Getting data from YNAB is impossible

pasham

I recently subscribed for Simplifi with hope that I can use better interface and track my bills through it. I wanted to import 15000+ transactions since last 7 years across 20+ accounts. I thought this is possible with import functionality. NOPE. First, basic import template doesn't have categories. Second, you have to import each account separately. Third, Mind and Personal Capital supports categories but when I tried using those templates, most of the transactions came as "Uncategorized".

I tried to slice and dice this issue through excel updates. I even used an unmodified Mint file as suggested in one of the posts. But none of those things worked. For a service that exist for more than 3 years, it's really bad that you are not making transition smoother from competitors. Other services like TillerMoney or Pocketsmith have templates and articles on how you can import from Mint/YNAB, but Simplifi has decided not to do anything eventhough these issues were raised 3 years ago.

I don't see any roadmap posted in this community. The said roadmap which was supposed to appear a year ago is nowhere to be seen. I have lost my hope and should have thought twice before committing for a year.

Flopbot

@pasham , welcome to Simplfi! Sorry to hear that you're experiencing challenges and frustrations right out of the gate. It does sound like you've probably either already found this Simplifi support document (click here) or alternatively have already familiarized yourself with the all the steps.

Two things…

1. I would respectfully challenge you to really consider the merits of a fresh start. I understand your desire to have long histories to reference in your financial app - I'd love that too - but with Simplifi, it just doesn't seem to matter all that much. With Simplifi, historical transactions don't play any role in keeping the bank balance accurate and the only places they might hinder are in the accuracy of calculating 6 and 12 month averages in places like the Spending Plan > Planned Spending and Dashboard > Watchlists. Also, Reports are the other place that you might miss them. However, one year goes by REALLY quick and those 6 and 12 month averages will populate soon enough, at which time your having uploaded a long (15,000+) transaction history will just be there for personal curiosity. There's something very official and freeing in having a fresh start; a new chance to do even better.
2. When I switched from Quicken Desktop to Simplifi in 2021, I downloaded 7 years worth of transactions from Quicken Desktop into an Excel file (technically Google Sheet) so that if I ever needed to reference it I could easily get at it. Over the course of the last two years, I've only had to reference this file about 2 times - though I've been grateful that I had it when I did.

Just some thoughts from someone who's 2 years into learning Simplifi…and has a ways to go still.

DannyB

Hi @pasham

I second @Flopbot 's suggestions. I do have a question, and I'm not being snarky, but truly curious. Why do you need to import that much back data? Again, just curious.

IMHO, I have found that Simplifi really is a different animal from the other personal finance apps I'm familiar with - MS Money, Quicken, YNAB, Monarch, Mint - there are so many more, but these are apps I've tried out or used long term. Because of it's difference, trying to make it work like the others is difficult. What makes Simplifi attractive to me is that difference. I can't speak for the product development team but only as a customer, but I don't see Simplifi as a full on accounting program and I don't think that has been the intention form the start. That may be why there is not an "easy" means for importing historical data from other programs, though I think it can be done for some. I never felt the need for that function and so never looked into it.

I hope you will accept Chris' challenge to make a fresh start, but understand if it's just not what you are looking for.

pasham

@Flopbot & @DannyB - Thanks for suggestions and sharing your experience. It's indeed a different perspective but I am willing to try it. As @Flopbot guessed it correctly the main intention behind the historical data is to look at reports and plan for future budgets/expenses. It helps slicing and dicing through data across categories to get better sense of spending. I also sometimes search for historical transactions to understand last spend but that will also work through excel file.

I will still have overlap with YNAB till the end of this year so I will see how this turns out.

However, I still haven't seen any comments from Simplifi staff on roadmap. I think feature roadmap gives confidence to customers that product is constantly being developed and customers can see if their feedback is getting heard or not.

Thanks again.

DannyB

Hi @pasham

Here are a couple of posts concerning the roadmap idea that a number of users have requested.

https://community.simplifimoney.com/discussion/3510/simplifis-roadmap

https://community.simplifimoney.com/discussion/5021/add-a-product-roadmap-or-list-of-whats-being-worked-on-edited

DannyB

@pasham

It sounds like you have at least a 7 year history/relationship with YNAB. Would you be willing to why you are looking for a different personal finance app?