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Build a native integration using Spendesk API

Build a native integration using the Spendesk API

Connect Spendesk to your other business tools or build a partner integration using the Spendesk API. This article covers developer resources, credential setup, and prerequisites.

For: Account Owners on the Premium plan (customers) and technology partners building integrations with Spendesk.

Table of Contents

  • Before you start

  • Discover the API developer portal

  • Create API credentials

  • Implement API access

  • Troubleshooting

Before you start

Requirement

Detail

Role

Only the Account Owner can create API credentials

Setup

You must be authorized for API access by Spendesk before you can create credentials

👥 Only Account Owners can create and manage API credentials in Spendesk.

Discover the API developer portal

Start by exploring the dedicated developer portal for the Spendesk API. There you'll find:

  • Documentation

  • Changelog

  • Postman collection

  • Webhooks management

If you're building an accounting integration to retrieve spend data from Spendesk, you'll need access to these features:

  • Retrieve payables

  • Retrieve payable attachments

  • Retrieve settlements

  • Retrieve bank fees

  • Retrieve wallet loads

  • Retrieve wallet summary

  • Retrieve members

  • Retrieve suppliers

  • Retrieve analytical fields and values

  • Retrieve cost centers

  • Retrieve expense categories

Create API credentials

Contact the Spendesk sales team, either directly or through Spendesk customer support, to request API access. Once authorized, manage your API credentials at Settings > Integrations > Manage API access.

API credentials let developers connect to your Spendesk entity and retrieve or edit information, based on the permissions you grant.

🔒 API access is only available on the Premium plan.

Implement API access

Follow these steps to create a new API Client ID and Client Secret:

  1. Navigate to Settings > Integrations > Manage API access

  2. Click Create new key

  3. Enter a name for this API access

  4. Enter a description for this API access, stating its purpose so it's easy to identify later

  5. Select an expiration date (up to one year from today)

  6. Select the permissions (scopes) to grant to this set of credentials

  7. Check the box to acknowledge that these credentials will access the selected features and data

  8. Click Create API key

Once you click Create API key, a window displays your Client ID and Client Secret.

⚠️ You will only see the Client Secret in clear text once. It cannot be retrieved again — if you lose it, you must generate a new set of credentials.

💡 When sharing credentials with an external development team, choose the shortest practical expiration period (for example, one month). You can always create new credentials later with the same or a longer validity period. Existing credentials cannot be extended — you must create new ones.

Troubleshooting

Symptom: You can't see the "Manage API access" option under Settings > Integrations.
​ Cause: Your company is not on the Premium plan, or you haven't been authorized for API access yet.
​ Resolution: Contact Spendesk customer support or your account manager to request API access. Confirm your company's plan under Settings > Billing.

Symptom: You lost your Client Secret.
​ Cause: The Client Secret is only shown once, at creation, and can't be retrieved afterward.
​ Resolution: Generate a new set of API credentials by repeating the steps in Implement API access. Revoke the old, unused credentials.

Symptom: You can't create a new API key.
​ Cause: You are not the Account Owner on your Spendesk entity.
​ Resolution: Ask your current Account Owner to create the credentials, or to transfer the Account Owner role to you.

📋 Store API credentials in a secure password vault and never share them via messaging or email. Review stored credentials periodically and revoke any that are no longer in use.

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