Connectors let Claude read and act on the apps you already use, so you stop copy-pasting context into every chat. This guide shows how to set up five useful ones, including Notion as a "shared brain" that both Claude and ChatGPT can read, plus one prompt for each so you can start working straight away.
What you need
A Claude account at claude.ai. Anthropic says directory (web) connectors are available to all users on web, desktop and mobile. Free users can add only one custom connector, but directory connectors like the ones below are listed separately.
Accounts for the apps you connect: Notion, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive and Canva.
Optional: a ChatGPT account, if you want ChatGPT to use the same Notion workspace.
Step by step
Open the connectors page. In Claude, go to Customize > Connectors, click +, browse the list, select a connector and click Connect. Sign in to the app and approve the access it asks for. You can also click + in a chat (or type "/"), hover over Connectors and choose Manage connectors.
Turn connectors on per chat. In a chat, click +, hover over Connectors and toggle on only the ones you need for that task.
Set up the five connectors below, one at a time.
Connector 1: Notion (the shared brain)
Connect Notion from the directory. Notion's own MCP server lets AI apps read from and write to your pages. ChatGPT has a Notion app too (Settings > Plugins > Notion > Connect), so both assistants can work from the same notes, SOPs and project pages. Keep one "Team Brain" page with your goals, brand voice and processes.
Search my Notion for the page "Team Brain". Using it as context, create a new Notion page called "Week plan [date]" with my top 5 priorities, each linked to the relevant project page. Show me the draft before creating it.Connector 2: Gmail (the inbox assistant)
Search my Gmail for emails from the last 7 days that ask me a question and that I haven't replied to. List them with sender, subject and the question in one line. Then draft short, polite replies for the top 3 as drafts only. Do not send anything.Connector 3: Google Calendar (the scheduler)
Look at my Google Calendar for next week. Find three 90-minute free slots for focused work, avoiding early mornings and back-to-back meetings. Suggest them to me first; don't create events until I confirm.Connector 4: Google Drive (the researcher)
Search my Google Drive for documents about [project/client]. Summarise the key decisions, open questions and deadlines in a table with links to the source files.Connector 5: Canva (the designer)
Take the outline above and create a 6-slide presentation in Canva in a clean, simple style. Use my brand colours [colours] if possible. Share the link when it's ready.Chain them together. Once all five work, try one prompt that uses several:
Using my "Team Brain" page in Notion and the last two weeks of emails with [client] in Gmail, write a one-page project update. Save it as a new Notion page, then turn it into a 5-slide Canva deck. Show me each step before you create anything.Disconnect what you don't use. Go back to Customize > Connectors any time to remove access.
Good to know
Claude acts with your permissions. Anthropic says Claude inherits your access in each connected app. Notion warns its MCP acts with your full Notion permissions. Connect only workspaces you are comfortable sharing.
Ask for drafts, not actions. The prompts above ask Claude to show you first. Review emails, calendar invites and pages before anything goes out.
Third-party data. Connected apps process data on their own servers under their own terms. Avoid connecting accounts with sensitive client or financial data unless your company allows it.
Team and Enterprise plans. An admin must enable each connector before you can use it.
ChatGPT's Notion access varies. OpenAI says availability depends on your plan and workspace settings, and writing to Notion may need extra approval.
Custom connectors are not verified by Anthropic. Only add servers from sources you trust.
Setup takes a few minutes per app, with sign-in and permission screens for each.
Sources
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