Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about matcha money
Features
How does Auto-Categorization work?
Auto-Categorization (available on all plans) automatically categorizes your transactions based on rules you define. For example:
- If merchant contains "Starbucks" → categorize as "Coffee"
- If amount > $500 and merchant is "Amazon" → categorize as "Shopping - Large"
Rules run automatically on new transactions, saving you time on manual categorization.
How does Real-Time Sync work?
Estate users get real-time updates via webhooks. When your bank reports new transactions, we're notified immediately and sync your data. Leaf users sync once per night during off-peak hours. Seed users manage accounts manually.
What is Subscription Detection?
Subscription Detection (available on all plans) automatically identifies recurring charges in your transactions and flags potential subscriptions you may have forgotten about. Great for finding services you no longer use.
Data & Privacy
How is my data protected?
We take security seriously:
- All data is encrypted at rest and in transit
- Bank credentials are never stored - we use secure tokens
- We use bank-level security protocols (256-bit SSL, SOC 2 compliance)
- Two-factor authentication is available for your account
How do you connect to my bank accounts?
We use a secure, bank-grade data provider that connects to over 12,000 financial institutions. When you connect, you authenticate directly with your bank - we never see or store your banking password. We only receive read-only access to your transaction data.
Can I export my data?
Yes! All users can export their data to CSV and Google Sheets. All paid plans (Seed, Leaf, and Estate) include full API access for custom integrations.
Do you sell my data?
No, never. Your financial data is yours. We do not sell, share, or monetize your personal financial information. We make money through subscriptions, not data sales.
Getting Started
How does envelope budgeting work?
Envelope budgeting is a method where you allocate your income into category "envelopes" before you spend. Each category gets a budget, and as you spend, it deducts from that envelope. Unspent money rolls over to next month.
How do I import from another app?
You can import your data from most budgeting apps that export to CSV:
- Export your data from your current app (usually as CSV)
- Go to Dashboard → Import and upload your file(s)
- Map your accounts and categories to Matcha's format
- Review and confirm the import
We support imports from YNAB, Mint, Copilot, and most other budgeting apps.
Can I connect multiple banks?
Yes! You can connect as many banks as your stream limit allows. Each bank connection can have multiple accounts (checking, savings, credit cards), and each data type enabled counts as one stream.
How do I invite family members?
Family sharing is available on Estate plans. Go to Dashboard → Settings → Family to invite family members by email. All invited members share access to the same financial data and budget.
Billing & Refunds
How does billing work when I upgrade my plan?
When you upgrade, we calculate the unused portion of your current plan and apply it as a credit toward your new plan:
- Leaf → Estate Annual: Credit for unused Leaf ($2.99/mo × months remaining), charge for Estate ($5.83/mo × months remaining). You pay the difference.
- Leaf → Estate Monthly: Credit for unused Leaf applied to your account. First month of Estate ($6.99) charged.
Example: With 11 months remaining, upgrading from Leaf to Estate Annual costs $64.13 - $32.89 = $31.24.
Upgrades take effect immediately and you get access to additional streams right away.
How does billing work when I downgrade my plan?
Downgrade billing depends on your current plan:
- Estate Annual → Leaf: Credit for unused Estate minus charge for Leaf applied to your account. Excess streams are deactivated at the end of the current month.
- Estate Monthly → Leaf: No immediate charge. Your Estate access continues until the billing period ends, then you're charged for Leaf Annual ($35.88). Excess streams are deactivated when your Estate period ends.
Example: With 11 months remaining, downgrading from Estate Annual to Leaf results in a $64.13 - $32.89 = $31.24 credit.
How are refunds calculated?
Prorated refunds are calculated based on full months remaining, starting from the 1st of the following month. The current month is not included.
Formula: Monthly Rate × Months Remaining
- Seed Annual: $15.00 ÷ 12 = $1.25/month
- Leaf Annual: $35.88 ÷ 12 = $2.99/month
- Estate Annual: $69.99 ÷ 12 = $5.83/month
- Estate Monthly: $6.99/month (no proration)
- Terrace: $23.88 ÷ 12 = $1.99/month
Example: Cancelling Leaf Annual on January 8th with a January 8th renewal date: 11 months remaining (Feb-Dec) × $2.99 = $32.89 refund.
What happens when I add a Terrace add-on?
Requirements: Terraces require an annual subscription (Leaf or Estate Annual).
- You're charged the full Terrace price ($23.88) immediately
- A prorated credit for the partial year is applied to your next billing cycle
- +5 streams are available immediately
Example: Adding a Terrace with 11 months remaining: $23.88 charged now, $21.89 credit applied to your next renewal.
What happens when I remove a Terrace add-on?
When you remove a Terrace (without cancelling your subscription):
- No prorated refund for standalone Terrace removal
- The Terrace remains active until your next renewal date, then is not renewed
- Streams are reduced at the end of the billing cycle
Note: If you cancel your entire subscription, Terraces are prorated and refunded along with your main plan.
What happens when I cancel my subscription?
Cancellation options depend on your plan type:
- Annual plans (Seed, Leaf, or Estate Annual): You can cancel immediately for a prorated refund, or cancel at the end of your billing period with no refund. Access continues until the end of the current month.
- Monthly plans (Estate Monthly): No refund. Access continues until your billing period ends.
If you have Terraces, they're automatically cancelled and prorated refunds are issued for each.
What happens to my bank connections when I downgrade or cancel?
- Downgrade from Annual: Excess streams are deactivated at the end of the current month (oldest connections first)
- Downgrade from Monthly: Excess streams are deactivated when your billing period ends
- Cancellation: All streams are deactivated at the end of the month/billing period
Your transaction history and data are preserved. You can resubscribe at any time to reconnect your banks.
Can I change my mind after downgrading?
Yes! If you've scheduled a downgrade but haven't reached the effective date:
- You can upgrade again to cancel the pending downgrade
- Note: Any credits from the original downgrade will be reset
- You'll be charged as if it's a new upgrade (recalculated proration)
- Pending stream deactivations will be cancelled and your connections reactivated
Can I switch between monthly and annual billing?
Yes! You can switch billing intervals for Estate:
- Monthly → Annual: You're charged the prorated annual amount ($5.83/mo × months remaining). Your billing cycle resets to a new annual cycle. Effective immediately.
- Annual → Monthly: You receive a credit for the unused portion of your annual plan. This credit covers future monthly payments until exhausted, then regular $6.99/mo billing begins.
Note: If you have Terrace add-ons, you must remove them before switching to monthly billing. Terraces require annual billing.