Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@ynab-mcpHow much do I have left in my Groceries category for this month?"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
ynab-mcp
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that exposes the full YNAB API, allowing LLMs to read and manage your budget through natural language. Provides tools for CRUD operations, resources for ambient budget context, and prompts for guided financial workflows.
Requirements
Node.js 20+
Installation
npm install -g ynab-mcpOr install from source:
git clone https://github.com/justmytwospence/ynab-mcp.git
cd ynab-mcp
npm install
npm run build
npm install -g .Configuration
Set your YNAB API token as an environment variable:
export YNAB_API_TOKEN="your-token-here"Generate a token at YNAB > Account Settings > Developer Settings.
Claude Code
claude mcp add ynab-mcp ynab-mcp -e YNAB_API_TOKEN=your-token-hereClaude Desktop
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"ynab-mcp": {
"command": "ynab-mcp",
"env": {
"YNAB_API_TOKEN": "your-token-here"
}
}
}
}Tools
49 tools covering the full YNAB API. All monetary amounts use YNAB's milliunits format (e.g., $12.34 = 12340).
User
Tool | Description |
| Get authenticated user info |
Budgets
Tool | Description |
| List all budgets with optional account info |
| Get a budget's full detail including all entities |
| Get date and currency format settings |
Accounts
Tool | Description |
| List all accounts with balances and types |
| Get details for a single account |
| Create a new account |
Categories
Tool | Description |
| List all categories grouped by category group |
| Get details for a single category |
| Create a new category |
| Update a category's name, note, or goal |
| Get a category's budget for a specific month |
| Update budgeted amount for a category in a month |
| Create a new category group |
| Update a category group's name |
Transactions
Tool | Description |
| List transactions with optional filters |
| Get details for a single transaction |
| Create a new transaction |
| Batch create multiple transactions |
| Update an existing transaction |
| Bulk update multiple transactions |
| Delete a transaction |
| Import from linked financial institutions |
| List transactions for a specific account |
| List transactions for a specific category |
| List transactions for a specific payee |
| List transactions for a specific month |
Scheduled Transactions
Tool | Description |
| List all scheduled/recurring transactions |
| Get details for a scheduled transaction |
| Create a new scheduled transaction |
| Update a scheduled transaction |
| Delete a scheduled transaction |
Payees
Tool | Description |
| List all payees |
| Get details for a single payee |
| Update a payee's name |
Payee Locations
Tool | Description |
| List all payee GPS locations |
| Get a single payee location |
| Get all locations for a specific payee |
Months
Tool | Description |
| List all budget months with summaries |
| Get detailed month info with category balances |
Money Movements
Tool | Description |
| List all money movements |
| Get money movements for a specific month |
| List all money movement groups |
| Get money movement groups for a specific month |
Workflows
Tool | Description |
| Merge a source category into a target, moving all transactions and budgeted amounts |
| Audit CC payment category balances against card balances, with optional auto-fix |
Resources
Resources provide structured budget data that clients can pull into context without a tool call. Template resources use URI parameters (e.g., {budget_id}).
Resource | URI | Description | API Cost |
API Usage |
| Current rate limit status: calls used, remaining, window reset | 0 |
Budget Summary |
| Budget overview with accounts, balances, and category groups | 1 |
Account List |
| All accounts with type, balance, cleared/uncleared balances | 1 |
Monthly Categories |
| All categories for a month with budgeted, activity, and balance | 1 |
Prompts
Prompts are guided workflow templates that users can invoke to walk through common budgeting tasks. They instruct the LLM which tools to call and how to interpret results.
Prompt | Arguments | Description |
|
| Review a budget month: overspent categories, spending variances, underfunded goals, CC mismatches |
|
| Audit transactions for uncategorized, unapproved, duplicates, and unusual amounts |
|
| Guided walkthrough: accounts, categories, targets, scheduled transactions, fund allocation |
|
| Category breakdown, budget vs. actual, top payees, income vs. spending |
|
| Audit CC payment category balances with dry-run-first, confirm-before-apply flow |
Development
npm run dev # Watch mode with tsx
npm run build # Compile TypeScript
npm start # Run compiled serverLicense
MIT
Resources
Looking for Admin?
Admins can modify the Dockerfile, update the server description, and track usage metrics. If you are the server author, to access the admin panel.