Does Hourbun work with ChatGPT and Claude?

Yes. Hourbun has an MCP server on every plan. ChatGPT connects to it as a custom MCP server and Claude as a custom connector, each with the address of the server and one sign-in to Hourbun.

Can I give an AI assistant read-only access to Hourbun?

Yes. When you allow the connection, choose Read: the assistant then gets only the tools that read your clients, projects, time, expenses and invoices. Read and write also lets it track time and use your timer.

What can an AI assistant see in Hourbun?

Only the workspace that you chose when you allowed it, with your role there: a member or a manager sees no invoices. Revoke on the page API & MCP ends the connection at once.

How to connect Hourbun to ChatGPT and Claude with its MCP server

The short answer

Hourbun has an MCP server at https://hourbun.com/api/v1/mcp, on every plan. Add that address in ChatGPT as a custom MCP server or in Claude as a custom connector, sign in to Hourbun, choose the workspace and the access, and then ask in a chat: "track 2 hours on Website" or "what is not invoiced this month?".

The address

The address of Hourbun's MCP server is:

https://hourbun.com/api/v1/mcp

It signs in with OAuth: you give an assistant the address alone, with no token, and you sign in to Hourbun when the assistant asks. The page API & MCP of Hourbun shows the address too, with Copy URL.

Connect ChatGPT

Open ChatGPT Plugins, select the plus button, then Add custom MCP server.
Enter a name (Hourbun) and a description.
Under Connection, enter the address of the server above.
Choose OAuth as the authentication, review the risk warning, and select I understand and want to continue.
Select Create as a plugin, check the tools that ChatGPT found, and install the plugin. Sign in to Hourbun when ChatGPT asks.
In a new conversation, type @ and select Hourbun.

The policies of your ChatGPT account and workspace apply to custom MCP servers: an admin of a workspace may have to allow them.

Connect Claude

On a Free, Pro, Max or Ultra plan

On claude.ai or in the Claude desktop app:

Open Customize, then Connectors.
Select Add, then Add custom connector.
Enter a name (Hourbun) and the address of the server above, then click Continue.
Keep the sign-in settings that Claude marks Detected, and click Add.
Click Connect, and sign in to Hourbun.

On the Free plan, you can add one custom connector.

On a Team or Enterprise plan

An Owner opens Organization settings, then Connectors, selects Add, then Custom, enters the name and the address of the server, and clicks Add.
Each member opens Customize, then Connectors, finds the connector with the Custom label, clicks Connect, and signs in to Hourbun.

In a chat, the + button, then Connectors, turns the connector on or off.

Allow the connection in Hourbun

When you sign in, Hourbun asks you to allow the assistant. The page names the assistant, and where Hourbun sends your answer. Choose the Workspace and the Access:

Read: the assistant reads your clients, projects, time, expenses and invoices, as your role allows.
Read and write: it also tracks time and uses your timer.

Then press Allow, or Deny. The assistant works in that workspace only, with your role there.

What to ask

"Track 2 hours on Website for today: design review."
"Start my timer on Website." Then later: "Stop my timer."
"What is not invoiced this month?"

Other assistants

The page API & MCP of Hourbun gives the setup of other AI assistants and editors: some sign in with the address alone, as above, and the others take a personal token that you make on the same page.