@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.

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

Tool	What it does
get_me	Verify the connection; your user id, roles, timezone
list_clients	Clients in the account
list_projects	Projects with client, code, and budget info
list_project_tasks	Tasks available on a project (needed to log time)
list_time_entries	Entries with filters: date range, project, person, running
get_time_report	Aggregated hours by client / project / task / team member
log_time	Create a completed time entry
start_timer	Start a running timer (auto-stops any other running timer)
stop_timer	Stop the running timer
update_time_entry	Edit hours, notes, date, project, or task
list_users	Team members (admin/manager)

Configuration

Env var	Required	Description
HARVEST_ACCESS_TOKEN	✅	Personal Access Token from id.getharvest.com/developers
HARVEST_ACCOUNT_ID	✅	Numeric account id shown next to the token
READ_ONLY	—	true = reports and entries readable, all writing blocked (default false)

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.

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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.