nYNAB API Import
Import records directly from the YNAB API using a Personal Access Token.
Unlike the nYNAB file import, this method connects to YNAB’s API so there is no need to manually export and upload a file.
Setup
- Generate a Personal Access Token in your YNAB account settings.
- In Surebeans: ☰ → Import → From nYNAB API…
- Paste your Personal Access Token.
- Select a budget from the dropdown list.
- Click Import.
New journal or incremental import
The API import supports two modes:
| Mode | When to use |
|---|---|
| Create new journal | First-time import; builds a full journal from your YNAB budget |
| Add to existing journal | Incremental import; adds new records to your current journal |
To do an incremental import, open an existing journal first, then run the import. Surebeans will add any records that are not already present.
For incremental imports, the process has two steps:
- Conflict review: if any existing records were modified in YNAB, you choose which version to keep (local or YNAB).
- Record review: new and conflicting records are shown per-account in the Import Review screen.
Stored settings
Your Personal Access Token and selected budget are saved locally so you do not need to re-enter them on subsequent imports.
What gets imported
See nYNAB Import - What gets imported for the full mapping between YNAB and Surebeans concepts.
Import Review
After importing, Import Review appears.
Tips
- The Personal Access Token is stored locally and never sent anywhere except the YNAB API.
- Use incremental import to keep your Surebeans journal up to date without re-importing everything.
- The YNAB API limits 200 web requests per hour. If you get errors, wait up to an hour and try again.