In short
- It splits by person or group, not just evenly.
- You can add someone who won't download it.
- Balances add up to zero and show who pays whom.
- You know what's free and where the limit is before you start.
What a bill splitting app should do
- Costs that aren't for everyone: the wine two people shared, gas for the people in the car. If it only splits evenly, someone pays for what they didn't use.
- Friends without the app: there's usually one person who won't download it. They should still be in the account and know what they owe.
- Who paid for what: it should track it and settle up in as few payments as possible.
- Clear limits: how many expenses or groups are free, and whether it works offline and in your currency.
The 2-minute test: do the numbers add up?
Set up a test account with three people and two costs:
- Emma pays for dinner, $90, for Emma, Jake and Priya: $30 each.
- Jake pays for a bottle of wine, $24, just for him and Priya: $12 each.
| Person | Paid | Share | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma | $90 | $30 | +$60 |
| Jake | $24 | $42 | −$18 |
| Priya | $0 | $42 | −$42 |
The balances add up to zero (60 − 18 − 42 = 0), and two payments settle it: Priya sends Emma $42 and Jake sends her $18. If the app shows something else, or won't let you leave Emma out of the wine, better to find out now. More in how to figure out who owes who.
Do it in Divall
- In Food and drinks or Nights out, each cost belongs to whoever used it, to a group or to everyone, with who paid.
- Add anyone by name even if they don't have the app, or invite them with a QR code or a link.
- Divall shows who pays whom; each payment is confirmed by whoever receives it. Divall keeps the record, and everyone sends their own money.
Those modules are free (up to 20 accounts every 30 days, 2 open at a time); Vacation comes with Divall Pro. If you're coming from Splitwise, see what changes. Divall is free to start: you can run the test above in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free bill splitting app?
Yes. What changes is what the free version allows: check for a limit on expenses or groups before a trip or a month of shared bills.
Does everyone need to download the app?
It shouldn't be necessary: look for one that lets you add someone by name and share what they owe.
Splitwise is a trademark of its owner; Divall isn’t affiliated with it. What this page says about that app comes from its official site, checked on November 1, 2026, and may change.