Trello is great for keeping projects on track, but it can quickly fill up with cards, long comment threads, and checklists that all need attention. With so much going on, it is easy to lose track of priorities or what should happen next.
Getting AI involved usually means copying text from Trello into a prompt and explaining all the background first. That extra work slows things down and pulls you out of the flow.
Trello MCP makes it simpler. It links Claude and Cursor directly to your Trello boards through Composio, allowing them to work with your actual cards, lists, and comments instantly. The AI understands what is happening and can jump straight into helping without you having to prepare anything.
In this post, you will learn how to set it up and use it to make Trello updates, planning, and follow-ups much easier.
What is MCP?
Think of MCP as a bridge that connects all your SaaS tools to your AI agent. It acts like an adapter, enabling your AI agent (Client) to understand and interact with your tools.
According to Anthropic (the team behind Claude and MCP),
“MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standardized way to connect your devices to various peripherals and accessories, MCP provides a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.”
credits:Â modelcontextprotocol.io
For more, check out this detailed post or MCP components:Â MCP Explained.
What is Trello MCP?
Trello MCP is a secure connection powered by Composio that lets Claude and similar AI tools work directly with your Trello boards. Once connected, they can see the identical cards, lists, and comments you do and respond based on real information instead of copied snippets.
With Trello MCP, you can:
- Read boards, lists, and cards, including members, labels, due dates, checklists, and comments
- Create new cards with titles, descriptions, labels, and due dates
- Update card details such as descriptions, due dates, and labels, or move them to another list
- Search across cards and boards to quickly find what you need
- Add comments directly to a card conversation
- Look up who is assigned to cards or participating on boards
It turns Trello into a live workspace for your AI, enabling it to help you summarise updates, plan tasks, assign work, and keep projects moving without extra steps.
Setting up Trello MCP with Claude
Connecting Trello to Claude takes only a few minutes. Once it is set up, Claude can pull details from your boards, understand the context of your work, and even post updates back into Trello for you.
What you need before starting
Make sure you have:
-
Claude Desktop
Download it from claude.ai/download and install it on your computer.
-
Node.js
This is needed to run the setup command. Check if you already have it by typing
node -vin a terminal. If you do not, download it from nodejs.org.
Step 1: Get the setup command from Composio
- Visit mcp.composio.dev
- Search for Trello and open the integration page
- Switch to the Claude tab
- Copy the setup command shown, which will look like this:
npx @composio/mcp@latest setup "https://mcp.composio.dev/partner/composio/trello/mcp?customerId=<your_customer_id>" "" --client claude
Step 2: What you can do with Trello MCP
Once Trello MCP is connected, Claude can use a set of ready-to-go actions inside your boards. Here are some of the most useful:
- Create new cards in any list on a board
- Move cards between lists to match your workflow
- Add comments to cards to share updates or ask questions
- Assign or remove members from cards
- Add or remove labels and due dates
- Create and edit checklists inside cards
- Search for cards across all boards you can access
- Create new lists on a board and move cards into them
- Update card titles and descriptions
- Archive or delete cards when they are finished or no longer needed
These are all available right away, so you can start automating updates, finding information faster, and keeping boards organised without doing it all manually.
Step 3: Connect Trello from the Claude config folder
- Open Claude Desktop
- Go to File > Settings, then choose Developer > Edit Config
- This will open the Claude config folder on your computer
- On Windows, it is usually here:
C:\Users\<your_username>\AppData\Roaming\Claude
- In that folder, open a terminal window
- Paste the setup command you copied in Step 1 and run it
npx @composio/mcp@latest setup "https://mcp.composio.dev/partner/composio/trello/mcp?customerId=<your_customer_id>" "" --client claude
- A browser window will open asking you to sign into Trello and approve the connection.
- After you confirm, you will see a success message in both the browser and your terminal.
Step 4: Confirm the connection (optional)
If you want to double-check that Trello MCP is linked to Claude, open the file claude_desktop_config.json in the same config folder.
You should see Trello listed under "clients". This means the connection is active.
Step 5: Restart Claude
Close the Claude Desktop completely and open it again. This refreshes the settings so Trello MCP is ready to use. Once it starts, you can begin asking Claude to work with your Trello boards right away.
Use case: Summarise card updates and post next steps
Trello cards can collect a lot of activity, updates, decisions, questions, and checklists, which often get mixed together in the comment thread. When you return to a card after a while, it can take some time to read everything and determine what still needs to happen.
With Trello MCP connected, you can ask Claude or Cursor to read the latest activity on a card, extract the key details, and post a clear follow-up right inside that card.
Example prompt
Look at the recent comments on the card “Product Launch Prep”
Summarise the discussion, highlight any open questions and post a follow up in the card
What happens in the background
Claude uses Trello MCP to fetch the comments from that card, sorts through the updates, and writes a short reply with the key points and next steps. It then posts that reply directly as a new comment so the whole team can see it.
▶️ Watch it in action
This video shows Claude reading a real Trello card thread, summarising key updates and posting a proper follow-up in the same conversation. It all happens inside the prompt using live Trello data, without you having to prepare anything manually.
Setting up Trello MCP with Cursor
Linking Trello to Cursor only takes a few minutes. Once it is connected, you can use real board and card data directly inside your prompts without having to copy anything over.
Step 1: Visit the Composio MCP dashboard
Go to mcp.composio.dev and search for Trello. Click the integration to open its details.
Switch to the Cursor tab and click Generate URL. This will give you the exact setup command you need.
Step 2: Copy the command
It will look something like this:
npx @composio/mcp@latest setup "https://mcp.composio.dev/partner/composio/trello/mcp?customerId=<your_customer_id>" "" --client cursor
Step 3: Run the command in the Cursor
Open the Cursor and start a terminal in your current project. Paste the command and press Enter.
A browser window will open asking you to sign into Trello and approve the connection. Follow the prompts to confirm access.
Step 4: Look for the success message
When the setup is complete, you will see a confirmation screen in your browser and a message in your terminal letting you know Trello is connected.
Step 5: (Optional) Double-check the connection
If you want to be sure everything is working, open this file:
~/.cursor/mcp.json
Trello should be listed under connected services. Once you see that, you are ready to start using Trello data directly in Cursor.
Summary
Trello MCP provides Claude and Cursor with direct access to your boards, lists, and cards via Composio. They can read updates, follow conversations, and make changes without you needing to copy anything over.
The setup takes just a few steps. Once connected, you can ask for summaries, follow-ups, planning help, or quick searches, all using live Trello data. It keeps your workflow moving and makes it easier to stay on top of projects.
Frequently asked questions
1. How can I manage my Trello connection after setup
Open the Composio dashboard. You can view, rename, or remove your Trello connection there at any time.
2. What kind of Trello data can Claude or Cursor use
They can work with cards, lists, labels, checklists, due dates, members, and comments you have permission to see in your workspace.
3. Does this work with all boards
Yes. It works with personal boards, shared boards, and team boards. If you can access it in Trello, they can use it.
4. Can I choose which actions are available
Yes. In the Composio dashboard, you can turn actions on or off to match the way you work.
5. Do I need to repeat the setup if I use both Claude and Cursor
Yes. Each tool has its setup step, but they can both connect to the same Trello workspace once linked.
Top comments (2)
Really helpful breakdown on setting up Trello MCP! I like how you explained the bridge it creates for smoother AI collaboration. For anyone managing projects alongside property research, tools like a Broward property lookup can also save time by giving quick access to important records. It’s always smart to combine efficient task tracking with reliable data sources.
This is a fantastic walkthrough clear, actionable, and genuinely useful for anyone juggling tasks in Trello. The MCP setup with Claude and Cursor feels like a smart leap forward in productivity. You’ve explained the tech in a way that’s easy to follow, even for non-developers. Definitely something I’d try to streamline my workflow.