What is an MCP connector?
A connector is an MCP server plugged into Claude or ChatGPT, so the assistant can read and act in your other apps after you sign in.
An MCP connector is an MCP server once it is added to an AI app like Claude, so the app can read your data and take actions in another service. The server is the program; the connector is how it shows up in the app.
Also called Claude connectors, connector, custom connector, what is an MCP connector.
Connector is Claude's word for an MCP server you have plugged in. Anthropic's own docs put it plainly: you build an MCP server, and people who use Claude see it as a connector. The Notion, Linear and Atlassian servers all appear in Claude as connectors you sign in to.
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In Claude a connector comes from one of four places:
- The Connectors Directory: servers Anthropic has reviewed, which you turn on and sign in to.
- A custom connector: any remote MCP server you add by pasting its web address. Anthropic does not review these.
- A desktop extension: a local server packaged for the Claude desktop app, which runs on your computer.
- A plugin: a server bundled with skills that teach Claude how to use it.
The same connector works across claude.ai, Claude Desktop, the mobile apps, Cowork and Claude Code.
ChatGPT uses different words for the same idea. You add a remote MCP server and ChatGPT saves it as a plugin, which can also carry skills.
Related:Model Context Protocol (MCP)Agent skillsAPI
An MCP connector is an MCP server you have added to Claude, so Claude can look things up and take actions in that app for you. You add one from the Connectors Directory or by pasting a server address, then sign in. The one thing to know first: a connector acts with your account's permissions, so only add ones from companies you trust.
In Claude, open a chat, click +, then Connectors and Manage connectors. Custom connectors work on every plan, but Free accounts get one. They reach your server from Anthropic's cloud, so the server must be online, not just on your laptop. On Team and Enterprise plans an Owner has to turn a connector on before members can sign in.
Good for
- Claude users who want it to work with Notion, Jira, Gmail or Linear
- ChatGPT users adding a custom MCP server as a plugin
- Admins deciding which connectors a team can turn on
- Builders shipping an MCP server for others to use
Comparison
Use a directory connector when your app has one, since Anthropic has reviewed it. Add a custom connector for any other online server, and a desktop extension for one that must run on your computer.
| Option | Runs | How you add it | Reviewed | Works in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directory connectorThis page | Hosted | Pick, sign in | By Anthropic | All Claude apps |
| Custom connector | Hosted | Paste URL | No | All Claude apps |
| Desktop extension | Your computer | Install file | – | Claude Desktop |
| ChatGPT plugin | Hostedtunnel | Paste URL | No | ChatGPT |
Questions
What is an MCP connector?
An MCP server that you have added to an AI app such as Claude. Once added, the app can search, read and update data in that service with your sign-in.
Is a connector the same as an MCP server?
Almost. The MCP server is the program that does the work. The connector is that server as it appears inside Claude, with a name, a sign-in and an on or off switch.
How do I add a connector in Claude?
Click + in a chat, then Connectors and Manage connectors, or go to Customize > Connectors. Pick one from the directory, or add a custom connector by pasting the server's web address, then sign in.
Are Claude connectors free?
Yes, connectors from the directory work on all plans. Custom connectors also work on every plan, but the Free plan is limited to one.
Can I connect a local MCP server as a connector?
Not as a custom connector, because Claude reaches it from Anthropic's cloud. To run a server on your own computer, use a desktop extension in Claude Desktop, or add it to Claude Code.
Does ChatGPT have connectors?
Yes, under a different name. In ChatGPT you add a remote MCP server from Plugins with Add custom MCP server, and it is saved as a plugin you can use in chats.
What is the difference between a connector and a plugin?
A connector links Claude to one service. A plugin is a bundle that can hold connectors plus skills that teach Claude how to use them, so you install both at once.
Are MCP connectors safe?
They are as safe as the company behind them. A connector can do whatever your account can, and content it reads can try to steer the AI. Add connectors only from trusted organizations and check what each one asks to access. See our security guide.
Sources
Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.
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- Build an MCP server for Claude · claude.com
- Use connectors to extend Claude's capabilities · support.claude.com
- Add custom MCP server · developers.openai.com
- Plugins quickstart · developers.openai.com
- Connect your plugin to ChatGPT · developers.openai.com