For years Splitwise and Tricount were the default answer to "how do we split expenses on a trip?" But since 2022, Russian users keep hitting the same walls: you can't pay for Splitwise Pro with a Russian card and its free plan is capped — and in 2026 Tricount dropped several features along with Premium. If your app keeps nagging about limits or a payment you can't make, it's time for a replacement.
What exactly breaks for Russian users
- Payment. Splitwise Pro is sold through the App Store and Google Play, which don't accept Russian cards.
- Free-tier limits. Splitwise now caps the number of expenses you can add per day on the free plan and pushes upgrades constantly.
- Tricount got free, but thinner. In June 2026 Tricount retired Premium together with part of its features: CSV and PDF export, personal mode and statistics are gone. The app itself works and is available on RuStore.
- Language. Splitwise is not fully localized into Russian, which matters when you send the group to less tech-savvy relatives.
What to look for in a replacement
Not every "alternative" solves the actual problem. A real replacement should:
- work without a foreign card and without a paywall on core features;
- run in the browser so nobody has to install anything;
- not require every participant to register an account;
- speak Russian and use the ruble by default;
- simplify debts automatically — one transfer instead of ten.
The options, honestly compared
| Service | Works from Russia | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Splitwise | Partially (Pro can't be paid) | Paywall, expense limits, not fully in Russian |
| Tricount | Yes, on RuStore | Free, but no export or statistics since June 2026 |
| Settle Up | Partially | App install required, foreign billing for Pro |
| A shared spreadsheet | Yes | Manual formulas, easy to break, no debt simplification |
| DeliBabki | Yes, no VPN | Android-only app; on iPhone, the browser |
How to migrate in five minutes
You don't need to export anything from your old app. Settling the current trip and starting fresh is faster:
- Open DeliBabki and create a group.
- Add the participants — first names are enough, no accounts.
- Enter the expenses you still owe for, marking who paid.
- Send the group link to everyone in a messenger.
- The app shows the minimal set of transfers to settle up — see how debt simplification works.
Frequently asked questions
Does Splitwise work in Russia in 2026?
It opens, but you can't pay for Pro with a Russian card and the free tier limits expenses. A Russian web alternative avoids both problems.
Do I need a VPN?
Usually not: apps such as Splitwise and Tricount open without one. The real obstacle is payment — paid tiers of foreign services cannot be bought with a Russian card. Russian web services work directly in the browser, with no VPN and no installed app.
Is there a free alternative in Russian?
Yes — DeliBabki is free, in Russian, with no registration and no expense limits, and there is an Android app too. Read our overview of free Splitwise alternatives.
Try it right now
No card, no VPN, no installation. Create a group and send the link to your friends.
Create Free Group 🚀