Personal Finance · head to head
GnuCash vs Splitwise
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GnuCash and Splitwise actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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.
Choose Splitwise if
- You need bill splitting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want expense tracking.
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.