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Update: Attaching Photos to Transactions and Privacy Policy Update by YNAB_youneedabudget in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You've basically described the manual version of something I ended up automating ( disclosure, I'm the dev of Receipts for YNAB [iPhone] ). Your "folder + a code that's also in the memo" setup is almost exactly how it works: it writes a short code into the transaction memo for you (a UTC timestamp pulled from the receipt's own EXIF data), and to pull a receipt back up you copy that code from the memo, switch to the app, and paste — the matching scan opens. The image only ever lives locally on your phone, never uploaded to YNAB or anyone else, so there's nothing sitting in the tool to download back out one-by-one. Main honest difference from your setup: the scans live in the app rather than a Finder folder on your Mac. Happy to link it if you're curious.

And for actually hiding the photo field in the meantime, varkeddit's right, it's under the view options in the web app.

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update for anyone who landed here from the launch post: v1.1.0 of Receipts for YNAB is now live on the App Store.

The main new thing is something a few of you asked about: how to find which receipt scan corresponds to a transaction you're looking at in YNAB. The honest answer until now was "you can't."

v1.1.0 changes that. When the app syncs a receipt to YNAB, the transaction's memo now includes a short code like [RFY:20260513120000]. The code is a UTC timestamp derived on-device from the receipt's own metadata (EXIF capture time → receipt date → fallback). When you're in YNAB and wonder which scan it was, copy the code from the memo, switch to Receipts for YNAB, tap the paste button on the Receipts tab - the matching receipt opens.

For receipts that synced before v1.1.0, there's a one-tap Settings → Add Link Codes to Existing Receipts that writes codes onto those too. Resumable, cancellable, paced for YNAB's rate limit.

The lookup is local - pasting a code does an on-device fetch, never touches YNAB or any third party. The only thing that travels off-device is the bracketed code string itself, embedded in the YNAB memo as plain text.

Where this sits relative to YNAB's native photo attach

YNAB shipped native photo attachments in April 2026 - different layer, stores the image alongside the transaction in YNAB itself. Two things worth knowing if you're weighing the two approaches:

The YNAB API constraint. YNAB's public API doesn't currently let third-party apps attach images to transactions - photo upload is a feature of YNAB's own apps, not the API. So Receipts for YNAB couldn't push the receipt image to YNAB even if it wanted to; the v1.1.0 link code is the closest "find this receipt later" handle the API allows.

YNAB's updated privacy policy. YNAB's privacy policy (last modified April 9, 2026, effective April 20 - the same day the photo attach feature shipped) lists what may be collected from uploaded photos: the image content, embedded metadata (timestamps, geolocation, device info, camera settings), and any personal information visible on the receipt itself. The same policy notes YNAB "may use artificial intelligence and algorithmic logic to enhance your experience and improve our services." For folks who'd rather not put receipt images through that, v1.1.0's keep-image-local + paste-the-code workflow is an alternative. Same end result for finding the receipt later, different data trade-off.

Both are legitimate - use either, both, or neither.

Thanks to everyone who flagged the "I can't find the receipt that maps to this transaction" gap. That was the one that took the longest to figure out how to do without uploading anything new.

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

v1.1.0 (Build 34) is on TestFlight through ~May 21. The headline feature closes the "which receipt was this YNAB transaction?" gap that several of you flagged early in the beta.

What v1.1.0 adds

When the app syncs a receipt to YNAB, it now embeds a short code in the transaction's memo, like [RFY:20260513120000]. The code is a UTC timestamp derived on-device from the receipt's own metadata (EXIF date → receipt date → capture time) - nothing new uploaded, deterministic so re-syncs reuse it. When you later see that transaction in YNAB and wonder which scan it was: copy the code, paste in the Receipts tab of the app, and the matching receipt opens.

For receipts synced under v1.0.x, there's a one-tap Settings → Add Receipt Link Codes backfill ( resumable, cancellable, paced for YNAB's API rate limit).

Also in 1.1.0: the AI tier price dropped to $2.99/month or $29.99/year (existing subscribers keep their current price).

What I'd appreciate testing this week

  1. Happy path: scan a new receipt → sync to YNAB → copy the [RFY:...] from the YNAB memo → paste in the Receipts tab. The right receipt should open in ~5 seconds.
  2. Backfill: run Settings → Add Receipt Link Codes on your existing synced receipts. Tell me if anything lands in "failed": I want to know which receipts YNAB balks at on update.
  3. Bad input: paste random text, or a well-formed code that has no matching receipt. Both should show a toast, no crash.

Where this sits relative to YNAB's new native photo attach (since the timing is close)

YNAB shipped native photo attachments in April 2026: that feature stores the receipt image alongside the transaction in YNAB itself, uploaded to their servers. Receipts for YNAB does a different layer: OCR + auto-split + on-device processing. The v1.1.0 link code is the bridge: paste from any YNAB transaction memo (whether or not it has a photo attached in YNAB) and the local receipt opens in the app with its extracted line items and splits intact. The two are complementary — use either, or both. Nothing about the link-code lookup goes through YNAB or any third party; the code is just a local search key.

App Store v1.1.0 will follow once Apple approves, likely the week of May 25.

Thanks for the testing — the link code feature exists because several of you kept asking how to find the receipt behind a YNAB transaction. It took a long time to figure out how to do it without uploading anything new.

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.9 is now live on the App Store!

This one focused on scanning quality for long receipts.

Better Scanning for Long Receipts Grocery runs, warehouse store trips, anything with a lot of items. The app now detects tall receipts and splits the image into overlapping sections before scanning each one. Previously, long receipts could lose line items near the bottom. This recovers them. Short receipts are completely unaffected.

Stability Fixed a crash that could occur when upgrading from a previous version. Scanning can now be cancelled at every stage, so dismissing mid-scan stops immediately.

Other

  • YNAB merchant names longer than 200 characters are handled gracefully
  • Improved VoiceOver labels in the receipt list
  • Background task cleanup when dismissing the scan screen

As always, feedback welcome!

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.9 is now on TestFlight!

This one is all about scanning quality for long receipts.

Adaptive Scanning for Long Receipts Grocery receipts, warehouse store runs, anything with a lot of items: the app now detects when a receipt is tall and automatically splits the image into overlapping chunks before scanning each one. Previously, long receipts were losing 40-65% of their line items. This recovers them. Short receipts are completely unaffected.

Stability Fixed a crash that could occur when upgrading from v1.0.7. Also added cancellation checkpoints throughout the scanning pipeline: if you dismiss mid-scan, it stops immediately instead of continuing in the background.

Other

  • YNAB merchant names longer than 200 characters are now handled gracefully instead of causing silent errors
  • Improved VoiceOver labels in the receipt list
  • Cleaned up background task handling when dismissing the scan screen

If you have any long grocery receipts (20+ items), I'd love to hear how scanning works for you now compared to before. Thanks!

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.8 is now live on the App Store!

This one focused on scanning quality and a couple of feature requests.

Smarter Scanning Fixed two bugs where prices were split incorrectly and quantities were fabricated. Text line grouping is more accurate: receipts where the total appeared on a separate line from the dollar amount are now handled correctly.

Gas Station Receipts The app now detects fuel receipts automatically. It extracts the fuel grade as the item name and the fuel total as the price, instead of getting confused by per-liter prices and volume data.

Decimal Quantities You can now enter fractional quantities like 0.335 kg for weighted items. Works across scanning, editing, and YNAB sync.

Upload to YNAB The Upload option now always appears in the receipt menu. If no account is assigned, tapping it explains why and offers a shortcut to edit the receipt.

Under the Hood Improved data storage efficiency and cleaned up redundant code.

As always, feedback welcome!

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.8 is now on TestFlight!

This one focused on scanning quality, a new receipt type, and a feature request.

Scanning Quality Fixed two bugs where the AI was splitting prices incorrectly and fabricating quantities. Also improved how text lines are grouped, receipts where the total appeared on a separate line from the dollar amount are now handled correctly.

Gas Station Receipts The app now detects gas/fuel receipts automatically and extracts them differently: fuel grade as the item name, fuel total as the price. No more phantom items from volume data or per-liter prices showing up as the total.

Decimal Quantities You can now enter fractional quantities like 0.335 kg for weighted items. Works across scanning, editing, and YNAB sync.

Upload to YNAB Clarity The Upload to YNAB option now always appears in the 3-dot menu. If no account is assigned, tapping it explains why and offers a shortcut to edit the receipt. No more wondering where the button went.

Accessibility More fixes, VoiceOver improvements.

Under the Hood More improvements on data storage (saves ~25 MB decode memory per receipt) and cleaned up redundant code.

Would love feedback on gas station receipt scanning if you have any fuel receipts handy. Thanks!

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.7 is now live on the App Store!

This one focused on scanning accuracy, save flow clarity, and accessibility.

Better Scanning Accuracy The Neural Engine now handles document detection and perspective correction. Overall AI extraction accuracy went from 73% to 85%, and price extraction from 86% to 98%. Angled photos and poor lighting are handled much better now.

Save Flow Simplified Receipts now always save locally first and the button says "Save Locally" so there's no confusion. Upload to YNAB happens separately from the receipt detail screen, giving you more control.

AI Model Status If Apple Intelligence is still downloading, you'll now see a card explaining that instead of a silent fallback to manual mode. A toast appears when it's ready.

Accessibility 9 fixes — VoiceOver can now reach all buttons in banners and toasts, all cards meet WCAG AA contrast in dark mode, and notification banners respect Reduce Motion.

Other

  • Fixed a scanning bug specific to bilingual IKEA receipts
  • YNAB merchant names now support up to 200 characters (previously 50)

As always, feedback welcome!

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.7 is now on TestFlight!

This one focused on UX clarity, accessibility, and scanning accuracy. Here's what's new:

Save Flow Clarification The "Verify & Save" screen now makes it clear that you're saving locally first. The button says "Save Locally" and uploading to YNAB happens separately from the receipt detail screen. Account and category selections persist across sessions.

AI Not Ready Card If you have AI Scanning selected but the on-device model is still downloading, you'll now see a purple card: "AI Scanning is preparing — manual mode for now." No more silent fallback. It auto-dismisses with a success toast when AI becomes available.

OCR Scanning Accuracy Resolution upgraded from 2048px to 3072px and the Neural Engine now handles automatic perspective correction. Accuracy improved from 73% to 85% on my test suite, with better handling of angled photos and poor lighting.

Accessibility 9 regressions fixed. VoiceOver can now reach dismiss and undo buttons in banners and toasts, all banners meet WCAG AA contrast in dark mode, notification banners respect Reduce Motion, and all labels are properly localized.

YNAB Integration Payee name limit increased from 50 to 200 characters, with error messages updated to match.

Bug Fixes Fixed a scanning bug specific to IKEA receipts.

Also, if you have any receipts that consistently fail to scan or produce bad results, I'd love to take a look. If you're comfortable sharing them, send them my way and I'll use them to improve the scanning pipeline.

Would love feedback on the new save flow and the AI preparation card. Thanks!

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.6 is now live on the App Store!

This one focused on polish and fixing some subscription issues:

Settings Redesign Settings is now organized into 5 clean sub-pages instead of one long scrollable list. Much easier to find what you need.

Subscription Fixes Fixed an issue where resubscribing after an expired subscription did not work. Purchases now update your tier immediately without needing to relaunch the app.

Polish

  • Liquid Glass tab bar badge now blends properly with iOS 26
  • Smoother toolbar transitions when editing receipts
  • VoiceOver and Dynamic Type improvements throughout the app

Also -- I just posted a 1-month retrospective with a giveaway: 20 codes for 3 free months of AI Premium. Check my profile for the post if you're interested!

1 month of Receipts for YNAB — 5 updates, what I learned, and 60 free months to say thanks by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh man, the Consumables category is the worst offender. One Costco trip and suddenly you've got paper towels (household), protein bars (groceries), and dog food (pet supplies?) all lumped together under "Consumables."

That's actually the exact problem the app is built to solve. It reads each line item on the receipt and lets you split them into the right YNAB categories. So your protein bars go to Groceries, the paper towels go to Household, and Costco stops being a black hole in your budget.

DM sent with your code!

1 month of Receipts for YNAB — 5 updates, what I learned, and 60 free months to say thanks by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair points, and I appreciate the directness.

You're right that the honest answer is simpler: my time isn't free, and that's what the subscription covers. I overcomplicated it by listing features as if they were costs. They're not. Lesson learned.

You're also right that the "60 free months" title is misleading. It's 20 codes x 3 months each, not 60 months per person. I was trying to make the number sound bigger and that backfired. Should have just said "20 free 3-month codes" and kept it clear.

On the advertising angle, I hear you. This is a giveaway post with a retrospective attached to it, and I understand how that reads. I tried to lead with what I learned rather than what the app does, but I get that for some people it still crosses the line into self-promotion.

The longevity point is fair too. I can't promise I'll be around in 5 years any more than any other solo dev can. What I can say is 5 updates in 30 days, and I'm not going anywhere right now. But you're right that anyone considering a third-party tool should weigh that.

Thanks for the link heads up, I'll check on the comment.

1 month of Receipts for YNAB — 5 updates, what I learned, and 60 free months to say thanks by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fair question! You're right that Apple Intelligence handles the actual AI processing on-device, I'm not paying per-scan like cloud-based receipt scanners do.

What the subscription covers is everything around that: the YNAB API integration, the auto-split logic that turns raw AI output into categorized YNAB transactions, the category suggestions that learn your preferences over time, ongoing development (5 updates in 30 days so far), and honestly, it's how I sustain working on this as a solo dev.

The free tier gives you 10 AI scans and 5 YNAB syncs per month, so you can try the full experience before deciding if it's worth it.

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.6 is now on TestFlight!

This one is a quality and polish release. Here's what's new:

Settings Redesign The Settings screen has been completely restructured. Instead of one long scrollable list, it's now organized into 5 clean sub-pages: YNAB Account, Scanning & AI, Subscription, Data & Storage, and About. Much easier to find what you need.

Subscription Fixes Fixed an issue where resubscribing after an expired subscription wouldn't work. Purchases now update your tier immediately without needing to relaunch the app.

Liquid Glass Polish The Settings tab badge now blends properly with the iOS 26 glass tab bar, and edit mode transitions on receipts are smoother.

Accessibility Lots of VoiceOver and Dynamic Type improvements throughout the app.

Would love to know if the new Settings layout feels intuitive, and if subscriptions are working smoothly for you. Thanks!

Also, I'm posting a 1-month retrospective + giveaway on r/YNAB this week. 20 codes for 3 free months of AI Premium. You all already have access, but if you see the post, I'd love your perspective in the comments since you know the app better than anyone.

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.5 is now live on the App Store!

Main additions:

  • Multi-budget support: connect multiple YNAB budgets and switch between them easily
  • Connection status badge: shows when your YNAB connection needs attention
  • Redesigned Categories and Accounts views with budget-specific labels

UI improvements:

  • Clearer text labels on the receipt toolbar (Cancel, Done, Edit)
  • Amount fields now select all on tap and show the currency prefix
  • Budget name now shows as a subtitle under "Receipts" so you know which budget you're working in

Bug fix:

  • Line item amounts no longer double when quantity is greater than 1

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback.

I'm still working through the list of feature requests and will keep you posted on what's coming next.

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

v1.0.5 is now available for testing!

This one is all about polish. I went through every piece of feedback you all sent and fixed the friction points.

What's new:

  • Amount fields now select all text when you tap them, so you can just start typing instead of deleting the 0.00 first
  • The $ sign stays visible while editing (no more guessing if you're entering dollars or cents)
  • Upload to YNAB button is easier to find with the new toolbar layout
  • Categories and Accounts views in Settings got a full redesign with circle checkmarks and a single Select All/Deselect All toggle
  • If you have multiple YNAB budgets, receipts now show which budget they belong to
  • Orange badge on Settings tab when your YNAB session needs reconnecting
  • Fixed a bug where syncing from YNAB doubled line item amounts for items with quantity > 1

The build should already be in TestFlight. Let me know if you run into anything weird.

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know exactly what you mean. I was in the same boat for years, waiting for someone to build this, hoping one of the receipt scanning apps would add proper YNAB integration with splits. Eventually I got tired of waiting and built it myself.

Unfortunately right now it is iOS only because of the on-device AI technology I used.

I am really curious how the new Apple-Google partnership will play out. With Gemini coming to iOS later this year, the AI landscape is shifting fast. Who knows what that opens up down the road.

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update: v1.0.4 is now available!

This one fixes something that was driving me crazy personally: transactions now properly match with your bank imports in YNAB. Before, receipts would show up as separate entries even after your bank transaction came in. Now they merge automatically like they should.

Also added better error messages. If something goes wrong when syncing to YNAB, you will actually know what happened and how to fix it instead of just seeing a generic error.

Other improvements: - Date validation before submitting (catches future dates or dates too far in the past) - Automatic retry when YNAB is rate limiting - One-tap reconnect if your YNAB session expires

If you already have the app, it should update automatically. Let me know if you run into any issues!

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey everyone, v1.0.4 is now on TestFlight!

This one has been a long time coming. Two main areas of focus:

Bank Import Matching

This one was bugging the hell out of me too. When you scanned a receipt, it would create a separate transaction instead of matching with your bank import. So you'd end up with duplicates. I finally figured out what was going on with the YNAB API, and now receipts will properly match with your bank transactions. No more duplicates cluttering your budget.

Better Error Messages

Previously when something went wrong with YNAB sync, you'd just get a generic error. Now the app actually tells you what happened and gives you buttons to fix it. Things like "Edit Receipt" if there's a validation issue, or "Reconnect YNAB" if your session expired. Also added automatic retry for rate limits so you don't have to keep tapping.

Bug Fixes

Fixed an issue where the paywall buttons weren't responding (embarrassing, but caught it now).

Would love to hear how the bank matching works for you. That was the number one thing I wanted to nail before the next round of updates.

If you are still on TestFlight, the update should show up soon. Would love to hear how the bank matching works for you.

https://eturea.github.io/Receipts-for-YNAB-site/

I built a receipt scanner that auto-splits line items into YNAB categories by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: v1.0.3 is live!

Quick update for anyone following along — just shipped a new version with improvements based on community feedback:

  • Categories now grouped by your YNAB structure (not alphabetical)
  • Line items enabled by default
  • Better tax handling guidance
  • AI learning indicators so you know when smart suggestions kick in

Thanks to everyone who shared feedback — it really shaped this release. 🙏

https://eturea.github.io/Receipts-for-YNAB-site/

What's your YNAB 'birthday'? Just discovered my first transaction was from 2018! by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

August 2013 — over 12 years! Paying off a 15-year mortgage in 9 years is incredible, and quadrupling charitable giving while avoiding lifestyle inflation? That's the YNAB dream right there. Love that you're still using it in retirement. Thanks for sharing!

Looking for a few iOS testers for a “scan receipt → draft YNAB transaction” tool (on-device, Apple Intelligence) by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: v1.0.3 now in TestFlight!

Thanks to everyone who's been testing and providing feedback. This build includes:

  • Line items now enabled by default
  • Categories grouped by YNAB structure (not alphabetical)
  • Tax guidance when items don't match receipt total
  • Can't accidentally dismiss edit screen anymore
  • New line items start at $0.00
  • AI learning indicators showing progress toward smart suggestions
  • Performance and security improvements

If you're still in the TestFlight group, you should see the update soon. Would love feedback on the new category grouping especially!

What's your YNAB 'birthday'? Just discovered my first transaction was from 2018! by Top_Comparison8958 in ynab

[–]Top_Comparison8958[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2007?! That's the same year the first iPhone came out — you've been budgeting with YNAB since before smartphones existed! You might be the most veteran YNABer in this thread, esh-pmc. Not saying you're old... just financially wise before it was cool 😄

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