Splitwise vs Orbit: Expense tracking or actual bill splitting?
Splitwise has 10 million users. It's the go-to app when someone says "let's track our group expenses."
But here's what nobody mentions: Splitwise doesn't actually split bills. It tracks them.
You still need someone to front the money. You still need to chase people for reimbursement. And you still need everyone to remember to log their expenses in the app.
So when you're comparing Splitwise to Orbit, you're not comparing two bill-splitting apps: you're comparing a ledger system to a payment system. And that difference changes everything.
Let's break down what each app actually does, who they're built for, and which one solves the problem you actually have.
What is Splitwise?
Splitwise is a tracking and ledger app that helps you keep tabs on who owes what. Think of it as a digital IOU notebook. You manually enter expenses after the fact, assign who owes what portion, and the app tracks the running balance between friends.
It's great for people who want to:
Keep a detailed record of shared expenses over time
Settle up periodically rather than per transaction
Pay upfront and get reimbursed later
Handle expenses that can't be paid with a card (checks, cash payments, Venmo transfers)
The catch? Someone still has to front the money upfront, and you're still chasing people down for payment later. Splitwise makes the tracking easier, but it doesn't eliminate the awkward "hey, you still owe me" conversation.
What is Orbit?
Orbit takes a fundamentally different approach: split at the source, not after the fact.
Instead of one person paying and then tracking who owes what, Orbit splits the bill in real time at the moment of purchase. Everyone pays their share instantly through their preferred payment method—no fronting money, no reimbursements, no follow-ups.
Here's how it works:
Create an "Orb" for your group (dinner crew, travel buddies, roommates, etc.)
When it's time to pay, use your Orbit card
The bill is automatically split according to your preferences (equal splits, custom amounts, whatever works)
Each person is charged immediately on their own card
Done. No one fronts money, no one chases payments
The key differences
Payment timing
Splitwise: Track now, settle later. Someone fronts the money, and everyone pays them back eventually.
Orbit: Pay now, together. Everyone pays their share at the moment of purchase.
Mental load
Splitwise: Requires manual entry of every expense, assigning portions, and remembering to settle up.
Orbit: Automatic. Once your Orb is set up, splitting happens in the background.
The "fronting money" problem
Splitwise: Doesn't solve it. Someone always has to cover the full amount upfront.
Orbit: Eliminates it entirely. No one ever fronts money for the group.
Social awkwardness
Splitwise: You still have to ask people to pay you back, send reminders, and deal with the discomfort of chasing friends for money.
Orbit: Removes the awkwardness. Everyone pays automatically, so there's nothing to chase.
Handling complex transactions
Splitwise: Requires manual logging and tracking of who paid what, when, and how much each person owes.
Orbit: Automatically tracks who swiped, how much each person paid, what the split amounts were, the merchant, and what card was used. Complex transactions are simplified through automatic swipes—no manual entry needed.
Best use cases
Splitwise:
You prefer to pay upfront and get reimbursed later
You want to settle up in batches rather than per transaction
You're paying for things that can't be handled with a card (checks, cash payments)
Orbit:
Dining out with friends
Group travel expenses
Roommate shared expenses (utilities, groceries, rent)
Partner/couple shared spending
Any scenario where you want to split costs in real time without fronting cash
Which one should you choose?
The answer depends on what bothers you most about splitting bills.
Choose Splitwise if:
You prefer to pay upfront and get paid back later
You want to settle balances periodically rather than per transaction
You're paying for expenses that can't be handled with a card (cash, checks)
Choose Orbit if:
You're tired of fronting money for the group
You want to avoid the awkwardness of asking friends to pay you back
You prefer instant, automatic splits at the point of purchase
You want to eliminate the mental load of tracking and following up
You want complex transactions simplified with automatic tracking
Here's the thing: both apps solve real problems, but they solve different problems. Splitwise makes tracking easier for people who want to settle up later. Orbit makes fronting and chasing unnecessary by splitting in real time.
The bottom line
If you've ever felt the sting of covering a $200 dinner bill and waiting weeks to get paid back, or if you've ever felt guilty about having to remind a friend they owe money, Orbit might be the solution you've been waiting for.
Because the best bill splitting system isn't the one that tracks IOUs most efficiently—it's the one that eliminates IOUs altogether.