# ActOnce Spend Gateway

> Policy-driven spending controls for AI agents.

Policy-driven spending controls for AI agents. Local-first, zero credential exposure, MIT licensed. Install with one npm command. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, OpenClaw, and any MCP agent.

## Facts
- Website: https://spend.actonceapi.com
- Categories: AI & Machine Learning, Open Source
- LotsDirectory page: https://lots.directory/products/actonce-spend-gateway
- Listing state: Unclaimed. We listed this product from its public website, and its owner has not claimed it yet.

## Detailed info

## What is ActOnce Spend Gateway?

ActOnce Spend Gateway is an open-source policy engine and MCP server providing spending controls for AI agents.

## What ActOnce Spend Gateway does

ActOnce Spend Gateway asks whether an agent should be allowed to spend an amount with a merchant before any money moves. The system checks spending rules in a simple YAML file with amount limits, merchant allowlists, and SQLite-backed deduplication windows without storing payment credentials. It acts as an MCP server compatible with tools like Claude Code and OpenClaw, routing transactions that exceed auto-approval limits to Telegram or email for human approval.

## Who ActOnce Spend Gateway is for

Developers, solo builders, and startups building AI agents that spend money.

## How ActOnce Spend Gateway works

Developers install the CLI tool via npm, define rules in a local YAML configuration file, connect the gateway as an MCP server to an agent, and inspect or approve transactions.

## Key features

- Enforces YAML spending rules including single purchase limits, merchant allowlists, and deduplication windows.
- Prevents repeated transactions through SQLite-backed purchase duplicate detection.
- Routes purchases exceeding auto-approval limits to human approval via Telegram or email.
- Exposes an MCP server compatible with OpenClaw, Hermes, Claude Code, and Cursor.
- Maintains zero credential exposure by acting strictly as a decision engine without handling payment cards.
- The core gateway is open source under MIT license and runs locally on your machine.

## Pricing

As listed on actonceapi.com, checked 8 November 2026. Prices can change; see the site for current terms.

- Free: $0 per month for open-source self-hosted gateway, local policy engine, MCP server, and Telegram alerts.
- Pro: $24 per month for hosted dashboard, 3 agents, and 1,000 spend checks per month.
- Team: $99 per month for 10 agents, 10,000 checks per month, team approvals, and webhook integrations.
- Business: $299 per month for unlimited agents, unlimited checks, audit exports, and priority support.

## Facts from actonceapi.com, checked 8 November 2026

- Licensed under the open-source MIT license.
- Operates strictly as a decision engine without storing payment cards or tokens.
- Installs as an open-source CLI via npm.
- Includes SQLite-backed duplicate purchase detection.

Written from ActOnce Spend Gateway's own website ([Homepage](https://spend.actonceapi.com/)). The maker can claim this listing to edit it.

## FAQ

### What is ActOnce Spend Gateway?
ActOnce Spend Gateway is a policy-driven spending control engine and MCP server that governs purchases made by AI agents.

### Does the gateway process payment transactions?
No. The gateway is a decision engine that approves, rejects, or queues purchases, while payment tools handle actual transactions.

### Are payment credentials stored by the gateway?
No. The gateway has zero credential exposure and never sees or stores cards, tokens, or Stripe credentials.

### Which AI agents are compatible?
Any MCP-compatible agent can connect, including Claude Code, Cursor, OpenClaw, and Hermes.

### Can the gateway run completely offline?
Yes. The open-source version runs entirely on your local machine using local policy files and an SQLite database.

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Source: https://lots.directory/products/actonce-spend-gateway · Machine-readable context by LotsDirectory.