills: pick one that splits receipts item by item.
- You want to control your own spending too: pick one that combines shared and personal expenses, like Settlia.
FAQ
What is the best app to split expenses with friends?
It depends on what you need: Splitwise and Tricount are well-known for simple group balances; Settlia adds AI entry (type, voice, receipt scan) and a private space for your personal spending.
Is there an app for both shared and personal expenses?
Yes. Settlia shows your personal expenses together with your share of every group, so you see your real monthly spending.
Are expense splitting apps free?
Most have a free plan. Check each app's current limits: some cap daily expenses, show ads or keep features like currency conversion or receipt scanning for paid plans.
Try Settlia free