Settl vs Splitwise
Both apps keep score when friends share money. The difference is how an expense gets in. Splitwise gives you a well-tested form. Settl is a voice-first expense-splitting app: you say what happened, and your AI agent builds the expense for you.
The short version
| What | Splitwise | Settl |
|---|---|---|
| Adding an expense | Type into a form | Say it, scan it, describe it in chat, or type it |
| Messy splits | Sliders, percentages, shares | Describe it in words: "make Dev's share double" |
| Receipts | Attach receipts; Pro adds scanning and itemization | Scan + Describe: photo plus one line of context builds the split |
| Multi-currency trips | Supported | Log in supported currencies; view conversions while retaining original amounts |
| Settling up | Simplified debts | Simplified debts, walked through person by person |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, web | iPhone and Android |
| Switching | CSV export of your data | Imports that Splitwise CSV, members matched, balances rebuilt |
Reviewed 11 September 2026 by Rahul Raina, Settl. Splitwise features are based on its official Pro documentation. Paid features and availability can differ by plan. See Settl’s current limits.
What Splitwise still does better
An honest comparison starts here. Splitwise has been at this for over a decade: it has a web app, an ecosystem of integrations, and years of polish across edge cases. It has a huge install base, which matters when the whole point is getting your friends on the same ledger. If your group lives in Splitwise and it works for you, that is a fine place to be.
What Settl changes
Settl's bet is that the ledger was never the hard part. The hard part is that logging a shared coffee takes a form, and so some expenses never get logged. Settl replaces the form with a sentence:
- Voice entry. Hold the mic and say "I paid 84.40 US dollars for sushi with Alice, Maya and Dev." Settl interprets the amount, people and currency. Clear entries can save with Undo; uncertain entries need a review or follow-up.
- Scan + Describe. Photograph the receipt and add one line, like "Mike had the alcohol, split the food evenly." Settl reads the line items and proposes the right split.
- Chat for the messy ones. Uneven shares, someone covered a round, one person had extra. Describe it and Settl asks a follow-up if anything is unclear.
- Review and Undo. Clear voice entries can save automatically with Undo. If details are missing or unclear, Settl can ask a follow-up or show a review step.
- Manual entry. Adding an expense by hand is free and does not require AI interpretation. Saved group data is available locally; syncing and some account actions need a connection.
Switching from Splitwise
You do not have to start from zero. Splitwise lets you export a group's data as a CSV file. Settl imports the file into a new group. Review member matches, finish the import, then compare the expenses and balances with your export. Expenses with multiple payers may need adjustment. See the import walkthrough and limitations.
Common questions
Can I import my Splitwise data into Settl?
Yes. Export a Splitwise group as a CSV and import it into Settl. Review the member matches, then compare the imported expenses and balances with the export. Expenses with multiple payers may need adjustment; receipt images and comments are not imported.
Is Settl free like Splitwise?
Manual expense splitting is free. AI features are subject to current launch terms and usage limits and may become part of a paid plan. The founding offer is intended for the first 500 iOS and first 500 Android registrations, counted separately, for 12 months from signup, subject to the terms. See Pricing for details.
What does Splitwise have that Settl does not?
Splitwise offers a full web app, a broad existing user base and established integrations. Settl has iPhone and Android apps plus an MCP connection for compatible assistants, but no equivalent full browser app for managing all expenses. Choose based on the workflow your group uses.
Try the one-sentence version
Free to start on iPhone and Android. Bring your Splitwise group over, then review the imported balances.
See the switch, step by step
Open the Splitwise import walkthrough for a sample CSV, real native app screenshots, and supported fields and limitations. Multi-payer expenses may need adjustment; review the balances before settling up.