Connect your AI

Connect to Codex

Add the OpenBudget MCP server to OpenAI Codex — give the IDE extension and app live access to your transactions, balances, and spending data.

Codex, OpenAI's coding agent, speaks the Model Context Protocol (MCP), so the IDE extension and app can pull your live transactions and balances from OpenBudget as you work. Prefer the terminal? Use the Codex CLI guide instead.

How to connect

Connect your bank accounts

Connect banks

Currently available for United States banking institutions.

Add the server in Codex

Two interchangeable ways to register OpenBudget — use whichever you prefer.

In the Codex IDE extension (VS Code, Cursor, JetBrains), open the gear menu, choose MCP settings → Add server, select Streamable HTTP, name it openbudget (the lowercase id the config key and codex mcp login command both use), and paste the connector URL below.

https://api.openbudget.sh/mcp

Exact menu labels vary by extension version.

Authenticate with OpenBudget

Click Authenticate in Codex, or run the command below. Codex opens your browser — sign in with the same account you used to connect your banks and approve read-only access, then it stores the token for you.

$ codex mcp login openbudget

Now just ask.

You're all set. Ask Codex about your spending, subscriptions, or budgets in any session — it'll call OpenBudget as needed, right alongside your work.

Codex calls OpenBudget automatically — no special prefix needed.

Try asking

Works across every Codex surface

One MCP config across the IDE extension, app, and CLI — add it once. Data is read live everywhere.

Read-only by design

Your bank credentials stay with Plaid, never Codex. The MCP server is read-only — it can't move money or change any account.

Troubleshooting

My AI doesn't see OpenBudget's tools

Make sure the connector is added andenabled, and that you finished the OAuth sign-in. If it still won't use them, ask it directly to “use the OpenBudgetMCP server.” In ChatGPT, start the message with @OpenBudget.

It can't find my transactions

The MCP server only sees accounts you've linked. Open your transactions, confirm your banks are connected and finished their initial sync, then ask again. Make sure you signed in to OpenBudget with the same account you used to link your banks.

The sign-in window didn't open

Authorization happens in your browser. If it didn't open automatically, allow pop-ups and try again, or copy the URL your client shows and open it manually. In Claude Code, run /mcp and choose Authenticate; in the Codex CLI, run codex mcp login openbudget.

It says “needs login” or stopped working

Sign-in tokens can expire. Re-authorize from your client's connector settings, or remove and re-add the OpenBudget server and sign in again — that resolves most connection issues.

Connection failed or the server is unreachable

Confirm the URL is exactly https://api.openbudget.sh/mcp and that you chose the Streamable HTTP transport (not stdio). Make sure your client is up to date — the older SSE transport is deprecated in favor of HTTP.

Still stuck?

Email support@openbudget.sh and we'll help you get connected.

Disclosures

Informational only — not financial advice

OpenBudget surfaces your own financial data, not recommendations. Nothing here is investment, legal, or tax advice — do your own research.

How your data is accessed

OpenBudget connects through Plaid; your bank credentials are never stored by OpenBudget. Data may contain errors or delays and is provided “as is” — verify against your bank.

Read-only access

The OpenBudget MCP server is read-only — it cannot move money, place trades, or modify any account.

Third-party AI clients

Your prompts and the data returned are processed by your AI client (Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor) under its own terms. AI can be wrong — verify before acting.

Authorization

Connecting grants read access via OAuth; revoke it anytime from your client's settings. Use is governed by our Terms and Privacy Policy.