Back to list

Slack MCP Client: Use Any MCP Server Directly in Slack

Runbear is the first Slack MCP client. Connect Claude to any MCP server and use it directly in Slack channels. Your team can query databases, call APIs, and access over 2,500 tools through natural language. No local installation required.

Are you looking to bring Model Context Protocol (MCP) power to your Slack workspace? Runbear is the first-ever MCP client for Slack, allowing you to harness Claude's intelligence directly where your team collaborates. No coding required!

What is MCP and Why You Need a Slack MCP Client

Model Context Protocol (MCP) transforms AI assistants from simple conversational tools into powerful agents that can take action. With a proper MCP client in Slack, you can:

  • Access external data sources and services
  • Connect to workplace tools seamlessly
  • Complete tasks independently
  • Deliver information directly to your team

Introducing Runbear: The Ultimate Slack MCP Client

Runbear seamlessly connects Claude with Slack through MCP, bringing AI automation directly to your team without requiring local installations. Unlike other MCP clients, everyone gets immediate access to powerful AI capabilities within your existing Slack workspace.

Real-World Slack MCP Client Use Cases

Calendar Management Made Simple

Your Slack MCP client can instantly find available meeting slots across team calendars, eliminating scheduling headaches.

Email Summaries in Seconds

Ask your AI assistant to analyze long email threads and deliver concise summaries right in your Slack channel.

Simple Steps to Set Up Your Slack MCP Client

  1. Create your Runbear account: Sign up and click "Create Assistant," then select "Build from scratch".
  2. Choose Claude as your AI model: Select "Anthropic Claude" and customize your system instructions.
  3. Connect MCP servers: Add services to extend your AI agent's capabilities. Without leaving Runbear, you can connect 2,500+ MCP servers, such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and more.
  4. Connect it to Slack: Connect your agent to your Slack workspace with a few clicks, and enjoy!

Connecting accounts to AI agents

There are two ways to connect service accounts to your AI agent's MCP servers: shared and individual authorization.

Option A: Individual authorization

Each Slack user connects their own account. When a user requests something that requires authorization, the Slack bot will prompt them with a secure link to connect.

No worries — connected accounts are private and accessible only to the individual user.

Option B: Shared authorization

Connect a shared account that your AI agents can use to answer questions and complete tasks.

With this setup, users won't need to authorize access individually — the AI agents will handle requests using the shared connection.

Transform Your Slack Workspace with an MCP Client Today

Runbear makes powerful AI automation accessible to everyone on your team through Slack. Start free now and experience how a properly configured MCP client can revolutionize your workflow.

What is a Slack MCP Server?

A Slack MCP server is a service that exposes tools and data sources through the Model Context Protocol, making them accessible to AI assistants inside Slack. When you connect an MCP server to Slack through Runbear, your team can interact with external APIs, databases, and business tools using natural language in any Slack channel or DM.

Popular Slack MCP servers include Gmail, Google Calendar, GitHub, Jira, Notion, Stripe, and over 2,500 others. Each server defines a set of actions the AI agent can perform. For example, a Google Calendar MCP server lets the agent check availability, create events, and send invites directly from Slack.

Slack MCP Client vs Slack MCP Server

The MCP client is the application that sends requests to MCP servers. Runbear acts as the Slack MCP client, sitting between your team in Slack and the MCP servers that provide tools and data. Your team talks to the client (Runbear in Slack), and the client talks to the servers (Gmail, Jira, etc.) on their behalf.

Without a Slack MCP client, your team would need to install and configure MCP servers locally on each person's machine. Runbear removes that requirement by hosting the client connection and making every MCP server available to the entire team through Slack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install anything locally to use MCP in Slack?

No. Runbear handles the MCP server connections remotely. Your team just uses Slack as normal, and the AI agent connects to MCP servers behind the scenes. There is nothing to install on any team member's computer.

Which MCP servers work with Slack through Runbear?

Runbear supports over 2,500 MCP servers, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Notion, Linear, Jira, GitHub, Stripe, HubSpot, Airtable, Zapier, and many more. You can also connect custom MCP servers built by your engineering team.

Is MCP data shared between Slack users?

It depends on your configuration. Individual authorization keeps each user's connected accounts private and separate. Shared authorization lets the AI agent use one shared account for the whole team. You can mix both approaches for different MCP servers.

How is this different from Slack's built-in AI?

Slack's built-in AI focuses on search and summarization within Slack itself. Runbear's Slack MCP client connects to external tools and takes action across your entire stack. It can create Jira tickets, send emails, update CRM records, and query databases, all from a Slack message.