Splitting costs is easyKeeping it fair and clearis not.

Friends standing together on a trip to Banff
Hey Sam I Am on my way.
Hey pumpkin, pack your luggage.
Users felt the app had become more restrictive over time, largely because of usage limits, forced ads, and unclear pricing.
01

Users don’t see any value before taking action.

02

Multiple “Add friends” actions make it harder to choose what to do.

03

Users are unable to explore core features before adding friends.

Splitwise split options screen displayed in an iPhone mockup
04

I’m not sure what each split option does.

05

There are too many ways to split, it feels overwhelming.

06

I have to calculate totals myself because the app doesn’t update them in real time.

Key Insights From User Interviews And Surveys

The research wasn't about collecting quotes it was about identifying recurring patterns. By synthesizing interview findings and survey responses, we uncovered three key insights that became the foundation for every design decision.

Hirad Arshadi during a remote user interview

ArchetypeHirad- Lovable

Tech-savvyFrequent user

Frequently organizes group trips and manages shared expenses for friends. Often coordinates payments while keeping records accurate.

KeyPain Points

  • Difficulty tracking balances as group members change.
  • Confusion when expenses apply to only some participants.
  • Managing unequal expenses requires repetitive manual work
Insight 1

Managing group expenses becomes difficult as groups and participation change.

01

Late joiners create confusion in balance calculations.

02

Expenses often apply only to specific members or families.

03

Larger and more dynamic groups are harder to manage accurately.