Comparison

Spruce vs Buckets Splitting

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spruce

Manage your daily finances and budget for future goals with this mobile banking app. It offers a spending account, a high-yield savings account, and tools to track spending and set savings goals. Build a better relationship with your money through easy-to-use financial management features.

Highlights
  • Spending account management
  • High-yield savings account
  • Financial goal setting
  • Automated deposits
  • Transaction categorization
  • Credit score monitoring
Features
Read full description

Spruce is a mobile banking app that offers easy-to-use financial tools to help you manage your money. Take care of your daily finances with a Spruce Spending account while budgeting for long-term goals with a Spruce Savings account. Whatever your financial goals, the Spruce digital banking app is here to help you build a better relationship with your money. Be sure to check out high-yield savings! Opt in to earn 3.50% APY* on your Spruce Savings account. Find convenience with your Spruce accounts where you can easily manage your finances, transfer money, and deposit checks in the app‡. You can also enjoy these Spruce account benefits: No sign-up fees No monthly fees No minimum balance requirements No credit check Set financial goals and save money the smart way! You don’t have to sacrifice what you love to save—set a Saving Goal in the Spruce app and use automated deposits to make it easier to reach your goal. Then, opt in to make your money work even harder for you with 3.50% APY*. Sit back and let Spruce categorize your transactions, then use Watchlist to keep an eye on categories that matter most. Watchlist helps you keep track of spending and lets you set monthly income goals to help you stay ahead. QUICK START TIPS 1. Download the Spruce mobile banking app. 2. Create a super secure password with at least 8 characters. 3. Sign up for your Spruce Spending and Savings accounts. 4. Explore the Spruce navigation menu: ---My Life. See a snapshot of your balances and recent transactions. ---Spending. Review your debit and deposit transactions. ---Move Money. Move money between accounts. ---Saving. Create Saving Goals, turn on Round Ups, and opt in to earn 3.50% APY*. ---Credit. Check your credit score and learn more about improving your credit. DISCLAIMERS Spruce fintech platform is built by H&R Block, which is not a bank. Spruce℠ Spending and Savings Accounts are established at, and debit card issued by, Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard®. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. * The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 1/23/2025. This rate is variable and can change without notice. Fees may reduce earnings. To start earning interest on your Spruce Savings Account, simply opt in through the Spruce app or at sprucemoney.com.
 ∞ Funds are insured by the FDIC on a pass-through basis, subject to applicable limitations, restrictions, and requirements for such FDIC pass-through insurance, when the funds are received in your account. FDIC insurance only protects when an FDIC-insured institution fails. Spruce and H&R Block are not banks or FDIC-insured institutions, but Pathward® N.A. is an FDIC-insured depository institution. ^ Spruce℠ ± Credit score is FICO® Score 8 based on Experian data. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO Score than FICO Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. FICO® is a trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation. This is a separate service from your Spruce bank accounts, provided by Pathward, N.A. ~ Courtesy Coverage only available for purchase transactions, ATM withdrawals, and over-the-counter withdrawals using your debit card. It is a discretionary courtesy, not an extension of credit. Requires opt in and $200 in qualifying deposits over prior 35-day period. Negative balances are limited to $20 and must be repaid within 30 days. See Spending Account Agreement for details. ≠ Early access depends on when payment is submitted. Funds are generally made available when payment instruction is received, which may be earlier than scheduled payment date. ≈ No fee to withdraw money at Allpoint® ATMs. $3 fee at other ATMs, plus any ATM operator fee. ‡ Mobile check deposit is available after you have deposited at least $200 in the past year and your accounts have been open for 30 days.

About

Buckets Splitting

Features
Read full description

Buckets helps groups track shared expenses fairly without re-entering custom splits every time. Most apps ask how to split each expense. Buckets is different: you set a ratio once per bucket, and every payment logged to that bucket splits automatically. Rent can be 40/30/30 while groceries stay even. PERFECT FOR • Roommates splitting rent, utilities, and household costs • Couples with different income or usage patterns • Friend groups tracking trip or event expenses • Anyone in more than one shared-cost group at a time HOW IT WORKS 1. Sign in with your phone number 2. Create or join a group with an invite code 3. Create buckets with the split ratio your group wants 4. Log payments against a bucket—Buckets calculates each person’s share 5. View balances by bucket and for the whole group 6. Mark payments settled as your group pays each other back KEY FEATURES • Persistent split ratios per bucket—not per expense • Multiple groups, each with its own buckets and balances • Friends list for easy group invites • Payment history with category filters • Optional Venmo username on your profile • Push notifications for group invites and new payments • Simple, focused design built for real households GOOD TO KNOW Buckets is a record-keeping tool. It does not move money, link bank accounts, or process payments. You settle up directly with other members (for example via Venmo or any method you choose). Balances are based on what your group enters. Questions or feedback? Use Contact Support in Settings—we’re happy to help.

Screenshots

Spruce4 screens
Buckets Splitting4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Buckets Splitting at every 6 days against Spruce's every 3 weeks. Spruce's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spruce ships an update every 3 weeks, Buckets Splitting every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Spruce versus Buckets Splitting: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpruceBuckets Splitting
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (5.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews34.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.4K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size308 MB8 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperHRB Tax Group, Inc.Cole Codes LLC

Bugs and requests

Spruce

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues
  • Syncing problems
  • Disappearing funds
  • Deactivated cards

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to transfer funds to external accounts
  • Improved account management features
  • Faster check clearing times

Buckets Splitting

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Spruce

No in-app purchases

None

Buckets Splitting

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spruce free?
Spruce is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Buckets Splitting free?
Buckets Splitting is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spruce or Buckets Splitting have ads?
Neither Spruce nor Buckets Splitting shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spruce or Buckets Splitting?
Spruce ships an update every 3 weeks, and Buckets Splitting every 6 days. Most recently, Spruce was updated on October 30, 2026 and Buckets Splitting on October 9, 2026.

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