Software · head to head
Splitwise vs E*TRADE
The short version
- Only Splitwise has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Splitwise the free tier limits how many expenses can be added in a day and shows adverts; E*TRADE stock and ETF trades were $0 commission but options carried a $0.65 per-contract fee, broker-assisted trades added a $25 surcharge, and margin interest rates ranged from 12.70% to 13.20% depending on balance tier (Internet Archive capture, 3 January 2023)
- They diverge on capability: Splitwise covers Bill splitting, E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Splitwise and E*TRADE actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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
- PayPal
Only in E*TRADE
- Advanced trading tools
- Options and futures
- Research tools
- Mobile trading
- Bank accounts
- Wire transfers
Both cover
- Web support
- IOS 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 E*TRADE
- Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot E*TRADE
- Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot E*TRADE
- Recording IOUs between friends over timenot E*TRADE
E*TRADE
- Budget Managementnot Splitwise
- Expense Trackingnot Splitwise
- Investment Trackingnot 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
E*TRADE
- Stock and ETF trades were $0 commission but options carried a $0.65 per-contract fee, broker-assisted trades added a $25 surcharge, and margin interest rates ranged from 12.70% to 13.20% depending on balance tier (Internet Archive capture, 3 January 2023)
Pricing, plan by plan
Splitwise
Free- FreeFree
- Bill splitting
- Group tracking
- Mobile app
- Splitwise Pro$4.99/month
- Receipt scanning
- Advanced analytics
- No ads
E*TRADE
On request- Stock & ETF TradingFree
- Commission-free trades
- Real-time quotes
- Advanced Trading$undefined/month
- All Stock & ETF features
- Options, futures
- Advanced 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 E*TRADE if
- You need advanced trading tools.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want options and futures.
Questions people ask
- Is Splitwise or E*TRADE better?
- Neither clearly leads. Splitwise starts at Free and E*TRADE at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Splitwise or E*TRADE?
- Splitwise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Splitwise and On request for E*TRADE.
- Does Splitwise or E*TRADE run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Splitwise for free?
- Yes. Splitwise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. E*TRADE starts at On request.
- 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 E*TRADE is typically brought in for.
- What can Splitwise do that E*TRADE cannot?
- Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking. E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Options and futures, Research tools, Mobile trading. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.