Connect your AI

Connect OpenClaw to your bank accounts

Use OpenBudget to give OpenClaw live access to your transactions, balances, debts, and categories.

OpenClaw supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which lets it connect directly to your OpenBudget account. When you ask about spending, balances, debts, or categories, OpenClaw can use your current records in its answer. Here's how to set it up in a few minutes.

Let OpenClaw set it up

Copy this prompt into OpenClaw. It will run the commands, pause when it needs browser approval, and continue after you return.

Set up OpenBudget for this OpenClaw installation. Run `openclaw mcp add openbudget --url https://api.openbudget.sh/mcp --transport streamable-http --auth oauth`, then run `openclaw mcp login openbudget` and keep the login command running. When it prints an authorization URL, give me that URL and wait while I approve access. If it asks for the returned code, ask me for it and finish the login with `openclaw mcp login openbudget --code <code>`. Continue only after authorization finishes. Then run `openclaw mcp doctor openbudget --probe`. If the probe succeeds, tell me OpenBudget is connected, send me to {{CURRENT_ORIGIN}}/accounts to connect my first bank account, and wait for me to finish before using any finance tools. If any command fails, stop and show me the exact error.

The full walkthrough below lets you run each command yourself.

How to connect

Add the OpenBudget MCP server

Run this command to add OpenBudget as a remote MCP server.

$ openclaw mcp add openbudget --url https://api.openbudget.sh/mcp --transport streamable-http --auth oauth

Authorize with OpenBudget

Open the authorization link, sign in to OpenBudget, and approve access. If OpenClaw asks for the returned code, run the command again with --code followed by that code.

$ openclaw mcp login openbudget

Verify the connection

Run a connection check and confirm OpenClaw can see the OpenBudget tools.

$ openclaw mcp doctor openbudget --probe

Connect your bank accounts

Get started with OpenBudget to securely link your bank accounts and credit cards through Plaid. Free for 7 days.

Secured by

Plaid

Get started

Currently available for United States banking institutions.

Now just ask.

Ask about spending, balances, debts, or categories and OpenClaw will call OpenBudget when it needs your current records.

OpenClaw calls OpenBudget automatically when your question needs current account data.

Try asking

Available in later OpenClaw runs

You can keep using the same connection in later OpenClaw runs without repeating setup.

Your banks stay protected

Plaid keeps your bank credentials. OpenClaw never receives them. OpenClaw can organize records in OpenBudget when you approve it, and it can't move money or change anything at your bank.

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, Hermes, OpenClaw, 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.