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Connect Claude, ChatGPT or your own integration to Settle (API and MCP)

Connect an AI assistant or integration to read your Settle data, by signing in or with a personal access token.

Written by Settle Engineering

Connect an AI assistant such as Claude or ChatGPT, or your own integration, to read your Settle data, such as bills and vendors, through the Settle API. The API is in active development and access is currently read-only. For the latest list of what you can read, see the API docs.

There are two ways to connect:

  • Sign in with Settle: for Claude and ChatGPT. Add Settle's MCP server address to the app and approve the connection. No setup from Settle is needed.

  • Personal access token: for other MCP clients, scripts and custom integrations. An admin creates a token in Settle and the integration sends it with each request. Settle Support turns this option on for your business first.

Option 1: Connect Claude or ChatGPT by signing in

Use this server address:

https://api.settle.co/api/v2/mcp

  1. In Claude or ChatGPT, add a custom connector (or app) and paste the server address above. In Claude Code, add it as a remote MCP server.

  2. When you're sent to Settle, log in if asked. Settle shows Do you want to give [app name] access to your Settle account?

  3. Check that the app name is the one you're connecting, then click Authorize. To connect a different Settle login, click Switch user first.

  4. You're sent back to the app, or the app on your computer finishes connecting. The Settle tools are now available there.

This sign-in works with Claude (claude.ai and Claude Code) and ChatGPT (including Codex). Other MCP clients can't sign in this way; use a personal access token instead.

The connection renews itself while you use it. If the app doesn't use it for 90 days, add the connector again and approve it.

Option 2: Use a personal access token

Step 1: Ask Settle Support to turn on API access

Personal access tokens are turned on for each business by Settle Support. Until then, Access tokens doesn't appear in Settings. Contact Support from the chat in Settle and ask to enable API access, naming the business you want to connect.

Step 2: Create a token

You need to be an admin of the business.

  1. Open Settings and, under COMPANY & PLAN, select Access tokens.

  2. Click Create new token.

  3. Enter a Token name that tells you where it's used, for example "Claude Desktop" or "Nightly bill sync". Names must be 3 to 40 characters and different from every other token in the business, ignoring capitals.

  4. Click Create.

  5. Click Copy and store the token somewhere secure, such as a password manager. This is the only time Settle shows the full token.

The token belongs to you and sees the same records you see in Settle, in every business you're a member of. It doesn't expire. It stops working if the token or your Settle user is deleted, and while your user is locked out.

Step 3: Connect your MCP client or integration

Send the token in the Authorization header of every request. Settle doesn't accept a token in the URL.

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN

  • MCP server: https://api.settle.co/api/v2/mcp. In your client's settings for a remote (HTTP) MCP server, add the header above.

  • REST API: endpoints, fields and examples are in the API docs.

Requests are rate limited. If you go over the limit, wait for the time given in the retry-after response header, then try again. Current limits are in the API docs.

Choose which business to read

One connection can reach every business you're a member of. Through MCP, the assistant can list your businesses and reads from the one you name. In the REST API, the business is part of each request's path. What you can read in each business follows your role there.

Manage or delete tokens

Settings > Access tokens lists each token with who created it, when, and when it was last used. To stop a token from working, click Delete next to it and confirm. Any integration using it stops working straight away, and this can't be undone.

If a team member created a token, only they can delete it. To stop their token from reading your business, remove them from your team.

To stop Claude or ChatGPT from reading Settle, remove the Settle connector in that app. To make sure its access is revoked on Settle's side too, contact Support.

Troubleshooting

  • I don't see Access tokens in Settings: API access isn't turned on for your business yet. Ask Support to turn it on.

  • Access tokens says I don't have permission: only admins can create tokens. Ask an admin of your business.

  • Claude or ChatGPT stopped reaching Settle: if the connection wasn't used for 90 days, add the connector again and approve it.

  • My token was lost: Settle can't show it again. Create a new token, update your integration, then delete the old one.

  • An MCP client other than Claude or ChatGPT can't sign in: use a personal access token (Option 2).

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