Budget App Without Bank Login — Direct API or Statement Import
Aggregators sit between you and your bank, mirroring every transaction to their servers. Budgie talks to your bank directly via tokens or imports statements you download yourself.
Why this matters
Aggregators sit between you and your bank, mirroring every transaction to their servers. Budgie talks to your bank directly via tokens or imports statements you download yourself.
Budgie vs. the category
Two paths: (1) direct API tokens for supported banks like Monobank, where the token lives in your device's secure keystore; (2) PDF/CSV/Excel statement imports for anything else.
Aggregators sit between you and your bank, mirroring transactions to their servers. Budgie deliberately does not use them.
Both can be secure when implemented correctly. The difference is the threat surface: direct tokens are bank-to-you; aggregator OAuth adds a third party with your credentials and your transaction stream.
Monobank today; we add direct integrations as banks publish stable APIs. For everything else, statement import (PDF, CSV, Excel) covers the gap.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Budgie | Aggregator-based PFM apps |
|---|---|---|
| Bank credentials | Never shared | Held by aggregator |
| Sync method | Direct API tokens or PDF/CSV | OAuth via aggregator |
| Aggregator middleman | None | Third-party aggregator service |
| Bank breach impact | Bank-level only | Bank + aggregator + app |
| Works with offline-only banks | Yes (statement import) | Often no |
| Sync interval | Manual or scheduled | Aggregator's clock |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Budgie sync without an aggregator?
What about third-party aggregators?
Is direct API more secure than OAuth?
Which banks have direct API support?
Related Features
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