Alternative
A free axio (formerly Walnut) alternative worth trying
If you're weighing up axio (formerly Walnut), it helps to know exactly what it's good at and where it might not fit — before you switch.
This is an honest look at axio (formerly Walnut), followed by where Balance is a strong free alternative and where axio (formerly Walnut) might still be the better call.
Free · No ads · Made in India · Android (iOS coming soon)
What axio (formerly Walnut) is
An Indian money-management app (previously Walnut) that now centres on credit and pay-later.
What axio (formerly Walnut) does well
- Originally popular for automatic SMS-based expense tracking
- India-focused
- Pay-later and credit features
Pricing model
Free app, monetized primarily through credit and pay-later products.
Where it may fall short
- Auto expense tracking has relied on SMS access
- Now heavily oriented around credit rather than pure tracking
- Budgeting analytics are secondary to the credit focus
Who should stick with axio (formerly Walnut)
Users wanting SMS-based tracking bundled with pay-later/credit.
Where Balance is a strong alternative
Balance is a free, ad-free expense tracker built for India. Users who want a privacy-first, dedicated expense tracker without SMS access or credit upsell.
It scans receipts and UPI screenshots, runs full analytics for free, never asks for a bank login or SMS access, and works offline-first with an encrypted cloud backup.
Switching over
Balance doesn't import from axio (formerly Walnut) directly. The practical path is to start fresh from the beginning of a month — set up your accounts and categories, and begin scanning or logging spends. Because most people track forward rather than backfill, this is usually a clean, quick switch.
| Feature | axio (formerly Walnut) | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (monetized via credit) | Free |
| Ads | Credit-product prompts | None |
| Receipt / UPI screenshot scanning | ||
| Requires bank login / SMS | Reads SMS (historically) | No |
| Offline-first capture | ||
| Built for India (₹, UPI) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Balance a free axio (formerly Walnut) alternative?
Yes. Balance is free to use with no ads and no mandatory subscription, which makes it a genuine free alternative if cost or ads are why you're leaving axio (formerly Walnut).
Can I import my data from axio (formerly Walnut)?
There's no direct importer. Most people switch by starting fresh at the start of a month, setting up accounts and categories, and tracking forward from there.
Does Balance connect to my bank?
No. Balance never asks for a bank login, net-banking credentials, or SMS access. You add transactions yourself — by scanning a receipt or UPI screenshot, or entering them manually — so nothing sensitive is exposed.
Keep exploring
Start understanding your money with Balance.
Free forever, no ads, no bank login. Join the waitlist and we'll send your invite.