MCP Servers for ChatGPT
OpenAI added MCP support to the ChatGPT desktop app in 2025. Custom MCP servers are configured in Developer mode (available on paid plans), alongside OpenAI's curated Connectors for services like GitHub, Google Drive, and Slack.
Set up MCP in ChatGPT
Four steps to connect your first MCP server.
- 1
Open Settings → Connectors
In the ChatGPT desktop app, click your avatar → Settings → Connectors. You'll see the built-in Connectors (GitHub, Drive, etc.) and the option to add custom servers.
- 2
Enable Developer mode
Required for custom MCP servers. Developer mode is gated to paid plans (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise).
- 3
Add a custom MCP server
Click "Add custom connector", paste the command/args (for stdio) or URL (for HTTP), then name the server. ChatGPT launches it and surfaces its tools in the chat composer.
- 4
Approve tool calls
By default ChatGPT asks permission before invoking any MCP tool. You can switch to per-conversation or always-allow once you trust a server — keep it on "ask" while you're experimenting.
- Settings UI
ChatGPT → Settings → ConnectorsManaged in-app, not via a config file. Requires Plus, Pro, or Enterprise. - Developer mode
Settings → Connectors → Advanced → Developer modeFlip on to add custom MCP servers alongside the built-in Connectors.
// ChatGPT reads MCP server config through the Connectors UI,
// not a local JSON file. When adding a custom server, you paste
// values that correspond to this shape:
{
"name": "My Postgres",
"transport": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres",
"postgresql://user:pass@localhost/db"
]
}
// For remote servers, pick the HTTP transport and supply
// the endpoint URL plus any auth headers.Top MCPs for ChatGPT
The curated starting stack — install these first.
Query and inspect PostgreSQL databases via natural language.
Full Supabase access: database, auth, storage, and edge functions.
Manage Linear issues, projects, and cycles from AI context.
Up-to-date library docs pulled directly into your AI context.
Real-time web search with privacy-focused results.
All MCPs compatible with ChatGPT
15 servers verified to work with ChatGPT, ranked by popularity.
Read and write local files with configurable access controls.
Query and inspect PostgreSQL databases via natural language.
Real-time web search with privacy-focused results.
Persistent knowledge graph memory across AI conversations.
Up-to-date library docs pulled directly into your AI context.
Full Supabase access: database, auth, storage, and edge functions.
Local SQLite database access with full read/write support.
Retrieve web pages and convert them to clean markdown.
Full browser automation: navigate, click, screenshot, and scrape.
Structured step-by-step reasoning for complex problem solving.
Read and send Slack messages, manage channels and threads.
Secure cloud sandboxes for executing AI-generated code.
Manage Linear issues, projects, and cycles from AI context.
FAQ: MCP in ChatGPT
Does ChatGPT support MCP servers?
Yes. The ChatGPT desktop app supports MCP in two flavours: built-in Connectors (curated integrations like GitHub and Drive managed by OpenAI) and custom MCP servers through Developer mode. Both speak the same MCP protocol under the hood.
Do I need a paid plan to add custom MCPs to ChatGPT?
Developer mode — the feature that unlocks custom MCP servers — is only available on paid plans (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise). Free-tier users can still use a limited set of OpenAI-approved Connectors.
Where are ChatGPT's MCP configs stored?
Unlike Claude Desktop or Cursor, ChatGPT manages MCP configuration through its Settings UI rather than a local JSON file. The config is synced to your OpenAI account, so the same set of connectors follows you between machines.
Can ChatGPT use the same MCP servers as Claude Desktop?
Yes. MCP is an open protocol, so any server that works in Claude Desktop (Filesystem, Postgres, GitHub, etc.) will also work when added to ChatGPT in Developer mode. You just enter the command and args in the Connectors UI instead of editing a JSON file.
Does ChatGPT in the browser support MCP?
MCP Connectors are primarily a desktop-app feature today. For the full custom-MCP experience, use the macOS or Windows ChatGPT app. Some Connectors surface in the web UI once enabled from desktop.
Browse every MCP server → top-mcps.com