A connector is how you give an agent access to external tools and services. When you add one in Claude, ChatGPT, or Grok, the agent can run specialist jobs such as structured search, website checks, live-data lookups or approved external actions.
Connectors use the same open standard — Model Context Protocol (MCP) — behind the scenes. You do not need to know MCP to use one. Add the connector once and start asking your agent to do things.
How do connectors work?
When you ask something that needs an external tool, the agent finds the right one through the connector, calls it, and brings the result back into your conversation. You stay in the same chat the whole time.
ToolRouter exposes a managed specialist catalog over MCP. The exact endpoint, tool catalog and permissions depend on the client: Claude uses a policy-filtered endpoint, while ChatGPT access depends on plan and workspace approval. ToolRouter creates an account automatically on first use.
How do I add a connector?
Each agent has its own connector UI, endpoint and access policy. Follow the guide for the exact product rather than reusing one URL everywhere.
| Agent | Current path | Important boundary | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector | Uses ToolRouter's Anthropic-specific endpoint and filtered catalog | Connect to Claude |
| ChatGPT | Apps → Create (Developer mode) | Web only; full MCP on Business and Enterprise/Edu, read/fetch only on Pro | Connect to ChatGPT |
| Grok | grok.com/connectors → New Connector → Custom (Bring Your Own MCP) | Grok at grok.com is separate from Grok Bot | Connect to Grok |
Claude
Go to Customize → Connectors → Add custom connector and enter the Anthropic-specific ToolRouter URL from Connect Claude. The remote connector works in Claude chat, Desktop, mobile and Cowork; Claude Code has a separate terminal setup.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT custom MCP apps are currently web only. Full MCP, including write/modify actions, is in beta for Business and Enterprise/Edu; Pro supports read/fetch MCP permissions in Developer mode. OpenAI's current guide does not list Free or Plus for this path. See OpenAI's current availability details.
Grok (grok.com)
Go to grok.com/connectors, click New Connector, choose Custom (Bring Your Own MCP), and enter the ToolRouter name and URL. This is the grok.com Grok connector path. Grok Bot has a separate account-dependent setup path.
What can agents do with a connector?
Where the client permits the relevant tool, a connector like ToolRouter can add jobs such as:
- Generate images — product photos, marketing visuals, and art using 50+ AI models
- Create videos — UGC-style content, product demos, social media clips
- Search the web — find current information, news, research papers
- Take screenshots — full-page captures of any website
- Analyse websites — SEO audits, competitor analysis, traffic data
- Find leads — contact details, company data, email enrichment
- Research competitors — see their ads, traffic sources, and strategy
- Generate charts — visualise data, create graphs and reports
- Look up live data — stock prices, weather, currency rates, flight status
- Generate music — create tracks, sound effects, and voice audio
There are hundreds more tools across 12 categories. See the full ToolRouter catalog, then check the catalog and permissions actually exposed by your client.
You ask in plain English, and the agent can select an enabled tool. Name the required tool or source when the choice matters, then inspect the returned result.
How do I use a connector in a conversation?
After adding a connector, enable it for the chat you are in:
- Claude: click the + button, find Connectors, and toggle ToolRouter on
- ChatGPT: select ToolRouter from the tools menu for the message that needs it; select or @mention it again for a later tool call
- Grok: attach the ToolRouter connector in the conversation
You can also ask the agent to turn it on or ask it to do something that requires a tool — it will prompt you to enable the connector if needed.
Are connectors safe?
Connectors expand what an agent can access and may increase prompt-injection, data and action risks. Connect only servers you trust, review requested permissions, and start with read-only tools. Do not assume every client will ask before every call: approval behavior depends on the client, app permissions and action context.
OpenAI specifically warns that unsafe or untrusted MCP servers increase security risk and makes workspace owners responsible for vetting custom apps. Anthropic similarly recommends reviewing connector permissions and tool approvals. See OpenAI's MCP safety guidance, Anthropic's connector guidance, and ToolRouter's terms.
How many connectors can I add?
Limits depend on the agent, plan and workspace policy. ToolRouter can replace several specialist connections with one managed endpoint, but the client may filter tools or require an admin to approve them.
Free Claude accounts currently support one custom connector. For ChatGPT, full MCP is limited to Business and Enterprise/Edu, while Pro is read/fetch only; the custom app is web only.
Do connectors cost anything?
ToolRouter does not charge you to add its connection, but the AI client may require an eligible plan. ToolRouter has free tools, paid tools start at $0.005/use, and failed paid calls do not charge. Review the exact skill price before running a paid or high-volume workflow.
Visit pricing for full details.
What is the difference between a connector and built-in features?
Agents have built-in capabilities that vary by product and plan, such as web search, document analysis or image generation. Connectors add specialist tools, structured outputs and external actions that are not available natively or need a repeatable tool contract.
Built-in features and connectors work together. The agent uses whichever is best for what you are asking.
What about Claude Code and other clients?
Claude Code (the terminal version) does not use the word "connector." Instead, you add tools with a terminal command:
claude mcp add toolrouter -- npx -y toolrouter-mcpThe technology underneath is the same — MCP — but the setup is different. See Connect to Claude Code for that guide.
For Cursor, Windsurf, Copilot, and other editors, see Quickstart and Integration.
Grok Bot is a separate downloadable xAI app. Confirm that the account exposes custom MCP and that one real tool call succeeds.
How do I get started?
Pick your agent and add ToolRouter — it takes about 30 seconds:
- Claude: use the filtered URL and current steps in Connect Claude
- ChatGPT: confirm plan eligibility, then use Connect ChatGPT on the web
- Grok: grok.com/connectors → New Connector → Custom (Bring Your Own MCP) →
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp - Grok Bot: follow the separate setup and acceptance guide
Start a new conversation, enable or select the connector, and run a read-only tool first — for example, “check the current weather in London and include the observation time.”