QIF stands for Quicken Interchange Format. Quicken introduced it long ago as a way to move financial data between software and Quicken. It is still very useful today.
Use the ProperConvert app to access or convert transactions from QIF and to QIF files.
QIF is a standard used by Quicken to export and import financial data. It is not an ISO or ANSI standard. It's a text file, so you can open and edit it in any text editor. But a program built for QIF files is usually easier to use.
QIF files store data like bank transactions, stock holdings, and credit card charges. You can import this data into Quicken from other software or from a bank's website. This helps you track your personal finances in one place.
In a QIF file, each piece of data is stored in a set of fields. A transaction might have fields for the date, payee, amount, and account. This structure makes the data easy to read for both people and software.
The QIF framework is supported by various financial applications (some of them listed below):
Quicken itself (all Windows versions up to 2017, and Quicken for Mac 2007 including the Lion edition). Quicken stopped “officially” importing QIF in 2005, but it fully works if files are prepared in the “Quicken” format. Quicken started working with QIF again in 2018 with Quicken Classic. ProperConvert can create QIF files that import into all account types. Quicken also exports data as QIF — it's the only way to get your data out of Quicken. Multiple account QIF files are allowed, except for transfer records.
NetSuite
YNAB (you need a budget) – personal finance tool that works with multi-account QIF files used for bank and credit card transactions
Simple Home Budget - Simpler and more affordable personal finance tool
iBank/Banktivity (for Mac) – a great alternative to Quicken, works with multiple accounts
How to Convert a QIF file to CSV/Excel format
When you export transactions from Quicken, the file will be in QIF or QMTF format. You can open these in a text editor or Excel, but they're not easy to work with. It's better to convert them to CSV or Excel first.
Click Save to save a CSV file and then open it in Excel (or other spreadsheet application) or click Copy to clipboard and then switch to Excel and click Paste there
Supported Account types
Bank (Checking/Savings/Credit Line)
Credit Card
Investment
Export data from Quicken for macOS as QMTF
Quicken for macOS does not export transactions in the QIF format, but it exports as QMTF format. This format is close to QIF and the ProperConvert app supports it the same way as QIF.
Step by Step: Convert a QIF file to CSV/Excel format
Step 1: Start the app and select a QIF file.
You can review a QIF file before converting.
If your QIF file has dates in different formats, the app will try to figure them out. If it can't, you can set the date format yourself. For example, you can tell it that dates come as month/day/year. The separator — slash, dash, dot, or apostrophe — doesn't matter. Only the order matters. Some QIF files don't include the year. If that's the case, you can set which year the transactions belong to.
You can review all those QIF details, all those transactions details. Each transaction takes one line.
Step 2: Set output CSV parameters
The next step is to specify how you would like your CSV file to be created. It may be a CSV file, it may be an Excel file, it may be limited fields - Quickbooks Online file or Xero file, or CSV Mint file. Choose a CSV Target option.
Specify the date format for the CSV file.
Step 3: Convert to CSV/Excel and review created CSV file.
Click the 'Convert' button to create a file.
Confirm output CSV file name or change it. Then click 'Save'.
If you specify to open a file after a conversion, you can use the software associated with the CSV file. It could be Excel or Notepad for you to review created CSV file.
Why is the QIF framework so easy to use and provides quality information?
Simple – the process to create this plain text QIF is easy and can be edited either by software tools or manually by a text editor
Comprehensive - Covers most user needs to export and import transactions, even with splits, bank reconciliation, investment transactions, categories, tags, and multiple accounts. Other financial specifications often do not have one or more QIF features
Structured - QIF supplies data in the expected form. Unlike CSV, which is a generic file type, either software or the user can read and understand the data in the QIF file
QIF files are simple and easy to use. You can create and edit them in a text editor. Many finance programs support QIF for both import and export. This makes it easy to move data between programs and share it with others.
QIF files can also hold a wide range of financial data — bank accounts, credit cards, investments, and more. This lets you keep all your financial records in one place. It's easier to manage your money when everything is together.
QIF is a useful standard for personal finance. It works for individuals and businesses alike. Whether you want to track spending, plan for retirement, or just stay organized, QIF files can help you get there.
What is the difference between QIF, QFX, and QXF formats?
QIF and QFX data files are plain text files (can be opened and edited with a text editor), but QXF is an encrypted container
QIF supports split transactions, categories, tags, and addresses while QFX does not have these features
QIF is the simplest of these three types and the most widely supported
~ Fix or make QIF files importable into Quicken
^ QIF format allows several variants and your accounting software may not expect QIF variant you have. Use Propersoft tool to correct your QIF files.
Make your QIF file importable
Convert non-importable QIF files to importable QIF and import into
Quicken for Windows
LessAccounting
YNAB (You Need a Budget)
NetSuite
MYOB
Banktivity
Trying to import a QIF file into Quicken for Windows or another app, but it won't work? The problem is usually that your bank provides the file in a format the software can't read.
How can I use ProperConvert to convert QIF transaction file to importable QIF format?
Download, install and run the software
Select a QIF file with transactions
Review transactions before converting. Check that dates are correct, the year is right, and deposits and withdrawals are in the right places.
Backup your accounting software file before importing any file
Select the QIF Target to match your Quicken version or accounting software.
Set the Account Name and the Account Type to create a QIF file for the right account
Set the expected Date format for your accounting software
Click Convert to convert QIF to a new QIF file
Import the file into Quicken for Windows or another QIF-compatible app.
Import created QIF file into Quicken 2017
Once the QIF file is ready, switch to Quicken and import it. Back up your data first. Then follow these steps:
In Quicken, select 'File' - 'File Import' - 'QIF File'. Choose the new QIF file, not the original one.
Select a Quicken account to import into. For Quicken 2017 or earlier, you can select 'All accounts'.
Click the 'Import' button.
Click the 'Done' button.
Now your data is imported, accept all transactions.
Review transactions after import. They are now inside Quicken.
Import created QIF file into Banktivity
Once the QIF file is ready, switch to Banktivity and import it. Back up your data first. Then follow these steps:
Select 'File' - 'Import transactions'. Then click 'Import File' and select a created QIF file
Select an account to import transactions
Click the 'Continue' button.
Once transactions are imported, review transactions after import.