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Personal Finance · head to head

GnuCash vs Splitwise

GnuCash logo

GnuCash

Personal Finance

Personal finance and accounting software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splitwise logo

Splitwise

Personal Finance

Split expenses easily with friends

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GnuCash desktop only, with no mobile application; Splitwise the free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts
  • They diverge on capability: GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Splitwise covers Bill splitting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GnuCash and Splitwise actually diverge.

Attributes where GnuCash and Splitwise differ
AttributeGnuCashSplitwise
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android
Founded19972011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in GnuCash

  • Double-entry bookkeeping
  • Multi-currency support
  • Reports and graphs
  • Budget tracking
  • Import/Export
  • OFX format
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

Only in Splitwise

  • Bill splitting
  • Expense tracking
  • Group management
  • Settlement tracking
  • Venmo
  • PayPal
  • Web support
  • IOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

GnuCash

  • Personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interfacenot Splitwise
  • Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot Splitwise
  • Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot Splitwise
  • Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot Splitwise
  • Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot Splitwise

Splitwise

  • Splitting shared household bills between flatmatesnot GnuCash
  • Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot GnuCash
  • Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot GnuCash
  • Recording IOUs between friends over timenot GnuCash

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

GnuCash

  • Desktop only, with no mobile application
  • Version 3.11 is the last release supporting Windows 7 and macOS 10.12 and earlier
  • Uses strict double-entry accounting, so every transaction needs two sides

Splitwise

  • The free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts
  • Transaction import works in the United States only
  • Currency conversion, receipt scanning, charts and expense search are all Pro features
  • The Pro price is not shown on the product page

Pricing, plan by plan

GnuCash

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Double-entry bookkeeping
    • Multi-currency support
    • Reports and graphs

Splitwise

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Bill splitting
    • Group tracking
    • Mobile app
  • Splitwise Pro$4.99/month
    • Receipt scanning
    • Advanced analytics
    • No ads

Which should you pick?

Choose GnuCash if

  • You need double-entry bookkeeping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux.
  • You also want multi-currency support.
GnuCash review

Choose Splitwise if

  • You need bill splitting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want expense tracking.
Splitwise review

Questions people ask

Is GnuCash or Splitwise better?
Neither clearly leads. GnuCash starts at Free and Splitwise at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GnuCash or Splitwise?
GnuCash starts at Free and Splitwise at Free.
Does GnuCash or Splitwise run on more platforms?
GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use GnuCash for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is GnuCash best used for?
GnuCash is most often used for personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interface, double-entry bookkeeping for a small business, tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accounts, importing transactions via qif, ofx or hbci. Of those, personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interface and double-entry bookkeeping for a small business are not what Splitwise is typically brought in for.
What can GnuCash do that Splitwise cannot?
GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking. Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GnuCash: How much does GnuCash cost?

GnuCash is completely free. The software is licensed under the GNU GPL with no subscription fees, pricing tiers, or paid versions.

Source
Splitwise: Is there a free version of Splitwise?

Yes, Splitwise offers a free version available for iPhone, Android, and web with core features including adding groups and friends, splitting expenses, recording debts, equal or unequal splits, offline mode, and cloud sync.

Source
GnuCash: What platforms does GnuCash support?

GnuCash is available free across GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, macOS, and Microsoft Windows platforms.

Source
Splitwise: What is Splitwise PRO and how much does it cost?

Splitwise PRO is an upgrade offering receipt scanning, charts and graphs, currency conversion, and additional features. The specific price is not published on the main website; users must visit the subscription page or access the app to view pricing details.

Source
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