Common Paper's MCP server connects your AI assistant directly to your Common Paper account, so you can manage agreements in plain language without leaving the tool you're working in. It works with Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, and other AI assistants that support custom MCP servers with OAuth sign-in.
What is MCP?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI assistants connect to external services and take actions on your behalf. Instead of switching between tools or copying and pasting data, your AI assistant works with Common Paper directly from your conversation.
What you can do
Once connected, you can ask your AI assistant to handle agreement tasks for you. Examples include:
Look up agreements by type, status, created date, or recipient
Check an agreement's status and history, or download its PDF
Create and send new agreements, and resend agreement emails
Edit draft agreements before you send them - for example, change the recipient, the message, CC users, or Cover Page terms
Void or reassign existing agreements
Create, list, and update templates
Your AI assistant can only edit agreements that are still drafts. To change an agreement you've already sent, use Propose Changes on the agreement history page in Common Paper - see Can I edit an agreement after I've sent it? Your AI assistant also can't delete drafts; delete them from the agreement history page.
Connecting the MCP Server
Every client authenticates with Common Paper through OAuth, so you don't need an API key. Setup steps for the most common clients are below. For Microsoft Copilot Studio, Notion AI, Perplexity, Amazon Quick, Sana, Grok, Viktor, and other assistants, see Connecting Common Paper to Other AI Assistants. Every client uses https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp as the server URL.
Claude
Common Paper is published in Claude's connector directory, so you can connect it in a few clicks without entering a server URL. The same connector works in Claude Cowork and in regular Claude conversations on web, desktop, and mobile.
Open Claude and go to Customize > Connectors. Browse the connector directory, find Common Paper, and click Connect.
Claude initiates an OAuth process to authenticate you with Common Paper. Follow the prompts to authorize the connection. Once connected, Common Paper appears in your list of active connectors.
You can also view the listing directly at Common Paper in the Claude connector directory.
ChatGPT
You can connect the Common Paper MCP server in ChatGPT as a custom connector. Custom connectors are part of ChatGPT's developer mode, which is available on paid ChatGPT plans.
Open ChatGPT and go to Settings > Apps & connectors > Advanced settings. Toggle on Developer mode.
Return to Apps & connectors and click Create. Enter the following:
Name: Common Paper
MCP server URL: https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp
Click Create. ChatGPT initiates an OAuth process to authenticate you with Common Paper. Follow the prompts to authorize the connection.
To use Common Paper in a conversation, start a new chat, click the + button next to the message box, select More, and turn on Common Paper. You need to do this in each new chat.
Claude Code
Run the following command in your terminal:
claude mcp add --transport http --scope user \
commonpaper https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp
The first time you use the server, Claude Code initiates an OAuth process to authenticate you with Common Paper. You can also start it at any time by running the /mcp command and following the prompts.
Cursor
Add the following to your ~/.cursor/mcp.json file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"commonpaper": {
"url": "https://api.commonpaper.com/mcp"
}
}
}
Cursor initiates an OAuth process to authenticate you with Common Paper. Follow the prompts to authorize the connection.
MCP Client Support
Most MCP clients connect without any action from us. When a client registers itself with Common Paper during setup, it works as soon as you add the server URL and sign in.
Some clients identify themselves differently and have to be enabled on our end before they can connect. These clients are already enabled:
Claude
Claude Code
ChatGPT
Codex
Cursor
Town
MCP Jam
If your client isn't on the list and you get an authorization error before you reach the Common Paper login page, contact our support team with the name of the client and a screenshot of the error. We'll review it and let you know once it's set up.
Learn more
For setup steps in other AI assistants, see Connecting Common Paper to Other AI Assistants.
For full technical details, see the Common Paper MCP API documentation.
If you'd rather use Common Paper in Claude Cowork with an API key instead of the connector, see Using the Common Paper Claude Skill.