The SheetLink blog
Getting your bank data into Google Sheets, Excel and Postgres, and what to do with it there.
I Stopped Using Budgeting Apps. Now Claude Has My Raw Transactions and I Can Do Anything With Them.
Budgeting apps lock your money behind their features. I built SheetLink to get my raw transactions into a format Claude can read and act on. Here is why that changes everything, with a real walkthrough.
Read the post ›- Free Google Sheets budget templatesFive free Google Sheets budget templates: monthly, 50/30/20, annual, subscriptions and expenses. Copy one in a click, fill it by hand or from your bank.
- Free Excel budget templatesFive free Excel budget templates: monthly, 50/30/20, annual, subscriptions and expenses. Download one and fill it by hand or from your bank.
- How to Import Bank Transactions into Google Sheets, Excel, or a Database for Your BusinessStop downloading CSV files from multiple bank accounts. Connect your business bank accounts directly to Google Sheets, Excel, or Postgres and get clean, deduplicated transaction data.
- What Data Does Plaid Actually Share? A Plain-English ExplanationPlaid powers thousands of fintech apps, but what data does it actually hand over when you connect your bank? Here's exactly what gets shared, what doesn't, and what that means for your privacy.
- How to Build a Personal Finance Dashboard with SheetLink and GrafanaSync your bank transactions to Postgres with the SheetLink CLI and visualize them in Grafana: spending trends, income, net worth, and more.
- Best Mint Alternatives in 2026 (Free and Paid)Mint shut down in March 2024. Here's an honest look at the best alternatives, free and paid, depending on how you actually manage your money.
- How to Reconcile Bank Statements in Google SheetsA step-by-step guide to reconciling your bank statements in Google Sheets, manually or with live bank data via SheetLink.
- Introducing SheetLink for Claude DesktopAsk Claude questions about your spending using live Plaid bank data. SheetLink's new MCP integration brings your transactions directly into Claude Desktop. No exports, no copy-paste.
- Manual Sync vs Auto-Sync: Why Controlling When Your Data Moves MattersMost finance apps sync your bank data automatically in the background. SheetLink doesn't, and that's intentional. Here's why manual sync is the right choice for most people.
- How to Sync Bank Transactions to Postgres with the SheetLink CLIA developer's guide to piping Plaid bank transactions directly into a Postgres database using the SheetLink CLI: setup, schema, and automation.
- How to Import Bank Statements into Excel Without CSV FilesStop downloading CSV files every month. Here's how to connect your bank directly to Excel and sync transactions with a single click using the SheetLink add-in.
- Is It Safe to Connect Your Bank Account to a Third-Party App?An honest breakdown of what happens when you connect your bank to a third-party app: what data is shared, how it's protected, and what to watch out for.
- YNAB vs SheetLink: What's the Difference and Which Should You Use?YNAB and SheetLink both connect to your bank, but they're built for completely different people. Here's an honest comparison.
- How to Build a P&L in Google Sheets Using Live Bank TransactionsA step-by-step guide to building a real Profit & Loss statement in Google Sheets, populated from your bank accounts via SheetLink.
- Tiller vs SheetLink in 2026: Which Is Right for You?An honest comparison of Tiller Money and SheetLink: pricing, features, privacy, and which one fits your workflow.
- How to Set Up Bookkeeping in Google Sheets for a Small BusinessA no-software bookkeeping system for small businesses using Google Sheets and live bank data from SheetLink. Cash-basis, accountant-friendly, free.
- What Is Plaid and How Does It Work?Plaid powers the bank connections behind Venmo, Robinhood, and thousands of other apps. Here's a plain-English explanation of what it does and why it matters.
- How to Track Freelance Income and Expenses in Google SheetsA practical system for freelancers to track income, expenses, and tax obligations in Google Sheets, synced from your bank via SheetLink.
- How to Build a Monthly Budget in Google Sheets with Real Bank DataA practical guide to building a monthly budget in Google Sheets that actually updates, powered by live bank transactions from SheetLink, not manual entry.
- How to sync bank transactions to Google SheetsConnect your bank account to Google Sheets through Plaid and press Sync now: your transactions land at the end of your sheet. No CSV downloads. Free for one bank.