How to Connect Kondado to ChatGPT (Developer Mode Step-by-Step, Works on Free)

Connect your Kondado data directly to ChatGPT and ask questions about sales, marketing, and operations in natural language. This complete tutorial shows how to enable Developer Mode and configure the Kondado MCP server on any ChatGPT plan, including the free one.

You will connect ChatGPT to your Kondado data using the MCP endpoint https://mcp.kondado.io/mcp, which works on Free, Plus, Pro, and Team plans. The mandatory step is enabling Developer Mode before creating the app, because without it the create button stays disabled on every plan. After setup, just ask in natural language ("how much did I sell yesterday", "which campaign converted best") and ChatGPT queries your data automatically. The same configuration works for ChatGPT Web, Desktop, and Codex CLI, and the pipeline delivers your reports and answers at the frequency you choose.

What You Will Need

Before you begin, ensure you have:

1. An active Kondado account, with access to the Kondado app and at least one pipeline configured.
2. A ChatGPT account on any plan: Free, Plus, Pro, or Team. We validated the walkthrough on a Free account.
3. A Via Kondado destination created, where your data is available for API queries.

How the Kondado MCP Works

The MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that allows AI assistants like ChatGPT to securely access external data. Kondado has implemented an MCP server that connects directly to your Via Kondado, the destination where your replicated data is available for analysis, reports, and natural-language answers.

How it works in practice:

• You ask a question in natural language to ChatGPT.
• ChatGPT recognizes it needs to query your data.
• It automatically calls Kondado tools.
• You receive an answer with real data from your operation.

Kondado MCP server endpoint:

https://mcp.kondado.io/mcp

How to Enable Developer Mode in ChatGPT (Step 1)

Developer Mode is a mandatory prerequisite for creating custom MCP apps. Without it, the "Create app" button remains disabled on all ChatGPT plans.

Step 1.1: Access Settings

1. Open ChatGPT on the web (chatgpt.com).
2. Click your account avatar in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Step 1.2: Navigate to Apps

1. In the left sidebar of Settings, click Apps.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Click Advanced settings.

Step 1.3: Enable Developer Mode

1. Locate the Developer mode toggle.
2. Click to enable it.
3. Confirm the "ELEVATED RISK" warning. This is expected OpenAI behavior.

Important: When Developer Mode is active, Memory is disabled in chats using custom apps. This is a ChatGPT limitation, not a Kondado restriction.

How to Add the Kondado MCP Server (Step 2)

With Developer Mode enabled, you can create the MCP app that connects to Kondado's server.

Step 2.1: Create a New App

1. Still in Advanced settings (within Apps).
2. Click the Create app button.
3. The New App modal will open.

Step 2.2: Fill in the Configuration

In the creation modal, enter:

• Name: Kondado (or any name you prefer).
• MCP Server URL: https://mcp.kondado.io/mcp.
• Authentication: Leave as OAuth, no need to open "Advanced OAuth settings".

Check the "I understand and want to continue" box to confirm you understand the risks.

Why use OAuth? ChatGPT automatically discovers the authentication server. You only need to provide the MCP endpoint URL.

Step 2.3: Confirm Creation

Click Create. The app will be created and a new browser tab will automatically open to Kondado's authorization screen.

How to Authorize and Test the Connection (Step 3)

This step links your ChatGPT app to your specific Via Kondado destination.

Step 3.1: Log in to Kondado

1. In the tab that opened (app.kondado.com.br), log in with your Kondado account if you are not already logged in.
2. Verify the email shown is yours.

Step 3.2: Select Your Via Kondado

1. In the dropdown, choose which Via Kondado ChatGPT can access.
2. Each app is linked to only one Via Kondado at a time.
3. Click Authorize.

Step 3.3: Confirm the Connection

The consent tab closes automatically. Back in ChatGPT, you will see:

• The "Kondado" app appears in the list with a DEV badge.
• Kondado tools are available for use.

How to Use in ChatGPT Web (Step 4)

Now you can ask questions about your data in natural language.

Step 4.1: Open a Developer Mode Chat

1. Click New chat.
2. Select the Kondado app in the toolbar. It appears as an icon or in the GPTs list.
3. The input field border will turn orange, indicating Developer Mode is active.

Step 4.2: Ask Your First Question

Examples of questions you can ask:

• "Tell me about my Omie sales."
• "What was last month's revenue?"
• "Show my Facebook Ads data from last week."
• "Which products sold the most yesterday?"

How it works: ChatGPT translates your question into a KSQL query, executes it on your Via Kondado, and returns formatted results directly in the chat.

Important difference: ChatGPT uses server-level consent. After the initial authorization in Step 3, all subsequent calls are executed automatically without new confirmations.

How to Use ChatGPT Desktop

The Desktop version (Mac and Windows) uses the same data sources configured in Web. Apps sync automatically: data sources added via Web appear in Desktop. OAuth works in your default browser, and the configuration uses the same URL, https://mcp.kondado.io/mcp.

If your Desktop version does not yet show the custom data sources UI, configure via Web first. The connection will propagate automatically.

How to Use Codex (OpenAI CLI)

Codex is OpenAI's command-line interface for developers.

Option A: Direct Command

In your terminal, run:

codex mcp add kondado --url https://mcp.kondado.io/mcp
codex mcp login kondado

The login command opens your browser for OAuth authorization. After approving, the token is saved locally and renewed automatically.

Option B: Configuration File

Add to your ~/.codex/config.toml:

[mcp_servers.kondado]
url = "https://mcp.kondado.io/mcp"

Then run codex mcp login kondado once to authorize.

Useful Commands

• codex mcp list lists registered MCP servers.
• codex mcp logout kondado removes credentials. Useful for switching Via Kondado.
• codex mcp remove kondado completely removes the server.

What Are the Differences between Free, Plus, Pro, and Team

For the features relevant in this tutorial, the plans behave like this:

1. Custom MCP apps: available on Free and on Plus, Pro, and Team.
2. Developer Mode: available on Free and on Plus, Pro, and Team.
3. Message limits: restricted per hour on Free; higher quota on Plus, Pro, and Team.
4. GPT-4 access: not available on Free; available on Plus, Pro, and Team.
5. Model used for MCP calls: GPT-4o mini on Free; GPT-4o or GPT-4 on Plus, Pro, and Team.

The Free plan has hourly message limitations, but MCP access works normally. Even on Free, ChatGPT uses GPT-4o mini for MCP calls, which is enough for most data queries.

Practical Example: Analyzing Sales with ChatGPT and Kondado

Scenario: You have a Shopify store replicated to Kondado.

Question: "Compare this week's sales with last week."

What happens:

1. ChatGPT identifies it needs to query the orders table.
2. Builds a KSQL query with date filters.
3. Executes on your Via Kondado.
4. Returns: "This week: $12,450. Last week: $9,830. Growth: +26.6%."

Follow-up question: "What was the best-selling product?"

ChatGPT maintains context and queries again, showing: "Premium Striped T-shirt, 47 units sold."

How to Solve Common Issues

The "Create app" button is disabled

Solution: You forgot to enable Developer Mode. Go back to Step 1.3.

I do not see all my tables

Solution: Verify you selected the correct Via Kondado during authorization. The app only sees tables from that specific destination.

Authentication error after a few days

Solution: The token expired. In ChatGPT Web or Desktop, remove the app in Settings → Apps and add it again. In Codex, run codex mcp logout kondado and log in again.

I want to switch to another Via Kondado

Solution: Remove the current app and add it again. During the new authorization, choose the other Via Kondado from the dropdown.

The app does not appear in Desktop

Solution: Make sure you configured via Web first. Wait a few minutes for sync or restart the Desktop app.

FAQ about Kondado and ChatGPT

Do I need ChatGPT Plus to use Kondado MCP?

No. Custom MCP server connections work on any plan, including Free and Personal. We validated the complete walkthrough on a Free account. The only requirement is enabling Developer Mode.

What is Developer Mode and why does it need to be on?

Developer Mode is a toggle in Settings → Apps → Advanced settings that enables creating custom MCP apps. Without it, the "Create app" button is disabled on all plans. The "ELEVATED RISK" warning and Memory being disabled are expected OpenAI behaviors.

Can I connect more than one Via Kondado at the same time?

Not directly. Each app is linked to one Via Kondado. To switch between destinations, remove the current app and add it again, selecting the other Via Kondado during authorization.

Does ChatGPT ask permission for each query?

No. ChatGPT uses server-level consent. You authorize once when creating the app and ChatGPT executes all subsequent calls without asking for confirmation.

What data can ChatGPT access?

Only the data from tables in the Via Kondado selected during authorization. The MCP is read-only: you cannot modify, create, or delete data in Kondado via ChatGPT.

Does it work on mobile?

The ChatGPT mobile app may reflect data sources configured on Web, but initial setup must be done via desktop browser to enable Developer Mode and create the app.

Is OAuth secure?

Yes. OAuth 2.1 with Dynamic Client Registration is a modern security standard. Your token is automatically renewed and you can revoke access anytime by removing the app in Settings → Apps.

Next Steps

Now that you have connected ChatGPT to Kondado, explore:

• How to connect Claude to Kondado, an alternative option with a different interface.
• Via Kondado documentation, to understand how the destination works.
• Kondado data sources catalog, with more data sources to replicate.

Start your 14-day free trial at Kondado and connect your data to ChatGPT today.