> This page is for CLI.

> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://developer.deel.com/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://developer.deel.com/_mcp/server.

# Deel CLI

> A command-line client for Deel operations, for use in a terminal, in CI, or by a coding agent

The Deel CLI is a command-line client for the Deel API. A single `deel` binary creates invoice and payroll adjustments, follows bulk jobs, and validates credentials. Each command maps to one Deel API operation and takes JSON in and returns JSON out, so the same command runs unchanged in a terminal, a CI pipeline, or from a coding agent such as Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex.

## How it works

Every command can describe its own contract: `deel <command> --help --json` prints its flags, request fields, and response fields, and `deel <command> --generate-input` prints a request body skeleton to fill in. Neither call needs a token or network access.

This is what lets a coding agent construct a call without a Deel-specific software development kit (SDK) or tool definition. See [AI agents and the CLI](/cli/agents/overview) for how agents use it in practice, and [Command structure](/cli/usage/command-structure) for the `--help` levels and the JSON contract shape.

## The CLI, the API, and the MCP server

The CLI, the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, and the Representational State Transfer (REST) API expose the same Deel operations to different kinds of callers.

| Tool                        | Use it for                                                                     | Authentication                  |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- |
| Deel CLI                    | Coding agents and developers that run shell commands; scripts and CI pipelines | Personal access token           |
| [MCP server](/mcp)          | Conversational AI clients such as Claude, Cursor chat, or ChatGPT              | OAuth2 or personal access token |
| [REST API](/api/quickstart) | Applications and integrations that call Deel from code                         | Personal access token or OAuth2 |

The CLI and the MCP server cover different cases. An assistant that answers questions in a chat window connects through MCP. An agent that executes work in a shell, edits files, and runs pipelines uses the CLI. The same token scopes govern both.

> **Note**
>
> The Deel CLI is in beta. Command names and output shapes can change between beta releases. Each release is listed on the [releases page](https://github.com/letsdeel/deel-cli/releases).

## Next steps

#### [Quickstart](/cli/quickstart)

Store a token, discover a command, and make your first call in the demo environment

#### [Installation](/cli/installation)

The installer, npm, Windows binaries, and download verification

#### [Command reference](/cli/reference/overview)

Every command with its flags, request fields, and response fields

#### [AI agents and the CLI](/cli/agents/overview)

How coding agents use the CLI, and how it fits next to the MCP server