Canvs

AI-powered diagrams, mind maps, flowcharts on a free unlimited collaborative whiteboard

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What it can do

    What data it sees

    Do you need an account

    No: the server works without sign-in

    AI-powered diagrams, mind maps, flowcharts on a free unlimited collaborative whiteboard

    How to connect

    How to connect Canvs to Claude

    The server address to paste into Claude settings:

    https://app.canvs.io/mcp

    1. Open Claude (claude.ai or the desktop app).
    2. Go to Settings → Connectors.
    3. Click Add custom connector.
    4. Paste the server address copied below into Remote MCP server URL and click Add.
    5. In a chat, click + → Connectors and switch the new connector on.

    Custom connectors are available on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans (Free is limited to one). On Team and Enterprise an organization Owner adds the connector first under Organization settings → Connectors.

    Authorization

    After you click Add, a sign-in window for the service opens. Sign in with your own account and approve access. Claude never sees your password.

    How to connect Canvs to ChatGPT

    The server address to paste into ChatGPT settings:

    https://app.canvs.io/mcp

    1. Open ChatGPT in a browser (chatgpt.com). A Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise or Edu plan is required.
    2. Turn on developer mode once: Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → Developer mode.
    3. Open Settings → Connectors and click Create.
    4. Fill in the form: Name (anything), Description (one line about what the service does), MCP server URL (copy it below).
    5. Under Authentication choose OAuth if the service requires sign-in, otherwise None. Click Create.
    6. In a new chat open + → Apps/Connectors and enable the connector.

    OpenAI has renamed this section before (Connectors → Apps/Plugins). If the label differs, search settings for "developer mode". On Business/Enterprise workspaces an admin must allow custom connectors first.

    Authorization

    On first use ChatGPT opens the service's sign-in window. Sign in and approve access.

    How to connect Canvs to Cursor

    The server address to paste into Cursor settings:

    https://app.canvs.io/mcp

    Fastest: click Open in Cursor below and confirm the prompt.

    Manually:

    1. In Cursor open Settings → Cursor Settings → MCP and click Add new global MCP server.
    2. Paste the JSON copied below into ~/.cursor/mcp.json (per project: .cursor/mcp.json in the repo root).
    3. Save the file. The server appears in the MCP list; authorize it there if asked.

    Authorization

    If the service needs sign-in, an authorize button appears next to the server in the MCP list.

    Server tool list (6)

    Raw names from tools/list. Only developers need these.

    get_guideReturns guidance on diagram-creation workflow and tool selection: how to choose between Mermaid and manual element creation, and the recommended iteration workflow. Consult before building complex diagrams.
    add_elementsCreates elements on a canvas. Creates a new canvas if room_id is omitted, or adds to the existing canvas if room_id is provided. Use cases: wireframes, UI mockups, freeform illustrations, standalone shapes, and manual layouts that Mermaid does not cover well. For diagrams Mermaid can express, use add_elements_from_mermaid instead. Element types: rectangle, ellipse, diamond, arrow, line, freedraw, text, image. Rich text: the text field supports limited HTML for text elements and rectangle/ellipse/diamond shape labels. Supports the rich-text plugin HTML subset: <b>/<strong>, <i>/<em>, <u>, <br>, <div>/<p>, <ul>/<ol>/<li>, <a href>, <font color>, and <span style="color, background/background-color, font-size, font-family">. Use textAlign for left/center/right alignment; avoid unsupported HTML/CSS. TEXT IN SHAPES: use containerId on text element pointing to shape id. ARROWS: Position at EDGE of source shape. Auto-bound within 30px. Colors: strokeColor, backgroundColor (hex).
    update_elementsUpdate elements on a canvas. Requires room_id from a previous Canvs tool result. Pass elements array with id and fields to update. IMPORTANT: in each update object ONLY `id` is required; all other fields are optional patch fields. Include ONLY elements that need changes; elements omitted from the request remain unchanged on the board. Prefer this tool for SMALL edits to existing diagrams (rename/move/restyle a few elements), typically after query_elements.
    delete_elementsDelete elements from a canvas. Requires room_id from a previous Canvs tool result. Pass ids array of element IDs to delete.
    query_elementsQuery elements on a canvas. Requires room_id from a previous Canvs tool result. Returns elements matching optional filters. Use this before update_elements when making small edits to existing diagrams. If no browser has the canvas open, returns an error — ask the user to open the canvas URL in their browser and retry.
    add_elements_from_mermaidCreates diagram elements from a Mermaid definition. Creates a new canvas if room_id is omitted, or adds to the existing canvas if room_id is provided. Preferred over add_elements for new diagrams and large changes to existing diagrams whenever the content can be represented in Mermaid. Supports: flowchart, graph, flowchart-elk, sequenceDiagram, classDiagram, classDiagram-v2, stateDiagram, stateDiagram-v2, erDiagram, journey, gantt, pie, gitGraph, mindmap, timeline, C4Context, C4Container, C4Component, C4Dynamic, C4Deployment, sankey, sankey-beta, quadrantChart, xychart, xychart-beta, requirement, requirementDiagram, kanban, architecture, block, block-beta, packet, packet-beta, radar-beta, treemap, info. Example: "flowchart TD\n A[Start] --> B{Decision}\n B -->|Yes| C[OK]\n B -->|No| D[Cancel]"