Software · head to head
Splitwise vs Kraken
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; Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
- They diverge on capability: Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Kraken covers Spot Trading.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Splitwise and Kraken 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), founded (2011).
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
- IOS support
Only in Kraken
- Spot Trading
- Futures Trading
- Margin Trading
- Staking
- OTC Desk
- Bank transfers
- SWIFT
- Plaid
Both cover
- 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 Kraken
- Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot Kraken
- Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot Kraken
- Recording IOUs between friends over timenot Kraken
Kraken
- Exchangesnot Splitwise
- Tradingnot Splitwise
- Stakingnot 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
Kraken
- Restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
- Withdrawal processing delays due to KYC verification, blockchain confirmations, and compliance checks
- Account restrictions triggered by scam prevention can only be lifted after 90 days
- Margin trading limited to 5x leverage on most assets; 10x available only to eligible users
Pricing, plan by plan
Splitwise
Free- FreeFree
- Bill splitting
- Group tracking
- Mobile app
- Splitwise Pro$4.99/month
- Receipt scanning
- Advanced analytics
- No ads
Kraken
Free- StarterFree
- Basic trading
- Staking
- Instant buy
- ProFree
- Advanced trading
- Margin trading
- Futures
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 Kraken if
- You need spot trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want futures trading.
Questions people ask
- Is Splitwise or Kraken better?
- Neither clearly leads. Splitwise starts at Free and Kraken at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Splitwise or Kraken?
- Splitwise starts at Free and Kraken at Free.
- Does Splitwise or Kraken run on more platforms?
- Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android. Kraken 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 Kraken is typically brought in for.
- What can Splitwise do that Kraken cannot?
- Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking. Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Both handle Web support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Kraken: How much does Kraken charge in fees?
Kraken Pro spot trading fees start at 0.25 percent maker and 0.40 percent taker for entry-level volume, decreasing to 0.00 percent maker and 0.08-0.10 percent taker at USD 10M+ monthly volume. The Kraken standard platform charges 1 percent on instant trades and 1.5 percent on custom orders. Kraken+ membership costs 4.99 USD/month or 49.99 USD/year for up to USD 10k/month in fee-free volume.
SourceKraken: In how many countries can I use Kraken?
Kraken supports 190+ countries and 9 major fiat currencies (USD, EUR, GBP). However, services are restricted in 16 jurisdictions including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Afghanistan due to regulatory compliance requirements.
SourceKraken: Is Kraken custody secure?
Kraken holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and passed SOC 2 Type 1 examination. The exchange uses cold storage with crypto infrastructure in secure cages under 24/7 armed surveillance. Kraken Custody uses multiparty computation (MPC) and hardware security module (HSM) technology. As a Wyoming SPDI-chartered institution, Kraken Financial operates on full-reserve basis, holding 100 percent of client deposits in unencumbered liquid assets.
SourceKraken: What cryptocurrencies can I trade?
Kraken supports 500+ cryptocurrencies across 600+ crypto trading pairs. The platform also offers tokenized equities (xStocks) for direct trading of stock exposure, and supports staking rewards on eligible digital assets.
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