Splitwise app: share costs with friends

What is Splitwise?

Splitwise is a popular app for tracking and splitting shared expenses. Whether you're on vacation with friends, living with roommates or sharing costs with your partner, Splitwise automatically keeps track of who paid what and who still owes what. The app prevents awkward conversations about money and makes settling up fair and simple.

The strength of Splitwise lies in its automatic calculations. You don't have to work with spreadsheets yourself or figure out who owes what to whom. The app does it for you and even minimizes the number of transactions needed to get everyone even.

Downloading and setting up Splitwise

Step 1: Download the app

Splitwise is available for free for Android and iOS. Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search for 'Splitwise'. Download the app with the green and white logo.

Step 2: Create an account

Sign up with your email address or link your Google or Facebook account. You need an account to sync expenses and create groups with friends. Enter your name so others can recognize you.

Step 3: Set your currency

Set your default currency to Euro for use in the Netherlands. Later you can choose a different currency per group or expense when you're abroad. Splitwise converts automatically if needed.

Creating a group

Starting a group

Tap 'Create group' to start a new group. Give the group a recognizable name such as 'Spain vacation 2024' or 'Roommates'. Choose a category that fits the type of expenses, such as travel, home or food.

Adding friends

Add group members by their email address or phone number. If they already use Splitwise, they are linked automatically. Otherwise they receive an invitation to download the app. You can also add members who don't have the app; they will then get email updates.

Group settings

Adjust the group settings to your preference. Choose whether expenses are split equally by default or whether you want to split manually. Set the default currency and add an image to personalize the group.

Adding expenses

Adding a basic expense

Tap 'Add expense' to record a payment. Enter a description such as 'Restaurant dinner' and the total amount. Select who paid and who is part of the expense. The app automatically divides the amount evenly.

Splitting unequally

Not everyone has to pay the same amount. Tap 'Split equally' to change how it's divided. You can enter exact amounts, choose percentages or indicate that certain people are not part of this expense.

Adding a photo of the receipt

Add a photo of the receipt as proof. This is handy for your records and to prevent discussions later. The photo is saved with the expense and is visible to all group members.

Using categories

Select a category for the expense, such as food, transportation, activities or accommodation. This helps you get an overview later of where the money went. Splitwise shows statistics per category.

Viewing balances

Group balance

On the group screen you immediately see who owes what. Green amounts mean someone is owed money, red amounts mean someone still has to pay. The app shows the optimal way to settle up with as few transactions as possible.

Total overview

View your total balance across all groups. This gives you a complete picture of everything you owe and are owed. Handy if you're active in multiple groups.

Expense history

Scroll through all expenses to see what has been paid. Filter by date, category or person. Each expense shows the details and who paid for it.

Settling payments

Recording a payment

When you pay someone, you record it in the app as a 'Payment'. Select who you're paying and the amount. The balances are updated automatically. This keeps everything clear without having to delete expenses.

Simplifying debts

Splitwise automatically minimizes the number of payments. If A owes B 20 euros and B owes C 20 euros, the app suggests that A pays C directly. This saves unnecessary transactions.

Closing a group

At the end of a vacation or period, you can settle all debts. Everyone pays or receives the amount owed and the group is back at zero. You can archive the group for your records.

Handy features

Recurring expenses

For fixed costs such as rent or subscriptions, you can set up recurring expenses. The app automatically adds the expense every month. Perfect for roommates who share joint costs.

Notes and comments

Add notes to expenses for extra context. Group members can also comment on expenses if they have questions. This keeps communication centralized in the app.

Export feature

Export your expenses as a spreadsheet for your own records or to share. Handy for keeping track of business expenses or vacation budgets. The export contains all the details, including dates and categories.

Splitwise Pro

The free version offers all the basic features. Splitwise Pro adds extras such as receipt scanning, charts and currency conversion. For most users, the free version is more than enough.

Splitwise for different situations

Vacation with friends

Create a group for your trip and add all your travel companions. Record all shared expenses along the way, such as accommodation, rentals, food and activities. At the end of the vacation, you settle up easily.

Living together

For roommates, Splitwise is ideal for shared costs. Add fixed costs as recurring expenses and record shared groceries. Everyone always has an overview of who owes what.

Eating out

Splitwise is also handy for a single dinner out. One person pays and adds the expense. The app calculates what everyone needs to contribute. No more hassle with cash or Tikkie chaos.

Tips for effective use

Record right away

Add expenses right away when they happen. This keeps you from forgetting payments and keeps your records accurate. The app is quick and simple, so it takes little time.

Clear descriptions

Use clear descriptions so everyone understands what the expense was for. 'Restaurant Saturday' is better than just 'food'. If there's a discussion afterward, this is useful context.

Settle up regularly

Don't let debts build up for too long. Settling up after every trip, or monthly for roommates, keeps things clear and prevents large amounts that are hard to pay.

Conclusion

Splitwise takes the hassle out of sharing costs with others. The app automatically keeps track of who owes what and calculates the simplest way to settle up. From vacations with friends to living with roommates, Splitwise makes fair sharing easy. Download the app and see how simple cost sharing can be without awkward conversations about money.

Frequently asked questions

Is Splitwise free to use?

Yes, the basic functionality of Splitwise is completely free. You can create unlimited groups, add expenses and track balances. Splitwise Pro offers extra features for a fee, but most users don't need it.

Do all group members need the app?

No, you can add people who don't have the app. They then receive email updates about the expenses and balances. For the best experience, though, it's recommended that everyone installs the app so everyone can add expenses themselves.

Can I also split unequal amounts?

Yes, for each expense you can specify how the amount should be divided. You can enter exact amounts, choose percentages or exclude certain people from an expense. This is handy when not everyone consumes the same amount.

How do I pay someone back through Splitwise?

Splitwise is a record-keeping app and does not process payments. You pay someone back through your own bank, Tikkie or in cash. Then you record the payment in the app so the balances are updated.