Splitwise Too Expensive? Best Free Alternative for Couples 2026

May 20, 2026 · By Alejandro Macías Bonet, CEO at Splitt · 6 min read

Direct answer: The best free alternative after canceling Splitwise Pro in 2026 is Splitt. It includes expense charts, a live running balance, and category tracking — all free, with no paywall and no hidden costs. Designed specifically for couples, not groups. No install required.

How much does Splitwise actually cost in 2026?

Splitwise has a free tier, but in 2023 the company moved most useful features behind Splitwise Pro. Here is the real cost breakdown:

Splitwise Free $0/mo — very limited
Splitwise Pro (monthly) $3.99–$7.99/mo
Splitwise Pro (annual) ~$35–$47/year
Splitt $0 — all features free

For a tool that essentially helps you answer "who owes whom $47 for groceries?" — that subscription cost feels steep for many couples.

What features are locked behind Splitwise Pro?

This is where it stings. The features that moved to Pro are exactly the ones couples actually use:

On the free tier in 2026, you can add expenses and see a balance. That is about it. No charts to visualize where money is going. No receipt scanning. No export.

Is Splitwise Pro worth it for couples?

For a group trip where 8 people split a hotel and 20 restaurant bills, Splitwise Pro might be worth it for the organizer. But for couples tracking ongoing shared expenses — rent, groceries, utilities, streaming subscriptions — the math rarely works out.

Consider: if you are paying $7.99/month for Splitwise Pro because you want expense charts, you are spending $95.88/year to see a pie chart of your grocery spending. That is more than most couples save by using the app carefully.

The hidden cost of "free" apps: Splitwise is not alone. Many expense apps start free, then paywall core features once they have a user base. Splitt is built to avoid this — a premium tier exists for power users, but all tracking, charts, and balance features are permanently free.

Splitt vs Splitwise — free vs paid tier comparison

FeatureSplitt (free)Splitwise FreeSplitwise Pro
Monthly cost$0$0$3.99–$7.99
Add & track expensesYesYesYes
Live running balanceYesYesYes
Expense chartsYes — freeNo (Pro only)Yes
Category trackingYes — freeYesYes
Receipt scanningNoNo (Pro only)Yes
No install neededYes — PWAApp requiredApp required
Built for couplesYesGroups primaryGroups primary
7 languagesYesLimitedLimited

Cancel Splitwise Pro — switch to Splitt free

Charts, balance tracking, categories — all free. No credit card. No paywall. Open in your browser now.

Try Splitt free →

How to switch from Splitwise to Splitt

  1. Note your current Splitwise balance (who owes whom and how much)
  2. Go to splitt-app.com — no download needed
  3. Create a free account with your email (30 seconds)
  4. Invite your partner via link — they join immediately
  5. Add one expense to carry over your Splitwise balance as a starting point
  6. Cancel your Splitwise Pro subscription — and save $95/year

Other free Splitwise alternatives for couples

Best overall

1. Splitt — purpose-built for couples, 100% free

All tracking features, live balance, and expense charts are free with no paywall. Designed exclusively for two-person expense sharing, not groups. Works in any browser without installing an app.

Free (with ads)

2. Tricount — best for trips

Tricount is free for group expense splitting. Better for one-time trips than ongoing couple expenses. Requires app install. No paid tier needed for basic features.

Free tier

3. Spliit — open source alternative

Spliit is an open-source, free alternative to Splitwise for splitting bills. No account required. Good for one-time splits but limited for ongoing couple tracking.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Splitwise Pro cost?

Splitwise Pro costs between $3 and $7 per month depending on the plan — up to $95.88 per year. It is required to unlock receipt scanning, expense charts, currency conversion, and data export. Many couples find this pricing hard to justify for a simple expense tracker.

Is Splitwise Pro worth it for couples?

For couples tracking ongoing shared expenses — rent, groceries, utilities — Splitwise Pro is rarely worth it. The core use case (logging expenses and seeing who owes what, with charts) is available on free alternatives like Splitt at no cost.

What is the best free alternative if I cancel Splitwise Pro?

The best free alternative after canceling Splitwise Pro is Splitt. It is completely free, includes expense charts at no cost, requires no install, and is designed specifically for couples rather than groups.

What features do you lose on the Splitwise free tier?

On the Splitwise free tier you lose: receipt scanning, spending charts and graphs, currency conversion, and CSV data export. These features are locked behind Splitwise Pro ($3–7/month).