Which app should couples use to split costs?

Sambo is the app behind this website, so we are not neutral. That is why this comparison only uses what the apps say about themselves in the UK App Store in October 2026. Prices and features can change.

What is the difference between the apps?

The biggest difference is who the apps are made for. Splitwise and Tricount start from a group sharing costs for a while, and work out how to even up with as few payments as possible. Cupla starts from a couple and their calendar. Sambo starts from two people sharing a home, with the same costs every month.

When does Splitwise suit you?

Splitwise works well when there are more than two of you, or when the costs belong to something with an end – a holiday, a stag weekend, a flatshare. You can split equally, by percentage, by shares or by exact amounts, and add recurring bills. The app is free. Splitwise Pro is an in-app purchase, from £2.79 in the UK App Store, and adds things like receipt scanning, currency conversion and searching your whole history.

When does Tricount suit you?

Tricount is made for flatshares, trips and group outings. According to the App Store it is free, with no subscription, no ads and no limit on how many groups or expenses you add. It handles more than 100 currencies and works offline.

And Cupla?

Cupla is a shared calendar for couples, with to-dos, shopping lists, wishlists and countdowns to key dates. Its App Store listing doesn't mention splitting costs. The app is free to download, with in-app purchases.

When does Sambo suit you?

Sambo is made for two people who live together. You add rent, energy and food as regular costs, and one-off purchases as they happen. You choose how each cost is split – equally, by percentage, by income or with exact amounts – and each month Sambo shows how it evens out. In the UK, Sambo shows the amount to transfer, and you pay with your banking app as usual. The same app has shopping lists, a shared calendar, documents and information about the home, and children's costs, including with a parent who lives elsewhere.

Two things are worth knowing: Sambo is only available for iPhone, so you both need one. And everything is stored in your own iCloud – Sambo has no server of its own. If you are wondering how to split the rent itself, read Splitting the rent when you earn different amounts.

What should you ask yourselves before choosing?

• Are there two of you, or more? For a group, Splitwise or Tricount fits best.
• Are the costs temporary, or the same every month? Regular costs need an app that works month by month.
• Do you want to share more than money, like the shopping list and the calendar?
• Do you both have an iPhone, or does one of you use Android?
• Where do you want your information to be stored?