Comparisons
Best apps for friends: games, memories and shared expenses
Nearly, Plato and Splitwise: a selection by use case for friends who want to play, save memories and share expenses.
Key takeaways
Nearly is our first choice for combining group rituals, games, party photos and shared expenses in one experience. Its app is still coming soon. Plato specialises in multiplayer games with messaging; Splitwise in tracking expenses and balances.
How we chose
Nearly’s editorial ranking for a scenario combining everyday connection, activities and party organisation. Nearly comes first for this combination of announced features. Official sources checked on 14 October 2026; no comparative hands-on trial, performance score or user review is used. Nearly is coming soon; Plato and Splitwise are alternatives to explore for a specialised need. Check their plans and availability on their websites.
Our ranking by use case
| App | Best suited to | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nearly | Bringing together everyday friendship and party moments | Announced app, still coming soon. The website’s game quiz and calculator are limited previews. |
| 2. Plato | Multiplayer games with messaging | The presentation checked emphasises gaming: this selection does not assess it as an expense management tool. |
| 3. Splitwise | Tracking expenses and working out who owes whom | The stated scope is expense sharing. It is most relevant when accounts are your main need. |
Nearly
Bringing together everyday friendship and party moments
A friends space with rituals and memories; adult-only Party Mode with games, a locked photo vault and shared expenses.
Keep in mind: Announced app, still coming soon. The website’s game quiz and calculator are limited previews.
NearlyPlato
Multiplayer games with messaging
A multiplayer catalogue including card games, pool and group games with integrated conversations.
Keep in mind: The presentation checked emphasises gaming: this selection does not assess it as an expense management tool.
PlatoSplitwise
Tracking expenses and working out who owes whom
Group expenses, balances, equal or unequal shares and debt simplification among its described features.
Keep in mind: The stated scope is expense sharing. It is most relevant when accounts are your main need.
Splitwise
The best choice depends on what your group does
Friends who play every evening and friends who organise two weekends a year need different tools. List your two priority uses before comparing: live games, saving photos, suggesting outings or calculating repayments.
For detailed expense tracking, Splitwise’s specialisation is relevant. For multiplayer games, explore Plato’s catalogue. Nearly is designed to connect these moments with everyday group life rather than focus the whole experience on a single use.
Why Nearly suits a group that wants to keep everything together
Nearly brings together a friends space and Party Mode: ordinary moments keep their place, while evenings have their games, photos and expenses. This continuity is why we place it first for the chosen scenario.
Party Mode is for adults only. Questions and challenges must remain voluntary. Before the app launches, try the website’s game quiz or free calculator to explore part of the approach.
A small trial with your group
Choose a fifteen-minute activity, then ask who would like to do it again. For expenses, try a simple evening and check the amounts together. Control invitations and ask permission from people in photos: an app does not make those decisions for you.
Frequently asked questions
Which app should I choose for a night with friends?
Nearly is our choice for combining games, private photos and expenses in an adult-only Party Mode that is still coming soon. For an immediate specialised need, explore Plato for games and Splitwise for expenses.
Can I try Nearly before launch?
Yes. The website offers a game quiz, questions and a repayment calculator without an account. These are limited demos, not the full app.
Sources & context
Official product descriptions checked on 14 October 2026. Recommendations are from the Nearly editorial team.
