If you share an apartment in Israel, the short answer: SHULAM! will cause you less friction, because it's built on Israeli reality - full Hebrew and RTL, Arnona and va'ad bayit categories, settling up via Bit or Paybox, and receipt scanning that reads Hebrew receipts from Israeli chains. Splitwise is the international veteran of the two, and it's still the right choice for international groups and trips abroad. Here's the full comparison, by what actually matters day to day.
The difference in one line
Splitwise is an excellent debt calculator built for the English-speaking world; SHULAM! is a whole-shared-home app built for Israel. Per Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, about 894,000 Israeli households rent - and most of them settle up in Bit, pay Arnona, and shop at Shufersal and Rami Levy. That's exactly the scenario SHULAM! is built around.
Comparison table
| SHULAM! | Splitwise | |
|---|---|---|
| Language & direction | Full Hebrew, RTL (English too) | English + other languages; no Hebrew, no RTL |
| Price | Core is free, no expense cap | Free tier has a daily expense cap and ads; Pro is paid |
| Receipt scanning | Free, reads Hebrew receipts from Israeli chains | Pro-only, not tuned for Hebrew receipts |
| Israeli categories | Arnona, va'ad bayit, electricity, water | Generic English categories |
| Settling up | Built around Bit, Paybox or cash; transfer-minimizing algorithm | US payment integrations (Venmo, PayPal); in Israel - manual |
| Beyond money | Shopping lists, fridge & pantry, recipes, chores, reminders | Expenses only |
| Currencies & international groups | Shekel (₪); built for one household in Israel | Core strength: multi-currency, conversions, groups worldwide |
| Bank connection | None, by design - no access to your money | None (in the international version) |
When Splitwise is actually the right pick
Honestly: some scenarios are still its home turf. A trip abroad with friends, a roommate who doesn't read Hebrew, a group split across countries and currencies - Splitwise does currency conversion and feels natural to anyone used to English. If most of your expenses are in dollars or euros, there's no reason to switch.
When SHULAM! is
A shared home in Israel: roommates, a couple, or a family splitting costs. The moment your expenses are called "Arnona", "va'ad bayit" and "the Shufersal run", and transfers close in Bit - every Splitwise advantage disappears, and what's left is an English interface with a capped free tier. SHULAM! also covers what comes after the money: who's shopping, what's in the fridge, and who cleans this week.
How to switch from Splitwise
- Close out the current month in Splitwise: everyone checks their balance and sends what they owe via Bit.
- Download SHULAM! (App Store / Google Play), one roommate creates a household and sends the invite link to the rest.
- From the 1st of the month, log everything in SHULAM! - don't migrate old history, start from a zero balance.
FAQ
Does Splitwise support Hebrew?
No. Splitwise's interface is available in English and several other languages, but not Hebrew, and there is no RTL support. You can type expense descriptions in Hebrew, but the app itself stays in English, left-aligned.
Can I import my Splitwise data into SHULAM!?
There is no automatic import. The practical way to switch: settle all open balances in Splitwise (send the Bit transfers), then start SHULAM! with a clean slate on the 1st of the next month. Mid-month switches create confusion - wait for the month boundary.
What is actually free in each app?
SHULAM!'s core is free: expense splitting, receipt scanning, lists, fridge and chores. Splitwise's free tier is limited - there's a daily cap on how many expenses you can log, there are ads, and receipt scanning is reserved for the paid Pro subscription.
SHULAM! is the app for the shared home: expenses, groceries, fridge and chores in one place. Free, in Hebrew and English, on the App Store and Google Play. Download and start splitting fair.