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Pocket Pals is our app, and it's one of the options compared below. We've listed its limits alongside everyone else's, and we point out when another app is the better fit. Competitor details come from each company's help pages and independent reviews, checked in September 2026.
The short answer: The best Splitwise alternative for travel depends on your group. Tricount is free with no subscription. Splid works offline with no account. Venmo Groups suits US friends who already use Venmo. Pocket Pals fits groups where friends refuse to download anything.
For long trips, compare free limits carefully. Every app caps something.
You're on day two of a group trip. You go to log the tuk-tuk, and Splitwise tells you you've hit your daily limit.
Cool. Very relaxing.
That moment is why people search for alternatives. Below is a fair look at five of them, including where each one falls short and when Splitwise is still the better pick.
Why do people look for Splitwise alternatives?
Splitwise is the best-known expense splitter, and for everyday household bills, it's solid.
The common complaints come up on trips:
- The daily expense cap. Splitwise's help center says free users can add up to four expenses per day (as of August 2026), and some users report hitting a lower cap. A busy travel day easily has more than that.
- Ads on the free plan, shown between screens.
- Everyone needs to be added with contact details. A common complaint is being pushed to invite each friend via email or phone.
If none of those bother you, Splitwise may be all you need.
Splitwise alternatives compared
Here's how the five options stack up on the things that matter most on a trip:
| Feature | Pocket Pals | Tricount | Splid | Venmo Groups | Spreadsheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 2 active trips, 5 expenses per trip, 4 people | Free, no subscription | Free for 1 group | Free to use | Free |
| Ads | None, on any plan | Ad-free per independent reviews | None on free version | n/a (payments app) | None |
| Friends need an account? | No: add pals by name, one person tracks | Sign-up creates a bunq account | No account needed | Yes, every member needs Venmo | Just the link |
| Works offline | Yes, syncs later | Check before relying on it | Yes | Needs connection to pay | Depends on the tool |
| Platforms | iPhone | iOS, Android | iOS, Android | iOS, Android (US users) | Any browser |
| Paid option | Pro: US$16.90/mo or US$112.98/yr | None | One-time purchase | None | None |
| Best for | Friends who won't download anything | Free, long trips | Offline trips, no accounts | US groups already on Venmo | Spreadsheet lovers |
Source: company help pages, App Store listings and independent reviews, checked September 2026. For reference, Splitwise Pro was listed at $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year on the US App Store as of August 2026; prices vary by country.
Tricount: Best free option for longer trips
Tricount is free with no monthly fee, which makes it the easy pick for long trips with lots of expenses.
Watch out for: Since Tricount became part of the bank bunq, signing up creates a bunq account. The newer app also dropped built-in CSV and PDF export, so request one from support if you need your history.
Splid: Best for offline trips with no accounts
Splid works fully offline and needs no sign-up. You can log expenses in a mountain hut and sync later.
There's no subscription, just a one-time purchase to unlock extras.
Watch out for: The free version handles only one group. It's also form-based and fairly plain, which is fine if you just want the math done.
Venmo Groups: Best for US friends already on Venmo
If your whole group lives in the US and already uses Venmo, Groups lets you track expenses and pay each other in the same app. Groups hold up to 30 people.
Watch out for: Every member needs a Venmo account, and anyone who isn't already your Venmo friend has to accept an invite. That makes it a poor fit for international groups, or for that one friend with no US bank account.
Pocket Pals: Best when friends won't download anything
The Pocket Pals travel expense app is built around trips specifically: a trip currency, dates and a settle-up at the end.
The big difference is that on the free plan, you add pals by name, and they don't need the app or an account. One person tracks, and everyone sees who owes whom.
There are no ads on any plan, it works offline and it's designed to feel light rather than spreadsheet-y.
Watch out for: The free plan caps you at five expenses per trip, which is tight for a long trip unless you log combined costs. Real-time collaboration (friends adding their own expenses) and email invites are Pro features, and Pro costs more than Splitwise Pro. It's also iPhone-only right now.
Your friends don't need to download anything
Add pals by name, log expenses offline and see who owes whom by the end of the trip. No ads, on any plan.
Get it on the App Store Free to start. Currently available on iPhone.Shared spreadsheet: Best for total control
Free, infinitely flexible, and every group has one person who secretly loves it.
Watch out for: There are no automatic balances unless you build the formulas, it's clunky on a phone and it's easy for someone to overwrite a cell at 2 a.m.
Which app fits which trip?
| Your trip | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two-week backpacking trip, lots of small costs | Tricount | Free with no subscription |
| Remote trip, patchy signal | Splid or Pocket Pals | Both work offline |
| US friends who already use Venmo | Venmo Groups | Track and pay in one place |
| Barkada trip where half the group won't install anything | Pocket Pals | Pals added by name, no app needed |
| Couple splitting a weekend away | Any of them | Low volume, so free limits rarely bite |
| Your group already lives in Splitwise | Splitwise (maybe Pro) | Switching costs may outweigh the cap |
Honest take: There's no single winner. Pick the app that removes your group's specific friction.
FAQ
Is there a free Splitwise alternative with no daily limit?
Yes. Tricount is free with no subscription, and Splid is free for one group. Pocket Pals has no daily cap either, but its free plan limits you to five expenses per trip. Every free plan limits something, so match it to your trip length.
Which expense app works if my friends don't want to download anything?
Any app works if one person tracks for everyone, but Pocket Pals is built for it: You add pals by name, and they don't need the app or an account to be part of the trip's balances.
Does Venmo Groups work for international trips?
Venmo is built for US users, and every group member needs a Venmo account. For groups with members outside the US, a dedicated splitting app is usually easier.
Is Pocket Pals available on Android?
Not yet. Pocket Pals is currently available on iPhone via the App Store.
What's the cheapest way to split trip expenses?
Tricount and a shared spreadsheet are free. If you want a paid plan, Splitwise Pro was listed at $39.99 a year in the US as of August 2026, and Splid uses a one-time purchase instead of a subscription.
Related reading:
- How to split travel expenses with friends
- Pocket Pals: the travel expense app for group trips
Prices, limits and features were checked in September 2026 and can change. Check each app directly before you decide.