Xero MCP: connect Xero to Claude and ChatGPT

You can now connect Xero to Claude and to ChatGPT in several ways. Some only read your data. Some can also write to your ledger. This guide compares the options, says what each one can do, and lists the controls you need before an AI assistant changes anything in Xero.

Facts were checked on 10 November 2026. These products change often, so check each vendor’s documentation before you connect.

The short answer

Option	Built by	Read	Write	Best for
Xero connector in Claude	Xero	Yes	No	Asking questions about your own Xero data
Xero app in ChatGPT	Xero	Yes	Not documented	Asking questions and building simple reports in ChatGPT
Xero MCP server (open source)	Xero	Yes	Yes	Developers who want to build their own workflows
Third-party Xero connectors	Other vendors	Varies	Varies	Specific tasks the vendor supports
Numra MCP	Numra	Numra data	Through Numra, with approval	Running finance workflows (AP, statements, credit control) from Claude or ChatGPT

1. Xero’s connector in Claude

Xero publishes a connector in Claude’s connector directory. You add it in Claude, sign in with your Xero login and choose an organisation.

• What it does: answers questions from live Xero data, such as overdue invoices, cash position or profit and loss.
• Write access: none. Xero describes it as read only.
• Cost: free to add. You need an active Xero subscription.
• Teams: on Claude Team or Enterprise, an owner must turn the connector on first.

In September 2026 Xero also announced workflows in Claude for Small Business, such as overdue invoice chasing, AP preparation and month-end preparation. These return results for a person to review.

Use it when: you want answers from your Xero data in Claude and you do not need anything written back.

2. Xero’s app in ChatGPT

Xero announced a Xero app for ChatGPT on 16 September 2026, powered by its JAX AI. It works with live Xero data such as profit and loss, balance sheet, invoices and bills.

• What it does: answers questions and helps you build your own reports and workflows in ChatGPT.
• Write access: Xero’s announcement does not say. Check the app’s permissions when you connect it.
• Teams: on ChatGPT Business or Enterprise, an admin must allow the app first.

Use it when: your team works in ChatGPT and needs read access to Xero.

3. The open-source Xero MCP server

Xero also publishes an open-source MCP server (XeroAPI/xero-mcp-server on GitHub). You run it yourself and connect it to an MCP client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code.

• What it does: reads and writes one Xero organisation through dozens of tools.
• Write access: yes. Some writes are drafts, such as invoices. Others post immediately, such as bank transactions and payments.
• Setup: needs Node.js and a Xero Custom Connection or a bearer token. Custom Connections are a paid Xero product and are not available in every country.
• Approval: the server has no approval step of its own. Your MCP client decides whether to ask before each action.

Use it when: you have a developer, a test organisation and a clear workflow to build.

Take care: an agent that can post payments or journals can make mistakes that reach your ledger. Text inside invoices, memos and bank descriptions can also contain instructions that an agent may follow. Keep write tools on “ask every time”, pin a reviewed version, and limit the scopes to what the workflow needs.

4. Third-party Xero connectors

Several vendors now sell or give away Xero connectors for Claude and ChatGPT, and some automation platforms expose Xero actions through MCP. Each sets its own scopes, write rules and data handling.

Before you connect one, check:

• Which Xero scopes it asks for, and whether it can write.
• Whether each write needs a person to confirm it.
• Where your Xero data is stored, and whether it is used to train models.
• How you disconnect it and revoke its access.

5. Numra MCP

Numra takes a different approach. Numra connects to your accounting system, such as Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite or Business Central, and to your finance mailbox. We set up the connections for you. The Numra MCP server then lets you run Numra’s workflows from Claude or ChatGPT. The assistant talks to Numra, and Numra applies your rules before anything reaches the ledger.

Examples:

• “Which bills are waiting for my approval?”
• “Which suppliers have not sent an October statement? Request them.”
• “Which customers are more than 30 days overdue, and what did we send them last?”

Controls:

• Every action that writes or sends shows a preview, and a person confirms it.
• The assistant cannot approve payments, change supplier bank details or set credit limits.
• Text in supplier emails and documents is treated as data, never as instructions.
• Numra does not train models on your data.

Use it when: you want Claude or ChatGPT to run real finance work, such as AP, supplier statements or credit control, with approval rules around every change.

How to choose

1. You only want answers from Xero. Use Xero’s own connector in Claude or its app in ChatGPT. Both are free with Xero.
2. You want to build a custom workflow and you have a developer. Use the open-source Xero MCP server, on a test organisation first.
3. You want an assistant to do finance work that writes to the ledger. Use a product that keeps approval rules and an audit trail between the assistant and Xero, such as Numra.

What about NetSuite and Business Central?

NetSuite and Business Central teams have the same choice between read-only connectors, developer tools and workflow products. Searches for NetSuite MCP have grown every month this year. Numra connects to NetSuite, Business Central and other systems as part of setup, and the same Numra MCP tools work whichever system you use.