TradeZero MCP

TradeZero MCP (Model Context Protocol) links your TradeZero account to Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Cursor, or VS Code through TradeZero's hosted MCP server. Add the server URL in your assistant, complete OAuth sign-in, and manage your account in natural language. For the complete tool catalog, see the TradeZero MCP Tool Reference.

Disclaimer - live trading

Orders you approve through MCP are real. On a live TradeZero brokerage account, every order, cancellation, or locate you confirm via an MCP client is a real transaction that can use real money, incur fees, and have the same effect as a trade placed through TradeZero Platforms.

You are responsible for checking every preflight detail before you approve - including whether the account is paper or live, plus symbol, side, quantity, order type, price, and route. TradeZero does not operate or control third-party AI assistants or how they interpret your instructions.

Keep write-approval prompts enabled in your client. Paper accounts use simulated funds only. See tools that can move money.

This notice is for documentation purposes only and is not legal or investment advice.

Before you get started

• API Trading enabled in the TradeZero Portal.

• An MCP client with remote Streamable HTTP and OAuth 2.0 (clients below).

• Hosted MCP URLhttps://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp

Paste the hosted URL, complete OAuth sign-in, and confirm accountType (Paper or Live) from list_accounts before any write operation. Use OAuth only - do not configure API keys in the assistant.

Connect your client

Each client has its own plan and UI requirements. ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro do not support TradeZero MCP - use Business, Enterprise, or Edu, or pick another client below.

Select a platform

Claude

Plan requirements

Remote custom connectors work on Free (one connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise. On Team/Enterprise, an Owner must add the connector first; members then click Connect.

3 steps

1. 1

   Open Connectors

   On Free / Pro / Max: claude.ai → Customize → Connectors → + → Add custom connector. Free accounts are limited to one custom connector.

   On Team / Enterprise: an Owner adds it under Organization settings → Connectors → Add → Custom → Web. Members then open Customize → Connectors and click Connect.

2. 2

   Add the server URL

   Paste into Remote MCP server URL. Leave OAuth client ID/secret empty (Dynamic Client Registration). Click Add, then complete TradeZero sign-in if prompted.

   https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp

3. 3

   Enable in chat

   In the chat composer, open + → Connectors and turn TradeZero on for that conversation.

Guide: Claude custom connectors (remote MCP).

Claude Code

Plan requirements

Requires the Claude Code CLI on a Claude plan that includes Claude Code access. Use --transport http for the hosted URL (not stdio).

4 steps

1. 1

   Add the hosted server

   From a terminal:

   claude mcp add --scope user --transport http tradezero https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp

2. 2

   Start a session

   Run claude, then /mcp, and select tradezero.

3. 3

   Authenticate

   If status is Needs authentication, choose Authenticate and finish TradeZero login in the browser (open the URL manually if the browser does not launch).

4. 4

   Verify

   Confirm claude mcp list shows TradeZero connected, then ask Claude Code to list your TradeZero accounts.

Guide: Claude Code MCP.

ChatGPT

Business, Enterprise, or Edu required - Free / Plus / Pro do not work

TradeZero MCP on ChatGPT needs a Business, Enterprise, or Edu workspace on the web, with Developer mode enabled. Free, Plus, and Pro do not support custom MCP for TradeZero (orders and locates need full write MCP). Mobile does not support this flow.

Workspace admins / owners control who can enable Developer mode and create custom MCP apps. If you are a member and cannot create apps, ask your workspace admin. On Free / Plus / Pro, use Claude, Perplexity (Pro/Max/Enterprise), Cursor, or VS Code instead.

5 steps

1. 1

   Confirm your plan

   In ChatGPT on the web, confirm you are on Business, Enterprise, or Edu - not Free, Plus, or Pro.

2. 2

   Turn on Developer mode

   Open Settings → Security and login and turn on Developer mode. On some workspace UIs the same toggle lives under Settings → Apps → Advanced settings. If you do not see it, your plan or workspace policy does not allow custom MCP apps.

3. 3

   Create the developer-mode app

   Open ChatGPT Plugins (or Settings → Apps, depending on your workspace UI). After Developer mode is on, use the + control to create a developer-mode app for a remote MCP server.

4. 4

   Configure the MCP server

   Field	Value
   Name	TradeZero MCP
   MCP server URL	https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp
   Authentication	OAuth
   Risk disclosure	Accept

   Scan tools → complete TradeZero OAuth sign-in → save / create. The app appears under drafts until you use it.

5. 5

   Use in a chat

   Open a new chat. From the composer + / tools menu, choose Developer mode, then select TradeZero MCP before you send the first message. Approving write tools places real orders on a live account.

Guides: Developer mode and MCP apps (OpenAI Help Center) · ChatGPT Developer mode.

Perplexity

Paid plan required

Custom remote connectors require Pro, Max, or Enterprise. Free does not include custom connectors. On Enterprise, an admin must enable Allow members to add custom connectors (off by default) before the add button appears.

4 steps

1. 1

   Open Connectors

   Settings → Connectors (or perplexity.ai/account/connectors) → + Custom connector.

2. 2

   Add the connector

   Choose Remote. Name TradeZero. Transport: Streamable HTTP. Authentication: OAuth 2.0. Leave client ID/secret empty unless Perplexity requires fields for your org.

   https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp

3. 3

   Authorize

   Open the connector card and complete TradeZero login.

4. 4

   Enable in a thread

   In the thread, open Sources (or Connectors) and turn TradeZero on.

Guide: Perplexity custom remote connectors.

Cursor

Plan requirements

Remote MCP over HTTPS works in Cursor desktop with Agent. No TradeZero API keys in mcp.json - OAuth only.

Quick install (Cursor desktop): Install in Cursor - opens the MCP dialog with the hosted URL pre-filled. You still need to click Install and complete TradeZero OAuth.

3 steps

1. 1

   Open MCP settings

   Customize → MCPs, or Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+J → MCP.

2. 2

   Add the server URL

   Add Custom MCP → name tradezero → paste the hosted URL (no API keys and no OAuth client ID):

   https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp

   Or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

   ~/.cursor/mcp.json

   {
   "mcpServers": {
     "tradezero": { "url": "https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp" }
   }
   }

3. 3

   Connect and authorize

   When the server shows Needs authentication, click Connect and finish TradeZero login. Keep write-approval prompts enabled in Agent mode.

Guide: Cursor MCP.

VS Code

Plan requirements

Requires GitHub Copilot Chat with Agent mode (Ask/Edit will not call MCP tools). Your org can disable MCP via GitHub Copilot policy.

4 steps

1. 1

   Add an MCP server

   Command Palette → MCP: Add Server → HTTP → install to your User profile (or workspace .vscode/mcp.json).

2. 2

   Paste the server URL

   Name tradezero:

   https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp

   User mcp.json

   {
   "servers": {
     "tradezero": { "type": "http", "url": "https://webapi.tradezero.com/mcp" }
   }
   }

3. 3

   Authenticate

   Open the MCP config and use the Auth code lens on the TradeZero entry → complete TradeZero login. Trust the server when VS Code prompts.

4. 4

   Switch to Agent mode

   Open Copilot Chat and select Agent (not Ask or Edit). Then ask it to list TradeZero accounts.

Guide: VS Code MCP servers.

Any MCP client that supports remote Streamable HTTP transport and OAuth 2.0 can connect: paste the hosted URL, complete sign-in, and authorize access to your TradeZero account.

What you can do

Read balances, positions, profit and loss, orders, and cash history. Place and cancel equity and options orders. Execute the short-locate workflow on live accounts. See the Tool Reference for the complete catalog.

No market data

The hosted MCP server does not stream quotes, options chains, or charts. Supply your own limit prices on orders.

Prompts to try

After you connect, open a new chat and paste any prompt below. Section-by-section examples are on the Tool Reference.

Account

• ReadShow me my current balance and buying power - and tell me whether this account is paper or live.
• ReadHow is my portfolio performing today?
• ReadWhat positions do I have open right now?
• ReadShow me my recent cash transactions.

Orders

• ReadWhat open orders do I have on my account right now?
• ReadWalk me through why my last order was rejected.
• WriteCancel my open AAPL order.
• WritePlace a limit order to buy 100 shares of AAPL at $180.

Options

• ReadWhat option positions do I have open?
• WriteBuy to open one AAPL call - I will give you the OCC symbol and a limit of $2.50.

Short locates

• ReadIs BB easy to borrow right now?
• ReadWhat locate inventory do I still have available today?
• Write

  Quote me a locate for 500 shares of BB and show each offer with its cost before I accept.

  Live account only.

FAQ

Troubleshooting

Client	Symptom	Fix
ChatGPT	No Developer mode / cannot create app	Free / Plus / Pro cannot do this. Use Business/Enterprise/Edu on the web, or Claude / Perplexity / Cursor / VS Code. Workspace members may need an admin to enable Developer mode.
ChatGPT	App exists but tools unused	New chat → composer + → Developer mode → select TradeZero MCP
ChatGPT	On Plus or Pro	TradeZero MCP is not supported on those plans - upgrade to Business/Enterprise/Edu or use Claude, Perplexity (Pro/Max/Enterprise), Cursor, or VS Code
Perplexity	No + Custom connector	Need Pro/Max/Enterprise. On Enterprise, admin must allow custom connectors.
Claude	Connector missing for members	Owner must add it under Organization settings → Connectors first
Claude	Cannot add a second connector	Free is limited to one custom connector - remove another connector first
Cursor	Server missing	Customize → MCPs; check Output → MCP Logs
Cursor	JSON file opened	Add a url entry in mcp.json or update Cursor
All	No OAuth / no tools	Enable connector in chat. Well-known URLs are path-inserted (…/oauth-protected-resource/mcp, …/oauth-authorization-server/mcp-oauth2) - root paths 404
Claude / ChatGPT	Tools missing in chat	Enable connector per conversation; fresh chat
VS Code	Tools unused	Copilot Chat in Agent mode (not Ask/Edit)
All	401	Finish TradeZero login; Claude Code: /mcp → Authenticate
All	Older order history	Use get_historical_orders or get_historical_orders_paginated for fill archives; get_todays_orders / get_order for the session book

Disconnecting

Remove the connector in the assistant (Claude: Customize → Connectors; ChatGPT: remove the developer-mode app / disconnect under Apps or Plugins; Cursor: Tools & MCP; VS Code: MCP list; Claude Code: claude mcp remove tradezero). Open orders stay in the market. Removing the client may not revoke the OAuth token - sign out of TradeZero browser sessions if you need to end access.

Session and rate limits

Re-authenticate on 401 or Needs authentication. MCP calls share API rate limits with REST.

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