Custom Integrations vs Custom Connectors
Last week OpenAI, Claude and Cursor all advanced their support for Remote MCP. Claude extended access to Pro users. ChatGPT launched support during deep research on paid plans. Learn how to use today.
Last week, both major foundational model providers expanded native support for Remote MCP into their clients. They’re branded as custom connectors for ChatGPT and custom integrations for Claude.
OpenAI released custom connectors as part of their ChatGPT for Buisness livesteam, and tweet last week. In the live-steam they revealed Custom connectors (remote MCPs) as available for paid users during deep research chats.
Anthropic expanded the access of its own “custom integrations” to Claude Pro users.
How can I use today?
This depends on your favourite LLM client. First you should find a Remote MCP server you would like to use. Use either awesome-remote-mcp-servers or a new dedicated site for listing Remote MCPs/Custom connectors/Custom integrations - whatever you want to call them.
Claude (Pro+)
Claude has extended Remote MCP support to Pro users. It remains under the branding “custom integrations” and can be accessed under the settings page, or on the menu of the Claude client:
From here you’ll be able to see your current connections, built in integrations and given the options to add your own.
After clicking “Add integration” you’ll be presented with this screen, where you can add an connect to a Remote MCP. You’ll then be guided through an OAuth flow if required by the server.
At present there is some buggy behaviour for accessing streamable remote servers when OAuth protected, so stick to /see for the time being.
ChatGPT (Plus+)
ChatGPT can now use Remote MCP servers under the branding of “custom connectors”. Unfortunately, they are only usable when in deep research mode at the moment.
Interestingly, ChatGPT included native support for a number of providers including Box and HubSpot. It’s likely they are using MCP under the hood, but unclear if OpenAI are hosting these, or there’s a Remote MCP server under the hood.
To add a custom connector/ Remote MCP, head to the settings screen, and the connectors sub menu. Here you can connect to an native connector, or click create to add a Remote MCP server.
Then you are able to add a new connector - complete with icon and name
Note that some users are having trouble connecting to servers hosted on Zapier and N8N.
Cursor
Cursor have launched a super cool feature - a one click add button which adds any MCP server (Remote or Local) into the product. See their list of tools here. In addion they have added native OAuth support for Remote MCP, a feature that was a blocker until last week.