# IOU vs U

The clearest difference is rating: U at 5.0 against IOU's 4.4. U also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). IOU's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly) and ratings volume (17 vs 5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IOU sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. U asks for nothing beyond the download.

U holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of IOU's written reviews are positive against 100% of U's.

IOU ships an update fortnightly, U monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IOU | U |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iou-split-receipts-and-expense/id1589968294/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-split/id6446224254/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 53 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Eric Agredo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475112741) | [Steven Gardiner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676782406) |

## What reviewers say

### IOU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iou-split-receipts-and-expense/id1589968294)

Effortlessly split bills with friends by scanning receipts. The app itemizes purchases, assigns them to individuals, and calculates each person's total including tip and tax. Avoid manual calculations and ensure fair payment among your group.

**Highlights:** Receipt scanning and itemization, Assign items to individuals, Automatic tax and tip calculation, Per-person total calculation, Eliminates manual bill splitting

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IOU Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| IOU Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| IOU Pro | $6.99 | per year |
| IOU Pro | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime IOU Pro | $29.99 | one-time |


### U

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-split/id6446224254)

Easily divide expenses with friends and family. Enter the total cost, add participants, and let the app handle the calculations. Avoid awkward money conversations and enjoy stress-free bill splitting for any occasion.

**Highlights:** Effortless bill splitting, Add unlimited friends, Fast and easy calculations, Stress-free expense division, Ideal for group outings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IOU free?

IOU is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is U free?

U is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IOU or U?

U is rated higher. IOU averages 4.4 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while U averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do IOU or U have ads?

Neither IOU nor U shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IOU or U?

IOU ships an update fortnightly, and U monthly. Most recently, IOU was updated on September 25, 2026 and U on June 10, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*