Lydia vs Settle Up

Lydia is a mobile app for paying, sending and receiving money, and collecting contributions. It runs on Android and iOS, and sending money to a contact by phone number or email is free; the recipient does not need a Lydia account. Lydia says transfers can be sent to euro accounts at payment service providers in the SEPA zone. Users can create customizable money pots for events with friends, family or coworkers, taking contributions by card, bank transfer, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Pots are not intended for public donations or fundraising for causes. Collected funds can be withdrawn in one or more transfers or used for an Amazon.fr gift card. Pot creation and participation are free; gift-card withdrawals are free, while withdrawals to a Lydia Wallet or bank are free for Lydia/Sumeria app contributions and cost 4% for other contributions. The wallet is free to open. Card-funded sends and top-ups are free up to €250 per month, then cost 2.5%; online card receipts cost 2.5%. Lydia lists strong authentication for sensitive actions and support through the app or email, with an average response time of 12 hours.

Settle Up tracks shared expenses and IOUs, showing groups who should pay next while reducing the number of transactions needed to settle debts. It is intended for travelers, flatmates, couples, event organizers, and groups of friends. Expenses can use unequal weighted shares, multiple payers, incomes, and itemized bills. The app works offline and syncs when internet access returns. It supports all currencies with real-time exchange rates, and groups can be shared by link or QR code. Free capabilities include transaction filters and statistics, CSV export by email, read-only access, backup and synchronization, widgets, and shortcuts. Premium adds ad-free use, receipt photos, expense categories, recurring transactions, Excel export, and group colour choices. Monthly Premium costs $3.99 a month, and Yearly Premium costs $19.99 a year. Group Premium prices include $5.99, paid once for one week, $14.99 a month, and $39.99 a year. The listed platforms are Android, iOS, web, and Windows.