Keep Track of Who Owes You Money, Without the Awkward Chase
IOU is a private notebook for money you lent to friends and family. Write down who, how much and when it is due, send them a note on chat, and use a polite reminder when the day comes.
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The problem
Lending to someone you know is easy; asking for it back is the hard part. Many people feel awkward chasing a friend, so the amount and the date quietly get forgotten. Apps built for splitting bills want an account and were not made for a loan you gave a friend, and a chat history is easy to lose. A year later nobody remembers the exact figure.
How IOU (Who Owes Me) works
- Open IOU and tap +. Type a name and an amount, then Save. Pick the currency if it is not the default.
- Tap Send note. IOU makes a picture note with the person, the amount, the dates and an 8-character check code, plus the same note as text. Share it in your chat app.
- When the date comes, open the IOU and tap Remind. Choose gentle, clear or last call: the message is already written, with the name, what is left and the date filled in.
- When they pay, mark it as paid. With Pro you can also add part-payments and watch the balance left.
What you get
- A note you both can keepThe note shows who owes whom, how much, the dates and an 8-character check code worked out on your device. The other person installs nothing. Paste a note and its code into Check a note to see whether the two copies still match.
- Polite reminders in three tonesGentle, clear and last call, worded for each language and ready to send with the name, the amount left and the date filled in.
- Several currencies, totals kept apartEach currency gets its own total. IOU never converts one currency into another.
- Free, with up to five open IOUsFree keeps five open IOUs with notes, check codes, reminders and backups. IOUs you have settled do not count toward the five.
- Pro, for $1 oncePro removes the limit and adds part-payments with the balance left, a calendar file for each due date, a passcode that encrypts the book, total-lent stats and notes without the small badge.
Private by design
Your list is kept only in this browser on this device. There is no account and nothing is uploaded. The only time IOU goes online is when you type a Pro key, and then only the key is checked, never your list. A note or reminder leaves your device only when you share it yourself through your phone's share sheet. The list is not encrypted unless you turn on the Pro passcode, so clearing browser data or losing the device without a backup loses it. If you forget the passcode, nobody can open the book, including us.
Free vs Pro
FAQ
Is IOU free?
Yes. Five open IOUs, notes with a check code, reminders in three tones, several currencies and backups are free, in 15 languages. Pro is $1 once, not a subscription, with a 7-day refund.
Is the note a legal contract?
No. It is a reminder between two people, not a contract or loan agreement, and it has no legal force of its own. If you want certainty, put it in writing the way the law of your country asks. IOU is not legal advice.
What does the check code prove?
Only that two copies are identical: the code is worked out from the person, amount, currency and dates. It is not a signature and it does not prove who someone is.
Does IOU collect the money or charge interest?
No. IOU holds no money, sends and receives none, adds no interest and does not collect debts for you. It only keeps your list and helps you ask politely.
Does it remind me by itself?
No. IOU sends no notifications. Pro makes a calendar file (.ics) for a due date so your own calendar can remind you; otherwise, open the app now and then.
What if I lose my phone?
The list lives on one device, so use Back up to a file now and then and keep the file somewhere safe. You can restore it on another device.