# Splitwise vs Buddy

The clearest difference is rating: Buddy at 4.7 against Splitwise's 4.0. Splitwise's advantage is 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 Buddy sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Buddy holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28K and 9.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Splitwise's written reviews are positive against 49% of Buddy's.

Splitwise ships an update weekly, Buddy every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Splitwise | Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splitwise/id458023433/reviews) | **[4.7 (9.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-budget-planner-app/id936422955/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28K** | 9.5K |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | **48.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | #58 |
| Size | 67 MB | 157 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) | [Buddy Budgeting AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/936422954) |

## 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


### Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-budget-planner-app/id936422955)

**Currently charting:** #58 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

This app helps you create and manage personal or shared budgets. Track expenses, connect your bank account for automatic transaction import, and gain a clear overview of your spending, income, and savings. It also features tools to split costs and settle up with others.

**Highlights:** Create personal budgets, Shared budgeting for couples/groups, Connect bank accounts for transaction import, Detailed spending and income overview, Expense splitting and settlement tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buddy Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Buddy Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Buddy Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Buddy Premium | $16.99 | per year |
| Buddy Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Buddy Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Buddy Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Buddy Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Buddy Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Unlimited | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Visually appealing
- 💡 Customizable categories
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 👍 Helps with budgeting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Recurring transactions not working properly
- 🐛 Balance not carrying over to next month
- 🐛 Syncing issues between devices
- 🐛 Transactions disappearing or resetting
- 💸 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Recurring transactions not working as expected
- Balance not carrying over to next month
- Syncing issues between devices
- Transactions disappearing or resetting
- Inability to edit categories without creating new ones

**Requested features**

- Calendar view for transactions
- Bill reminders and due date tracking
- Ability to hide/exclude certain transactions
- Savings/investment tracking
- Multi-currency support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Splitwise free?

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

### Is Buddy free?

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

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

Buddy is rated higher. Splitwise averages 4.0 out of 5 from 28K ratings, while Buddy averages 4.7 from 9.5K ratings.

### Do Splitwise or Buddy have ads?

Neither Splitwise nor Buddy shows ads.

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

Splitwise ships an update weekly, and Buddy every 9 days. Most recently, Splitwise was updated on October 1, 2026 and Buddy on October 1, 2026.

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

Splitwise currently peaks at #30 in the App Store charts, and Buddy at #58. 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.*