Software · head to head
Splitwise vs Coinbase
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Splitwise the free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts; Coinbase the App Store listing states standard Coinbase trades carry fees and that a paid Coinbase One subscription is needed for zero trading fees and boosted staking rewards, and that fractional stock shares start at $1.
- They diverge on capability: Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Coinbase covers Cryptocurrency Trading.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Splitwise and Coinbase actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Splitwise
- Bill splitting
- Expense tracking
- Group management
- Settlement tracking
- Venmo
- IOS support
Only in Coinbase
- Cryptocurrency Trading
- Staking
- Coinbase Wallet
- Coinbase Card
- Bank transfers
- Apple Pay
- Ios support
Both cover
- PayPal
- Web support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Splitwise
- Splitting shared household bills between flatmatesnot Coinbase
- Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot Coinbase
- Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot Coinbase
- Recording IOUs between friends over timenot Coinbase
Coinbase
- Exchangesnot Splitwise
- Tradingnot Splitwise
- Walletsnot Splitwise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Coinbase
- The App Store listing states standard Coinbase trades carry fees and that a paid Coinbase One subscription is needed for zero trading fees and boosted staking rewards, and that fractional stock shares start at $1.
Pricing, plan by plan
Splitwise
Free- FreeFree
- Bill splitting
- Group tracking
- Mobile app
- Splitwise Pro$4.99/month
- Receipt scanning
- Advanced analytics
- No ads
Coinbase
Free- FreeFree
- Buy and sell crypto
- Coinbase Wallet
- Staking rewards
- Coinbase One$29.99/month
- Zero trading fees
- Priority support
- Advanced trading tools
Which should you pick?
Choose Splitwise if
- You need bill splitting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want expense tracking.
Choose Coinbase if
- You need cryptocurrency trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want staking.
Questions people ask
- Is Splitwise or Coinbase better?
- Neither clearly leads. Splitwise starts at Free and Coinbase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Splitwise or Coinbase?
- Splitwise starts at Free and Coinbase at Free.
- Does Splitwise or Coinbase run on more platforms?
- Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android. Coinbase runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Splitwise for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Splitwise best used for?
- Splitwise is most often used for splitting shared household bills between flatmates, tracking who owes what on a group trip, settling up across currencies on the pro plan, recording ious between friends over time. Of those, splitting shared household bills between flatmates and tracking who owes what on a group trip are not what Coinbase is typically brought in for.
- What can Splitwise do that Coinbase cannot?
- Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking. Coinbase covers Cryptocurrency Trading, Staking, Coinbase Wallet, Coinbase Card. Both handle PayPal, Web support, Android support.