# Account Types (Cash, Credit, Loan, and Tracking) > YNAB has three types of accounts: Budget Loan or Tracking. Here's how to decide which one is best for you and how they work in your budget. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/account-types-an-overview-BkmGM0qCq Last updated: 2026-08-11T20:03:07.011Z Understand YNAB's four account types: cash, credit, loan, and tracking. Determine which type best suits your account needs since each influences your plan differently. Note that you can adjust account types if needed. #### In This Article [Account Types Overview](#types) [Cash and Credit Accounts](#cash-credit) [Loan Accounts](#loan) [Tracking Accounts](#track) [Cash and Credit Accounts vs. Loan and Tracking Accounts](#compare) * * * ## Account Types Overview * **Cash Accounts** are those from which you will spend money in the near future (usually within the next year or two). * **Credit Accounts** are those that generally have a negative balance, such as credit card and line of credit accounts. * **Loan Accounts** help you track your loans and plan for your loan payments. * **Tracking Accounts** hold money you don't plan to spend soon, such as investments. Select the wrong type initially and need to make a change? Follow [these steps to change account types](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/changing-an-account-type-a-guide-HJRnSXWko). ### How to Access a List of Your Accounts ### iOS 1. Tap the _Accounts_ tab. ### Android 1. Tap the _Accounts_ tab. ### Web 1. Check the left sidebar, under All Accounts. 2. Click the arrow next to an account type name (Cash, Credit, Loans, Tracking, or Closed) to expand or collapse that group's accounts. **If your entire sidebar is missing or collapsed** to a thin strip, visit [Changing the Appearance of Your Plan](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/changing-the-appearance-of-your-plan-BJzo3HlRc#sidebar). [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Cash and Credit Accounts These accounts are generally your most active accounts. Cash accounts typically have a positive balance and should match the cash in your categories and Ready to Assign. Credit accounts typically have a negative balance and should match the debt you owe on credit cards or lines of credit. You can easily see the total of all Cash accounts and all Credit accounts from the left sidebar (on web) or in the _Accounts_ tab (mobile). There are three Cash account options to choose from when you [add an account](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-an-account-ByoxswMJs): * Checking (typically used for everyday spending) * Savings (It's important to [assign your savings, too](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-assign-your-savings-rkJ_Yy3Rq)!) * Cash (transactions in this type of account are automatically marked as cleared in YNAB since, when you spend cash, it's gone right away) There are two Credit account options to choose from when you [add an account](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-an-account-ByoxswMJs):  * Credit Card (typically used for everyday spending) * [Line of Credit\*](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/line-of-credit-accounts-a-guide-S10LHsqkl) ### Choosing the Correct Option for a Cash or Credit Account If you use a credit card, it's important to select the Credit Card account type because of [how credit card accounts work](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/handling-credit-cards-overview-ry7cNub1s) in YNAB. PayPal accounts offer a great example of the types of Cash and Credit accounts to select: * If you have a PayPal account where you **receive, store, and spend funds**, choose Checking or Cash. * However, if you have a PayPal **Credit** **account**, you would choose Line of Credit. * If you have a PayPal **Credit Card**, you would choose Credit Card. * And while we're at it, if you simply use PayPal as a faster way to checkout and send or receive money in your other accounts, you don't even need to add it at all! \*If you're dealing with a true [**line of credit (LOC) or HELOC account**](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/line-of-credit-accounts-a-guide-S10LHsqkl), we actually recommend setting them up as [tracking accounts](#track) so you can reflect the cash advance transactions as expected. If you have any questions about handling these account types in YNAB, feel free to [tell the chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5)! [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Loan Accounts This account type is uniquely designed to help you track your loans and plan for your loan payments. If you have a student or personal loan, mortgage, medical debt, or another type of loan, [loan accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/loan-accounts-a-guide-HkNSkPHJi) help you plan for your payments and pay off that debt! There are six loan account options to choose from when you [add an account](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-an-account-ByoxswMJs): * Mortgage * Auto Loan * Student Loan * Personal Loan * Medical Debt * Other Debt [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Tracking Accounts The dollars in tracking accounts are not included in your plan. Adding these accounts to YNAB allows you to **track** their balance (we told you we were clever at naming things!).  Tracking accounts can be linked, depending on the type of account, though manually updating them tends to be more reliable. The data for investment and loan accounts is handled differently than regular spending or saving accounts, so it's common for them to import incorrectly or not be able to connect at all. Additionally, we aren't able to troubleshoot connection issues with tracking accounts. Learn more about [tracking investment accounts](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/tracking-investment-accounts-a-guide-r1Bzjxd05). Since the balances in tracking accounts don't impact your plan, you don't need to add any of them to YNAB. But you can if you want to. There are two tracking account options to choose from when you [add an account](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-an-account-ByoxswMJs): * **Asset**: investment accounts. * **Liability**: other loans, such as money owed between family or friends. This is what you'd want to choose for Line of Credit (LOC) and Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) accounts.  [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Cash and Credit Accounts vs. Loan and Tracking Accounts Your accounts are organized by type in the left sidebar (Web app) and in the _Accounts_ tab (iOS and Android mobile apps). Remember, the dollars in your cash accounts are included in your plan. The money in your **loan** accounts and **tracking** accounts are not included in your plan (since you're just tracking those accounts' balances). These funds won't be available to assign to your categories. If you're moving funds between accounts, check out this article on [transferring money](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/transfer-transactions-a-guide-HJOsZz4Jj). #### Reflect on Your Accounts There are [many ways to reflect](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reflect-in-ynab-B1GJsrWkj) on the balances and spending in each of your accounts. Activity in cash accounts will appear when you reflect with [Spending Trends](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/spending-trends-H1inlhzAc), [Spending Breakdown](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/spending-breakdown-H1H7YxmD0), [Income v Expense](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/income-v-expense-Byu1BYWRq), and [Net Worth](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/net-worth-BkwQO5WA5), while loan and tracking account activity appears only in Net Worth.  Net Worth gives you a zoomed-out view of your finances, and you can filter it to show account types or single accounts. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Help Us Help You! Our Knowledge Base team reviews article feedback responses weekly, and we actively revise these articles to make them as helpful as possible. That's where you come in! Our articles are scored based on the _Yes_ or _No_ ratings received below. We also collect freeform feedback for any _No_ ratings (so our team can focus in on what you were specifically searching for!). **Success**: Found what you were searching for? It would be super helpful if you click _Yes_ below. **Suggestions**: Didn't find what you're searching for and you'd like to share what terms or topics you wanted? Click _No_ below. You'll then be able to submit your feedback about this article. **Please note:** the feedback submissions are anonymous, and we’re not able to respond, so make sure to use the next option if you have a specific scenario or question you would like a response to. **Support**: If you have a question or would like a response to your specific question, [tell the chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) to ensure that your message gets to our Support team!