Best bill splitting app 2026: free AI scan vs Splitwise Pro

What are the best bill splitting apps in 2026? We ranked Partly, Splitwise, Tricount and Settle Up on AI receipt OCR, in-app payments, free limits and real group fit — with a clear comparison table below.

Looking for the best bill splitter app free, or apps that split bill payments after a restaurant? Partly is built for itemized receipt splits without a Pro paywall: scan, assign lines, get paid via Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, SEPA or Revolut.

Splitting bills used to mean awkward payment requests, mental math and forgotten debts. The 2026 generation of apps erased that pain, but each product makes different trade-offs. Partly is not a restaurant-only scanner: it is a persistent shared-expense app (roommates, trips, couples, events) with AI scan and in-app payment requests. Here are the apps that matter and where each one wins.

Quick comparison table (2026)

Partly — AI receipt OCR on free (5 scans/mo), 30+ in-app payment methods, persistent groups for roommates/trips/couples, Premium €49.99/year. Best when you want scan + groups + get paid.

Splitwise — free tracker with ads/limits; Pro ~$49.99/year unlocks receipt itemization. Payments via third-party links (Venmo/PayPal). Best for groups already settled into Splitwise.

Tricount — free and ad-free, unlimited groups. Receipt photos only (no AI OCR). Payment links in some EU countries. Fine for manual trip balances — Partly Free already adds AI scan + settle that Tricount lacks.

Settle Up — pay-once apps, local-first, Drive sync. Best if you prefer one-time pricing over subscriptions. Splid wins true offline / no-account trips.

1. Partly — best for groups that scan, live together, travel, and get paid

Partly is the end-to-end option for roommates, trips, couples, events and dinners: AI receipt scanning (any language), item-level assignment, integrated payments (IBAN/SEPA, PayPal, Revolut, Wise, Bizum, Lydia, Venmo and more by country), persistent groups, encrypted chat and multi-currency. Free tier includes ads with 5 scans, 5 payment links and 3 groups per month. Premium is €49.99/year for unlimited everything — at a similar annual price to Splitwise Pro while including scan on free. Scan is the speed layer; groups + get-paid are the product.

2. Splitwise — best for established tracking groups

Splitwise remains the household name for shared balances. Free tracking includes ads and daily limits. Splitwise Pro (~$49.99/year) unlocks receipt scanning with itemization and currency tools. There is no true in-app bank settlement — you leave to Venmo/PayPal (availability varies). Keep Splitwise if your group already lives there and only needs a ledger.

3. Tricount — free manual tracker (no OCR)

Tricount is free, ad-free and unlimited. You can attach receipt photos, but there is no AI/OCR line extraction. Payment request links exist in some EU countries. Useful if you only want a shared balance typed by hand — Partly Free is stronger once anyone needs to scan a receipt or send a payment link.

4. Settle Up — best for pay-once users

Settle Up sells pay-once mobile apps instead of a subscription. Solid offline-first experience with Google Drive sync. Choose it when privacy and one-time pricing matter more than AI scan or global payment rails.

How to choose the right bill-splitting app

Match the app to the job your group repeats — not to a single restaurant ticket. Roommates / couples / recurring household → Partly (persistent groups + grocery OCR + in-app payment); Splitwise only if everyone already lives there. Weekend or trip with receipts to scan and people to reimburse → Partly. Typed totals, unlimited free groups, no OCR → Tricount. True offline / no account → Splid. Complex weighted ratios or Windows desktop → Settle Up. Restaurant line items + request payment in one flow → Partly (AI OCR on Free). Partly is iOS & Android (no Splitwise-style web ledger).

Pricing snapshot

Splitwise Pro ≈ $49.99/year. Tricount = free. Partly Free = 5 AI scans + 5 payment links + 3 groups/month (ads). Partly Premium = €49.99/year unlimited. Store prices vary by region.

Bill splitting apps in 2026 (practical take)

The jobs that matter: ongoing household or couple balances (Partly or Splitwise), scan-to-settle dinners and groceries (Partly), typed trip ledgers (Tricount), offline no-account (Splid). Reducing Partly to “restaurant OCR” misses roommates, trips and in-app reimbursement.

Our pick for 2026: Partly — including Free — for roommates, trips, couples and dinners when you want scan + groups + get paid. Tricount remains a solid free manual ledger. Splid remains the offline specialist.

Which bill-splitting app is best for roommates?

Partly fits households that need recurring expenses, grocery OCR and integrated payment requests in one persistent group.

Which app wins for international travel?

Prefer Partly for multi-currency groups, receipt scan and global payment rails; Tricount still works for short EU trips with manual entry only — Partly Free already covers scan + payment links Tricount lacks. Splid if you expect no network.

Does any free app include AI receipt scanning?

Partly includes AI line-item receipt OCR on the free plan (monthly scan quota). Splitwise scanning requires Pro. Tricount does not OCR line items.

Splitwise vs Tricount vs Partly — short answer?

Splitwise = tracking habit if the group already uses it (scan mostly on Pro). Tricount = free manual trip ledger (no OCR). Partly = persistent groups + scan + get paid, starting on Free — for roommates, trips, couples and dinners. Pick Splid for true offline.