MCP server for PowerPoint — slides via Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP client
slideforge.dev is a hosted MCP server for PowerPoint slide generation. Add one URL to Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, or Claude Code — your agent calls create_slide and gets a real .pptx file with editable shapes in under a second. OAuth 2.1 native for Claude Desktop; Bearer API key for everything else. 9 tools, 40+ composable components, three deterministic render modes (auto / spec / code), from $0.03 per slide, no subscription.
I built this as the MCP-first alternative to python-pptx — when I measured, a KPI dashboard that takes ~60 lines of python-pptx code renders through the SlideForge MCP tool in 5 lines, with consulting-grade output by default. Jump to: Claude Desktop · ChatGPT · Cursor · vs. other PowerPoint MCP servers · FAQ.
What is MCP?
The Model Context Protocol lets AI agents call external tools. When you add slideforge.dev as an MCP server, your AI client can generate, iterate, translate, and manage slides directly in conversation. Responses include inline PNG previews plus signed download URLs for the .pptx files. 9 tools cover the full workflow — slides, decks, translation, reports, and unified catalog discovery (templates, components, themes, composition recipes).
Claude Desktop (OAuth 2.1 — recommended)
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json. No API key needed — Claude Desktop handles OAuth automatically and prompts for Google sign-in on first connection.
{
"mcpServers": {
"slideforge": {
"url": "https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/"
}
}
}On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
On Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Prefer an API key instead? Use the mcp-remote wrapper below (same as Cursor setup).
ChatGPT (Developer Mode — OAuth)
ChatGPT supports remote MCP servers natively via Developer Mode (beta — available to Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans on the web). One URL, OAuth handles sign-in — no API key needed.
- In ChatGPT (web), open Settings → Apps → Advanced settings and toggle on Developer mode.
(On older UI versions this section may be labeled Connectors or Apps & Connectors.) - Go to Settings → Apps → Connectors tab → click Create (or Add custom connector).
- Paste the SlideForge MCP URL:
https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/ - Choose OAuth as the auth method. ChatGPT will open a Google sign-in window — sign in once and the connector is saved.
- In any new chat, the SlideForge tools are now available alongside ChatGPT's built-in tools. Try: “Create a SWOT analysis slide for our Q2 strategy review.”
Don't see the Developer mode toggle?ChatGPT's settings UI changes frequently. Check Settings → Apps first; the Developer mode toggle lives under Advanced settings. For Enterprise/Edu workspaces, an admin must enable connectors in Workspace Settings → Apps & Connectors first. Write actions (creating/iterating slides) need confirmation per call — read actions (browsing the catalog) work without prompts.
Need API-key auth instead of OAuth (e.g. for a shared workspace with a service account)? Use the same URL plus an Authorization: Bearer sf_live_... header from the console. ChatGPT also supports MCP Apps SDK directory listings — SlideForge is preparing a directory submission so any ChatGPT user can find and install it without Developer Mode.
Cursor (API key)
Go to Settings → MCP Servers → Add Server, or add to your .cursor/mcp.json. Grab your API key from the console — keys start with sf_live_.
{
"mcpServers": {
"slideforge": {
"url": "https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/",
"transport": "streamable-http",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"
}
}
}
}Windsurf
Open Settings → search “MCP” → click the Marketplace link, or edit the config file directly:
{
"mcpServers": {
"slideforge": {
"url": "https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/",
"type": "streamable-http",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"
},
"disabled": false
}
}
}On Windows: %APPDATA%\Windsurf\User\settings.json
On Linux: ~/.config/Windsurf/User/settings.json
Claude Code (CLI)
Add to your project's .mcp.json or global ~/.claude/mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"slideforge": {
"url": "https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/",
"transport": "streamable-http",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer sf_live_YOUR_KEY"
}
}
}
}Or add via CLI: claude mcp add slideforge --transport http https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/
Any MCP-compatible client
slideforge.dev works with any client that supports Streamable HTTP transport — confirmed with ChatGPT (Developer Mode), Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, and Cline. The MCP endpoint is https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/. Pass your API key as Authorization: Bearer sf_live_... in the headers. OAuth 2.1 is also supported for interactive clients (ChatGPT, Claude Desktop) — the server handles the full flow automatically.
SlideForge vs other PowerPoint MCP servers
The MCP + PowerPoint category on GitHub has a handful of entrants. Here's the honest comparison.
See also: PowerPoint API guide (REST version of the same engine) · slideforge.dev vs python-pptx
Available MCP tools
9 tools across 5 categories. Guided prompts (create_presentation, quick_slide) cover common workflows.
| Tool | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Slides | ||
| create_slide | Create, iterate, or inspect a single slide. Modes: auto (brief → a two-stage classifier picks a recipe or composes components, $0.05), spec (caller-supplied JSON component tree, $0.05), code (python-pptx in a sandbox, $0.03), iterate (revise a previous slide with text feedback, $0.05 only when the result passes), status (poll a job, free). | |
| plan_slide | Opt-in introspection — see which shape, components, and recipes the auto-router would pick for a brief, without paying for a render. Useful when prototyping or debugging routing. | |
| Decks | ||
| create_deck | Multi-slide deck. Modes: outline (free preview with predicted refusals per slide), render (parallel render → compiled PPTX), assemble (merge existing slides), fork (A/B variant). | |
| translate_deck | Translate a PPTX preserving all formatting. $0.02/slide, 8 languages. | |
| Catalog & Assets | ||
| browse_catalog | Unified discovery — templates, components, themes, helpers, and composition recipes. Progressive (compact grid by default; full payload on detail=true). Hybrid semantic search via brief=<text> for templates and recipes. | |
| upload_asset | Upload a logo, theme PPTX, or image — or AI-generate an image. Returns asset_id or theme_id. | |
| Reports | ||
| generate_report | Data-driven multi-slide report from a connected tool (Zoho Sprints, Jira). Omit slug to list available. | |
| manage_connections | OAuth connections to external tools. | |
| Account | ||
| manage_account | Balance, usage, job history, feedback, onboarding guide. | |
Pricing
| Action | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Auto (brief → recipe or composition) | $0.05 | <1s |
| Template render (structured params) | $0.03 | <1s |
| Spec render | $0.05 | <100ms |
| Code sandbox | $0.03 | ~500ms |
| Iterate (only when result passes) | $0.05 | 0.4-2s |
| Translate | $0.02/slide | ~5-15s |
| Report | ~$0.12 | ~10s |
Free $3 credit on signup, no credit card. No subscription. USD wallet with $10 minimum top-up and volume discounts up to +20%.
Example conversation
"Create a KPI dashboard: revenue $12.4M (+18% YoY), 847 new clients (+23%), NPS 71"
Calls create_slide with the brief → auto-routes to KPI template → returns preview inline in <2s.
"Now generate a 2x2 matrix comparing build vs buy with cost and speed axes"
Calls create_slide (mode=auto) → router picks the quadrant recipe → returns preview inline in <1s.
"Make the Build column header larger and add a green checkmark icon"
Calls create_slide (mode=iterate, feedback="...") → shows updated preview.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an MCP server for PowerPoint?
Yes. slideforge.dev provides a hosted MCP server for PowerPoint slide generation at https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/. Add one URL to Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, or any MCP client and your agent can call 9 MCP tools including create_slide, create_deck, translate_deck, and browse_catalog. 40+ composable components (Metric, BarList, OrgChart, Waterfall, Gantt, RAGScorecard) with three deterministic render modes (auto / spec / code), from $0.03 per slide.
Which MCP servers work with Claude Desktop for PowerPoint?
slideforge.dev (this server) is the OAuth 2.1 option — add one URL, sign in with Google once, done. Anthropic also ships Claude for PowerPoint as a Microsoft Office add-in (beta research preview, requires Claude Pro subscription and Office install). For self-hosted alternatives, GongRzhe/Office-PowerPoint-MCP-Server (1,651 stars) and icip-cas/PPTAgent (4,103 stars) are open-source — you run them locally with Python and pip install dependencies.
How does SlideForge MCP compare to Anthropic's Claude for PowerPoint?
Claude for PowerPoint lives inside the PowerPoint application as an Office add-in; you open PowerPoint, use the sidebar, slides are edited in place. slideforge.dev lives inside your agent workflow; your agent generates slides programmatically (no Office install needed) via MCP or REST. Claude for PowerPoint requires Claude Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise; slideforge.dev is $3 free credit then $0.03–$0.05/slide per use. Different use cases: Claude for PowerPoint is for knowledge workers editing existing decks; slideforge.dev is for developers and AI agents producing slides at scale.
Can I use the MCP server with Cursor, Windsurf, or Cline?
Yes. All MCP clients that support Streamable HTTP transport work with slideforge.dev. For Cursor, add the config to `.cursor/mcp.json`. For Windsurf, edit `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`. For Claude Code, add to `.mcp.json` in your project or `~/.claude/mcp.json` globally. Each gets an API key via Bearer auth. OAuth 2.1 is supported by Claude Desktop and ChatGPT (Developer Mode).
How do I add SlideForge to ChatGPT?
ChatGPT supports remote MCP servers via Developer Mode (beta — Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans on the web). Open Settings → Apps → Advanced settings and toggle on Developer mode. Then go to the Connectors tab inside Apps, click Create (or Add custom connector), paste https://api.slideforge.dev/mcp/, choose OAuth, sign in with Google when prompted. The SlideForge tools become available in any new chat. Write actions (creating/iterating slides) ask for confirmation per call; read actions (browsing the catalog) don't. If you don't see Developer mode under Apps, refresh the browser — the menu was renamed from "Connectors" to "Apps & Connectors" in early 2026 and may show either label depending on rollout. SlideForge is also preparing a ChatGPT App Directory listing so users can install without enabling Developer Mode.
What tools does the SlideForge MCP server expose?
9 consolidated tools plus guided prompts. Slides: create_slide (modes: auto / spec / code / iterate / status), plan_slide (opt-in router introspection). Decks: create_deck (outline / render / assemble / fork), translate_deck. Catalog & Assets: browse_catalog (templates, components, themes, helpers, recipes), upload_asset. Reports: generate_report (Zoho Sprints, Jira via OAuth), manage_connections. Account: manage_account.
Does the MCP server support slide iteration and feedback?
Yes. After create_slide returns a job_id, call create_slide(mode="iterate", job_id=..., feedback="make the title larger and add a green checkmark") and the server regenerates with the requested change. Iterate is $0.05/slide and only charges when the result passes a trust gate — failed iterations cost zero. Works across all parent modes (auto, spec, code).
What's the cheapest way to generate PowerPoint slides via an MCP server?
Template render with structured params is $0.03/slide. mode=auto (the default brief → slide path) is $0.05/slide and renders in under a second — a two-stage classifier picks a vetted recipe or composes components deterministically, bounded at $0.05 (never escalates). Code mode ($0.03) gives pixel-exact control. Iterate with feedback is $0.05 (charged only when the result passes). Translate across 8 languages is $0.02/slide. First $3 of credits on signup, no credit card required.
Is the MCP server open source?
The slideforge.dev MCP client configuration repo (smartdatabrokers/slideforge-mcp) is MIT licensed. The backend server itself is a hosted service, not self-hostable. If you specifically need self-hosted, open-source alternatives include GongRzhe/Office-PowerPoint-MCP-Server and icip-cas/PPTAgent — both lack the composable-component model and consulting-grade primitives but are fully free if you're willing to run Python locally.
Support
Questions, bug reports, or feature requests: contact@slideforge.dev. For the fastest response, include your job ID (if you have one) and the client you're using (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.).
Canonical: slideforge.dev/docs/mcp. SlideForge is published by Smart Data Brokers GmbH, Zurich. Not affiliated with slideforge.io, slideforge.fr, or unrelated GitHub repositories of the same name.