Claude · Integrations · Updated June 2026Connect Claude to Your Internal Tools
You can connect Claude to your internal tools — Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Gmail, Google Workspace, Google Calendar, and more — using Claude's connectors (also called plugins or MCP integrations). Once connected, Claude can read from and act inside the systems your team already uses: pulling data, drafting replies, updating records, and running workflows across apps, all from one place.
Operato AI sets this up for you end-to-end — choosing the right connectors, configuring secure access, and building the workflows that actually save your team time.
Book a free integration audit →What are Claude connectors?
Claude connectors are integrations that let Claude read data from and take actions inside your business applications. Instead of copying information between Claude and your tools, you authorize a connection once — and Claude can then search your Slack, draft emails in Gmail, update HubSpot records, or edit Google Docs on your behalf.
Connectors are the bridge between Claude's reasoning ability and your live business data. Without them, Claude is a capable assistant that only knows what you paste into the chat. With them, Claude becomes an active participant in your workflows — one that can see your CRM, read your inbox, and write to your documents.
The terms connectors, plugins, and MCP are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different layers. Connectors are the integrations themselves — the link to Slack, Gmail, or HubSpot. Plugins are lightweight extensions that add a specific capability or data source. MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the open standard that many connectors are built on; it defines a shared way for tools to expose their data to Claude. In practice, when you connect Claude to Slack, you are using a connector that may be implemented via MCP under the hood.
The practical difference for a business is simple: connectors let Claude work inside your tools instead of beside them. That means fewer copy-paste steps, fewer context-switches, and automations that run on real, up-to-date data.
What can Claude access through connectors?
Through connectors, Claude can read data from and take actions inside the tools you authorize. That includes reading Slack messages, Gmail threads, Google Docs, HubSpot records, and Notion pages — and then drafting replies, creating documents, updating CRM entries, or triggering automations. Claude only sees what you explicitly connect and approve.
The table below summarizes what Claude can read, what it can do, and the typical use case for each major connector. Permissions are scoped — you choose exactly what Claude can access when you authorize the connection.
| Tool | What Claude can read | What Claude can do (actions) | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slack | Channels, messages, threads, files, and user lists. | Send messages, post summaries, and notify channels. | Thread summaries and automated team updates. |
| Gmail | Emails, conversation threads, and attachments. | Draft replies, send emails, and apply labels. | Inbox triage and customer support drafting. |
| Google Docs / Workspace | Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive files. | Create, edit, and summarize documents. | Content drafting and data extraction from files. |
| HubSpot | Contacts, companies, deals, and tickets. | Create and update records, log activities. | CRM hygiene and sales pipeline automation. |
| Notion | Pages, databases, and properties. | Create pages, update database entries. | Knowledge management and project tracking. |
| Make.com | Scenario data and execution logs from connected apps. | Trigger scenarios and route data between apps. | Multi-step workflows across your entire stack. |
The most popular Claude connectors
The most popular Claude connectors cover the tools businesses use every day: Slack, Gmail, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Notion, and Google Calendar. Make.com extends Claude to 1,000+ additional apps. Each connector below has a dedicated setup guide with specifics for that tool.
Gmail
Draft and send emails, label threads, and manage your inbox by conversation.
Read the Gmail guide →Google Workspace
Create and edit Docs, Sheets, and Drive files using your real content.
Read the Google Workspace guide →HubSpot
Read and update contacts, deals, and tickets; log activities automatically.
Read the HubSpot guide →Notion
Search pages, create entries, and update databases from a conversation.
Read the Notion guide →Google Calendar
Check availability, create events, and schedule meetings hands-free.
Read the Google Calendar guide →Make.com
Trigger multi-app workflows and pass data between Claude and 1,000+ tools.
Read the Make.com guide →Claude for Startups
Connect Claude to your startup stack for faster ops and growth.
Read the Claude for Startups guide →Claude for Small Businesses
Practical Claude integrations built for small business workflows.
Read the Claude for Small Businesses guide →Connectors we deploy
We connect Claude to the tools your team already uses — and build custom bridges for the ones that don't have an off-the-shelf connector. Connectors we deploy include Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Gmail, Google Workspace, Google Calendar, and Make.com automations. Need a hand? Our Claude implementation service covers the full setup — or book a call with our team.
How to set up a Claude connector
Setting up a Claude connector takes five steps: choose the tool you want to connect, authorize access via OAuth or an API key, define what you want Claude to do, test the output, and deploy it into your daily workflow. Most individual connectors are live in minutes; company-wide rollouts take longer.
- 01
Choose your tool
Identify the business application you want Claude to reach — Slack, Gmail, HubSpot, or any supported connector.
- 02
Authorize access
Connect the tool using OAuth or an API key. You grant specific permissions; Claude only receives the scopes you approve.
- 03
Define the use case
Tell Claude what you need — summarize my Slack threads, draft Gmail replies, update HubSpot deals — in plain language.
- 04
Test and refine
Run a few requests, review the output, and adjust instructions or permissions until the results match your workflow.
- 05
Deploy and monitor
Roll the connector into daily use. Check activity logs periodically to confirm Claude is acting on the right data.
Are Claude connectors secure?
Yes. Claude connectors use scoped OAuth permissions, meaning Claude only receives the access you explicitly grant — and nothing broader. You can revoke any connector at any time, and Claude does not retain your data beyond what is needed to complete the current request. Enterprise deployments add audit logs, admin controls, and data residency options.
When you authorize a connector, you see exactly which permissions are requested — read your Gmail, post to Slack, edit your Google Docs — and you approve only what you are comfortable with. Claude cannot reach beyond those scopes. If you connect Slack but only grant read access to a single channel, that is all Claude sees.
For businesses, the key security practices are: grant the minimum scopes necessary, use a dedicated service account rather than a personal one for shared connectors, and review authorized connections periodically. An agency like Operato can help structure these controls as part of a rollout.
Claude connectors vs. building custom integrations
Native Claude connectors are fast to set up and cover common tools, but they are limited to what each connector supports. Custom integrations — built by an agency like Operato — extend Claude to any tool, add multi-step workflows, and handle business logic that no single connector covers. Most companies start with native connectors, then add custom builds as needs grow.
| Aspect | Native connectors | Custom integration (agency-built) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Minutes to hours | Days to weeks |
| Tool coverage | Popular apps only | Any tool with an API |
| Workflow complexity | Single-tool actions | Multi-step, cross-tool workflows |
| Business logic | Limited to connector settings | Custom rules, conditions, and routing |
| Maintenance | Handled by the platform | Ongoing support from your agency |
| Best for | Individuals and simple use cases | Teams and company-wide automation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Want Claude connected to your stack the right way?
Operato builds custom Claude integrations — from a single connector to a company-wide automation layer. Book a free audit and we'll map the connections that will move the needle for your business.