Software Alternatives & Startups

Splitwise VS Wave Accounting

Compare Splitwise VS Wave Accounting 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!

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0 reviews
Wave Accounting

Wave makes it easy to be your own boss. Just do what you're good at, and lean on Wave's smart online software for help with invoicing, accounting and payroll.

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0 reviews
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Base details

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

Splitwise
Wave Accounting
Website splitwise.com waveapps.com
Pricing —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Splitwise 7 features
Wave Accounting 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.
  • Free
    Wave Accounting is free to use, making it an attractive option for small businesses and freelancers who need to manage their finances without incurring additional costs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that allows users to quickly get up to speed and manage their accounting tasks efficiently.
  • Automatic Transaction Import
    Wave Accounting supports automatic import of bank transactions, saving time and reducing manual entry errors.
  • Integrated Invoicing and Payments
    The platform offers integrated invoicing and payment processing, which streamlines the billing process and improves cash flow management.
  • Receipt Scanning
    Wave includes a receipt scanning feature via its mobile app, which allows users to digitize and organize receipts for easier expense tracking.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Wave Accounting may lack some advanced features that larger businesses or more complex accounting needs require, such as detailed inventory management or advanced financial forecasting.
  • Customer Support
    While Wave offers customer support, free users have limited access to support options compared to paid accounting solutions, which might affect the ability to quickly resolve issues.
  • Integration Limitations
    Wave has fewer third-party integrations compared to some other accounting software, which can limit its flexibility and ability to connect with other business tools.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    The mobile app, although useful for receipt scanning, offers limited functionality compared to the desktop version, which may not be sufficient for users who need comprehensive mobile access.
  • Scalability
    Wave Accounting is ideal for small businesses and freelancers, but it may not scale well for rapidly growing companies that require a more robust accounting system.

Analysis

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

Splitwise
Wave Accounting

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

  • Wave Accounting is generally well-regarded as a cost-effective solution for small businesses with basic accounting needs. Its biggest advantage is the free access to essential financial management tools, although businesses looking for advanced accounting features might find it lacking. Overall, it's a strong option for small-scale operations that need a simple, reliable way to manage finances without incurring hefty costs.

Why this product is good

  • Wave Accounting is considered a good option for small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs due to its comprehensive range of free accounting features. These include invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reports, which are suitable for businesses with simple accounting needs. The user-friendly interface and the fact that it's designed for non-accountants make it accessible to many users who may not have extensive financial expertise. Additionally, its integration with other Wave products such as payroll and payments offers a cohesive ecosystem for managing financial tasks.

Recommended for

  • Freelancers and solopreneurs
  • Small businesses with straightforward financial needs
  • Start-ups looking for a cost-effective accounting solution
  • Non-profit organizations needing basic finance tracking without extra costs

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Splitwise 3 videos + Add
Wave Accounting 1 video + Add

Splitwise - iPhone App Review! [2020]

More videos

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

Wave Accounting Tutorial - Introduction to Wave Accounting for beginners (2019)

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
Wave Accounting
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.

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Wave Accounting no reviews yet

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