Comparison · Tab, Plates by Splitwise, splitty
SplitterBot vs Tab vs Plates by Splitwise vs splitty: which one actually handles an itemized receipt?
All four can split a restaurant bill by item. The difference is who has to install what. With SplitterBot, one person scans the receipt and assigns the items; everyone else opens a web link, with no download and no account, sees exactly what they owe, and can tap through to pay. Tab, Plates and splitty each win somewhere, and we say where below.
Short verdict
Pick SplitterBot if you are the friend who always gets stuck with the receipt and you want everyone else to skip the install. Pick Tab if the whole table already has it and wants to claim their own items, Plates if you want something free and hands-on, and splitty if everyone is on an iPhone and you like its one-time purchase option.
Side by side
| Feature | SplitterBot | Tab | Plates by Splitwise | splitty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do the other diners need to install an app? | No. They open a web link. | The listing describes friends joining the bill from their own Tab app. | Not described in the listing. | No. Friends get a payment request and "don't need to download anything." |
| Reads the items from a receipt photo | Yes | Yes. "Tab automatically detects all the items and prices." | The listing describes adding items by hand. Scanning is not mentioned. | Yes, from a camera scan or a pasted digital receipt link. |
| Tax and tip | Split in proportion to each person's items | "Divided proportionally." | "Calculate tax and tip," with a tip slider. | Tax split proportionally; any custom tip. |
| Getting paid back | A pay button on the shared page for Cash App and PayPal, and Venmo when the person who paid turns it on | Not mentioned in the listing. | Not mentioned in the listing. | Opens Venmo, Cash App or PayPal with the amount filled in. |
| Where it runs | iPhone, Android and the web | iPhone per its App Store listing; its website also shows a Google Play badge. | iPhone and iPad per its App Store listing. | iPhone only, and it needs iOS 26 or later. No web version. |
| Cost | 3 free receipts, then $2.99 a month or $9.99 a year | Free on the App Store. | Free on the App Store. | Manual entry is free; scanning is paid after 3 free scans, with a one-time purchase option. |
| App Store rating | Too new to have a meaningful rating | 4.2 from about 1,200 ratings | 4.3 from about 930 ratings | 4.6 from 83 ratings |
Checked against each app's own store listing or website on October 14, 2026. Ratings and features change, so check the listing before you decide. Sources: Tab on the App Store, Plates by Splitwise on the App Store, splitty on the App Store, splitty FAQ, Tab website.
Where each one wins, and where it doesn't
Tab
- Free, with the most App Store ratings of the four (about 1,200).
- Everyone at the table can join the bill and claim their own items, synced live. With SplitterBot, one person assigns for the table.
- Friends are described as joining from their own Tab app.
- The App Store listing shows iPhone only, and does not mention payment links.
Plates by Splitwise
- Free, and about as simple as it gets: add items and drag them onto each person's plate.
- Works without scanning anything, so a blurry receipt is not a problem.
- The listing describes adding items by hand and does not mention receipt scanning.
- The latest version on its App Store listing is 1.4, dated December 2020.
splitty
- Friends do not need an app here either, and it also reads digital receipt links, not just paper.
- A strong 4.6 App Store rating, and a one-time purchase option instead of a subscription.
- iPhone only, iOS 26 or later, no web version.
SplitterBot
- The only one of the four where friends need no app and no account, and it runs on iPhone, Android and the web.
- Tax and tip are split in proportion to what each person ordered, and each person gets a pay button for Cash App and PayPal (plus Venmo when the payer turns it on).
- Newer, so far fewer store ratings than the others.
- Paid after 3 free receipts, while Tab and Plates are free.
- One person assigns the items; the others view and pay but do not pick their own.
Switch to SplitterBot® if
- You are the one who ended up holding the receipt, and you do not want to ask five people to download anything.
- Your table is a mix of iPhone and Android.
- You want each person to see their own share and pay from the same page.
- You want to scan the receipt and have the tax and tip worked out, so nobody has to do the math.
How it works
- 1Scan the receipt in the app, or upload a photo at splitterbot.com.
- 2Tap who had what. Tax and tip are split in proportion to each person's items.
- 3Send the share link. Your friends open it in their browser, see their share, and pay you from there.
“Worked like a charm! I felt so smart, and I didn't have to do the math. My friends just got to enjoy their night. And $9.99 a year is cheaper than a drink. It makes splitting so easy.”
Try SplitterBot® on your next bill
Snap a photo of the receipt, tap who had what, send each person their share with a payment link pre-filled.
FAQ
What is the best app to split a restaurant bill by item?
It depends on who is at the table. If you are the one holding the receipt and the others will not install anything, SplitterBot sends them a web link instead. If everyone already has Tab and wants to claim their own items, Tab fits. Plates by Splitwise is a free, hands-on option, and splitty suits an all-iPhone group.
Can I split a bill without everyone installing an app?
Yes. With SplitterBot, the people you split with open a link in their browser, with no download and no account, and see what they owe. splitty also sends friends a payment request instead of asking them to install anything. Tab's listing describes friends joining the bill from their own Tab app.
How do I split a bill when everyone ordered different things?
Scan the receipt, tap who had which item, and share the result. SplitterBot splits tax and tip in proportion to what each person ordered, so the person who had the salad does not cover the steak's tax.
Is there an app that scans a receipt and splits it by item?
Yes. SplitterBot, Tab and splitty all read the items from a photo of the receipt. Plates by Splitwise's App Store listing describes adding items by hand and does not mention scanning.
Do my friends need an account to see what they owe in SplitterBot?
No. The share link opens in any browser and shows each person's share. If you have added a way to get paid back, each person gets a pay button with their amount filled in.
How much does SplitterBot cost?
Your first 3 receipts are free. After that it is $2.99 a month or $9.99 a year.
Can I scan the receipt on the web instead of installing the app?
Yes. Upload a photo of the receipt at splitterbot.com and it scans the same way the phone apps do.
When should I pick Tab, Plates or splitty instead of SplitterBot?
Pick Tab if your whole table has it and everyone wants to claim their own items. Pick Plates if you want a free app and are happy typing items in. Pick splitty if everyone is on an iPhone and you prefer a one-time purchase. Tab and Plates are free, and splitty is free for manual entry, while SplitterBot is free for your first 3 receipts.