Trello MCP Server

Token-optimized Trello MCP Server with 97% response reduction

Local serverstdio

What is the Trello MCP server?

Most planning and project tracking work still happens through a UI a human drives. Trello MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. Token-optimized Trello MCP Server with 97% response reduction.

The short version

A high-performance Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Trello integration with 97% token reduction through intelligent response optimization.

  • 🚀 97% Token Reduction — - Intelligent response filtering and summarization
  • 📊 Smart Defaults — - Automatic optimization based on operation type
  • ⚡ High Performance — - In-memory caching with smart TTLs
  • 🔧 Full Trello API Coverage — - 75+ operations for boards, cards, lists, and more
  • 📦 Zero Configuration — - Works out of the box with sensible defaults
  • 🔄 100% Backward Compatible — - Drop-in replacement for existing integrations

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: TRELLO_API_KEY, TRELLO_TOKEN. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Getting it running

The server ships on npm as directly, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

How it compares

This sits in the planning and project tracking group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. It is maintained by cyberdeep; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

How to install the Trello MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "trello-1": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "directly"],
      "env": {
        "TRELLO_API_KEY": "your-value",
        "TRELLO_TOKEN": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
TRELLO_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
TRELLO_TOKENCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Frequently asked questions

It connects Trello to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Trello directly.