Personal Finance · head to head
Google Pay vs Splitwise
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Google Pay limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices; Splitwise the free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts
- They diverge on capability: Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Splitwise covers Bill splitting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Pay and Splitwise actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Pay | Splitwise |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | Android, Chrome browser | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 2011 |
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 Google Pay
- Digital wallet
- Contactless payments
- Online shopping
- P2P money transfers
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Bank accounts
Only in Splitwise
- Bill splitting
- Expense tracking
- Group management
- Settlement tracking
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Web support
Both cover
- Android support
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Pay
- Android users making contactless payments at supported retailersnot Splitwise
- Chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkoutnot Splitwise
Splitwise
- Splitting shared household bills between flatmatesnot Google Pay
- Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot Google Pay
- Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot Google Pay
- Recording IOUs between friends over timenot Google Pay
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Pay
- Limited to Android devices and Chrome browser; lacks native support for iOS devices
- International money transfer through third-party provider (Wise Inc.) with limited details on coverage
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
Google Pay
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Pay review.
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 Google Pay if
- You need digital wallet.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Android, Chrome browser.
- You also want contactless payments.
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 Google Pay or Splitwise better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Pay 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, Google Pay or Splitwise?
- Google Pay starts at Free and Splitwise at Free.
- Does Google Pay or Splitwise run on more platforms?
- Google Pay runs on Android, Chrome browser. Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Google Pay for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Google Pay best used for?
- Google Pay is most often used for android users making contactless payments at supported retailers, chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkout. Of those, android users making contactless payments at supported retailers and chrome browser users utilising payment autofill at checkout are not what Splitwise is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Pay do that Splitwise cannot?
- Google Pay covers Digital wallet, Contactless payments, Online shopping, P2P money transfers. Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking. Both handle Android support, IOS support.