Best Tricount alternative in 2026: what to check before switching

Tricount is the default “we’ll figure it out later” app in a lot of European friend groups. Unlimited free groups, a shared balance, little friction. The gap shows up the night you want to scan a restaurant ticket, assign who had the fries, and send a payment link before everyone disappears into Ubers.

What people actually want from a Tricount alternative

Not another logo. A tool that (1) captures a real receipt, (2) splits fairly when people ordered different things, (3) gets you paid in your country, (4) keeps one group alive for a trip or a flatshare — not a new note per bar.

Tricount: where it still wins

Tricount (Bunq) stays free, ad-free, with unlimited groups. If you never scan tickets, only need a running IOU, and already live in the Bunq universe, it can be enough. Photos of receipts are attachments, not OCR. There is no serious line-item scan.

Splitwise: the other classic

Splitwise is the US-heavy tracker with a huge user base. Itemized receipt scan sits behind Splitwise Pro (~$49.99/year). The free tier still tracks balances; ads fund it. If your intent is specifically Tricount vs Splitwise, use the dedicated three-way comparison rather than this alternative guide.

Partly: scan + split + pay on Free

Partly Free includes AI line-item receipt scanning (5/month), payment links (5/month) and 3 active groups. Recipients pay from a browser: SEPA/IBAN, PayPal, Revolut, Wise, Bizum, Lydia, Swish, MobilePay, MB Way, Pix, UPI, Venmo and more. Premium (~€49.99/year; store prices vary) lifts caps and removes ads.

Side-by-side in one minute

• Receipt OCR: Tricount no · Splitwise Pro only · Partly Free (5/month)
• Payment requests in-app: Tricount limited · Splitwise mostly copy-paste · Partly 30+ methods
• Unlimited free groups: Tricount yes · Partly 3 on Free, unlimited on Premium
• Persistent trip/flatshare space: all three, but only Partly combines scan + settle in the same flow

How to switch without losing the group

Create a Partly space named after the trip or the flat. Invite with a link (guests can join without installing). Add open balances as one or two expenses if you must migrate history — most groups start clean from “today” and that’s fine.

When to stay on Tricount

You never photograph tickets, nobody asks to be paid in-app, and unlimited free groups is the only feature you use. Otherwise a Tricount alternative in 2026 should scan and settle.

FAQ

What is the best Tricount alternative in 2026?

If you want AI receipt scan and payment links without a Pro paywall, Partly. Side-by-side: Partly vs Tricount and Tricount vs Splitwise vs Partly.

Is Tricount still free?

Yes — unlimited groups, no ads. The trade-off is manual entry and weak receipt capture.

Do all friends need to install the alternative app?

On Partly, no. They open a payment link in the browser. Creating the group still needs the organizer’s app.