How to connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor to the Tradier MCP server (paper first)

✓ Written from official docs · checked 2026-10-26

Tradier hosts its MCP server at https://mcp.tradier.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP) and authenticates with your personal Tradier API token. These steps come from Tradier's MCP docs.

1. Get a token and pick paper or live

Log in at tradier.com and open your API settings, which show both a live and a paper trading token. Tradier's rule: send the production token with PAPER_TRADING: false for your live account, or the paper token with true for your paper account. Tradier's examples all show false; we use true below so you start on paper. Switch later by editing the config.

2. Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http tradier https://mcp.tradier.com/mcp \
  --header "API_KEY: your_paper_token" \
  --header "PAPER_TRADING: true"

Start claude. Tradier suggests calling get_user_profile first, which gives you your account number.

3. Claude on web and desktop

claude.ai → Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, named Tradier MCP.
MCP Server URL: https://mcp.tradier.com/mcp?api_key={YOUR TOKEN}&paper_trading=true
Click Add. The connector then shows up in both web and desktop Claude.

This method puts the token in the URL (query parameters api_key and paper_trading, lower case). Treat the connector URL like a password.

4. ChatGPT

chatgpt.com → Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → turn on developer mode.
Settings → Apps → Create custom app, named Tradier MCP, with the same URL as above.
Click Create. Tradier says it then appears in ChatGPT web, and on desktop after a restart.

5. Cursor

In ~/.cursor/mcp.json (create it if missing):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tradier": {
      "url": "https://mcp.tradier.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "API_KEY": "your_paper_token", "PAPER_TRADING": "true" },
      "trust": false,
      "timeout": 600000
    }
  }
}

Check it under Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP. Tradier also documents Gemini CLI (~/.gemini/settings.json, with httpUrl instead of url).

What the AI can do

21 tools: profile, balances, positions, orders, gain/loss, account history, quotes, option chains, historical data, market calendar, watchlists and a docs search.
Order tools: place_equity_order, place_option_order, place_multileg_option_order (2 to 4 legs), place_oco_order, place_oto_order, place_otoco_order and cancel_order. There's no modify tool and no tool that moves money.
The docs describe no separate order-confirmation step on Tradier's side. Whether you're asked before an order goes out depends on your AI client's own tool-approval settings.

Safety checklist

Test with the paper token and PAPER_TRADING: true before you use the live token.
Prefer the header setup (Claude Code, Cursor) over a URL that contains the token.
Keep your AI client set to ask before each order tool runs. To enforce dollar caps and symbol lists yourself, see TAS Guard.

Source: https://docs.tradier.com/docs/tradier-mcp. Not financial advice.

FAQ

What is the Tradier MCP server URL?

https://mcp.tradier.com/mcp, using the Streamable HTTP transport, per Tradier's MCP docs.

How do I use paper trading with Tradier MCP?

Use the paper trading token from your Tradier API settings and set PAPER_TRADING to true (or paper_trading=true in the connector URL).

Which AI apps does Tradier document?

ChatGPT, Claude web and desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and Gemini CLI.

Does Tradier ask me to confirm orders placed by the AI?

Tradier's MCP docs describe no separate confirmation step. Any prompt before an order comes from your AI client's tool-approval settings.