We build one of these two apps, so read this with the appropriate amount of suspicion. What we have tried to do is keep every row in the table checkable, and include the rows where Splitwise wins.
The short answer
Splitwise is the better known app with the bigger network. Splitify does the same splitting work without a daily cap or ads, includes the features Splitwise puts behind Pro, and adds a personal finance side that Splitwise does not attempt at all.
If you are only ever going to split a restaurant bill twice a year, either one is fine and you should stay where your friends already are. If you split rent and groceries every month, or you want your splits to feed into a picture of your own spending, the case for switching is much stronger.
Full comparison
| Feature | Splitify | Splitwise free | Splitwise Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for splitting | Free | Paid subscription |
| Daily expense limit | None | Capped | None |
| Ads | None | Yes | None |
| Unlimited groups | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Equal, exact, share and percentage splits | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Item-wise splitting | Yes | No | Yes |
| Receipt scanning | Yes, reads line items | No | Yes |
| Currency conversion | Yes | No | Yes |
| Expense search and filters | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Activity feed and full history | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Import from the other app | Reads Splitwise exports | No | No |
| Personal expense tracking | Yes, Pro | No | No |
| Budgets | Yes, Pro | No | No |
| Splits feed into your personal spending | Yes | No | No |
| AI assistant over your finances | Yes, Pro | No | No |
| Size of user base | Smaller | Much larger | Much larger |
| Years in market | Newer | Since 2011 | Since 2011 |
| Web app | Mobile only for now | Yes | Yes |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Splitwise changes its plans periodically. Check their current pricing page before making a decision on cost alone.
Where they win
Two things, and they are real.
Everyone already has it. Splitwise has been around since 2011 and is the default in most friend groups. When you say "I'll Splitwise you", nobody asks what that means. Network effects are the whole game in a splitting app, and Splitwise has them. If your group is already on it and content, that is a good reason to stay.
There is a web app. Some people want to sit at a laptop and clean up a trip ledger with a proper keyboard. Splitwise does that. We are mobile only right now.
Where we win
The free tier is actually a free tier. No cap on daily expenses, no ads between actions, and the features Splitwise gates behind Pro are open here. Not a trial of them, and not three uses a month.
Scan the bill instead of typing it. Point your camera at a restaurant or grocery bill and Splitify pulls out each line item and its price. You tap people onto individual dishes, and tax and service charge apportion in proportion to what each person actually ordered. Splitwise puts receipt scanning behind Pro.
Item-wise splitting, free. Equal, exact amount, percentage and share splits are free in both apps. Splitting a bill dish by dish, which is the one you actually want on the night two people did not drink, is Pro-only in Splitwise and open here.
Multi currency, free. A trip that runs across two currencies sits in one group and still nets down to a single settlement figure per person. Splitwise charges for currency conversion.
Your history comes with you. Splitify reads Splitwise's own group exports, so switching does not mean retyping two years of rent and grocery history, or explaining to four flatmates why their balances reset to zero.
Which to pick
Stay on Splitwise if
Your group is settled there, you already pay for Pro and don't mind, or you need the web app for heavy ledger cleanup.
Switch to Splitify if
You keep hitting the daily cap, the ads irritate you, you want item-wise splits and receipt scanning without paying, or you want your splits to feed a real picture of your own spending.
Run both if
You are not sure. Import a group, use Splitify for a month, and see which app you actually open. That is the only test that matters.
Switching
The technical part is quick. Splitwise exports a group as a spreadsheet, Splitify reads that file directly, and your members, expense history and balances come across with it. Nobody has to settle up first or retype anything. The full walkthrough is in how to import your Splitwise data.
The harder part is social. Getting four flatmates to install something new takes a nudge. The usual approach that works: import the group, then share the invite link Splitify hands you afterwards straight into the group chat, with the next real expense already sitting in there waiting for them.
Try it on one group
Import a group, add your next expense, and see which app you keep opening.
Common questions
Is Splitify better than Splitwise?
For free users, on features, yes: no daily expense cap, no ads, and item-wise splitting, receipt scanning and currency conversion are all included rather than paywalled. Splitwise is better on network size and on having a web app. If your group is already happily using Splitwise, the feature gap may not be worth the move.
Can I use both apps at the same time?
Yes, and plenty of people do for a few weeks after importing. There is no conflict, they are separate ledgers. Most people quietly stop opening one of them.
Does Splitify cost anything for splitting bills?
No. Splitting is free with every feature included. The paid subscription covers the personal finance side of the app, which is optional and separate.
Will my friends see the same balances after I import?
Yes, once they join the imported group. Balances carry across from Splitwise as they stood at the time of import.
Does Splitify have a web version?
Not yet. It is iOS and Android at the moment. If you rely on a browser for managing a big trip ledger, that is a real gap and worth knowing before you switch.