# Connect Your AI Assistant

Using Claude or ChatGPT? The quickest way to connect is the official Etropo plugin, listed in each assistant's public directory. Using something else? Any AI tool that supports MCP can connect too.

## Before You Start

- You need an Etropo account with a budget in it
- You need to be an **admin** of the organization you want to connect
- Connecting AI assistants is included in the Pro and Custom plans — see [pricing](https://www.etropo.com/pricing) for details
- If you use [two-factor authentication](https://docs.etropo.com/getting-started/two-factor-authentication), have your code ready — you'll be asked for it before you can approve the connection

## Connect Claude

1. Open [Etropo in the Claude directory](https://claude.ai/directory/etropo)
2. Click **Connect**
3. Sign in to Etropo in the browser window that opens
4. [Approve the connection](#approving-the-connection)
5. Back in Claude, start a conversation and ask about your budget

{/* TODO: Add screenshot of the Etropo listing in the Claude directory */}

## Connect ChatGPT

1. Open [Etropo in the ChatGPT plugin directory](https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a8ee53706848191b2f258c4d6e6fd58)
2. Add the Etropo plugin to ChatGPT
3. Sign in to Etropo in the browser window that opens
4. [Approve the connection](#approving-the-connection)
5. Back in ChatGPT, start a conversation and ask about your budget

{/* TODO: Add screenshot of the Etropo listing in the ChatGPT plugin directory */}

## Approving the Connection

Whichever assistant you use, Etropo shows you the same approval screen before anything is shared:

1. Check the **Account** — this is the Etropo account you're signed in with
2. Check the **Organization** — if you're an admin of more than one, choose the one you want to connect
3. Review what the assistant will be able to do with your budget data
4. Click **Authorize**

You only need to do this once. After that, your assistant can work with your budget whenever you ask. Changed your mind? Click **Deny** and nothing is shared.

{/* TODO: Add screenshot of the Etropo approval screen */}

## Connect Other AI Assistants

Etropo works with any AI tool that supports MCP. The setup differs a little from tool to tool, but the flow is the same:

1. In your AI tool, add a new MCP connection (often called a connector or MCP server)
2. Enter Etropo's address: `https://app.etropo.com/api/mcp`
3. Sign in to Etropo in the browser window that opens
4. [Approve the connection](#approving-the-connection)

**Claude Desktop:** to set it up by hand instead of using the official plugin, open **Settings → Connectors**, add a custom connector, and enter the address above.

**Claude Code:** run this command, then follow the sign-in prompt:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http etropo https://app.etropo.com/api/mcp
```

## Try It Out

Once you're connected, start with a simple question, such as "Which line items are over budget this month?" See [What You Can Do](https://docs.etropo.com/ai-automations/mcp-what-you-can-do) for more ideas.

## Disconnecting

You can remove Etropo at any time from your AI assistant's settings, in the same place you manage its other plugins and connections. Once removed, the assistant can no longer reach your budget.

## Troubleshooting

### "Admin access required"

Only organization admins can connect an AI assistant. Ask an admin in your organization to update your role, then try again. See [Inviting Team](https://docs.etropo.com/getting-started/inviting-team) for how roles work.

### The approval screen says the request has expired

Approval requests are only valid for a short time. Go back to your AI assistant and start the connection again.

### My assistant isn't using Etropo

- Check that Etropo is still connected and switched on in your assistant's settings
- Mention Etropo by name in your request
- Start a new conversation — some assistants only pick up new connections in a fresh chat

### My assistant can't find a line item or category

Your assistant sees exactly what you see in Etropo. If something is missing, check that it exists in the organization you connected and that you have access to its category.

### An update was skipped

Your assistant skips amounts it isn't allowed to overwrite and tells you which ones. See [What Your Assistant Can't Do](https://docs.etropo.com/ai-automations/mcp-what-you-can-do#what-your-assistant-cant-do).

### My assistant says it's making too many requests

To protect your account, there's a limit on how quickly an assistant can send requests. Wait a minute and try again.

## Support

For additional help you can reach out to our support team at: help@etropo.com

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Source: https://docs.etropo.com/ai-automations/mcp-connect