MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard that lets AI apps connect to external tools and services. Instead of each app building its own custom integration for every service, any AI app that supports MCP can connect to any MCP server the same way.
This article covers Productive's MCP server, which gives any AI app that supports MCP — like Claude, or ChatGPT — simple and secure access to your Productive workspace.
📌 Looking to connect Productive's AI Assistant to external tools instead? See MCP Connectors.
📌 AI features must be enabled to use Productive's MCP server. Learn more about Productive AI.
MCP server is available on the Ultimate subscription plan.
Productive MCP Server
To connect any AI app that supports MCP to Productive, you'll need the Productive MCP server link:
https://mcp.productive.io/mcp
Most MCP-compatible apps follow the same basic pattern: you paste the link into the app's connector settings, then go through a quick authorization step to grant access to your Productive workspace.
The steps below cover Claude and ChatGPT, two of the AI tools currently confirmed to work with Productive's MCP server.
📌 Other AI tools, including Gemini, don't yet support remote MCP servers and can't connect at this time. This may change as MCP adoption grows across the industry. If you're using a different AI tool, check whether it supports remote MCP servers. If it does, the same link should work.
Using the MCP server with Sandbox
If you want to test MCP actions without affecting live data, you can connect to your Sandbox environment instead, using a separate server link:
https://mcp-sandbox.productive.io
📌 Your Sandbox is a separate environment with its own data. Actions performed via the sandbox MCP server will not affect your live organization.
Connecting Claude to Productive
To connect Claude to your Productive workspace:
Go to Customize > Connectors
Click Add custom connector
📌 If you don't see the Add custom connector option, your Claude account may be managed by your organization. In that case, connecting custom MCP servers may be restricted by your administrator — reach out to them to request access or have the connector added on your behalf.
Enter a connection name — for example, "Productive"
Enter the Productive MCP server link and click Add
A Productive login page will open in your browser — sign in to authorize the connection
If your account belongs to multiple organizations, select which one to connect and click Allow access
📌 Each connection is limited to one Productive organization at a time. To switch to a different organization, disconnect the existing connection and reconnect, selecting a different one.
Connecting ChatGPT to Productive
Connecting a custom MCP server in ChatGPT requires a paid plan and Developer Mode enabled.
Click your profile name in the bottom-left sidebar and select Settings
Go to Apps > Advanced settings and toggle Developer Mode on
Click Create app
Enter a name — for example, "Productive"
Optionally add a description
Enter the Productive MCP server link
Set Authentication to OAuth and click Create
A Productive login page will open in your browser — sign in to authorize the connection
If your account belongs to multiple organizations, select which one to connect and click Allow access
📌 Each connection is limited to one Productive organization at a time. To switch organizations, remove the connector and reconnect, selecting a different one.
What you can do once connected
Once connected, you can ask your AI assistant to pull up your open tasks, log time against a project, or draft and update a page.
Available actions:
Project Management - Create, update, and manage projects, tasks, and subtasks, including assignees, due dates, statuses, and dependencies.
CRM & Sales - Access and update your deals pipeline, client companies, contacts, and proposals.
Resource Planning - View team bookings, time-off, and service allocations.
Time Tracking - Log, update, and delete time entries, start and stop timers, and manage timesheet submissions.
Financial - Read and create invoices, expenses, payments, and purchase orders.
People & Organization - Look up people, teams, roles, and organizational structure.
Docs - Create, edit, and delete pages and comments.
Reporting - Query reports across budgets, time, financials, projects, and people.