# Managing Payment Processors (Like PayPal and Venmo) in YNAB

> Payment processor apps like PayPal or Venmo allow you to seamlessly pay or receive funds through your bank account. Here's how to reflect that in YNAB.

Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/managing-payment-processors-like-paypal-and-venmo-in-ynab-an-overview-HJYM4WuR9

Last updated: 2026-07-02T17:27:08.527Z

Consider how you make use of payment processor apps like PayPal or Venmo, and choose one of two options to manage them in YNAB. Learn how to keep these processors off-plan (our recommended option), or set each up as an account.

#### In This Article

[Option One: Keeping It Off-Plan (Recommended)](#off-plan)

[Option Two: Setting It Up as an Account](#account)

[Can I Use Direct Import for These Accounts?](#import)

* * *

## Option One: Keeping It Off-Plan (Recommended)

Do you keep a balance in your PayPal or Venmo account? If not, we recommend keeping that account out of your plan altogether.

In most cases, PayPal and Venmo are acting as a payment **processor**, and the money is flowing from your bank account to the vendor you're paying, with this account being essentially a passthrough between them. Therefore, the simplest way is to record purchases that you make via PayPal or Venmo as **outflow transactions from your checking account**.

[Back to Top](#backtotop)

* * *

## Option Two: Setting It Up as an Account

If you use this account like a checking account and keep a balance in PayPal or Venmo, you can set this up using the **checking account type** in YNAB and enter only the transactions that affect the balance—inflows and spending from the actual balance. You'd continue to enter any transactions that affected only another account, like a checking account at a bank, into that account and not the PayPal or Venmo account.

[Back to Top](#backtotop)

* * *

## Can I Use Direct Import for These Accounts?

The short answer: We **don't** recommend it. We encourage you to enter transactions from these types of accounts using our [other transaction entry methods](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-add-transactions-in-ynab-HyDwA_byi).

The slightly longer answer: While you may have the option to link these accounts, we don't expect them to work well (even if they're available for your payment processor). And, they're **much** easier to manage without Direct Import. Here's why. When you use a checking account with a payment processor, payments flow through both your checking account and your payment account. Each single payment would require an outflow from your payment processor **and** a transfer from your checking account to your payment account. This adds an extra layer of complexity to your transactions and accounts, and we recommend simplifying whenever possible.

[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!