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Personal Finance · head to head

Monzo vs Splitwise

Monzo logo

Monzo

Personal Finance

UK-licensed digital bank with FSCS-protected deposits and no foreign currency card fees

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: Monzo monzo is UK-focused, so customers wanting deep multi-currency holding, broad international transfers or in-app investing will find its feature set narrower than Revolut.; Splitwise the free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts
  • They diverge on capability: Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Splitwise covers Bill splitting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Monzo and Splitwise actually diverge.

Attributes where Monzo and Splitwise differ
AttributeMonzoSplitwise
Pricing modelFree core current account; paid Plus and Premium tiers add featuresfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2011

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 Monzo

  • FSCS-protected deposits
  • Fee-free foreign spending
  • Savings Pots
  • Joint and shared accounts
  • Instant spending notifications
  • Overdrafts and loans

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.

Monzo

  • A UK resident wanting a free current account with statutory FSCS deposit protection rather than e-money safeguardingnot Splitwise
  • A frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a UK-regulated accountnot Splitwise
  • A household wanting a joint account with shared budgeting and spending visibilitynot Splitwise
  • Someone building savings using automated Pots with partner-bank interest rather than a separate savings accountnot Splitwise

Splitwise

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

Where each one falls short

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

Monzo

  • Monzo is UK-focused, so customers wanting deep multi-currency holding, broad international transfers or in-app investing will find its feature set narrower than Revolut.
  • Overdraft and loan products carry interest charges based on individually assessed rates, and like any consumer credit product the cost varies by risk profile rather than being a flat, predictable fee.
  • Free ATM withdrawals abroad are capped at a monthly limit on the free tier, after which a fee applies, so heavy cash users abroad may find the free tier insufficient.
  • As an app-first bank with very limited physical presence, customers who prefer in-person branch banking or need to deposit cash regularly will find it inconvenient compared with a traditional high street bank.
  • Some paid-tier perks, such as travel insurance bundled into Premium, require reading policy terms carefully, since bundled insurance products can have narrower cover than a standalone policy bought separately.

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

Monzo

Free
  • Monzo (free)Free
    • Free current account with FSCS-protected deposits
    • Fee-free foreign currency card spending
    • Free ATM withdrawals abroad up to a monthly limit
  • Monzo Plus$5/month
    • Higher fee-free overseas ATM withdrawal limit
    • Custom card colours and virtual cards
    • Savings and budgeting extras
  • Monzo Premium$15/month
    • Travel and phone insurance included
    • Metal card
    • Airport lounge access on some plans

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 Monzo if

  • You need fscs-protected deposits.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want fee-free foreign spending.
Monzo 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 Monzo or Splitwise better?
Neither clearly leads. Monzo 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, Monzo or Splitwise?
Monzo starts at Free and Splitwise at Free.
Does Monzo or Splitwise run on more platforms?
Monzo runs on iOS, Android, Web. Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Monzo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Monzo best used for?
Monzo is most often used for a uk resident wanting a free current account with statutory fscs deposit protection rather than e-money safeguarding, a frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a uk-regulated account, a household wanting a joint account with shared budgeting and spending visibility, someone building savings using automated pots with partner-bank interest rather than a separate savings account. Of those, a uk resident wanting a free current account with statutory fscs deposit protection rather than e-money safeguarding and a frequent traveller wanting free foreign currency card spending on a uk-regulated account are not what Splitwise is typically brought in for.
What can Monzo do that Splitwise cannot?
Monzo covers FSCS-protected deposits, Fee-free foreign spending, Savings Pots, Joint and shared accounts. Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Monzo: Is Monzo a real bank?

Yes, Monzo Bank Limited holds a full UK banking licence and is regulated by the FCA and PRA, the same framework as traditional UK banks.

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
Monzo: Are my savings protected if Monzo fails?

Eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to 85,000 pounds per eligible person, the same statutory protection as other UK banks.

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
Monzo: Does Monzo charge for spending abroad?

No card fee applies for purchases abroad at the interbank exchange rate; free ATM withdrawals abroad are capped at a monthly limit before a fee applies.

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