Software Alternatives & Startups

Splitwise VS Briar

Compare Splitwise VS Briar and see what are their differences

Splitwise

Splitwise is a free tool for friends and roommates to track bills and other shared expenses, so that everyone gets paid back. On the web, iPhone, and Android!

Rating
0 reviews
Briar

Secure messaging, anywhere

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Briar seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 133 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 133
Personal Finance popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 119

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Splitwise
Briar
Website splitwise.com briarproject.org
Pricing —
Open source
Company — Startup from Germany
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Splitwise 7 features
Briar 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Splitwise provides an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it straightforward for users to add expenses, keep track of debts, and settle up.
  • Multi-Platform Availability
    Available on the web, iOS, and Android, Splitwise ensures users can access and manage their expenses from almost any device.
  • Expense Tracking
    The app allows users to easily log and categorize expenses, which can be particularly useful for group trips, shared households, or any shared financial responsibility.
  • Flexible Split Options
    Users can split expenses equally, by percentages, shares, or custom amounts, providing flexibility in how costs are divided among group members.
  • Currency Conversion
    Splitwise supports multiple currencies, which is handy for international travel or groups with members from different countries.
  • Bill Reminders
    The app sends reminders for outstanding balances, helping users to stay on top of their payments and avoid forgotten debts.
  • Integration with Payment Platforms
    Splitwise can integrate with payment platforms like PayPal and Venmo for easy settlement of balances.

Possible disadvantages

  • Privacy Concerns
    Since Splitwise involves sharing financial information with others, there could be privacy concerns for those unwilling to share detailed expense data.
  • Subscription-Based Features
    Some advanced features, such as expense exporting and additional integrations, require a Splitwise Pro subscription.
  • Manual Entry Requirement
    Splitwise requires users to manually enter expenses, which could be time-consuming and prone to errors if not done diligently.
  • Limited Automatic Reconciliation
    While Splitwise helps track who owes whom, it does not automatically reconcile or pay off balances, leaving users responsible for manual payment.
  • Dependency on Group Honesty
    The accuracy of the expense records relies on the honesty and diligence of all group members, which may not always be reliable.
  • Potential for Confusion
    The various options for splitting bills (equally, by shares, etc.) can sometimes lead to confusion or disputes among users over what is fair.
  • Privacy-focused
    Briar prioritizes user privacy by encrypting all messages end-to-end, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the content.
  • Decentralized
    The app operates in a decentralized manner, meaning it doesn't rely on a central server, which reduces the risk of censorship and server-based attacks.
  • Peer-to-peer Communication
    Briar uses peer-to-peer communication methods, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the internet, enabling connectivity even without a central network or in environments with internet censorship.
  • Open-source
    Briar is open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and contribute to its codebase, which helps with transparency and trust in the platform.
  • Offline Messaging
    Briar supports offline messaging via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi direct, which is particularly useful in regions with limited internet access.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited User Base
    Due to its niche focus on privacy and security, Briar may have a smaller user base compared to more mainstream messaging apps, potentially limiting its network effects.
  • Resource Intensive
    The app can be resource-intensive, consuming more battery and data than traditional messaging apps due to its encryption and peer-to-peer communication methods.
  • Lack of Features
    Briar may lack some of the features found in popular messaging apps, such as media-rich messages, stickers, or integrated services, which might not appeal to all users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the app less intuitive and harder to use compared to mainstream messaging apps, potentially creating a barrier to entry.
  • Android-only
    As of now, Briar is limited to Android devices, which excludes users on other platforms like iOS and may restrict its overall user adoption.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Splitwise
Briar

Overall verdict

  • Splitwise is a highly effective tool for managing shared expenses, especially if frequent splitting of costs is involved. Its features make it easy to track who owes what, and its automatic calculations save time and reduce errors.

Why this product is good

  • Splitwise is popular because it simplifies sharing and tracking expenses among groups, making it ideal for roommates, friends on trips, or any group spendings.
  • It automatically calculates balances and reminds users about payments, reducing the awkwardness of asking others for money.
  • Offers a user-friendly interface both on web and mobile apps, which makes managing expenses convenient and accessible.
  • Supports multiple currencies, which is great for international travel groups.
  • Integration with payment platforms like PayPal and Venmo for easy settlement of debts.

Recommended for

  • Roommates who need to regularly split household bills and expenses.
  • Groups of friends or families who often travel together and need to manage shared travel costs.
  • Colleagues or classmates working on projects or events that require shared funding.
  • Anyone who wants to avoid the hassle of manually tracking and settling shared expenses.

Overall verdict

  • Briar is highly regarded for those seeking secure and private communication. It is particularly valuable in areas with censorship or where traditional internet infrastructure is unreliable. Its focus on decentralization and encryption makes it a strong choice for privacy-conscious users.

Why this product is good

  • Briar is a communication app designed with privacy and security at its core. It uses peer-to-peer WiFi, Bluetooth, or the Tor network to allow messaging and sharing of information without relying on a central server. This ensures that users can communicate securely even in environments where the internet might be compromised or monitored.

Recommended for

  • Activists working in regions with restrictive internet policies
  • Individuals who prioritize privacy and security in their communications
  • Communities in remote areas lacking reliable internet infrastructure
  • Users looking for decentralized and censorship-resistant communication tools

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Splitwise 3 videos + Add
Briar 3 videos + Add

Splitwise - iPhone App Review! [2020]

More videos

  • - Tricount vs Splitwise - App comparison
  • - Splitwise Demo

Briar for Android

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Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Splitwise
Briar
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Splitwise no reviews yet
Briar no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of Briar yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Splitwise 0 mentions
Briar 133 mentions

Tracking Splitwise since Mar 2021.

  • Government orders GitHub to remove Bluetooth-based chat app Bitchat: Jack Dorsey
    > Jack Dorsey is now using his clout to share about this app and bring some light on the situation Indian attempts at censorship is probably the best thing to ever happen to Bitchat: free advertising for a vibcoded and questionably... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • SignalApp UI Home Screen but with Flutter
    Anyway, copying and reproducing is a great way to learn. It also train the mind to decompose every applications in small pieces. The same could have been done for Briar, SimpleX or Telegram applications, all of them are open-source and... - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • A decentralized peer-to-peer messaging application that operates over Bluetooth
    I don't know. I do not like Jack Dorey's involvement. Not a big fan of his. I'd rather use Briar (https://briarproject.org/). - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago

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Alternatives to Splitwise and Briar

When comparing Splitwise and Briar, you can also consider the following products.