Is the YNAB import really free?

Yes. Importing your YNAB export is completely free — no Aspire Turbo subscription required. Regular bank CSV imports remain a Turbo feature, but YNAB imports are free for everyone.

What data carries over from YNAB?

Aspire imports Account, Date, Payee, Category, Memo, Outflow, and Inflow from the YNAB Register CSV. Budget allocations and targets do not carry over — you set those up fresh in Aspire.

Do my category names need to match exactly?

Yes. The import maps your YNAB category names directly to Aspire categories. Set up your categories in Aspire first using the same names as YNAB (including emoji if you use them). Any transactions with unmatched categories will still import — the category field will just show what YNAB had.

Do my account names need to match exactly?

Yes. The YNAB Account column is imported directly. Make sure your Aspire account names match your YNAB account names (e.g., "Checking", "Credit Card").

What about my YNAB budget allocations?

Budget allocations (how much money is assigned to each category) are not imported. YNAB exports this in a separate Budget CSV that Aspire does not process. You will set up your budget amounts manually in Aspire's Configuration sheet.

What happens to split transactions?

YNAB exports split transactions as individual rows, each with their own amount and category. These import as separate transactions in Aspire, which is correct behavior — each split gets its own line.

Can I filter which accounts to import?

The entire file is imported as-is. If you only want certain accounts, filter your CSV in Google Sheets or Excel before importing — remove the rows for accounts you do not want.

What if I import the same file twice?

Aspire deduplicates automatically. If a transaction was already imported, it will be skipped. You will see a count of how many were imported vs. skipped.

Can I start fresh instead of importing my YNAB history?

Yes. If your YNAB budget is messy or you want a clean break, copy Aspire and start with current balances instead of importing old transactions. You can continue using an envelope-style zero-based approach.

Do I need the Aspire add-on to import from YNAB?

Yes. The spreadsheet is free, and the Aspire Budgeting add-on is also free to install from the Google Workspace Marketplace. The YNAB import is available from the add-on sidebar and does not require Aspire Turbo.

Does Aspire use the same budgeting method as YNAB?

Both support envelope-style zero-based budgeting: available money is assigned to categories, and spending reduces category balances. The products differ in their workflows, targets, automation, mobile experience, and reporting.

Bring your YNAB transaction history into Aspire

Import the fields that matter, then continue with envelope-style zero-based budgeting in Google Sheets.

Get Aspire free

No Aspire account or Turbo subscription required. Copy Aspire to your Drive, open the free add-on, and import from the sidebar.

A direct path from your YNAB Register

The old way

Export YNAB data as CSV
Open in Google Sheets
Manually compare column layouts
Reorganize columns to match the new tool
Copy-paste categories one by one
Install a third-party import add-on
Pay for another subscription

With Aspire

Export from YNAB
Drop the file into Aspire
Review the imported transaction history

Account, Date, Payee, Category, Memo, Outflow, and Inflow are imported free.

How to import your YNAB data

1
Set up your Aspire spreadsheet
Copy the template to your Drive, then open the free Aspire Budgeting add-on sidebar. Add your account names and category names to match YNAB exactly (including any emoji).
2
Export your YNAB Register
In YNAB, go to your budget and click "Export Budget." You'll get two CSV files — use the Register file (your transactions).
3
Import into Aspire
Open the Aspire sidebar, go to Settings & Support → Import from YNAB, and drop your file. Aspire auto-detects the format and imports everything.
4
Set up your budget amounts
YNAB's budget allocations don't carry over (they're in a separate file). Open the Configuration tab to set up your category amounts and goals, then use Category Transfers to move money between categories — same process as YNAB, just in a spreadsheet.

Ready to bring your YNAB history over?

Copy the spreadsheet first, then use the free Aspire add-on to import your Register CSV.

Copy Aspire free

Import your history, or start fresh?

Import from YNAB if...

You want old transactions for reports and context.
Your YNAB categories still mostly match how you budget.
You want Aspire to feel familiar on day one.

Start fresh if...

Your old budget is messy or outdated.
You mainly want a clean Google Sheets version of the method.
You only need current balances and a new plan going forward.

Either path works. Aspire uses an envelope-style zero-based approach whether you import old data or begin with a clean Sheet.

What carries over — and what doesn't

Imported

✓ Transaction dates
✓ Outflow and inflow amounts
✓ Category names
✓ Account names
✓ Payee / memo descriptions
✓ Split transactions (as individual rows)

Not imported

— Budget allocations (set up manually)
— Category targets/goals
— Flags
— Cleared/reconciled status

Budget allocations take 5 minutes to set up manually in Aspire's Configuration sheet.

Before you import

The import works by matching names exactly. A few minutes of setup ensures everything maps cleanly:

1.
Account names must match. If YNAB has "Checking" and "Credit Card," your Aspire accounts need the same names.
2.
Category names must match. If YNAB has "🍿 Entertainment," Aspire needs the same string including the emoji.
3.
Filter the CSV if needed. The entire file is imported as-given. If you don't want certain accounts, remove those rows from the CSV first.

After the import

Once your YNAB transactions are in Aspire, use this quick checklist to make the new spreadsheet feel like home.

✓
Review your imported account names and category names.
✓
Set monthly amounts and goals on the Configuration tab.
✓
Reconcile your account balances before you start budgeting forward.
✓
Assign current money to categories, then use Category Transfers when plans change.

Start Here guide →Your first month with Aspire →

Common import questions

Some categories or accounts do not match

Review names in Aspire's Configuration tab. The import uses the names from your YNAB export, so matching them before import keeps reporting cleaner.

Split transactions look like separate rows

That is expected. YNAB exports split transactions as individual rows, and Aspire imports each split line so category totals stay accurate.

Budget amounts did not import

YNAB transaction history and budget allocations are separate exports. Aspire imports the Register file, then you set monthly amounts and goals in Configuration.

You imported the same file twice

Aspire checks for duplicates during import. Review the import summary to see what was imported and what was skipped.

Credit cards need a careful starting point

After import, reconcile account balances and set current starting balances before budgeting forward. For the full workflow, use the credit card help guide.

Credit card guide →

Why people switch from YNAB

✓
Save $109/year — Aspire is free. Same method, no subscription.
✓
Own your data — Your budget lives in your Google Drive, not on someone else's servers.
✓
No bank linking — No Plaid, no sharing credentials with third parties.
✓
Full customizability — Add columns, change formulas, build your own reports. YNAB is locked down.
✓
Works forever — It's a spreadsheet. Even if Aspire disappears, your budget keeps working.

Who should stay with YNAB?

Aspire is a strong fit for spreadsheet people who want the YNAB method without the subscription. YNAB may still be better if:

→
You want full automatic bank sync and do not want to download CSV files.
→
You prefer a dedicated app experience over working inside Google Sheets.
→
You rely heavily on YNAB's mobile app, widgets, or guided onboarding.

If you mainly want envelope-style zero-based budgeting in a free Google Sheet, Aspire is built for that.

Helpful next reads

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to leave YNAB?

Copy the spreadsheet, set up your categories, import your history. Same budgeting method, $0/year.

Get Aspire Budgeting free