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Sure Clients
Sure is centered on a Rails server. Every client connects to that server and uses the same accounts, users, authentication rules, and financial data. A client can be a browser, a native app, a mobile app, an automation script, or an LLM agent using Sure's MCP endpoint.
Use this guide to choose the right entry point for a person, device, or integration.
Client overview
| Client | Best for | Status | Entry point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web app | Full everyday use, administration, and self-hosted access from any modern browser. | Primary client | Run the Rails app and visit the server URL. For local development, use bin/dev and open http://localhost:3000. |
| macOS desktop app | People who want Sure in a native Mac window with system app chrome and deep-link handling. | Native shell around the web app | See Sure Desktop. |
| Mobile app | Basic mobile access on iOS and Android, currently focused on login and account balances. | Flutter companion app | See Sure Mobile. |
| LLM agents and assistants | Claude Desktop, GPT agents, local agents, or custom tools that need structured access to Sure data. | MCP endpoint for external AI clients | See MCP Server for External AI Assistants. |
| Custom API clients | Scripts, services, importer experiments, dashboards, or other integrations. | HTTP API | See the OpenAPI spec at docs/api/openapi.yaml and endpoint guides such as docs/api/transactions.md. |
Web app
The web app is the complete Sure experience. It is the right default when a person wants to use Sure directly, manage settings, connect providers, review transactions, or work with features that may not yet be available in native clients.
For self-hosting, start with the Docker hosting guide. For local development, run the Rails app and visit the local server URL:
bin/dev
http://localhost:3000
The web app also serves as the surface rendered by the macOS desktop app.
macOS desktop app
The macOS desktop app is a Tauri 2 shell that renders the full Sure web app in a native Mac window. On first launch, it asks for the Sure server URL, checks the server health endpoint, and then loads the normal sign-in flow.
Use it when someone wants a desktop app experience without a separate desktop data model. It uses the same server, authentication, MFA, and permissions as the browser.
See desktop/README.md for development, release, unsigned install, deep link, and notarization notes.
Mobile app
The mobile app is a Flutter companion app for iOS and Android. It connects to a Sure server through the API and currently focuses on core mobile flows such as authentication and viewing account balances.
Use it when someone needs phone access and the feature set they need is available in the mobile client. For the full application surface, use the web app.
See mobile/README.md for setup and mobile/docs/TECHNICAL_GUIDE.md for deeper implementation notes.
LLM agents and MCP clients
LLM agents are clients too. Sure exposes a Model Context Protocol endpoint for external assistants and agent runtimes that need structured access to financial data.
Use MCP when a person wants an assistant such as Claude Desktop, a GPT agent, or a custom local agent to query Sure directly instead of copying data into a chat window. MCP access is configured server-side with a bearer token and a specific Sure user email.
Because this gives the assistant read access to that user's family data, treat the MCP token like a production secret and only connect assistants and providers the user trusts.
See docs/hosting/mcp.md for setup and protocol details.
Custom API clients
Custom clients can call Sure's HTTP API directly. This is the right path for scripts, services, import experiments, dashboards, and integrations that do not need an MCP-compatible agent interface.
API requests can authenticate with a user-generated X-Api-Key header, or with
OAuth2 bearer tokens from Sure's Doorkeeper authorization server for registered
app clients.
Start with the OpenAPI spec at docs/api/openapi.yaml and endpoint guides such as docs/api/transactions.md.
Choosing a client
- Start with the web app when a person needs the complete Sure experience.
- Use the macOS desktop app when they want the web app wrapped in a native Mac application.
- Use the mobile app for iOS or Android access to supported mobile flows.
- Use MCP for LLM agents and assistant runtimes.
- Use the HTTP API for custom software integrations.
All clients should connect to a Sure server the user controls or trusts. Native, mobile, API, and MCP clients do not replace the server; they are different ways to access it.