Integrations

MCP Server

Use CloudConvert file processing tools from ChatGPT, Claude, and other MCP clients.

CloudConvert MCP Server

The CloudConvert MCP Server connects AI assistants to the CloudConvert API through the Model Context Protocol. It lets an assistant inspect supported formats, process attached files, build multi-step jobs, monitor their progress, and return download links for completed files.

Use the hosted server:

https://mcp.cloudconvert.com

The server uses the Streamable HTTP transport. You do not need to install or run a local package.

Tool availability and support for passing file attachments depend on the MCP client. Processing files consumes CloudConvert credits unless the tool description says otherwise.

Authentication

The MCP Server uses OAuth 2.0 with your CloudConvert account. When your MCP client connects for the first time, it opens CloudConvert so you can sign in and authorize access.

The server requests these scopes:

  • user.read to show account information and remaining credits
  • task.read to inspect jobs, tasks, and results
  • task.write to create file-processing jobs

You do not need to create or paste an API key into ChatGPT or Claude. You can revoke an authorized application from your CloudConvert account at any time.

Only connect the URL https://mcp.cloudconvert.com. A connected MCP server can receive the files and information you send to its tools.

Install in ChatGPT

Custom MCP servers are connected as developer-mode apps in ChatGPT.

  1. Open ChatGPT on the web and go to Settings → Apps.
  2. Open Advanced settings and enable Developer mode. In a managed workspace, an administrator may need to enable developer mode first.
  3. Select Create app.
  4. Enter CloudConvert as the name and https://mcp.cloudconvert.com as the MCP server URL.
  5. Select Create or Scan tools.
  6. Sign in to CloudConvert and approve the requested access.
  7. Start a new chat, add the CloudConvert app, attach a file, and ask ChatGPT to process it.

ChatGPT support for custom apps depends on your plan and workspace settings. The initial setup is completed on the web; after the app is connected, it may also be available in other ChatGPT clients.

Install in Claude

Free, Pro, and Max

  1. Open Customize → Connectors in Claude.
  2. Select + → Add custom connector.
  3. Enter CloudConvert as the name and https://mcp.cloudconvert.com as the remote MCP server URL.
  4. Select Add. Leave the optional OAuth Client ID and Client Secret fields empty.
  5. Sign in to CloudConvert and approve the requested access.
  6. Enable CloudConvert in a conversation and ask Claude to use one of its available tools.

Team and Enterprise

An Owner or Primary Owner must first add CloudConvert from Organization settings → Connectors:

  1. Select Add, then choose Custom → Web.
  2. Enter https://mcp.cloudconvert.com as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. Leave the optional OAuth Client ID and Client Secret fields empty, then select Add.
  4. Organization members can then enable the connector and authorize their own CloudConvert accounts.

Available tools

File processing

ToolDescription
convertFileConvert a file to another supported format.
optimizeFileCompress and optimize PDF, PNG, or JPG files.
addWatermarkToFileAdd a text or image watermark to a PDF, image, or video.
captureWebsiteConvert a public website to PDF or capture a PNG or JPG screenshot.
createThumbnailCreate a PNG, JPG, or WEBP thumbnail from a file.
mergeFilesCombine two or more files into one PDF, converting non-PDF inputs automatically.
createArchivePackage files as ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, TAR.GZ, or TAR.BZ2.
extractFileMetadataRead ExifTool metadata such as page count, dimensions, and media information. This tool does not consume conversion credits.
writeFileMetadataWrite XMP or IPTC metadata such as title, author, creator, producer, or copyright.
executeCommandRun a custom FFmpeg, ImageMagick, or GraphicsMagick command.

PDF processing

ToolDescription
pdfAConvert a PDF to the PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b, or PDF/A-3b archival standard.
pdfXConvert a PDF to the PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, or PDF/X-4 print standard.
pdfRotatePagesRotate selected pages or every page in a PDF.
pdfOcrAdd a searchable and copyable OCR text layer to a scanned PDF.
pdfEncryptAdd passwords and security restrictions to a PDF.
pdfDecryptRemove password protection from a PDF using its current password.
pdfSplitPagesSplit a PDF into one PDF file per page.
pdfExtractPagesExtract selected pages or page ranges into a new PDF.

Jobs and discovery

ToolDescription
getUserShow information about the authenticated user and their remaining credits.
getOperationsDiscover supported CloudConvert operations, input and output formats, engines, and options.
createJobCreate an advanced CloudConvert job from an arbitrary task graph.
getJobsList jobs, with optional status and tag filters, task details, and pagination.
getJobCheck a job's status and retrieve its results by job ID.
getTaskCheck an individual task's status and retrieve its results by task ID.
For advanced requests, the assistant can call getOperations first to discover format-specific options, then use createJob to compose a custom multi-step workflow.

Example prompts

  • “Convert this DOCX file to PDF.”
  • “Compress this PDF while keeping it suitable for printing.”
  • “Merge these files in the order I attached them and return one PDF.”
  • “Make this scanned German PDF searchable with OCR.”
  • “Add a semi-transparent ‘Draft’ watermark to every page.”
  • “Capture this webpage as an A4 PDF.”

Completed tools return secure HTTPS download links. These output links are valid for 24 hours, and CloudConvert automatically deletes processed files according to its file retention policy.

Limitations

Tools that accept input files currently require each file to be available through a downloadable HTTP or HTTPS URL. ChatGPT turns attached uploads into temporary download URLs, so file attachments work transparently there. Other MCP clients must provide files in the same way or may be unable to use these tools with local attachments.

This is a current limitation of file handling in the MCP protocol, which does not yet define an interoperable way to transfer files between clients and servers. Proposals such as SEP-2631: File Objects and Transfer aim to add first-class file inputs, outputs, and transfer negotiation. SEP-2631 is still a draft, so its design may change before adoption.