Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Splitwise VS Element.io

Compare Splitwise VS Element.io and see what are their differences

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Splitwise logo 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!

Element.io logo Element.io

Secure messaging app with strong end-to-end encryption, advanced group chat privacy settings, secure video calls for teams, encrypted communication using Matrix open network. Riot.im is now Element.
  • Splitwise Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-23
  • Element.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-20

Splitwise features and specs

  • 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 of Splitwise

  • 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.

Element.io features and specs

  • Open Source
    Element.io is open-source, meaning the code is freely accessible and can be modified by anyone. This allows for transparency, security audits, and customization.
  • Privacy and Security
    Element.io offers end-to-end encryption for secure communication, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the messages.
  • Interoperability
    It supports the Matrix protocol, which allows for communication across different platforms and services, facilitating greater connectivity.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Element.io provides features such as voice and video calls, file sharing, and integrations with other services, making it suitable for both personal and team use.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on various platforms including web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android), ensuring accessibility from any device.
  • Customizability
    Users can personalize their experience through various settings and even set up their own server for full control over their data.

Possible disadvantages of Element.io

  • Complexity
    The extensive feature set and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Performance Issues
    Users have reported occasional performance issues such as slow response times and lag, particularly in larger rooms or with heavy media use.
  • User Interface
    While functional, the user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as other more mainstream messaging apps, which could impact usability.
  • Server Setup
    Setting up your own server for complete data control requires technical expertise and can be time-consuming, posing a barrier for non-technical users.
  • Limited Network Effect
    Despite its capabilities, Element.io has a smaller user base compared to giants like WhatsApp or Slack, which may limit its usefulness for some users.
  • Resource Intensive
    The application can be resource-intensive, particularly on older hardware, which may result in slower performance or increased battery consumption on mobile devices.

Analysis of Splitwise

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.

Analysis of Element.io

Overall verdict

  • Element.io is a good choice for those looking for a secure and privacy-focused communication platform with rich features and high customizability. Its open-source nature and ability to integrate with other services enhance its appeal to a wide range of users.

Why this product is good

  • Element.io, previously known as Riot.im, is considered a good platform due to its focus on security and privacy, offering end-to-end encryption for conversations. It is built on the Matrix protocol, which supports decentralized communication, making it a versatile and open-source choice for both individual and group communication. It is designed for interoperability and can integrate with other messaging and collaboration platforms. Additionally, it offers extensive customization options and support for both text and voice/video communications.

Recommended for

    Element.io is highly recommended for privacy-conscious users, open-source enthusiasts, tech-savvy individuals, organizations seeking secure internal communication channels, and communities needing decentralized and customizable messaging solutions.

Splitwise videos

Splitwise - iPhone App Review! [2020]

More videos:

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

Element.io videos

RIOT : Riot.im : A New World Of Open Communication!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Splitwise and Element.io)
Personal Finance
100 100%
0% 0
Communication
0 0%
100% 100
Expense Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Group Chat & Notifications

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Splitwise and Element.io

Splitwise Reviews

12 Best Bill Splitting Apps in 2023
Splitwise is among the most commonly used group payment apps that can easily keep a systematic record of all your informal debts including restaurant bills, travel expenses, cost of accommodation, and much more. With this expense sharing app, users can either create groups or split the bill privately among friends. Splitwise also registers and saves all the expenses and...
6 Best Bill Splitting Apps for Hassle-Free Expense Sharing
Splitwise employs an intelligent algorithm to calculate the exact amount owed by each user. It shows who paid for what, how much amount was paid by each member, and any outstanding balances. Furthermore, the application also keeps everyone updated about their balances and recent transactions.
Best Bill-Splitting Apps
For example, shared items like appetizers would be split among the entire group or just a few people in the group. The app can handily accommodate large parties by allowing you to add up to 10 people to each group. Once youโ€™ve divided up the food among all the plates you can add in tax and tip. The app is made by the same company as Splitwise and is completely free. The only...
7 Best Budgeting Tools and Apps for Personal Finance
This oneโ€™s not a complete budgeting app but itโ€™s still a handy one. Splitwise is a nifty app that helps people track how much they owe to friends and colleagues and vice versa. It makes sharing expenses on outings, meals, events, etc easy to track by logging in each transaction. It basically keeps a total over time, so that you can pay back the money in a large payment,...

Element.io Reviews

Top 7 Best Open Source Skype Alternatives In 2025
You can get Element for both desktop and mobile, with apps being made available for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. There is also Element web if you don't prefer installing apps.
Source: itsfoss.com
7 best Mattermost alternatives for secure business messaging
Element is a secure messaging and communication software that operates based on the Matrix protocol. It has advanced features that promote internal collaboration and boost team productivity. It offers end-to-end encryption and supports communication through messages, voice, and video calls.
Source: www.rocket.chat
10 Best Secure Messaging Apps to Keep Your Conversation Private
Element.io, which was earlier known as Riot, is a secure chat app that is built around protecting user privacy. It offers end-to-end encryption out of the box, which means that your conversations are fully encrypted and only the sender and receiver can read the messages. After the transition from Rio to Element, the secure messaging app has become more enterprise-friendly.
Source: beebom.com
18 Best Discord Alternatives 2020 | Expert Reviews
Element, formerly known as Riot, is a great alternative to Discord with many of the same features and functions. What sets Element apart is that it was created using open-source software, which allows for customization and flexibility. Element is based on a reaction-based software called Matrix, which allows you to bring other communication channels into the app as well as...
5 best secure private messengers
Neither Riot nor Matrix have been fully audited, although Olm and Megolm have been. Riot.im has been criticized the past for its rather basic user interface, but this no longer true. It still lags behind the futuristic flashiness of Wire, but Riot is now a highly capable messenger with functionality often compared to the corporate messaging workhorse, Slack.
Source: proprivacy.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Element.io seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Splitwise mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Splitwise yet. Tracking of Splitwise recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Element.io mentions (1)

What are some alternatives?

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

Tricount - Manage and share expenses with friends

Matrix.org - Matrix is an open standard for decentralized persistent communication over IP.

Splid - Splid helps friends manage their money.

Telegram - Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security. Itโ€™s superfast, simple and free.

Settle Up - SETTLE UP is an indispensable app for friends and flatmates who need to keep track of shared bills...

Signal - Fast, simple & secure messaging. Privacy that fits in your pocket.