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Splitwise vs YNAB

Splitwise logo

Splitwise

Software

Split expenses easily with friends

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YNAB logo

YNAB

Software

You Need A Budget

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: Splitwise covers Bill splitting, YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Splitwise and YNAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Splitwise and YNAB differ
AttributeSplitwiseYNAB
Starting priceFree$14.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20112004

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
  • IOS support

Only in YNAB

  • Zero-based budgeting
  • Bank sync
  • Goal tracking
  • Reports
  • Multi-device sync
  • Bank connections
  • Plaid
  • Bank-level encryption

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 YNAB
  • Tracking who owes what on a group tripnot YNAB
  • Settling up across currencies on the Pro plannot YNAB
  • Recording IOUs between friends over timenot YNAB

YNAB

  • Individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitmentnot Splitwise
  • Household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household membersnot Splitwise
  • Manual transaction entry for banks outside the supported import listnot 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

YNAB

  • Subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • Multi-currency support restricted to one currency per spending plan
  • Bank import limited to select institutions in US, Canada, UK, and EU only
  • Household plan can only be shared with up to 6 people; additional members cannot access shared plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Splitwise

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Bill splitting
    • Group tracking
    • Mobile app
  • Splitwise Pro$4.99/month
    • Receipt scanning
    • Advanced analytics
    • No ads

YNAB

$14.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the YNAB review.

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.
Splitwise review

Choose YNAB if

  • You need zero-based budgeting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bank sync.
YNAB review

Questions people ask

Is Splitwise or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Splitwise starts at Free and YNAB at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Splitwise or YNAB?
Splitwise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Splitwise and $14.99/month for YNAB.
Does Splitwise or YNAB run on more platforms?
Splitwise runs on Web, IOS, Android. YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Splitwise for free?
Yes. Splitwise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YNAB starts at $14.99/month.
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 YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can Splitwise do that YNAB cannot?
Splitwise covers Bill splitting, Expense tracking, Group management, Settlement tracking. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Web support, Android support.
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