Before you start
- Budget AI and your chosen automation app installed.
- Recognizing text uses Budget AI’s AI limits and internet access. Prepared fields are saved without recognition.
Step by step
Copy a link from Budget AI
Install and open Budget AI, then open Settings → Advanced → Automation links. Tap the action you need to copy its link.
Screenshot coming soonCopy a link from Budget AI Choose a trigger in your automation app
In Tasker or MacroDroid, choose the event that should start the workflow, such as a bank SMS or notification. Give that tool the permissions it needs. Filter by sender or bank app and payment keywords.
Screenshot coming soonChoose a trigger in your automation app Prepare the data and open the link
If your AI processes the data, extract the amount, transaction type and other fields from its response. Pass them through an
add_transactionlink; useadd_transactionsfor a batch. Link formats are listed below.To let Budget AI recognize the text, use
recognize_text. Set up Tasker or MacroDroid to open the resulting link. URL-encode parameter values.To save a transaction in the background without opening Budget AI, use the broadcast described in “Useful details”.
Screenshot coming soonPrepare the data and open the link Test one transaction
Run the workflow once with sample data. Check the amount, type, account and category. Then test a real trigger on your phone, including while it is locked; background launches depend on Android and the automation tool.
Screenshot coming soonTest one transaction
Useful details
Budget AI recognizes the text
The recognize_text link uses the same recognition flow as text and voice input. One result opens for review; multiple results open together for confirmation. Internet access and the app’s AI usage limits apply.
Your rules or your AI
Use add_transaction for one prepared transaction or add_transactions for a list. These actions save fields without Budget AI recognition or the entry form. Your chosen AI service has its own terms and costs.
Quick access to input
Use voice to start voice input, scan to open the scanner, or transaction_form to open a new transaction form. Copy the corresponding links from settings.
Link formats and transaction fields
Replace the sample values with your data. Use category and account names from Budget AI.
Recognize text and review
budgetai://recognize_text?text=Coffee%206.50%20and%20taxi%2012Save one prepared transaction
budgetai://add_transaction?amount=6.50&type=expense¤cy=USD¬e=CoffeeSave a list: URL-encoded JSON in items
budgetai://add_transactions?items=%5B%7B%22amount%22%3A6.5%2C%22type%22%3A%22expense%22%7D%2C%7B%22amount%22%3A500%2C%22type%22%3A%22income%22%7D%5DOpen voice input, the scanner or the form
budgetai://voice
budgetai://scan
budgetai://transaction_form| Field | Value |
|---|---|
amount | Required positive number, such as 6.50. Use type for expense or income. |
type | expense or income. If omitted, the category type is used; otherwise it defaults to expense. |
category / subcategory | An existing name or ID; names are matched without case sensitivity. A subcategory belongs to the supplied category. Omit category to save an uncategorized transaction. |
account | Existing account name or ID. If omitted, the selected account is used, otherwise the first account. |
currency | Currency code such as USD or EUR. Defaults to the account’s currency, or the app default when there is no account. |
date / note | Optional ISO 8601 date and note. The date defaults to now. |
Encode each parameter value, not the entire URL. Spaces can be %20 or +; a literal + must be %2B and & must be %26. For add_transactions, encode the JSON array as the items value. Unknown names or currency codes produce an error. A batch can be partly saved: check the result before repeating it to avoid duplicates.
Choose what your workflow forwards
Filter out codes, passwords and unrelated messages in Tasker or MacroDroid before passing data to Budget AI or another AI. Built-in auto-tracking stop words do not filter your external workflow before it sends data. Choose a single trigger per payment to avoid processing both its SMS and notification.
These custom links can open Budget AI; their launch behavior depends on Android and the automation tool.
Log in the background without opening Budget AI
Since version 2.0.5 in Google Play, Tasker, MacroDroid and similar apps can log a transaction with a broadcast, the way the Log Transaction action works on iPhone. In Budget AI open Settings → Advanced → Automation links and turn on “Logging from other apps”. The page shows the Action, Package and Receiver (Class) to copy; take them from the app rather than typing them. Send the broadcast to that receiver with extras: amount (required, greater than zero), type (expense or income), category, subcategory, account, currency, note and date (ISO 8601 or milliseconds).
The transaction is saved without opening the app; a name Budget AI does not find leaves it waiting for review. Without an amount or with an unknown type nothing is logged, and a notification explains why. While this is on, any app on the phone can log transactions: turn it on only if you use such tools and trust the apps you have installed.
Can I add transactions from a bot or script?
Yes, through the API with an active subscription. Open Advanced → API in settings, generate a key and choose when it expires. The page includes a request example, builder and current limits.
Send prepared transaction fields: amount, currency, type, category and account. This mode does not use AI tokens. Budget AI downloads incoming transactions; you can also tap Sync now on the API page to fetch them. Request format and examples.
Video walkthrough
For now, follow the complete written steps above.