# Connect Claude to Google Sheets

Claude can read a Google Sheet over MCP — in the desktop app, on the web, or in Claude Code. Publish the sheet with PasteSheet, add the endpoint as a connector, and Claude can query your data in plain English.

*Last updated: 2026-07-15 · Source: <https://pastesheet.com/guides/connect-claude-to-google-sheets>*

## Key facts

- Claude connects to external data through **MCP**: add a server in **Settings → Connectors** in the app or web, or with `claude mcp add` in Claude Code. ([source](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/10065433-installing-and-using-a-mcp-server))
- PasteSheet's MCP server exposes three tools — `list_tabs`, `get_schema` and `query_rows` — and is **read-only by design**: an agent can query your sheet but can never modify it.
- It needs **no Google Cloud project, no OAuth consent screen and no service-account JSON**. You paste a share URL, and MCP is included on the Free plan.
- MCP is an **open protocol** built on JSON-RPC 2.0. A server exposes Resources, Prompts and Tools to any MCP client — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, VS Code and Windsurf all speak it. ([source](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-06-18))

## How do you connect Claude to Google Sheets?

Claude talks to external data over the **Model Context Protocol (MCP)**. PasteSheet turns a Google Sheet into an MCP server, so you paste the sheet's share URL, add the resulting endpoint to Claude as a connector, and Claude can list tabs, read the schema, and query rows — in plain English, without any code or a Google Cloud project.

Which steps you follow depends on where you use Claude. The connector URL is the same everywhere; only the place you paste it changes.

## Connect Claude Desktop or Claude web

For the app or the browser, add a custom connector:

1. In PasteSheet, open the endpoint's **Connect via MCP** panel and copy its MCP URL.
2. In Claude, go to **Settings → Connectors** and add a custom connector with that URL.
3. Start a chat and ask about your sheet — Claude calls the read tools and answers from your data.

## Config for a desktop-style client

Clients that use a config file take the endpoint URL like this:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pastesheet": {
      "url": "https://pastesheet.com/mcp/sheets/your-endpoint-id"
    }
  }
}
```

## Claude Code and per-client steps

Using the terminal? See [connect Google Sheets to Claude Code](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp-claude-code) — one `claude mcp add` command. For the desktop and web apps in more detail, see [the Claude MCP guide](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp-claude). Both read the same endpoint you publish here, and the [MCP overview](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp) explains the tools.

## What it costs

**MCP is included on the Free plan.** Connect any **public** endpoint over MCP with no Google Cloud project and no credit card. Private endpoints and the account-wide workspace server need a paid plan (from **Starter ($9/mo)**) for the keys and OAuth they authenticate with.

Pro adds full-text search and aggregation (`count`, `sum`, `avg`, `group_by`) that your AI agent can call through `query_rows`.

**Starter — $9/month.** For indie makers shipping a real app.

- Endpoints: 10
- Requests: 50,000 / month
- Rows per endpoint: 5,000
- Tabs per endpoint: 5
- Rate limit: 300 / minute

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I connect Claude to Google Sheets?

Publish the sheet with PasteSheet to get an MCP URL, then add it to Claude as a custom connector (Settings → Connectors), or run claude mcp add for Claude Code. Claude can then query the sheet in plain English.

### Do I need a Google Cloud project or API key?

No. PasteSheet reads a shared Google Sheet and hosts the MCP server, so there is no Google Cloud project or OAuth. A public endpoint is keyless; a private one takes a bearer key.

### Can Claude change my spreadsheet?

No. The connection is read-only by design — Claude can read and query your sheet through list_tabs, get_schema, and query_rows, but cannot edit it.

## Sources

- [Installing and using an MCP server](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/10065433-installing-and-using-a-mcp-server) — Anthropic
- [Model Context Protocol specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-06-18) — Model Context Protocol

## Related guides

- [Connect Google Sheets to Claude via MCP](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp-claude) — Add a Google Sheet to Claude as a custom MCP connector. Step-by-step setup for Claude Desktop and Claude web so it can query your spreadsheet in plain English.
- [Google Sheets MCP for Claude Code](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp-claude-code) — Add a Google Sheet to Claude Code as an MCP server with one command. Query spreadsheet data from your terminal-based agent — no backend and no code to write.
- [Google Sheets MCP Server for Claude & ChatGPT](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp) — Turn any Google Sheet into an MCP server so Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT can read and query it in plain English. No code, no backend — connect in minutes.

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[PasteSheet](https://pastesheet.com) turns any Google Sheet into a live REST API and MCP server for AI agents — no backend, no code. Canonical HTML version of this page: <https://pastesheet.com/guides/connect-claude-to-google-sheets>