More often than not, some of our favorite buys are small, how-didn’t-I-know-about-this products that solve an everyday problem. That’s what we’re highlighting in our Little Lifesavers series: cheap, simple purchases that you’ll use on the daily. Hit “Add to Cart” and thank us later!
Problem: Every pill cutter I’ve ever purchased has broken until I tried the EqualSplit.
Solution: The EqualSplit is constructed from medical-grade aluminum, so it's more durable than your run-of-the-mill pill splitter — making it easier for you to slice even the largest of pills.
EqualSplit Pill Splitter
Pros
Works with pills of all shapes and sizes- Double-blade designs ensures you get a clean split every time
- Doubles as a pillbox
Cons
- Can be tough to use if you have vision problems or arthritis
If you’re a pet owner, you’re probably well aware of how expensive veterinarians can be — especially if you don’t have pet insurance. One of the money-saving tricks I learned after my dog was prescribed pain pills for her arthritis was that higher doses could oftentimes be cheaper than lower doses for the same medication. Since my cocker spaniel only weighed 25 pounds, she didn’t need that high of a dose for her pills, so the vet instructed me to cut the pills in half.
I spent a week using my thumbs and index fingers to snap them in half. It’s doable (and a bit painful), but sometimes I’d get a 60:40 split rather than a clean 50:50 — a risk I certainly was not willing to take. Indeed, I needed a pill cutter — so I bought one of the self-branded pill cutters from Walgreens. Normally I research things before making a purchase, but I thought, “It has one simple job — how bad can it be?”
Reader, the answer is absolutely terrible. The Walgreens Safety Shield Pill Cutter, which cost me seven bucks, just didn’t work. For larger pills, the blade would bend and go sideways, just like my skates when I try to ice skate. It didn’t cleanly slice small- or medium-sized pills and would often break them and leave behind a powder.
I shouldn’t have expected much, considering the pill cutter is made primarily of thin and brittle plastic with a tiny razor blade attached. After less than a month of use, the razor blade bent and fell off completely when I tried to split a large L-lysine vitamin. I also tried the Equate Ultra Pill Splitter thinking it would be able to handle larger pills given the “Ultra” in its name, but it had the same downfall.
So, I took to Google and stumbled upon the EqualSplit. If I’m being perfectly honest, I was a bit turned off by its almost-$20 price. But given the fact that I had already spent $13 on two pill splitters that were terrible, I decided this one would be an investment (and hoped for the best that it wouldn’t break). Plus, I could use my FSA, and it was still cheaper than the $40 Equadose pill-splitter.
So what makes the EqualSplit so much better than the competition? Well for starters, it's made from solid medical-grade aluminum and has two sharp metal opposing blades that you push together. The opposing force is unique and helps ensure you get a clean split every time.
It had no issues cutting small and large pills — both scored and un-scored. I’ve used it with oblong, oval, and round pills, and it can cut them easily in halves and even thirds. Some Amazon reviewers have said that they’ve had success in slicing pills in fourths, but my medication isn’t that large to try.
The splitter is roughly the size of a contact lens case or a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum, making it easy to take with you anywhere. It saves my fingers the pain of cracking pills by hand and it was worth spending extra for since it’s so durable. I can even slice two pills at a time — that’s how strong its blades are.
Another nice perk is that it basically doubles as a pill box. There’s a swiveling acrylic lid that you can keep closed to store the pills you’ve already cut.
It's worth mentioning that the EqualSplit doesn’t have any sort of mechanism to hold the pill steady after you set it down. Once you place it between the “jaws” or the two blades, you have to remove your fingers and clamp the unit shut. I could see this as being difficult to do if you have hand arthritis or are prone to shaking. If you have poor eyesight, it may be difficult to line your pill up, as well.
One last thing: You should always ask your doctor, pharmacist, or vet if it is safe to split your pills prior to doing so.
The Bottom Line: The EqualSplit’s sub-$20 price tag might seem steep for what it is, but trust me — it’s a million times better than the majority of pill splitters out there. It has twin blades, is capable of slicing large and small-sized pills, and is made from more durable materials, so you can have peace of mind knowing it’ll last — and, of course, never get frustrated splitting a pill ever again.
Brandon Carte
Senior Electronics Editor
Brandon Carte is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering technology, gadgets and appliances. His reporting has been featured on Best Products, Top Ten Revies, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
