usefulapiPapershift MCP server
Read Papershift absences, vacation, time tracking and shifts; request and review absences. Hosted by usefulapi: connect it to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client.
What can I ask?
Turn on the Papershift connector, then ask in plain words. The AI picks the tools.
- Who is absent next week, and which absence requests are still pending?
- How many vacation days does Anna have left this year?
- Show last week's tracked hours for the Berlin location.
- Approve Ben's vacation request for 3-7 November.
- List the open shifts for tomorrow and who is assigned to them.
What you can do with Papershift in Claude and ChatGPT
For managers and HR teams who plan shifts, absences and working time in Papershift.
See who is absent and how many vacation days are left
The AI lists absences between two dates, with type, hours and vacation days, and reads an employee's vacation entitlements: planned, spent and carry-over days.
Review tracked hours and overtime
The AI lists worked-time entries and an employee's daily evaluations (target, planned and actual hours), plus the contractual target hours.
Check planned shifts and who is assigned
The AI lists shifts of a location between two dates, by working area or tag, and shows who is assigned to a shift and who applied.
Record an absence or decide on a request
The AI records an absence such as vacation or sick leave for an employee, or confirms, rejects or resets an absence request.
Changes dataAdd or confirm worked time
The AI adds a worked-time entry after the fact, with start, end and break minutes, or confirms an entry so it counts as final.
Changes dataPlan a shift and assign employees
The AI creates a shift in a location and working area for a number of employees, and puts an employee on it.
Changes dataHow do I connect Papershift?
Before you connect
The login page asks for your Papershift API key.
Create it in Papershift → gear icon → Account settings → API (Account Admin only; the paid Papershift API add-on must be active). New keys can read and write; edit the key's permissions to make it read-only if you only want to look things up. Your key is used only to call the Papershift API on your behalf; it is never shown to anyone.
Claude claude.ai · Desktop
- Open Customize → Connectors, then click + Add → Add custom connector.
- Enter the name Papershift and this URL, then click Add:https://
papershift. usefulapi. io/ mcp - Claude opens the login page: enter your Papershift API key.
- In a chat, click + → Connectors and turn on Papershift.
Team and Enterprise: an Owner adds the connector for the organization first.
ChatGPT chatgpt.com
- Open Plugins, click +, then Add custom MCP server.
- Enter the name Papershift and this URL, choose OAuth as the authentication, confirm the warning and create it:https://
papershift. usefulapi. io/ mcp - ChatGPT opens the login page: enter your Papershift API key.
- In Plugins, install Papershift, then choose it in a chat.
No Add custom MCP server option? It depends on your account or workspace settings: see OpenAI's guide.
Claude Code
Run this command, then run /mcp in Claude Code to log in:
Cursor
Add to Cursor or add this to ~/.cursor/mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"papershift": {
"url": "https://papershift.usefulapi.io/mcp"
}
}
} VS Code
Add to VS Code or add this to .vscode/mcp.json:
{
"servers": {
"papershift": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://papershift.usefulapi.io/mcp"
}
}
} Codex
Run these commands. The second one opens the login page:
Other clients
Windsurf, Cline, Zed and other MCP clients: add this URL as a remote MCP server (Streamable HTTP). The client then opens the login page in your browser.
Add only the URL. Do not add an Authorization header or an API key to the client config. The server signs you in with OAuth: the login page asks for your Papershift API key. If the config has such a header, remove it: some clients then send that header instead of the login token, and every call fails with 401.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 tool calls / month |
| Proper user | $9/mo · $90/yr | 10,000 tool calls / month |
| Pro+per user | $39/mo · $390/yr | 100,000 tool calls / month |
Each paid plan covers this Papershift server only. Ask your AI to run papershift_upgrade and choose Pro or Pro+, billed monthly or yearly (it returns a Stripe Checkout link). If you already have Pro, ask to change it to Pro+. The change requires your confirmation, keeps your billing interval and charges the price difference for the rest of the period immediately. Cancel any time with papershift_cancel_subscription: your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period, with no refund for the current period, and asking to resume the same plan with papershift_upgrade before then undoes the cancel. Or write to support@usefulapi.io.
Tools 30
Show all 30 tools (the AI picks them for you)
Read only · 20
- Get account
papershift_get_accountThe Papershift account this API key belongs to (id and name). A quick way to check the connection. - List locations
papershift_list_locationsList all locations (sites/companies inside the account) with id, name and status. Most other tools need a location id from here. - Get location
papershift_get_locationOne location by id. - List working areas
papershift_list_working_areasList working areas (departments/stations shifts are planned in), optionally for one location. Use the ids for shifts and time trackings. - List employees
papershift_list_usersList employees (users) with name, email, status, contract basics and their location, working-area and tag ids. Filter by location, working area or tag. 25 per page. - Get employee
papershift_get_userOne employee by id: contact data, status, locations, working areas, tags and profile fields. - List tags
papershift_list_tagsList the tags of a location (labels on shifts, time trackings and employees). - List absence types
papershift_list_absence_typesList the absence types of a location (vacation, sick leave, ...) with id, title and rules. Use the ids to create absences. - List absences
papershift_list_absencesList absences (vacation, sick leave, ...) that fall between two dates, optionally for one employee or location. Shows type title, times, hours, vacation days and whether it is confirmed. 25 per page. - Get absence
papershift_get_absenceOne absence by id, with its status, confirmation, hours and vacation days. - List vacation entitlements
papershift_list_vacation_entitlementsAn employee's vacation entitlements (planned days, spent days, expiry, carry-over) for the given period. Use it to answer 'how many vacation days does X have left'. 25 per page. - List time trackings
papershift_list_time_trackingsList worked-time entries (clock-ins) from a start date, optionally to an end date and for one employee. Shows start, end, break time, location, employee and whether confirmed. 25 per page. - Get time tracking
papershift_get_time_trackingOne worked-time entry by id, with its breaks, tags and break total. - List evaluations (daily hours)
papershift_list_evaluationsAn employee's daily evaluations: target, planned and actual hours, vacation and compensation per day. Use it for overtime and balance questions. 25 per page. - List target hours
papershift_list_target_hoursAn employee's contractual target hours (weekly/monthly rhythm and hours per weekday) over time. 25 per page. - List payrolls
papershift_list_payrollsAn employee's payroll entries (paid hours, salary, bonus, time-account start/end per period). Sensitive pay data. 25 per page. - List shifts
papershift_list_shiftsList planned shifts of a location between two dates, optionally for one working area or tags. Shows start, end, number of employees needed, note and visibility. Assigned employees: papershift_list_shift_assignments. 25 per page. - Get shift
papershift_get_shiftOne shift by id. - List shift assignments
papershift_list_shift_assignmentsWho is assigned to a shift and who has applied for it (user id and name). - List availabilities
papershift_list_availabilitiesThe times an employee has marked as available between two dates. 25 per page.
Changes data · 6
- Create absence
papershift_create_absenceWRITE: record an absence (vacation, sick leave, ...) for an employee. Get the absence type id from papershift_list_absence_types and the user id from papershift_list_users. Whether it counts immediately or waits for approval depends on the absence type and the account's approval rules; the employee may be notified. Papershift calculates the paid hours and vacation days. - Confirm, reject or reset an absence
papershift_review_absenceWRITE: decide on an absence request. action 'confirm' approves it (it then counts against vacation days and the plan), 'reject' declines it, 'reset' puts a decided absence back to pending. The employee is typically notified of the decision. Find ids with papershift_list_absences. - Create time tracking
papershift_create_time_trackingWRITE: add a worked-time entry for an employee after the fact (start, end and break minutes) in a location and working area. It changes the employee's recorded hours and balance. Ids from papershift_list_locations, papershift_list_working_areas and papershift_list_users. - Confirm time tracking
papershift_confirm_time_trackingWRITE: confirm (approve) a worked-time entry so it counts as final for payroll and balances. Find ids with papershift_list_time_trackings. - Create shift
papershift_create_shiftWRITE: plan a new shift in a location and working area for a number of employees. Set visible to true only if employees should see it right away (default: left to the account's setting). Assign people afterwards with papershift_assign_user_to_shift. - Assign employee to shift
papershift_assign_user_to_shiftWRITE: put an employee on a shift (or, with application true, record them as having applied for it). The employee is typically notified of the assignment. An already assigned user is re-assigned. Returns the shift's assigned and applied users.
Your usefulapi plan · 4
- Usage status (free-tier meter)
papershift_usage_statusReport the caller's current usage: the plan, calls used this month, the limit of the plan (the free monthly cap or the Pro fair use limit), remaining, and whether the limit is reached. Read-only; does not count against the meter. - Request a missing feature
papershift_request_featureTell usefulapi that the user needs something the Papershift tools cannot do yet (a missing tool, field or filter). Call it only when the user asks for something none of the tools can do, and tell the user that you send the request. Do not call it for errors or for normal requests. Do not include personal data, credentials or customer records. Stored with the product name and the client type (for example Claude or Cursor), without the user's account. At most 5 requests per day. Does not count against the meter. - Upgrade to Pro or Pro+
papershift_upgradeGet a paid plan for Papershift (the free tier caps monthly usage). Pro: 10,000 tool calls a month, for normal use — plan "monthly" ($9/month) or "yearly" ($90/year, 2 months free). Pro+: 100,000 tool calls a month, for automations and heavy use — plan "plus" ($39/month) or "plus_yearly" ($390/year). Without a plan it returns both Pro and Pro+, each with a payment link, for the user to choose; with a plan, one link. An existing Pro subscription changes to Pro+ in place: call without confirm first, as the reply states the exact charge for this account (the price difference for the rest of the period, or in a free Pro trial the full Pro+ price, as the trial ends); then call with confirm: true. Cancel any time: the plan then runs to the end of the paid period, so it also suits a one-time job. A link opens Stripe Checkout in the browser; after payment the account upgrades automatically. Does not count against the meter. - Cancel the Pro subscription
papershift_cancel_subscriptionCancel the caller's Papershift Pro subscription at the end of the paid period (no refund for the current period; Pro continues until then, then the free tier applies). Requires confirm: true. Run papershift_upgrade later to undo the cancel before the period ends. Does not count against the meter.
FAQ
What can I do with Papershift in Claude or ChatGPT?
See who is absent and how many vacation days are left. Review tracked hours and overtime. Check planned shifts and who is assigned. Record an absence or decide on a request. Add or confirm worked time. Plan a shift and assign employees. See what you can do for the details.
Is this an official Papershift product?
No. usefulapi is an independent service. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Papershift. The server calls the Papershift API with your own Papershift access, so it sees only the data that your account can see.
Can I connect Papershift to Claude or ChatGPT?
Yes. In Claude, add this server's URL as a custom connector. In ChatGPT, add it as a custom MCP server in Plugins. Then log in once. Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code and Codex work too. See the setup steps.
What do I need to connect?
The login page asks for your Papershift API key. See Before you connect for where to find it.
Do I put my Papershift key or an Authorization header in the client config?
No. Add only the URL. Do not add an Authorization header or an API key to the client config. The server signs you in with OAuth: the login page asks for your Papershift API key. If the config has such a header, remove it: some clients then send that header instead of the login token, and every call fails with 401.
How do you keep my Papershift credentials?
The login stores them encrypted in the authorization grant of your connection. The server uses them to call the Papershift API for you and to derive a private account id for usage metering. usefulapi does not show them on any page or in any reply. To stop all access, remove the connector and change or delete these credentials in Papershift.
Can the AI change my Papershift data?
Yes, if you approve it. 6 of the 26 Papershift tools can create or change data. The other 20 are marked read-only. Most MCP clients ask you to approve a tool call before it runs.
What does it cost?
The Free plan gives 50 tool calls / month. Pro costs $9/mo or $90/yr, with 10,000 tool calls / month. Pro+ costs $39/mo or $390/yr, with 100,000 tool calls / month. Each subscription covers this Papershift server only. Cancel any time: your paid plan then runs to the end of the paid period. Run papershift_usage_status to see how many calls you used.
How do I subscribe or cancel?
Ask the AI to run papershift_upgrade and choose Pro or Pro+, billed monthly or yearly: it returns a Stripe Checkout link. If you already have Pro, ask to change it to Pro+. After you confirm, your existing subscription changes in place, keeps its billing interval and charges the price difference for the rest of the period immediately. To cancel, run papershift_cancel_subscription. Your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period.
What if a Papershift tool that I need is missing?
Tell the AI what you wanted to do. It can send the request with papershift_request_feature. We store the text with the server name, the type of AI client and the tool you tried, not with your account, and read every request when we plan new tools. You can send up to 5 requests per day.
Which AI clients can I use?
Any client that supports remote MCP servers (Streamable HTTP) with OAuth login: Claude (web and desktop), Claude Code, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and others.
This is a Model Context Protocol endpoint — meant to be connected from an AI client, not opened in a browser. An invalid_token response at the URL is the auth gate working as designed; clients authenticate automatically.
Need a tool this server does not have, or a connection to another system? We build custom integrations and MCP servers.