Trello MCP Server Guide 2026: Connect Claude to Your Boards

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Trello MCP Server?
2. Why Connect Claude to Trello?
3. The Best Trello MCP Servers
4. Comparison Table
5. How to Get Your Trello API Key and Token
6. Setup: Adding Trello MCP to Claude
7. Real Trello + Claude Workflows
8. Rate Limits and Safety
9. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Trello MCP Server?

A Trello MCP server is a small program that connects an AI client to Trello's REST API over the Model Context Protocol. Once installed, it hands Claude a set of tools — create_card, move_card, get_lists, add_comment, search — that the AI can call mid-conversation. You describe what you want in plain English, and the MCP translates it into the right Trello API calls.

The Model Context Protocol was published by Anthropic in late 2024 and is now the standard way AI agents connect to external services. By 2026 the ecosystem includes 75,000+ MCP servers indexed on Skiln, and Trello has several mature, well-maintained integrations. The task-management category is one of the most active — teams want their AI assistant to actually update the board, not just talk about it.

Trello MCPs come in two authentication styles: a personal token setup (you generate an API key and token from your own account) and, less commonly, an OAuth flow for multi-user apps. For individual and small-team use, the personal token approach is simplest and what every server in this guide uses.

Why Connect Claude to Trello?

Trello is where a lot of teams track work, but keeping a board current is tedious. Connecting Claude closes the gap between "we discussed it" and "it's on the board":

• Capture work as it happens. Paste a meeting transcript and ask Claude to create cards for every action item, complete with assignees and due dates.
• Keep the board honest. Ask Claude to move finished cards to Done, flag stale cards with no activity, or summarize what's in each column.
• Triage a busy backlog. Have Claude read every card in your inbox list, cluster them by theme, and suggest a prioritization.
• Report without switching apps. Ask "what shipped this week?" and Claude reads the Done list and writes the summary.

If you also live in other productivity tools, note that Trello is one of many task systems with an MCP. Our best task management MCP servers roundup compares Trello against Todoist, Linear, Asana, and Notion so you can pick the right stack.

The Best Trello MCP Servers

1. mcp-server-trello (delorenj)

The most widely recommended Trello MCP and a great default choice. It covers the core board, list, and card operations with dynamic board selection — you can switch the active board mid-session using workspace management tools, and the selection persists between server restarts. Written in TypeScript with built-in rate limiting.

Best for: Most users. The balance of feature coverage, reliability, and clear documentation makes this the safest first install.

Install: Configure via npx with your TRELLO_API_KEY and TRELLO_TOKEN — see the setup section below.

2. Trello Desktop MCP (kocakli)

A comprehensive integration built specifically for Claude Desktop, exposing around 46 tools that cover boards, cards, lists, labels, checklists, attachments, members, custom fields, and search. If you use Trello's advanced features — custom fields, checklists with due dates, attachments — this is the server that surfaces all of them.

Best for: Power users who rely on Trello's full feature set, not just cards and lists.

Install: Clone the repo and point Claude Desktop at the built server; requires your Trello API key and token.

3. trello-mcp (GabrielRamirez)

The most tool-rich option, exposing roughly 73 tools with zero-config startup. It auto-loads a .env file and is Docker ready, which makes it easy to run in a container alongside other MCPs. Built for Claude Code workflows where you want the widest possible surface area.

Best for: Developers who want every Trello operation available and prefer a Docker deployment.

Install: Run via Docker or npx; drop your credentials in a .env file and the server picks them up automatically.

4. claude-mcp-trello (hrs-asano)

A clean, focused TypeScript implementation with especially careful rate-limit handling — it respects Trello's 300-requests-per-10-seconds key limit and 100-per-10-seconds token limit automatically. Covers cards, lists, and board activity. A good pick if you run a busy board and want to avoid getting throttled.

Best for: High-volume boards where API rate limiting matters most.

Install: Configure via npx with your API key and token.

Comparison Table

How to Get Your Trello API Key and Token

Every Trello MCP needs two credentials. Here's the 60-second version:

1. Get your API key. Visit trello.com/power-ups/admin, create a new Power-Up, and copy the API key it generates. (The older trello.com/app-key page also still works for personal use.)
2. Generate a token. On the same page, click the Token link. Authorize the app, and Trello shows you a user token. This token grants the MCP access to the boards your account can see.
3. Store them safely. Keep both values out of any public repo. You'll paste them as environment variables in your MCP config, never hard-coded in shared files.

Setup: Adding Trello MCP to Claude

For Claude Desktop, edit your config file (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS, %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows) and add:

{   "mcpServers": {     "trello": {       "command": "npx",       "args": ["-y", "@delorenj/mcp-server-trello"],       "env": {         "TRELLO_API_KEY": "your_api_key",         "TRELLO_TOKEN": "your_token"       }     }   } }

Restart Claude Desktop and the trello tools appear in the MCP sidebar.

For Claude Code, skip the JSON and use the CLI:

claude mcp add trello --env TRELLO_API_KEY=your_key --env TRELLO_TOKEN=your_token -- npx -y @delorenj/mcp-server-trello

The Skiln Config Generator can bundle the Trello MCP with your other servers into one ready-to-paste config.

Real Trello + Claude Workflows

Once connected, these patterns pay for the setup time immediately:

• Transcript to backlog. "Here are my meeting notes — create a Trello card for each action item in the Inbox list, and add me as a member." Claude parses the notes and creates the cards.
• Board cleanup. "Move every card in Doing that I mentioned finishing today into Done, and add a comment with today's date." One request, a dozen cards updated.
• Standup summary. "Summarize what moved to Done this week and what's still blocked." Claude reads the board and writes the update.
• Backlog grooming. "Read every card in the Backlog, group them by theme, and suggest which three to pull into this sprint." Claude clusters and prioritizes.
• Cross-tool sync. Combine the Trello MCP with a Notion MCP or Todoist MCP and ask Claude to mirror tasks between systems.

For deeper single-tool guides on adjacent task systems, see our Todoist MCP guide and the Linear MCP review.

Rate Limits and Safety

Trello enforces API rate limits you need to respect: 300 requests per 10 seconds per API key and 100 requests per 10 seconds per token. On a large board, an over-eager agent can hit these limits fast. Two safeguards:

1. Pick a server with built-in rate limiting. The delorenj and hrs-asano servers throttle requests automatically so you don't get temporarily blocked.
2. Scope the token to what you need. The Trello token inherits your account's board access. If you only want the MCP touching one board, use a dedicated account or a board-scoped Power-Up rather than a full-access personal token.

As with any write-capable MCP, review destructive actions. Asking Claude to "archive all cards in Done" does exactly that — make sure that's what you meant before confirming.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Trello MCP server?

A Trello MCP server is a Model Context Protocol server that connects an AI client like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Cursor to your Trello boards. It exposes tools such as create card, move card, add comment, list boards, and search, so Claude can read and manage your Trello workspace in the middle of a conversation. The MCP handles Trello's API authentication and rate limiting for you.

How do I get a Trello API key and token?

Go to trello.com/power-ups/admin, create a new Power-Up (or use the legacy trello.com/app-key page), and copy the API key. Then click the Token link on the same page to generate a user token that grants the MCP access to your boards. You pass both values as TRELLO_API_KEY and TRELLO_TOKEN environment variables in your MCP config. Never commit these to a public repo.

Which Trello MCP server has the most tools?

As of 2026, GabrielRamirez/trello-mcp exposes the most tools (around 73) and is Docker ready with zero-config startup. The kocakli/agrath Trello Desktop MCP covers roughly 46 tools including checklists, attachments, custom fields, and members. For a leaner setup, delorenj/mcp-server-trello focuses on the core board, list, and card operations with built-in rate limiting.

Does Trello MCP respect Trello's API rate limits?

The well-built ones do. Trello enforces 300 requests per 10 seconds per API key and 100 requests per 10 seconds per token. Servers like hrs-asano/claude-mcp-trello and delorenj/mcp-server-trello include built-in rate limiting that throttles requests automatically so you don't get temporarily blocked. Always check the README for a rate-limit note before connecting an MCP to a busy board.

Can Claude create and move Trello cards automatically?

Yes. Once the Trello MCP is connected, Claude can create cards, move them between lists, add descriptions and due dates, attach checklists, and post comments. A common pattern is asking Claude to turn a meeting transcript into a set of Trello cards on your backlog, or to move all cards in Doing that were mentioned as finished into the Done list.

Is the Trello MCP free?

Every Trello MCP server listed in this guide is free and open source. You only need a free Trello account to generate the API key and token. Trello's own paid tiers (Standard, Premium, Enterprise) unlock more Power-Ups and automation, but the MCP works fine on the free plan for personal and small-team boards.

Does Trello MCP work with Claude Code and Cursor?

Yes. Because the Model Context Protocol is a shared standard, the same Trello MCP server works in Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and Zed. The only difference is where you paste the config — a JSON file for Claude Desktop, the claude mcp add command for Claude Code, or a settings panel for the IDE clients.

Where can I browse other task-management MCP servers?

Skiln indexes every task-management and productivity MCP across all major registries. Browse the full set on our best task management MCP servers roundup, or filter the /mcps directory by the productivity category to compare Trello, Todoist, Linear, Asana, and Notion integrations side by side.

Last updated: July 02, 2026 · Skiln tracks MCP server releases daily across 13 source registries.