@iiinigence/harvest-mcp

Track time, run timers, and read time reports — by just asking your AI.

An open-source MCP server for Harvest, developed by IIInigence. Works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and any MCP-compatible client.

🎥 Setup tutorial video: coming soon — subscribe

Easiest install — one file, no terminal (Claude Desktop)

1. Download iiinigence-harvest.mcpb from the latest release

2. In Claude Desktop: Settings → Extensions → Advanced settings → Install Extension → pick the downloaded file. Claude shows what you're getting; click Install.

3. Paste your Harvest Personal Access Token and Account ID (both from id.getharvest.com/developers) into the settings form, then click the Disabled button so it reads Enabled. Done.

No Node, no config files — Claude Desktop runs the bundle with its built-in runtime. Nervous about giving an AI write access to your timesheet? Flip on Read-only mode in the same form: Claude can read projects, entries, and reports but can't log or change a thing until you turn it off.

Related MCP server: harvest-mcp-server

Quick start (manual / npx route)

1. Get your credentials — id.getharvest.com/developers → Create new personal access token. Note the token and the numeric Account ID shown with it.

2. Add to Claude Desktop — Settings → Developer → Edit Config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "harvest": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@iiinigence/harvest-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "HARVEST_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
        "HARVEST_ACCOUNT_ID": "1234567",
        "READ_ONLY": "false"
      }
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop, then try: "How many hours did I log this week?"

What it's like to use

• "Start a timer on the Acme website project — task: development, note: fixing the checkout bug."

• "Stop my timer."

• "Log 2 hours yesterday on Acme — client meeting."

• "How many hours did we spend per client this month, and how much of it was billable?"

• "Who on the team logged the most hours last week?"

• "Find my unbilled overtime — compare this month's hours to the project budgets."

Tools

Configuration

Safety notes

• No delete tool — by design. This server can log and edit time, but it can never delete an entry. If something truly needs deleting, do it in Harvest.

• Read-only mode is a hard block enforced by the server, not a suggestion to the model.

• Your Personal Access Token carries your Harvest permissions. Treat it like a password; revoke it at id.getharvest.com/developers if unsure.

• Keep yourself as the approval step for edits: ask your assistant to show entries before changing them.

Privacy

This connector runs locally, collects no data, has no telemetry, and talks only to Harvest's API. Your token is stored on your device by Claude Desktop and sent only to Harvest. Full policy: PRIVACY.md.

Who built this

IIInigence — a software development agency: custom software, AI automations, full platforms. This connector is part of our video series on connecting Claude to your business tools, one at a time. See also our SendGrid connector.

Want something like this built for your business? Tell us what you'd build.

Development

git clone https://github.com/iiinigence/harvest-mcp.git
cd harvest-mcp
npm install
npm run build
HARVEST_ACCESS_TOKEN=xxx HARVEST_ACCOUNT_ID=1234567 node dist/index.js

MIT licensed. PRs welcome.

This is an independent project by IIInigence. It is not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Harvest. "Harvest" is a trademark of Iridesco, LLC, used here only to describe compatibility.