Zapier MCP

What it does (plain English)

Zapier connects thousands of apps. Zapier MCP lets Claude use those connections directly: send a Gmail, add a Google Sheets row, post in Slack, create an Asana task, update a HubSpot record. An MCP server is a plug-in that gives Claude a new ability, and this one is hosted by Zapier, which holds the app logins, token refresh and retries for you.

Zapier says it covers 9,000+ apps and 40,000+ actions. You don’t have to pick them all up front. Apps already connected to your Zapier account are switched on automatically, and Claude can find more with the discover_zapier_actions tool and add them with enable_zapier_action. If an app isn’t connected to Zapier yet, you’re asked to sign in to it the first time Claude uses it.

Is it for you?

Pick it when the app you want Claude to use doesn’t have its own MCP server, or when one task touches several apps (“find the contact in HubSpot, then email them”). It suits non-developers well: no code, no server to run, and Zapier says it works on every Claude plan, including Free.

Think about cost if you plan heavy use. Every successful action costs two tasks from your Zapier plan. “Add 5 rows to a spreadsheet” is five tool calls, so ten tasks.

What you can do with it

• Cross-app chores: “Find Jane Doe in HubSpot and send her the follow-up email we drafted.” That’s two tool calls, four tasks.
• Spreadsheet logging: “Add today’s three signups to the Leads sheet.”
• Team updates: “Post this release note in the #announcements Slack channel.”
• Create tasks: “Create an Asana task for each action item in these meeting notes.”
• Build a workflow: Zapier’s docs include a tutorial where you describe a workflow in plain language and Claude builds, tests and deploys it as a Zap.

How to set it up

claude.ai or Claude Desktop (one connection covers both, plus Claude Cowork):

1. In a chat, paste the prompt from Zapier’s guide: “Connect to Zapier MCP for me. If I haven’t already connected to Zapier, prompt me to install the connector. After the connector is installed, use the Zapier MCP list skills tool to find the onboarding skill then run it to set me up in a flash!”
2. Claude shows a Zapier card. Click Connect.
3. On Zapier’s authorization screen, click Copy prompt (Continue stays disabled until you do), then Continue.
4. Review the access, choose the Zapier account if you have more than one, and click Allow.
5. Back in Claude, paste the copied prompt to run Zapier’s onboarding. In Desktop, if tools don’t appear, close and reopen the app.

Team and Enterprise: an Owner or Primary Owner must enable Zapier in Organization settings first; each member still signs in individually.

Claude Code:

claude mcp add --transport http "Zapier-MCP" https://mcp.zapier.com/api/v1/connect

Restart Claude Code, sign in to Zapier when prompted, and click Allow. If your organization already added the Zapier connector and you’re signed in to Claude Code with that account, skip this command; it’s already there. Zapier also publishes a plugin: /plugin install zapier@claude-plugins-official.

Watch out for

• Task usage adds up. Two tasks per successful call, counted against the same allowance as your Zaps. Check Plan Tasks and MCP Tasks in the sidebar at mcp.zapier.com.
• Claude acts as you in every connected app. An email sent through Zapier comes from your account. Keep Claude’s tool approval on for anything that posts publicly or emails people.
• WSL and OAuth. Zapier warns that browser callbacks may not reach Claude Code running in WSL; use a native Windows or macOS terminal if sign-in stalls.
• Don’t use connection tokens with Claude. Zapier says tokens are only for code-based integrations and unlisted clients, and should never be shared.
• Retired features. Older Zapier “AI Actions” and “Natural Language Actions” are retired; tutorials that use them are out of date.

Alternatives

• Notion MCP, Airtable MCP, Linear MCP and other vendor servers when you only need one app; they’re usually richer for that app and don’t use Zapier tasks.
• Canva connector for creating social graphics before Zapier posts them.
• Stripe MCP for billing actions that need Stripe’s own confirmations.