Claude connector optimization: get found in Claude's directory and chats
Claude connector optimization starts with knowing your rank among 734 connectors in Claude's directory and how often Claude picks you during a chat. gaintage tracks your directory rank, your category rank and how often Claude suggests you, then lists what to fix in your listing.
Four things decide your rank: your one-liner (up to 200 characters), the one to five categories you pick, your tool names and descriptions, and how often people use the connector.
The directory sits at claude.com/connectors (also called Claude Marketplace) and inside the Claude apps. A connector is an MCP server with a listing.
Claude users find connectors in three places
Directory search and categories
Users search and browse the connector directory on the web and in the Claude apps. Your name and one-liner decide which connector searches show you.
Suggested in a chat
When a task needs a tool, Claude can suggest a connector during the chat. Your tool descriptions drive this pick.
Plugins that bundle connectors
Claude Marketplace also lists plugins, which bundle connectors with other parts. Claude's sitemap lists 342 plugin pages.
Your connector listing must fit these field limits Anthropic publishes these rules in its submission and review docs.
| Field | Limit | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Server name | 100 characters | Required |
| One-liner | 200 characters | Required |
| Description | 2,000 characters | Anthropic can't edit it, so it must be right when you submit |
| Categories | 1 to 5 | Required |
| URL slug | One | Permanent once published |
| Tool names | 64 characters | Hard limit |
| Tool title and hints | Every tool | Needs a title and a readOnlyHint or destructiveHint |
| Screenshots | 3 to 5 PNG, 1,000 px wide or more | Only for connectors that ship an MCP App |
| Privacy policy | Required, HTTPS | Missing policies "result in immediate rejection" |
| Compliance | 7 of 7 | All seven acknowledgments are required |
Rules checked 3 October 2026. Free: check your connector listing against these limits.
Productivity leads Claude's directory with 308 of 734 connectors These numbers come from Claude's public connector list, pulled on 3 October 2026. A connector can sit in more than one category.
| Category | Connectors |
|---|---|
| Productivity | 308 |
| Data analytics | 170 |
| Financial services | 113 |
| Sales and marketing | 99 |
| Developer tools | 92 |
| Communication | 55 |
- Google Drive, Google Calendar, Canva, Microsoft 365 and Notion lead Anthropic's popularity score, per gaintage's October 2026 count.
- Top 5 by popularity
- 112 of 734 Claude connectors ship an MCP App, per gaintage's October 2026 count.
- 15%
- the median Claude connector one-liner uses 51 of its 200 characters, per gaintage's October 2026 count. Most listings have room to name more tasks.
- 51 of 200
- the most common one-liner words are "your" (241 times) and "data" (145), per gaintage's October 2026 count.
- "your" and "data"
Browse the full Claude connectors list by category and popularity.
Get your connector discovered in five steps Follow these in order and track after each change.
- 01
Pick your chat keywords.
List the tasks you want Claude to pick you for. Some teams call these priority prompts or customer intents.
- 02
Write the one-liner as task plus result.
For example, "Find, update and share Asana tasks from Claude." You have 200 characters, so name the main tasks.
- 03
Choose categories where you can reach the top 10.
The biggest category is not always the best one for you.
- 04
Split read and write tools.
Describe when to call each one. Claude fails catch-all tools in review.
- 05
Measure rank and suggestions weekly.
Change one field at a time. Your URL slug can't change after you publish, so get it right first.
Not listed yet? Learn how to submit a Claude connector first.
gaintage tracks six metrics for every Claude connector Each metric updates daily so you can measure the effect of every listing change.
Directory keyword rank
Your position for each search term in Claude's directory, from the app ranking tracker.
Category rank
Your place in each of the directory's 17 categories. Track connector category rankings week by week.
Chat suggestions
How often Claude picks your connector for each chat keyword, with AI prompt tracking.
Competitor share of voice
Your share of picks against each competitor connector, from app competitor analysis.
Listing fixes
Changes to your one-liner, categories and tool descriptions, ranked by impact, in app listing optimization.
MCP server and API
Ask Claude for your connector's ranks and competitors with the ASO MCP server, or pull them into your own reports through the API.
The same MCP server needs different listing fields for Claude and ChatGPT Many teams list one MCP server in both stores, but the field limits differ.
| Field | Claude connector | ChatGPT plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Name | 100 characters | 30 characters |
| Short text | One-liner, 200 characters | Subtitle, 30 characters |
| Description | 2,000 characters | 4,000 characters |
| Categories | 1 to 5 | 1 |
| Screenshots | MCP Apps only | Not shown |
| Prompts | Paired with screenshots | Up to 3 starter prompts |
For the ChatGPT side, see ChatGPT app store optimization. Listing the same server in registries? Start with MCP server SEO.
gaintage is for teams with a live or in-review Claude connector
gaintage is for teams with a Claude connector that is live or in review, and for MCP developers who plan to list in Claude. If you need more installs from Claude users, you need to know your rank and how often Claude picks you. Browse all use cases to see how gaintage helps across platforms.
gaintage is not for people who want to choose connectors to use. For that, browse the free Claude connectors list. A custom connector that you add by URL also skips the directory, so it has no rank to track.
Frequently asked questions
Are Claude connectors the same as MCP?
A connector is an MCP server with a listing in Claude's directory. MCP (Model Context Protocol) is the open standard. The connector is one product built on it.
Does Claude have connectors like ChatGPT?
Yes. Claude's connector directory works like ChatGPT's Plugin Directory. Both list apps built on MCP, and both can suggest an app during a chat.
Is a Claude connector free?
For users, many connectors work on Claude's free and paid plans, and some need a Team or Enterprise plan. For developers, Anthropic publishes no fee to list.
How do I get my connector into Claude's directory?
Submit it through Anthropic's form with all required fields, then pass review. Our guide shows how to submit a Claude connector.
Can I change my connector's URL slug later?
No. Anthropic says the slug is permanent once published.
How does Claude decide which connector to use in a chat?
Claude reads your tool descriptions, which must "state precisely what the tool does and when to invoke it". It also looks at which connectors the user has already connected.