GetALife for AI Assistants – the official MCP server

Q: Can the AI see my GetALife data?

No. The MCP server has no access to app or account data, no login, and no tracking. All calculations run locally on the numbers you give it in the chat.

The GetALife MCP server connects Claude, ChatGPT/Codex, and other AI assistants to vetted budgeting tools. Instead of guessing, your AI runs the same formulas the GetALife app uses — free, installed locally, with no access to your data.

What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude or ChatGPT/Codex use tools — think of them as apps you add to a chat. Instead of only generating text, the AI can call specific functions through MCP that return exact results.

The GetALife MCP server hands your AI assistant exactly those tools for zero-based budgeting: it computes budget plans, savings goals, and payoff schedules correctly instead of estimating them. The result: when you ask your AI for a budget, you get an actual calculation instead of a plausible-sounding guess.

What can it do?

The server ships twelve tools your AI can call mid-conversation:

Tool	What it does
`getalife_explain_zbb`	Explains zero-based budgeting in plain terms
`getalife_suggest_categories`	Suggests budget categories for your life situation
`getalife_create_budget_plan`	Builds a complete budget plan from your income
`getalife_analyze_budget`	Checks whether your budget actually zeroes out
`getalife_financial_runway`	Calculates how long your savings will last
`getalife_net_worth`	Calculates your net worth
`getalife_savings_goal`	Plans savings goals with a monthly contribution
`getalife_debt_payoff_plan`	Builds a debt payoff plan (avalanche/snowball)
`getalife_subscription_audit`	Finds savings potential in your subscriptions
`getalife_budget_summary`	Creates a shareable budget summary
`getalife_voice_demo`	Shows how voice input works in GetALife
`getalife_app_info`	Info about the GetALife app

Installation

The server runs locally via npx — no signup, no cloud install required.

Claude Code

Run in your terminal:

claude mcp add getalife -- npx -y mcp-server-getalife

Claude Desktop

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "getalife": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-server-getalife"]
    }
  }
}

OpenAI Codex

Run in your terminal:

codex mcp add getalife -- npx -y mcp-server-getalife

You'll need Node.js 18 or newer. After that, just ask in the chat — for example, "Create a budget from my $3,000 income".

Privacy: no connection to your app data

The GetALife MCP server has no access to your app or account data. It has no login, no tracking, and sends nothing to GetALife servers — it runs locally on your machine. Every calculation uses only the numbers you provide in the chat.

Frequently asked questions

Does this cost anything?

No. The MCP server is MIT-licensed and freely available — open source, no hidden costs.

Do I need the GetALife app?

No, the MCP server works independently of the app. If you want to track your budget on an ongoing basis, though, the free GetALife app is the natural next step.

Which AI assistants are supported?

Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and OpenAI Codex are officially tested — in principle the server works with any MCP-capable client.

Can the AI see my GetALife data?

No — see the privacy box above: no connection to your app or account data.

And for everyday use: the GetALife app

The MCP server calculates your plan once — the app keeps your budget on track every month. Free, works offline.

Coming soon to iOS