Connect your AI assistant

Once you connect Obra to your assistant — Claude, ChatGPT or another one — you can simply ask it things like "how is the Hillside job doing?", "what did we spend on lumber last month?" or "add this receipt". It answers with your real numbers and, if you allow it, records things for you.

It only ever sees what you can see in Obra, and it can never delete anything, approve an expense, pay anyone or close a project. Those stay with you.

It can also read your estimates and your invoices, so you can ask what a job was quoted at, what has been billed against the contract or what a client still owes, and it can draft a quote or an invoice for you to look over. If you allow it, it can email one you have already issued to that client's own address on file — nowhere else. Issuing a document, accepting one, crediting one or recording a payment stays with you.

Connecting an assistant is part of the Pro plan, and the 14-day trial includes it. On the Free plan the connection screen explains how to upgrade.

Every assistant asks for an address to connect to. Copy this one — you'll paste it in the steps below.

Works the same on the Claude website, the desktop app and the phone app.

Add to Claude Opens Claude with the name and address already filled in — press Add, and skip straight to step 3.

1. 01

   Open Claude's settings and go to Connectors

   In Claude, open Settings, then Connectors. At the bottom of the list there is a button that says "Add custom connector". Tap it.

2. 02

   Paste the name and the address

   Type "Obra" as the name and paste your Obra address from above in the address box. Leave the other fields empty and press Add.

3. 03

   Say yes when Claude asks to connect

   The first time you ask Claude something about Obra, it shows a Connect button. Press it: Obra opens, you sign in if needed, pick your company, and press Allow. Claude then finishes answering on its own.

ChatGPT calls this feature Developer mode; you don't need to be a developer to use it. It is available on the Plus, Pro, Team, Enterprise and Edu plans.

1. 01

   Turn on Developer mode

   In ChatGPT, open Settings, then Apps & Connectors, then Advanced settings, and turn on Developer mode.

2. 02

   Create the connector

   Back on the Connectors page, press Create. Type "Obra" as the name, paste your Obra address, choose OAuth as the sign-in method, and press Create.

3. 03

   Sign in to Obra

   ChatGPT opens Obra so you can sign in, pick your company and press Allow. From then on, choose Obra from the tools menu in a chat (or just ask about your projects).

Obra shows a page that names the app asking to connect, which company it will work in, and what it will be allowed to do. Reading is always included; sending in receipts, recording transactions, emailing an estimate or invoice to the client it is addressed to, importing spreadsheets and exporting are listed separately so you know exactly what you're allowing. If something looks wrong, press Cancel.

In Obra, go to Settings, then Connected apps. Every assistant you connected is listed there with a Revoke button; revoking works immediately, and the assistant simply asks you to connect again next time. Changing your password disconnects everything too.

If you own or manage the company, Organization → AI agents shows every assistant your team has connected, lets you disconnect any of them, and lets you switch the feature off for everyone.

Coding assistants connect the same way; they just take the address as a command or a settings file. Copy the one for your tool, then follow the sign-in it opens in your browser.

Add to Cursor Install in VS Code One click if the editor is installed; otherwise paste the matching snippet below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obra": {
      "url": "https://tryobra.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

{
  "servers": {
    "obra": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://tryobra.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}