Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Splitwise VS Varo

Compare Splitwise VS Varo and see what are their differences

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!

Varo logo Varo

Varo is an all-in-one mobile banking solution that helps you to manage your financial needs.
  • Splitwise Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-23
  • Varo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-14

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.

Varo features and specs

  • No Fees
    Varo does not charge monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance fees. This can save customers a significant amount of money compared to traditional banks.
  • Early Direct Deposit
    Customers can receive their direct deposit payments up to two days earlier than they would with a traditional bank.
  • High-Yield Savings Account
    Varo offers a high-yield savings account with competitive interest rates, which can help customers grow their savings more quickly.
  • User-Friendly Mobile App
    The Varo mobile app is intuitive and easy to navigate, providing users with a seamless banking experience.
  • Cashback Rewards
    Varo offers cashback rewards on certain purchases made with the Varo Visaยฎ Debit Card, allowing customers to earn money on their everyday spending.
  • No Minimum Balance Requirement
    There is no minimum balance requirement to maintain an account with Varo, making it accessible for customers with varying financial situations.

Possible disadvantages of Varo

  • Limited Physical Locations
    Varo operates entirely online, meaning there are no physical branches for customers to visit, which might be inconvenient for those who prefer in-person banking services.
  • Limited Cash Deposits
    Depositing cash into a Varo account can be cumbersome, as it requires using third-party services like Green Dot, which may charge fees and have lower daily deposit limits.
  • ATM Fees
    While Varo offers access to a network of fee-free ATMs, using out-of-network ATMs may incur additional fees.
  • Loan Services
    Varo offers limited loan services compared to traditional banks, which might be a drawback for customers seeking comprehensive banking solutions.
  • No Joint Accounts
    Varo currently does not offer joint accounts, which could be a limitation for couples or families looking to manage finances together.

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 Varo

Overall verdict

  • Varo is a strong option for individuals seeking a digital-first banking experience without traditional fees. However, it's important to consider any limitations it may have in terms of in-person services and to ensure that its features align with your specific banking needs.

Why this product is good

  • Varo offers a range of banking services with no monthly fees, access to a large ATM network, high-yield savings accounts, and various budgeting tools. It is focused on offering convenient and modern banking solutions primarily through a mobile app, making it appealing to tech-savvy users who prefer digital banking.

Recommended for

  • Tech-savvy individuals
  • Those comfortable with mobile banking
  • People looking for fee-free banking
  • Customers interested in high-yield savings opportunities
  • Individuals who do not require frequent in-person bank services

Splitwise videos

Splitwise - iPhone App Review! [2020]

More videos:

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

Varo videos

Varo Bank Review

More videos:

  • Review - Varo Bank Review: Best Online Bank Account of 2020?
  • Review - Chime Bank vs. Varo Bank | Which Account is Best?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Splitwise and Varo)
Personal Finance
85 85%
15% 15
Finance
66 66%
34% 34
Expense Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100

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 Varo

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,...

Varo Reviews

Top 20 Best Plaid Alternatives in 2022
Varo is an all-in-one mobile banking app that assists you in managing your finances. The goal of this platform is to restore that relationship to banking, with the primary goal of improving customersโ€™ financial lives. Every customer has the resources they require to improve their financial situation, as well as technology that enables more personalized assistance for a...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Varo seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times 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.

Varo mentions (2)

  • How can I buy the dip now. Screw you big bank
    Https://varomoney.com or use Paypal with Coinbase. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Anybody else having problems with Plaid verification with Varo Bank?
    I have had the exact same problem. Plaid tries to use my credentials for varomoney.com instead of varobank.com. I can no longer even get a small loan if needed because of this. As far as I can see Varo has ventured out on their own and are failing miserably. It has been months and months of this nonsense. Source: about 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

Tricount - Manage and share expenses with friends

Chime - Group video conversations with your friends & community

Splid - Splid helps friends manage their money.

Bank Of America - Welcome to Bank of America, home for all of your financial needs. Our purpose is to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection.

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

Huntington Mobile - Huntington Mobile provides multiple solutions for your everyday banking.