# Splitwise vs YNAB

The clearest difference is rating: YNAB at 4.8 against Splitwise's 4.0. YNAB also leads on chart position (#3 vs #30). Splitwise's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Splitwise sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and YNAB sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

YNAB holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28K and 62K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Splitwise's written reviews are positive against 51% of YNAB's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Splitwise | YNAB |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splitwise/id458023433/reviews) | **[4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28K | **62K** |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | **50.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #30 | **#3** |
| Size | 67 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Splitwise, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/458023436) | [You Need A Budget LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226490621) |

## What reviewers say

### Splitwise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splitwise/id458023433)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Grossing · Finance, #90 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Easily track shared expenses with friends and family, eliminating the stress of who owes whom. Organize group bills for households, trips, and more with a simple, intuitive interface. Supports multiple currencies and payment integrations.

**Highlights:** Create groups or private friendships, Add expenses in any currency, Simplify debts into repayment plans, Split expenses equally or unequally, Record cash payments or use integrations, Recurring bills, Export to CSV

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Splitwise Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Splitwise Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Splitwise Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Splitwise Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| Splitwise Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Splitwise Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Splitwise Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Splitwise Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Splitwise Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Splitwise Pro | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simplifies splitting expenses
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 💡 Helpful for group trips and shared living
- 🚀 Convenient payment integration
- 🚀 Supports multiple currencies

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Confusing settle up process
- 🐛 Inaccurate receipt scanning
- 💰 Subscription model too expensive
- 🐛 Glitches when switching between apps
- 🐛 Inconsistent user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Payments not properly credited
- Expense entries disappearing
- Incorrect balance calculations
- Venmo integration issues

**Requested features**

- Custom recurring expense options
- Ability to set default split percentages
- Better group management tools
- Improved currency conversion and tracking
- Integration with more payment services


### YNAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

This app helps users gain control of their finances by creating flexible spending plans, tracking expenses, and managing debt. It aims to reduce financial stress and empower users to reach their goals. Features include account linking, manual transaction entry, and collaborative planning for multiple users.

**Highlights:** Create and share unlimited spending plans, Automatically import transactions, Manually add transactions, Loan Planner for debt paydown, Visualize progress towards goals, Real-time updates for shared plans

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| YNAB Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| YNAB Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| YNAB Subscription | $109.00 | per year |
| YNAB Subscription | $109.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Helps save money
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient budgeting system
- 🤝 Helpful for couples/families
- 🧠 Changes financial mindset

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Steep learning curve
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with some banks
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🕰️ Reconciliation process could be improved
- 📱 Mobile app lacks some features of web version

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent disconnections from bank accounts
- Syncing issues between mobile and web versions

**Requested features**

- Fortnightly budgeting options
- Improved reporting and analytics
- Ability to upload files/documents
- Undo/redo functionality
- Biometric login for mobile app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Splitwise free?

Splitwise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is YNAB free?

YNAB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Splitwise or YNAB?

YNAB is rated higher. Splitwise averages 4.0 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while YNAB averages 4.8 from 62K ratings.

### Do Splitwise or YNAB have ads?

Neither Splitwise nor YNAB shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Splitwise or YNAB?

Splitwise ships an update weekly, and YNAB weekly. Most recently, Splitwise was updated on October 1, 2026 and YNAB on October 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Splitwise or YNAB?

Splitwise currently peaks at #30 in the App Store charts, and YNAB at #3. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*