ynab-mcp-server

Name: ynab-mcp-server
Author: MCP-Mirror

@MCP-Mirror

Repository

About ynab-mcp-server

Mirror of

#ynab #mcp #budgeting #finance

Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ynab-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "ynab-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "YNAP_API_TOKEN": ""
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools

No tools detected

We auto-extract tools from the README. The maintainer can list them under a ## Tools heading to populate this section.

Overview

What is ynab-mcp-server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server built with mcp-framework that provides tools for interacting with your YNAB budgets. It is intended for use with AI assistants to manage YNAB data via conversation.

How to use ynab-mcp-server?

Set the environment variable YNAB_API_TOKEN with your YNAB personal access token. Build the project (npm install && npm run build), then add the server to your MCP client configuration (e.g., Claude Desktop) using the command and path to the built index.js, or use npx after publishing.

Key features of ynab-mcp-server

Lists all budgets on your YNAB account
Summarizes underfunded categories and low accounts
Retrieves all unapproved transactions
Creates new transactions for a specified budget and account
Supports prompt-based interaction for transaction creation

Use cases of ynab-mcp-server

Set up a default budget interactively with an AI assistant
Add new transactions from conversation (e.g., “Add a transaction … spent at REI”)
Review and manage overspent categories
Approve pending transactions
Check total monthly spending versus total income

FAQ from ynab-mcp-server

What runtime does ynab-mcp-server require?

It requires Node.js and npm. Build commands are npm install and npm run build.

How do I authenticate with YNAB?

You must set the environment variable YNAB_API_TOKEN with your personal access token from YNAB. This token is never sent directly to the LLM; it is stored privately in the environment.

Which MCP clients are supported?

The README provides configuration examples for Claude Desktop and links to other MCP clients at https://modelcontextprotocol.io/clients.

Can I add custom tools to ynab-mcp-server?

Yes, you can extend the server by adding new tools using the CLI command mcp add tool <tool-name> and referencing the YNAB OpenAPI specification.

What is the knowledge file for?

The optional KNOWLEDGE_DIR and KNOWLEDGE_FILE environment variables allow you to specify where and how server knowledge (e.g., budget selections) is stored. Defaults to data/server-knowledge.json in the server directory.