# How do you connect Claude or ChatGPT to a PrestaShop shop?

There are four ways to connect Claude or ChatGPT to PrestaShop: give it direct access to the database, go through the PrestaShop webservice, use an MCP server, or use software that copies the shop to your computer and submits every change for your approval.

## What are the 4 methods, at a glance?

| Method | Setup | What the AI sees | What it can change | Risk for the live shop | Approval before writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct access (database, FTP) | Fast: server credentials given to the AI | Everything: tables, files, code | Everything, straight to production | High: unchecked writes, possible inconsistent tables | No |
| PrestaShop webservice | API key, rights per resource, code to write to link the AI | Resources allowed by the key | Resources allowed by the key | Medium: writes to production, limited to the rights given | Only if you build it |
| MCP server | Install the server, declare it in the AI client | What the server exposes | What the server exposes | Depends on the server: read-only, proposals or direct writes | Depends on the server |
| Software that copies the shop locally | Install the software and a small module on the shop | Catalog, orders, customers, analysis, accounting, locally | Nothing directly: the AI files proposals | Low: nothing is sent without your click | Yes, before/after preview every time |

## What about direct access to the database and FTP?

It is the fastest method to set up and the most powerful: with the server credentials, Claude reads and writes everything. But it writes straight to production, with no approval step, and the server passwords are handed to the AI.

An SQL query can also leave PrestaShop tables inconsistent: a price changed in `ps_product` but not in `ps_product_shop`, a search index not rebuilt, stock changed without its movements, a product missing from one shop in multistore.

Keep it for code and server work, with up-to-date backups.

## What does the PrestaShop webservice allow?

The webservice is the official PrestaShop API. You create a key in the back office and choose, resource by resource (products, orders, customers…), what it can read or change.

It is safer than direct access, because the AI only touches what the key allows. On the other hand, you have to write and maintain the link between the AI and the API, and every question goes back to the live site as requests. Writes go to production, unless you build an approval step yourself.

## What does an MCP server add?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the open standard that lets Claude and other AI clients use tools: search products, read an order, prepare a price change. The AI client sees the list of tools and chooses which ones to call.

An MCP server is neither safe nor risky in itself: it all depends on what it exposes and how it writes to the shop. Details in the guide [PrestaShop MCP server](/en/guides/prestashop-mcp-server.md).

## And software that copies the shop locally?

This is the approach of One Shop Manager, desktop software for Mac and Windows. The shop is copied to the computer; the AI reaches it in two ways:

- **through MCP**, with your own client: Claude Desktop (connected in one click), Claude Code, Cursor, the ChatGPT desktop app, Codex or any MCP-compatible client;
- **through the built-in assistant**, a window in the software, with One Shop Manager AI credits or with your own Claude, ChatGPT or Kimi API key.

Every change is a proposal: you open the before/after preview line by line, then click Apply. Everything can be undone from the journal. The shop passwords stay in the system keychain, out of the AI's reach.

## What about ChatGPT?

ChatGPT in the browser cannot reach a server installed on your computer. With One Shop Manager, ChatGPT works in two ways:

- **the ChatGPT desktop app** (Mac, Windows) and **Codex**, through MCP: the "Connect ChatGPT and Codex" button sets up the connection;
- **the built-in assistant**, with your own ChatGPT API key, billed by your provider.

Claude Desktop remains the simplest client to connect: one button is enough.

## Which method should you choose?

- **You are a developer and want to code everything**: the webservice, with a key with limited rights and an approval step you build.
- **You are a tech-savvy merchant and already use Claude or ChatGPT**: an MCP server, preferably behind local software that keeps approval before writing. See [Connect Claude to PrestaShop](/claude-prestashop.md) (in French).
- **You mostly want to ask questions and edit in bulk**: the built-in assistant of dedicated software, with nothing to configure. See [AI assistant and MCP](/en/features/prestashop-ai-assistant-mcp.md).

In every case, keep direct database access for code and server work, not for day-to-day shop management.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can Claude change my shop without me?
It depends on the method. With direct access or a webservice without an approval step, yes. With One Shop Manager, no: the AI files proposals, and nothing is written to the shop until you click Apply.

### Do I have to give my passwords to the AI?
For direct access, yes: database or FTP credentials. With the webservice, the AI gets an API key. With One Shop Manager, no password: the shop credentials stay in the system keychain, and the local MCP connection is protected by an access key.

### Does it work with PrestaShop 1.6?
The webservice exists on PrestaShop 1.6, 1.7, 8 and 9. One Shop Manager works with all four versions, with the same software. For a third-party MCP server, check which versions it supports.

### What data goes to the AI provider?
Whatever the AI reads to answer you goes to its provider (Anthropic for Claude, OpenAI for ChatGPT). With One Shop Manager, only the data needed for the question is sent, not the whole shop; with your own Claude or your own API key, it goes directly to your provider, under its terms.

## Further reading

- [PrestaShop MCP server: what it does and how to install it](/en/guides/prestashop-mcp-server.md)
- [Connect Claude to PrestaShop](/claude-prestashop.md) (in French)
- [AI assistant and MCP](/en/features/prestashop-ai-assistant-mcp.md)
- [MCP server GitHub repository](https://github.com/oneshopmanager/prestashop-mcp)

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Source: https://oneshopmanager.com/en/guides/connect-claude-chatgpt-prestashop · updated 2026-10-14