Attachments for YNAB - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Table of Contents

General Questions

What is Attachments for YNAB?

Attachments for YNAB is a web application that allows you to attach files to your YNAB (You Need A Budget) data like transactions, accounts, categories, payees, and budgets. Think of it as adding digital receipts, invoices, or documents to your financial data.

How does it work?

The app connects to your YNAB account using secure OAuth authentication (read-only access) and links with your cloud storage (Dropbox or Google Drive). You can then upload files and associate them with specific YNAB transactions or other data. The files are stored in your own cloud storage, while the app maintains secure, encrypted links between your YNAB data and your files.

Is this an official YNAB product?

No, Attachments for YNAB is an independent third-party application that integrates with YNAB’s public API. It’s not officially associated with YNAB, but it uses YNAB’s secure OAuth system for authentication.

What file types can I attach?

You can attach virtually any file type including:

  • Images (receipts, screenshots, photos)
  • PDFs (invoices, statements, contracts)
  • Documents (Word docs, spreadsheets, text files)
  • Any other file format supported by your cloud storage provider

Privacy & Security

How is my data protected?

Here’s how we protect your information:

  • No Identifying Information Stored: We don’t store any YNAB transaction amounts, descriptions, or other identifying details
  • Encrypted OAuth Tokens: Your YNAB and cloud storage access tokens are encrypted before being stored in our database
  • Your Files Stay Yours: Files are stored in your own cloud storage accounts, not on our servers
  • Secure Authentication: Uses official OAuth systems from YNAB, Dropbox, and Google Drive

What information do you store about me?

We store minimal information necessary for the service to function:

  • Your email address (for account management)
  • Encrypted OAuth tokens for YNAB and cloud storage access
  • File metadata (filename, size, type) for indexing and searching
  • Anonymous hashed references linking files to YNAB data
  • Your subscription status and preferences

We explicitly DO NOT store:

  • YNAB transaction amounts, descriptions, or account balances
  • YNAB account names, category names, or payee names
  • Your actual files (these stay in your cloud storage)
  • Any personally identifiable YNAB financial data

Can you see my YNAB data or files?

No, our servers never see your YNAB or cloud storage data. Here’s how it works:

Our servers CANNOT see:

  • Your YNAB transaction amounts, descriptions, or account balances
  • Your files in cloud storage
  • Your YNAB login credentials or cloud storage passwords
  • Any of your financial information

How the app actually works:

  • Your browser connects directly to YNAB and your cloud storage using secure tokens
  • All your financial data stays in your browser - our servers never receive it
  • We only store anonymous links between YNAB transaction IDs and your cloud files
  • Your browser handles all the data processing and file management

Your privacy protection:

  • Your financial data never leaves your browser to reach our servers
  • Your files always remain in your own cloud storage accounts
  • You can disconnect anytime, which removes our ability to link files to your transactions

Getting Started

What do I need to get started?

To use Attachments for YNAB, you’ll need:

  1. An active YNAB account with at least one budget
  2. A cloud storage account (Dropbox or Google Drive)
  3. A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)

How do I set up my account?

  1. Create an account on our website with your email address
  2. Connect YNAB using the secure OAuth connection (read-only access)
  3. Connect cloud storage (Dropbox or Google Drive)
  4. Choose your plan (Free or Pro)
  5. Start attaching files to your YNAB transactions and data

Is there a mobile app?

Currently, Attachments for YNAB is a web application optimized for both desktop and mobile browsers. You can access it from any device with a web browser, and the interface is fully responsive for mobile use.

Cloud Storage

Which cloud storage providers are supported?

We currently support:

  • Dropbox (personal and business accounts)
  • Google Drive (personal and Google Workspace accounts)

Where are my files stored?

Your files are stored in your own cloud storage account in a dedicated folder structure. The app creates folders organised by ynab data type and identifier to keep your files organized and easily accessible.

Can I access my files directly in my cloud storage?

Yes! Your files remain in your cloud storage and you can access them directly through Dropbox or Google Drive anytime. The app simply creates organized folders and maintains links between files and your YNAB data.

What happens if I disconnect cloud storage?

If you disconnect your cloud storage:

  • Your files will remain in your cloud storage account
  • All associations between YNAB data and attachments will be permanently lost from our database
  • You’ll need to reconnect and re-associate files if you want to use the service again
  • This action cannot be undone

Can I use multiple cloud storage accounts?

Currently, you can connect one Dropbox account and/or one Google Drive account. You can switch between providers or disconnect and reconnect different accounts, but attachments will need to be re-uploaded when switching providers.

Subscription Plans

What’s included in the Free plan?

The Free plan includes:

  • 8 attachments per month (quota resets monthly)
  • Full access to all core features
  • Secure file attachment to YNAB data
  • Cloud storage integration (Dropbox or Google Drive)
  • Mobile-responsive web interface

What’s included in the Pro plan?

The Pro plan includes:

  • All Free plan features
  • Unlimited attachments per month
  • Advanced transaction and file search options
  • Batch attachment download
  • Priority support
  • Early access to new features

How much does the Pro plan cost?

Pro plan pricing is available on our subscription page. We offer both monthly and annual billing options, with savings available for annual subscriptions.

How do I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

You can change your subscription at any time:

  • Upgrade: Visit Settings → Billing and select a Pro plan
  • Downgrade: Use the “Manage Billing” button to access Stripe’s billing portal where you can cancel or modify your subscription
  • Changes take effect immediately for upgrades, or at the next billing period for downgrades

When does my free quota reset?

Free plan quotas reset on the same day each month as your account creation date. You can see your current usage and reset date in the app.

File Management

How do I attach a file to a YNAB transaction?

  1. Navigate to the transaction in your YNAB budget within the app
  2. Click “Attach File” or drag and drop files directly
  3. Select files from your device
  4. The files will be uploaded to your cloud storage and linked to the transaction
  5. Add optional names or notes for organization

Can I attach multiple files to one transaction?

Yes! You can attach multiple files to any YNAB data type. This is useful for transactions that have multiple receipts, or for adding both the original receipt and a warranty document.

How do I view or download attached files?

  • View: Click on any attachment to view it directly in your browser (for supported file types)
  • Download: Use the download button to save files to your device
  • Bulk operations: Select multiple attachments to download them all as a ZIP file

Can I organize my attachments?

Yes! You can:

  • Use the search and filter functions to find specific files
  • View attachments organized by YNAB data type (transactions, accounts, categories, etc.)
  • Sort by date, name, or size

What happens to my attachments if I delete a YNAB transaction?

The attachment associations in our app are based on YNAB entity IDs. If you delete a transaction in YNAB, the attachment will remain in our system but may no longer be accessible through the normal interface since the transaction no longer exists. Your files will still be in your cloud storage.

Technical Questions

Does the app sync with YNAB in real-time?

The app regularly syncs with your YNAB data to ensure you have access to your latest transactions and budget structure. However, it’s not instantaneous - there may be a slight delay when new transactions appear in YNAB before they’re available for attachment in our app.

Can I use this with multiple YNAB budgets?

Yes! If you have multiple budgets in YNAB, you can select which budget to work with and attach files to data across all your budgets.

What browsers are supported?

The app works with all modern web browsers including:

  • Chrome (recommended)
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge

Is the app accessible?

We strive to make the app accessible to all users and follow web accessibility guidelines. If you encounter any accessibility issues, please contact our support team.

Troubleshooting

My YNAB connection isn’t working

Try these steps:

  1. Refresh your connection: Go to Settings → YNAB Connection and try disconnecting and reconnecting
  2. Check YNAB status: Ensure YNAB’s service is running normally
  3. Clear browser cache: Sometimes cached data can cause connection issues
  4. Contact support: If problems persist, we’re here to help

Files aren’t uploading to cloud storage

Common solutions:

  1. Check cloud storage permissions: Ensure the app has proper access to your cloud storage
  2. Verify file size: Ensure files aren’t too large for your cloud storage limits
  3. Check internet connection: Large files require stable internet connections
  4. Try reconnecting: Disconnect and reconnect your cloud storage account
  5. File format: Ensure the file format is supported by your cloud storage provider

I’ve reached my monthly limit on the free plan

When you reach your 8-attachment monthly limit on the Free plan:

  • You’ll see a notification in the app
  • You can upgrade to Pro for unlimited attachments
  • Or wait until your quota resets next month
  • Your existing attachments remain accessible

My quota shows incorrect numbers

If your usage counter seems incorrect:

  • Try refreshing the page or logging out and back in
  • The counter updates when you upload new attachments
  • Contact support if discrepancies persist

Account Management

How do I change my email address?

You can update your email address in your account settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Profile Information
  2. Update your email address in the email field
  3. Click Save to update your profile
  4. You’ll need to verify your new email address - check your inbox for a verification email
  5. Click the verification link to confirm your new email address

Note: After changing your email, you’ll need to verify the new address before you can fully use your account.

How do I delete my account?

To delete your account:

  1. Disconnect services: First disconnect your YNAB and cloud storage connections in Settings
  2. Contact support: Email us to request account deletion
  3. Data removal: We’ll permanently delete your account data according to our privacy policy
  4. Files remain: Your files will remain in your cloud storage accounts

Note: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

Can I export my attachment data?

While the actual files remain in your cloud storage, as a pro user you can use the bulk download feature to get copies of all your attachments as ZIP files. For a complete data export including metadata, contact our support team.

I forgot my password

Use the “Forgot Password” link on the login page to reset your password. You’ll receive an email with instructions to create a new password.

Billing & Support

How does billing work?

  • Free plan: No billing required
  • Pro plan: Billed monthly or annually through Stripe
  • Automatic renewal: Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled
  • Billing portal: Access your billing details and invoices through Settings → Billing

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) through our secure payment processor, Stripe.

Can I get a refund?

Please contact our support team to discuss refund requests. We handle these on a case-by-case basis.

How do I contact support?

You can reach our support team:

  • Email: admin@a4y.app
  • Response time: We typically respond within 1-2 business days

Is there a status page for service updates?

Service status and maintenance updates are communicated through the app and via email to users when necessary.

Privacy Policy & Terms

Where can I read your privacy policy?

Our full privacy policy is available at /privacy/ and covers how we collect, use, and protect your information.

What are your terms of service?

Our terms of service outline the rules and guidelines for using Attachments for YNAB and are available at /terms/.

How long do you keep my data?

We keep your data as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we permanently remove your data according to our privacy policy, though files in your cloud storage remain under your control.

Do you share data with third parties?

No, we do not sell or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes. We only integrate with the services you authorize (YNAB, Dropbox, Google Drive, Stripe for billing) as necessary to provide our service.

Still Have Questions?

If you can’t find the answer to your question in this FAQ, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. We’re here to help you make the most of Attachments for YNAB!

Last Updated: September 2025