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The 8 Best Gemini and Grok Connectors in 2026 (For Planning Creative Work From Your Assistant)

Eight Gemini and Grok connectors ranked on one job: leaving a plan behind that your team can open. Includes Gemini's custom-app rules, Grok's connector steps and a six-week launch built with both.

The 8 Best Gemini and Grok Connectors in 2026 (For Planning Creative Work From Your Assistant)

Category

AI Tools

Author

Storyflow Team - Product & Research Team

Storyflow Team

Product & Research Team

Topics

Gemini connectorsGrok connectorsMCP serversAI project planningCreative planning boardsAI assistant setup

2026-10-09

•

34 min read

•

AI Tools
Quick answer
  • Gemini connectors
  • Grok connectors
  • Gemini custom app
  • Grok custom connector
  • MCP
  • Storyflow

best Gemini connectors

The best Gemini and Grok connectors for planning creative work in 2026 are Storyflow, Google Workspace and Notion. Storyflow ranks first because it connects to both the Gemini app and Grok as a custom MCP app and turns the conversation into a visual project board you can share: plan, tables, shot cards, decks and open questions on one canvas. Google Workspace is the better pick if your plan lives in Docs, Gmail and Calendar, since it is built into Gemini and is a built-in Grok connector. Notion fits teams already running their wiki in Notion, especially from Grok, where it is a native connector.

Quick recommendations
Storyflow logo
StoryflowTop pick Building a visual project plan on a board from Gemini or Grok, then reading it back next session
Google Workspace logo
Google Workspace: Plans that live in Docs, Gmail and Calendar, built into Gemini and a built-in Grok connector
Notion logo
Notion: Teams whose wiki and task databases already live in Notion, native in Grok
Linear logo
Linear: Turning an agreed plan into tracked issues, with a read-only endpoint

Full disclosure: Storyflow is our product. It ranks first because the criteria for this list weight working in both Gemini and Grok and leaving a visible, shareable plan behind, which is what its MCP server does. Its main limits: it is paid-only during early access, browser-only, has no calendar view, and Gemini's custom-app rules (personal US account, 18+, English, Keep Activity on) apply to it like any custom app.

How the Gemini and Grok connectors compare on trust, innovation, ratings and pricing

Which Gemini and Grok connectors are the most trusted in 2026?

Google Workspace is the most trusted connector in Gemini because Google builds and runs it, and xAI's built-in connectors (Gmail, Drive, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Salesforce) carry the same weight in Grok. Custom MCP connectors such as Storyflow, Notion's or Linear's run outside Google's and xAI's control, so trust rests on their own permissions. Storyflow lets you pick projects, choose read-only, and disconnect with access ending within a minute.

Which Gemini and Grok connectors have fair and transparent pricing?

Miro and Milanote publish clear prices, and Miro states its MCP cap of 100 calls a day on Free. Storyflow publishes three plans, Plus at $7.99 a month billed annually, Pro at $14 and Max at $39, with no MCP limit on any of them. It is paid-only during early access; its Free plan launches before the end of 2026 and invited collaborators join free now. Notion Plus is $10 per member a month billed annually.

Which Gemini and Grok connectors are the most innovative in 2026?

Storyflow and Canva do the most from a single prompt. Canva generates and edits finished designs through Gemini Spark. Storyflow builds a whole planning section on a board, such as a timeline table, a mind map, shot cards or a slide deck, and later reports what changed and who changed it. Figma's remote server also writes to the canvas, but Figma does not list Gemini or Grok as clients.

Which Gemini and Grok connectors have a strong history of consistent performance?

Google Workspace has the longest record: its Gemini apps for Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Keep and Tasks became generally available in May 2025. Grok's connectors launched in May 2026 and Gemini's custom apps are newer than Google's own apps, so every MCP connector here is young, Storyflow's included, which launched in October 2026. Judge the newer ones on a two-week trial with a real project rather than on tenure.

Which connector would you recommend for planning a creative project from Gemini or Grok?

Storyflow, when the plan has to be seen by a team or client: a launch board, a shoot plan, a content month or a pitch. It builds the plan on a canvas people open in a browser and reads it back next session. Choose Google Workspace if the plan is a document plus calendar invites, Notion if your team already runs its wiki there, and Canva when you need the finished design.

Which Gemini and Grok connectors are underrated?

Linear's read-only endpoint is underrated: an assistant can summarise a sprint with no chance of editing an issue. Storyflow's change history is the other. Its get_board_changes tool tells Gemini or Grok what changed on a board and who changed it, so a weekly catch-up becomes a precise answer. Google Workspace in Grok is easy to overlook too: one connector reads and writes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Calendar.

Quick Comparison

Four connectors cover most planning work from Gemini and Grok. Here is where each one fits and what it costs on top of your AI plan.

ToolBest ForAI FeaturesPrice
StoryflowVisual project plans on a boardCustom MCP app in Gemini and Grok; builds tables, mind maps, shot cards, decks; reads board changes$7.99 mo annual (paid-only today; Free plan due before the end of 2026)
Google WorkspaceDocs, email and calendarBuilt into Gemini; built-in Grok connector with read and writeIncluded with a Google account
NotionWikis and task databasesNative Grok connector; remote MCP serverFree plan; Plus $10/member/mo annual ($12 monthly)
LinearIssue trackingNative Grok connector; MCP server with read-only endpointNot stated on the MCP page

Key Takeaways

  • Storyflow is the strongest Gemini and Grok connector for planning creative work on a board: one address (mcp.storyflow.so/mcp) works as a Gemini custom app and a Grok custom connector, and it builds notes, tables, mind maps, shot cards, strip boards and slide decks you can open in a browser.
  • Gemini only takes custom apps on a personal Google account, in the US, for people 18 or over, in English, with Keep Activity turned on (Google's custom apps help page). Work and school accounts cannot add them today.
  • Grok's connectors, custom MCP servers included, are available to all Grok users according to xAI's connector docs. On Grok Business and Enterprise an admin adds the connector in the xAI console first.
  • Google Workspace wins on zero setup inside Gemini, and Grok has a built-in Google Workspace connector that reads and writes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Calendar (xAI launch post).
  • Notion and Linear are native Grok connectors with read and write access. In Gemini they only arrive as custom apps, and neither vendor lists the Gemini app among its documented clients.
  • Gemini asks you to confirm every write action a custom app makes, which slows bulk building but protects your boards.
  • Storyflow's MCP runs on your assistant's model, so it does not spend Storyflow AI credits. Plus, Pro and Max have no MCP limit; a free invited account gets 25 actions a week.
  • Storyflow is paid-only during early access, browser-only and has no calendar view. If you need a scheduler, a design editor or a code tracker, a different connector on this list is the better choice.

How We Ranked Gemini and Grok Connectors for Creative Planning

Most "best connectors" lists rank by how many apps a connector touches. That is the wrong test for planning work. A founder plotting a launch, an agency producer turning a brief into a shoot, or a creator mapping a month of content needs the assistant to do two things: read what already exists and leave behind a plan other people can open. So the criteria below are specific to that job, and the weights are published so you can re-score with your own priorities.

We checked every vendor's own documentation and pricing page on October 9, 2026. Where a vendor did not state something (a price in US dollars, a supported client, a plan limit), we left it out rather than guess.

Criterion 1: Works in both Gemini and Grok (25%)

Many people now keep both assistants open: Gemini for anything touching Google accounts, Grok for fast research. A connector you can add to both means one plan and two ways in. Full marks went to connectors with a documented path into both apps. Half marks went to connectors that are native in one and only reachable as an untested custom app in the other.

Criterion 2: Leaves a visible plan behind (25%)

This is the job. Can the assistant build structured output (a board, a page, a design, an issue list) that a client or teammate opens without the chat? A connector that only searches scores low here, however good the search is.

Criterion 3: Reads context back for the next turn (15%)

Planning is iterative. The second conversation should start from what the first one built. We scored whether the connector reads its own output back, including what changed since the last session.

Criterion 4: Permission scoping (15%)

Giving an assistant write access to everything is a risk. We scored whether you can limit a connection to chosen projects or folders, choose read-only, and remove access quickly.

Criterion 5: Setup friction (10%)

Built-in connectors in Gemini or Grok score highest. A custom MCP address with sign-in scores well. Anything that needs a token pasted by hand, a tunnel or an admin form scores lower.

Criterion 6: Cost on top of your AI plan (10%)

A connector is rarely free when you count the account it connects to. We scored the published price of the connected product and any usage caps on its MCP server.

What we did not weigh

We did not score model quality. The connector does not change how smart Gemini or Grok is. We also did not score email, calendar booking or code review on their own merits, because this list is about planning creative and project work.

Comparison Table: The 8 Best Gemini and Grok Connectors Side by Side

RankConnectorIn GeminiIn GrokBuilds a visible planRead-only optionScore /10

1

Storyflow

Custom app (MCP)

Custom connector (MCP)

Boards, tables, mind maps, shot cards, decks

Yes, chosen at sign-in

8.9

2

Google Workspace

Built in (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Keep, Tasks)

Built-in connector

Docs, Sheets, events

Depends on Google settings

8.6

3

Notion

Custom app only, Gemini not a listed client

Native connector

Pages and databases

Not documented for MCP

7.9

4

Linear

Custom app only (mcp.linear.app/mcp)

Native connector

Issues and projects

Yes, a read-only endpoint

7.4

5

Canva

Connected app in Gemini Spark

Not confirmed

Designs and exports

Not documented

7.1

6

Miro

Not a listed client

Not a listed client

Boards and diagrams

Not documented

6.6

7

Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Teams)

No

Built-in connectors

Documents, lists, pages

Write needs permission

6.4

8

Dropbox

Connected app in Gemini Spark

Not confirmed

Files only

Not documented

5.6

How the scores add up

Criterion (weight)StoryflowGoogle WorkspaceNotionLinear

Works in both apps (25%)

10

10

6

6

Leaves a visible plan (25%)

10

8

9

7

Reads context back (15%)

9

8

8

8

Permission scoping (15%)

9

7

7

9

Setup friction (10%)

6

10

8

7

Cost on top of AI plan (10%)

6

9

7

7

Storyflow loses points on setup (Gemini's custom-app rules are strict) and on cost (it is paid-only during early access). It wins on the two heaviest criteria. If setup matters more to you than a visual plan, move ten points of weight from criterion 2 to criterion 5 and Google Workspace takes first place. That is an honest result, not a flaw in the method.

Storyflow board with a team launch plan built from an AI assistant

Storyflow board with a team launch plan built from an AI assistant

Try it on a board

Connect Storyflow to Gemini or Grok

Add one address as a Gemini custom app or a Grok custom connector, pick the projects it may use, and ask your assistant to build your next launch, shoot or campaign plan on a board.

Set up the Storyflow MCPBrowse templates
Storyflow Mindmap template showing a central idea node branching into themed idea cards on an infinite canvas
Mindmap template →

The 8 Best Gemini and Grok Connectors, Reviewed

Each review below follows the same shape: the verdict, who it suits, what it costs, how it gets into Gemini and Grok, and its limits. Read the setup line carefully. The difference between "built in" and "custom app only" decides whether a connector works for you at all.

1. Storyflow

Storyflow logo
Storyflow MCP connectors building a board from an assistant

Verdict: the connector to add when you want Gemini or Grok to build a plan you can see and share, not just answer in chat.

Best for: founders, agency producers, marketing leads and creators who plan launches, shoots, campaigns and content months.

Pricing: Plus $7.99 a month billed annually ($9.99 monthly), Pro $14 ($19 monthly), Max $39 ($49 monthly), per the pricing page. Paid-only during early access; the Free plan launches before the end of 2026, and anyone a paid member invites to a board joins free now.

Storyflow is a visual project planning workspace: an infinite canvas board that holds notes, tables, documents, images, moodboards, storyboards, mind maps, kanban, charts and slide decks. Its MCP server lives at one address, mcp.storyflow.so/mcp, and speaks Streamable HTTP. In Gemini you add it under Settings, Connected Apps, Custom apps. In Grok you add it at grok.com/connectors as a Custom connector. Either way you sign in to Storyflow and choose what the assistant may touch.

The reason it ranks first is the second criterion. Ask Grok to "turn this brief into a launch board" and the server's build_section tool places a planning section on the board where it belongs. Other tools create mind maps, charts, diagrams, colour palettes, shot cards, strip boards, carousel pages and slide decks, or apply one of the board templates. What it adds appears live on a board you have open in another tab. Next week, get_board_summary and get_board_changes let the assistant read the board and see what your team changed, so the conversation picks up where the board is, not where the chat left off.

Permissions are chosen at sign-in: all projects or only the ones you pick, whether it may make changes (without that it can only read), and whether it may use documents outside projects. Disconnect in Settings, Connected apps, and access ends within a minute. Every connection expires after 30 days.

Strengths:

  • One address works in Gemini, Grok, Claude, ChatGPT and any client that adds a remote MCP server.
  • Builds structured artefacts (tables, mind maps, shot cards, strip boards, decks), not only notes.
  • Reads what changed on a board and who changed it.
  • Runs on your assistant's model, so it does not spend Storyflow AI credits. Plus, Pro and Max have no MCP limit.

Limitations:

  • Gemini's custom-app rules apply: personal Google account, US, 18 or over, English, Keep Activity on.
  • Gemini asks you to confirm each write, so a 12-step build means 12 confirmations.
  • A photo attached in chat does not reach Storyflow. The request_photo_upload tool gives you an upload link instead.
  • Browser only, no native mobile or desktop app, no offline mode and no calendar view.

Try it: follow the connect guide in the help center, then ask your assistant to list your projects. If that works, everything else will.

2. Google Workspace

Google Workspace logo

Verdict: the zero-setup choice in Gemini and a strong built-in connector in Grok, best when your plan is a document, a spreadsheet and some calendar events.

Best for: anyone whose work already runs in Gmail, Drive and Google Calendar.

Pricing: included with your Google account. Google AI plan prices vary by region, so check Google's AI plans page for yours.

In Gemini, Google's own apps are connected apps you switch on in Settings, Connected Apps, then call with @ in a prompt (Gemini Apps Help). Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Keep and Tasks reached general availability in the Gemini app in May 2025, per Google's Workspace Updates blog. In Grok, xAI's Google Workspace connector covers Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Calendar and can read and write emails, documents, spreadsheets and events.

It ranks second because it nearly ties on reach and wins on setup. It loses on the plan itself: a Doc is linear, a Sheet is a grid, and neither shows how a launch, a shoot or a campaign fits together. For a two-page brief, that is fine. For a 40-task launch with owners, assets and dependencies, you end up with three files and no picture.

Strengths:

  • Nothing to install in Gemini.
  • Built-in and maintained by xAI in Grok.
  • The longest track record on this list.

Limitations:

  • With Keep Activity off, connected apps are unavailable on gemini.google.com and iOS.
  • Work and school accounts depend on the administrator enabling connected apps.
  • Output is documents and cells, not a visual plan.

3. Notion

Notion logo

Verdict: the right connector if your team's wiki, task databases and meeting notes already live in Notion, and the best native Grok connector for documents.

Best for: startups and content teams that run their operating system in Notion.

Pricing: Notion has a Free plan with a Notion AI trial; Plus is $10 per member a month billed annually ($12 monthly) and Business, where full Notion Agent access sits, is $20 ($24 monthly), per Notion's pricing page.

Grok's launch post lists Notion as a native connector that searches pages, databases and wikis and edits them. In Gemini, Notion is not a connected app; you would add Notion's remote MCP server (mcp.notion.com/mcp, Streamable HTTP, OAuth) as a custom app. Notion's MCP setup guide documents clients such as Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and VS Code and does not list the Gemini app, so treat Gemini as untested.

Notion builds pages and databases well, which is why it scores high on the plan criterion. The gap is shape: a Notion database is a list of rows with views, so a moodboard, a shot list with frames or a deck stays in another tool.

Strengths:

  • Native in Grok with read and write.
  • Pages and databases are a solid home for written plans.
  • Workspace owners manage client access in Settings, Connections.

Limitations:

  • Gemini is not a documented client.
  • No board or canvas view for visual planning.
  • Full AI features sit on the Business plan.

4. Linear

Linear logo

Verdict: the best connector for turning a plan into tracked issues, and the cleanest read-only option on this list.

Best for: product teams and technical founders who run delivery in Linear.

Pricing: Linear does not state on its MCP page which plans include MCP access.

Linear is a native Grok connector that searches the backlog, summarises sprint progress, drafts updates and creates issues. For Gemini, Linear's MCP docs give mcp.linear.app/mcp over Streamable HTTP with OAuth 2.1 and dynamic client registration, which matches what Gemini's custom-app form expects. There is also a read-only endpoint at mcp.linear.app/mcp/readonly. Gemini is not on Linear's documented client list, so test it with a read before you trust a write.

Linear ranks below Notion because its output is issues, not plans. It is where a plan goes after you have agreed it.

Strengths:

  • Native in Grok.
  • A separate read-only endpoint.
  • Issues, projects and comments are first-class.

Limitations:

  • Not built for creative assets or visual plans.
  • Gemini is not a documented client.

5. Canva

Canva logo

Verdict: the connector to pick when the output is a finished design (a flyer, a social graphic, a deck) rather than a plan.

Best for: marketers and creators who already design in Canva.

Pricing: Canva's MCP tools for generating, editing, searching, exporting and commenting work on all plans; resizing, autofill and brand kits need Canva Pro or above (Canva MCP access docs).

Google added Canva as a connected app for Gemini Spark in its June 2026 Spark update, with designing custom flyers as the example. Canva also runs a remote MCP server that generates designs, edits them, exports to PDF, PNG, PPTX and MP4 and adds comments (Canva MCP docs). For Grok, we could not confirm a path: Canva requires each AI client to be a recognised OAuth client, and some must join an allowlist through a review form.

Canva ranks fifth because it makes the deliverable, not the plan. Use it at the end of a project, after the board says what to make.

Strengths:

  • Connected app in Gemini Spark.
  • Creates real, exportable designs.
  • Core MCP features on every Canva plan.

Limitations:

  • No confirmed Grok path.
  • Spark access is tied to Google's AI plans; the custom-app help page itself names no plan.
  • A design is not a project plan.

6. Miro

Miro logo

Verdict: a capable canvas MCP for teams already in Miro, held back by an unlisted path into Gemini and Grok.

Best for: product and workshop teams with existing Miro boards.

Pricing: Free, Starter $8 and Business $20 per member per month billed yearly. The Free plan includes 100 MCP calls per day and 3 editable boards (Miro pricing).

Miro's MCP server summarises and searches boards, builds boards, generates diagrams and acts on comments, and it works on every Miro plan. Its documented clients are Claude, ChatGPT and Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, Gemini CLI and VS Code. The Gemini app and Grok are not listed, and Miro's page does not show the server address, so adding it as a custom app means hunting for the endpoint.

Strengths:

  • Works on the Free plan, with a published daily cap.
  • Builds boards and diagrams.
  • Gemini CLI is a documented client.

Limitations:

  • Gemini app and Grok are not documented clients.
  • Free boards beyond the 3 most recent are read-only.
  • Built for workshops more than for production or launch planning.

7. Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook and Teams)

Microsoft logo

Verdict: the Grok answer for teams on Microsoft 365; not available in Gemini.

Best for: agencies and companies whose files and calendars sit in SharePoint and Outlook.

Pricing: included with your Microsoft 365 account.

xAI maintains built-in connectors for SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook Mail and Calendar and Microsoft Teams. The SharePoint connector creates and edits documents, lists and pages once write permissions are enabled, and the Outlook connector drafts emails and creates calendar invites. On Grok Business, an admin provisions these in the xAI console, and Microsoft services may need admin consent (xAI connector management).

It scores low on reach because Gemini has no Microsoft connector. It earns a place because for many agencies, "where are the files" is the first question in any plan.

Strengths:

  • Built-in and maintained by xAI.
  • Write access to SharePoint documents and pages.

Limitations:

  • Grok only.
  • Output is documents and lists, not a visual plan.

8. Dropbox

Dropbox logo

Verdict: useful for finding and sharing files from Gemini Spark; not a planning connector.

Best for: photographers, video teams and studios with assets in Dropbox.

Pricing: included with your Dropbox account.

Dropbox is one of the connected apps Google added to Gemini Spark in mid-2026, for accessing and sharing files. We could not confirm a Grok connector for Dropbox on xAI's documentation.

Strengths:

  • Added by Google as a Gemini Spark connected app.
  • Good for pulling references and deliverables into a conversation.

Limitations:

  • Files only, no plan.
  • No confirmed Grok path.

Gemini vs Grok vs ChatGPT vs Claude: How Custom Connectors Differ

The same MCP address behaves differently depending on which assistant you plug it into. The rules below decide whether you can connect at all.

AssistantWhere you add itWho can add a custom connectorAdmin step on business plansWrite confirmations

Gemini app

Settings, Connected Apps, Custom apps

Personal account, US, 18+, English, Keep Activity on

Work and school accounts not supported

Gemini asks you to confirm each write

Grok

grok.com/connectors, New Connector, Custom

All Grok users per xAI docs

Business and Enterprise: admin adds it in console.x.ai

Not documented

ChatGPT (web)

Developer mode, then chatgpt.com/plugins

Plus or above

Admin turns on Developer mode on Business and Enterprise

Depends on client

Claude

Customize, Connectors, Add custom connector

All plans; Free allows one custom connector

Depends on plan

Depends on client

Gemini is the strictest, and the reason is account type

Google's custom apps help page lists four gates: 18 or over and in the US, a personal Google account, Keep Activity on, and English. Custom apps are added on the web only, then work in both the Gemini web and mobile apps. Google also warns that it does not control or secure third-party MCP servers and that Gemini may share chat content with the app. That warning is about every custom app, not one vendor.

Grok is the most open, and the reason is the bring-your-own model

xAI launched connectors in May 2026 with a "Bring Your Own MCP" option for any remote server. The connector docs say the server must be reachable over the public internet; a local server needs a tunnel. Storyflow's server is public, so no tunnel is needed.

ChatGPT and Claude have been at this longer

Claude and ChatGPT shipped custom connectors before Gemini and Grok did. If you are choosing between assistants rather than connectors, see our best ChatGPT connectors and best Claude connectors rankings. The Storyflow address and permissions are identical in all four.

What "custom app" means for safety

A built-in connector is run by Google or xAI. A custom one is run by its vendor. The question to ask is not "is this connector official" but "what can it touch, and can I take that away in one click". For Storyflow, the answers are: the projects you picked, changes only if you allowed them, and Settings, Connected apps to remove it.

How to Connect Storyflow to Gemini and Grok, Step by Step

Both setups take under five minutes. The full reference, including Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code, is the Storyflow MCP help article.

Connect Storyflow to the Gemini app

  1. On a computer, open gemini.google.com and confirm you are on a personal Google account with Keep Activity on.
  2. Click Settings, then Connected Apps.
  3. Under Custom apps, click Add a custom app.
  4. Paste mcp.storyflow.so/mcp with https:// in front, click Next, and sign in to Storyflow when asked.
  5. Choose your projects, whether Gemini may make changes, and whether it may use documents outside projects.
  6. In a new chat, type @ and pick Storyflow, then ask it to list your projects.

Connect Storyflow to Grok

  1. Open grok.com/connectors.
  2. Click New Connector, then Custom.
  3. Paste the address and sign in to Storyflow when asked.
  4. Pick projects and permissions the same way.
  5. On Grok Business or Enterprise, ask your admin to add it first in console.x.ai under Grok Business, Connectors, Add Connector, Other.

Connect Storyflow to Gemini CLI

If you work in a terminal, Gemini CLI takes remote servers directly. Run: gemini mcp add --transport http storyflow https://mcp.storyflow.so/mcp, then type /mcp auth storyflow inside Gemini CLI to sign in. The syntax comes from the Gemini CLI MCP docs.

Choose the permissions that match the job

JobProjectsAllow changesDocuments outside projects

Weekly status questions

All

No

Off

Building one launch board

Only the launch project

Yes

Off

Turning private drafts into a plan

Only the target project

Yes

On

A client's assistant reading your plan

Only the shared project

No

Off

Start read-only for a week if you are unsure. Reconnecting with changes allowed takes a minute.

A Worked Example: Planning a Six-Week Product Launch From Grok and Gemini

A founder of a four-person skincare brand is launching a new serum in six weeks. The brief lives in a Google Doc, the creator list in a Sheet, and the team argues in a group chat. Here is how the plan gets built with two assistants and one board. The scenario and action counts are illustrative, not measured.

Week 0, day 1: the brief becomes a board

In Grok, with the Google Workspace and Storyflow connectors added, the founder asks Grok to read the brief from Drive and build a launch board in the "Serum launch" project. Grok calls list_projects (1 action), list_boards (1 action), then build_section four times: goals and audience, a 6-week timeline table, a channel plan and an open-questions group (4 actions). It adds a mind map of the three message pillars (1 action) and a 5-slide pitch deck for the retailer meeting (1 action). That is 8 Storyflow actions for the first build.

Week 0, day 2: the team reacts on the board

The co-founder moves two tasks, renames a pillar and adds a note about a packaging delay. Nobody touches the chat.

Week 1: Gemini catches up

In the Gemini mobile app (a custom app added on the web carries over), the founder types "@Storyflow what changed on the serum launch board in the last week, and who changed it?" Gemini calls get_board_changes (1 action) and answers with the three edits and their authors. She asks it to add the packaging delay to the timeline table; Gemini asks her to confirm the write, she confirms (1 action).

The numbers

StepAssistantStoryflow actionsWhat appears on the board

Read brief, build board

Grok

8

4 sections, mind map, 5-slide deck

Weekly catch-up (x6)

Gemini

6

Nothing new, answers in chat

Timeline updates (x6)

Gemini

6

Edited table rows, kept in date order by hand

Content plan for 24 posts

Grok

3

Table of 24 posts, carousel pages for 4

Retailer deck revisions

Grok

4

Updated slides

Total over 6 weeks

Both

27

One board the whole team uses

On Plus, Pro or Max there is no MCP limit, so the count does not matter. On a free invited account, the limit is 25 actions a week, and these 27 are spread over six weeks: the first build is the heaviest step at 8, so no single week comes close, but the whole plan would not fit in one week. The counts above are what this plan needs if each request maps to one tool call; a longer conversation with more reads uses more.

What went right and what did not

The board held one version of the plan, and both assistants read from it. What it did not do: post the 24 social posts (Storyflow does not publish or schedule) or show a calendar (dates live in table cells). The founder scheduled the posts in her social tool from the table.

Prompts You Can Copy for Gemini and Grok

Each prompt assumes Storyflow is connected with changes allowed for the named project. Replace the words in capitals.

JobPrompt

First look

List my Storyflow projects and the boards in PROJECT. Tell me what each board is for in one line.

Brief to board

Read the brief I pasted and build a launch board in PROJECT: goals, audience, a 6-week timeline table, channels and open questions.

Catch-up

What changed on BOARD in the last week, and who changed it? List anything that moves a deadline.

Content month

Build a table of 20 posts for MONTH on BOARD: date, platform, hook, format, asset needed, owner. Keep rows in date order.

Shoot plan

From the references on BOARD, create shot cards for 12 setups and a strip board for a two-day shoot.

Pitch deck

Create a 6-slide deck on BOARD that pitches the three concepts to CLIENT, one slide each plus problem, plan and ask.

Mind map

Make a mind map of our three message pillars with four supporting points each.

Clean-up

Group the loose notes on BOARD into walls by theme and move the open questions next to the timeline.

Read-only audit

Without changing anything, list every task on BOARD that has no owner or no date.

In Gemini, start each prompt with @Storyflow so it picks the right app. In Grok, name Storyflow in the first sentence when you have several connectors on.

What It Costs: Storyflow and Each Connector on Top of Your AI Plan

Your Gemini or Grok subscription is a separate cost; Google and xAI prices vary by region and plan, so check them where you live.

ConnectorEntry price for the connected productFree optionMCP or connector cap

Storyflow

$7.99 a month billed annually (Plus)

Coming late 2026 (invited collaborators join free now)

None on Plus, Pro, Max; 25 actions a week on a free invited account

Google Workspace

Included with a Google account

Yes

Not stated

Notion

$10 per member a month billed annually (Plus)

Yes, with an AI trial

Not stated

Linear

Not stated on the MCP page

Not stated

Not stated

Canva

Core MCP tools on all plans

Yes

Not stated

Miro

$8 per member a month billed yearly (Starter)

Yes, 3 editable boards

100 MCP calls a day on Free

Microsoft 365

Your existing licence

Not checked

Not stated

Dropbox

Your existing plan

Not checked

Not stated

Milanote (not connectable)

$9.99 a month billed annually

Yes, 100 notes, images or links and 10 uploads

No MCP or AI listed

A solo founder vs a team of four

A solo founder on Storyflow Plus pays $7.99 a month billed annually for the board and connects it to the Gemini or Grok account she already pays for. A team of four does not need four Storyflow plans to work on the same board: anyone a paid member invites to a board joins free and edits in real time. Max at $39 a month adds a team workspace with roles and permissions when the team wants shared ownership.

Where the real cost hides

The expensive part is not the connector. It is the re-explaining. Every time a plan lives only in a chat, the next conversation starts from zero. A connector that reads the plan back is what saves the hour.

Which Connector for Which Person

Founder or small business owner

Top picks: Storyflow and Google Workspace. The launch plan goes on a board, the paperwork stays in Docs and Gmail. Grok reads both in one conversation.

Agency producer or account lead

Top picks: Storyflow and Microsoft 365 (on Grok) or Google Workspace (on Gemini). Client briefs arrive as files; the production plan, shot list and pitch deck belong on a board the client can open with no account and sign in to comment on.

Marketing or brand lead

Top picks: Storyflow and Canva. Plan the campaign and the content month on the board, then make the finished graphics in Canva through Gemini Spark.

Creator who posts on social or YouTube

Top picks: Storyflow and Google Workspace. A 20-post table and a video plan on a board, with scripts in Docs. See how creators plan with AI tools for the wider stack.

Product or startup team

Top picks: Notion and Linear. The wiki and the backlog already live there, and both are native in Grok. Add Storyflow when a launch needs a visual plan.

Photographer or video producer

Top picks: Storyflow and Dropbox. Shot cards and strip boards on the board, raw files in Dropbox. Our AI storyboarding tools list compares the tools that draw storyboard frames.

Decision Rules: Picking Your Gemini and Grok Connectors

If you use a work or school Google account

Gemini will not take custom apps. Use Grok for Storyflow, Notion and Linear, and use Gemini for Google's own apps only.

If you are outside the US

Gemini's custom apps are US-only today. Use Grok, Claude or ChatGPT for MCP connectors and come back to Gemini when Google widens access.

If your plan is mostly words

Use Google Workspace or Notion. A two-page brief does not need a canvas.

If your plan has to be seen by a client or crew

Use Storyflow. A board with the timeline, references, shot cards and deck beside each other is what a client opens and understands in a minute. Read our guide to AI tools that generate project boards for the comparison against non-connector options.

If you only need to read

Connect Storyflow without changes, or use Linear's read-only endpoint. Read-only connections cannot break anything.

If you need the finished asset

Use Canva for designs. Storyflow plans the asset; Canva makes it.

Common Mistakes When Adding Connectors to Gemini and Grok

Mistake 1: Turning on every connector at once

With six connectors on, Grok has to guess which one you mean. Name the app in the first sentence ("In Storyflow, ...") or keep only the two you need for the session.

Mistake 2: Granting all projects for a one-board job

Pick the one project. If the assistant misreads a request, the damage stays inside it.

Mistake 3: Expecting a photo in chat to land on the board

Images you attach in Gemini or Grok stay in the chat. Ask for an upload link; Storyflow's request_photo_upload tool returns one.

Mistake 4: Turning off Keep Activity and wondering why Gemini lost the app

Google is explicit: custom apps are unavailable when Keep Activity is off. If Storyflow disappears from @, check that setting first.

Mistake 5: Asking the assistant to "sort by date"

Storyflow's canvas cannot sort a table. Ask for rows kept in date order when they are written, and re-ask when dates change.

Mistake 6: Treating the 30-day expiry as a bug

Every Storyflow connection ends after 30 days by design. When Gemini or Grok asks you to sign in again, do it and re-pick your projects.

Mistake 7: Running the whole plan in chat and saving nothing

The chat scrolls away. Ask the assistant to put the result on the board before you close the tab, so the next session starts from it. Our post on why ChatGPT loses the plot explains the same failure in long conversations.

When Storyflow Is Not the Right Choice

Storyflow ranks first for planning creative work on a board from Gemini or Grok. It is the wrong connector in these cases, and the right one is named for each.

You need a calendar or a scheduler

Storyflow has no calendar tool or calendar view, and it does not publish or schedule posts. Use Google Calendar through Gemini or Grok's Google Workspace connector, and your social scheduler for posting.

You track engineering work

Use Linear. Issues, cycles and projects belong in a tracker built for them.

You want a finished design

Use Canva through Gemini Spark. Storyflow builds the plan and the deck, but it is not a design editor.

You need native apps or offline access

Storyflow runs in the browser only. If your team works on planes and in basements, choose a tool with an offline mode.

You cannot add custom apps in Gemini and do not use Grok

If you are on a work Google account and Gemini is your only assistant, a custom connector is not available to you yet. Use Google's built-in apps until your admin or Google changes that.

You need formal approvals, contracts or invoicing

Storyflow does not do versioned approvals with an approve button, call-sheet confirmations, contracts or invoices. Pair it with the tool your studio already uses for those.

You want it free today

Storyflow is paid-only during early access. Its Free plan launches before the end of 2026. Until then, the genuinely free path is being invited to a board by a paid member.

Honorable Mentions

Figma

Figma's remote MCP server (mcp.figma.com/mcp) is available on all seats and plans, reads design context and, in beta, writes to Figma Design and FigJam (Figma's MCP guide). It did not make the list because Figma's documented clients do not include the Gemini app or Grok.

GitHub

GitHub is a native Grok connector for searching code and summarising pull requests. It is excellent for engineering and outside the scope of creative planning.

Salesforce

A built-in Grok connector maintained by xAI. Useful for sales teams, not for planning a shoot or a launch.

Milanote

Milanote is a well-loved board for creative work, with a Free plan of 100 notes, images or links and 10 uploads, and a paid plan at $9.99 a month billed annually (Milanote plans). Its plans page lists no AI features, MCP server or assistant connector, so Gemini and Grok cannot reach it today. If you compare the two boards directly, see our Milanote alternatives.

A Template: Your First Board Built From Gemini or Grok

Paste this into either assistant with Storyflow connected and changes allowed for one project. It builds a reusable planning board in about eight actions.

SectionWhat the assistant buildsTool it uses

Goal and audience

Two notes: one-sentence goal, one-paragraph audience

create_whiteboard_element

Timeline

A table: week, milestone, owner, due date, status

build_section

Deliverables

A table: item, format, owner, date

build_section

Ideas

A mind map with three pillars

create_mindmap

Open questions

A group of notes, one question each

build_section

Pitch

A 5-slide deck: problem, idea, plan, cost, ask

create_deck

The prompt: "In Storyflow, in PROJECT, build a planning board for GOAL with these six sections: goal and audience, a timeline table, a deliverables table, a mind map of three idea pillars, an open-questions group and a 5-slide pitch deck. Keep table rows in date order. Tell me what you could not fill and list it under open questions."

The last sentence matters. It makes the assistant name its gaps instead of inventing them. For written briefs to feed into this template, the AI creative brief generator is a starting point, and the AI project plan generator shows the same plan built inside Storyflow's own AI.

The Bottom Line

If you plan creative work and keep Gemini or Grok open all day, connect Storyflow first and Google Workspace second. Storyflow turns the conversation into a board your team and clients can open, and it reads that board back so the next conversation starts from the plan, not from zero. Google Workspace covers the documents and calendar around it with no setup. Add Notion or Linear if your team already lives there.

Take your next launch, shoot or campaign, connect Storyflow at storyflow.so/mcp, and ask your assistant to build the board from the brief you already have. Within one week you will know whether the plan holds better on a board than in a chat.

FAQ: Gemini and Grok Connectors in 2026

What is the best Gemini connector for project planning?

Storyflow is the best Gemini connector for planning creative projects visually. Added as a custom app, it lets Gemini build a launch, campaign or shoot plan on a board with tables, mind maps, shot cards and a deck, then read the board back later. If your plan is a document and some calendar events, Google Workspace is simpler, since Gmail, Drive, Docs and Calendar are built into Gemini and need no setup.

How do I add a custom app to Gemini?

Open gemini.google.com on a computer, click Settings, then Connected Apps, and under Custom apps click Add a custom app. Paste the server's MCP address, click Next and sign in to the service. Google requires a personal account, US location, age 18 or over, English and Keep Activity on. Once added on the web, the custom app also works in the Gemini mobile app.

Can I use Gemini custom apps on a work or school account?

Not today. Google's help page says custom apps are not available when you sign in with a work or school Google account. Workspace users can still use Google's own apps in Gemini if their administrator allows connected apps. For third-party MCP connectors on a work account, use Grok, Claude or ChatGPT instead, or ask your administrator to watch for changes.

How do I add a custom connector to Grok?

Go to grok.com/connectors, click New Connector, choose Custom, paste the MCP server address and complete sign-in. Grok then discovers the server's tools and uses them in conversations. xAI's docs say connectors are available to all Grok users. On Grok Business and Enterprise, an admin must first add the connector in the xAI console under Grok Business, Connectors.

Does Grok need a paid plan for connectors?

No, according to xAI's connector documentation, which says connectors are available to all Grok users. Grok's business plans add one step: on Grok Business and Enterprise, an admin provisions each connector in the xAI console before members can link their accounts. The Storyflow side still needs a Storyflow account, either a paid plan or an invitation from a paid member.

Which built-in connectors does Grok have?

xAI's docs list Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Drive, OneDrive, Outlook Mail and Calendar, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and Salesforce as built-in connectors maintained by xAI. The May 2026 launch post adds Google Workspace, Notion, GitHub and Linear. Anything else, Storyflow included, connects through the Custom option with an MCP server address.

Does Gemini work with MCP servers?

Yes. Gemini's custom apps are MCP servers: you add one by its MCP server URL, and Google requires the server to follow standard MCP specifications. If the server does not support Dynamic Client Registration, you enter credentials under Advanced features. Developers can also add remote MCP servers to Gemini CLI with gemini mcp add and the http transport.

Is Storyflow's MCP connector free?

Not on its own. Storyflow is paid-only during early access, starting at $7.99 a month billed annually, and Plus, Pro and Max have no MCP limit. A free account, which today means one invited by a paid member, gets 25 actions a week, resetting Monday UTC. The MCP runs on Gemini's or Grok's model, so it does not use Storyflow AI credits.

Can Gemini or Grok delete things on my Storyflow board?

Only if you allow changes when you sign in. With changes allowed, the assistant can edit and move elements, remove deck slides and clear table cells, so it is not read-only. Without changes, it can only read. Gemini also asks you to confirm each write action. Limit the connection to the projects you need to keep any mistake contained.

What can the Storyflow connector build from Gemini or Grok?

It builds notes, groups, tables, charts, diagrams, mind maps, documents, slide decks, shot cards, strip boards, colour palettes and carousel pages, and it applies board templates. It places each piece on the board where it belongs, and what it adds appears live on a board you have open. It also reads boards, documents and files, and reports what changed and who changed it.

Does Storyflow show the board inside Gemini or Grok?

The show_board tool draws the live board inside clients that support MCP apps. In any other client, keep the Storyflow board open in a browser tab, where every element the assistant adds appears live as it works. Either way, the board itself is the record your collaborators open; the chat is only the way the plan got there.

How is a Gemini connector different from a Gemini extension?

Connected Apps is Google's current name for what started as Gemini extensions: Google's own apps and a list of partner apps such as Spotify and WhatsApp. Custom apps are newer and different. They are any MCP server you add by URL, run by their vendor rather than Google, with stricter rules on account type, location, age and language.

Can I use the same Storyflow connection in Gemini and Grok at once?

Yes. Each assistant signs in separately and gets its own connection, and both read and write the same boards. You can scope them differently, for example Grok with changes allowed on one project and Gemini read-only on all of them. Each connection appears in Storyflow's Settings, Connected apps, where you can remove either one.

Why does Gemini keep asking me to confirm actions?

Google designed it that way. The custom apps help page says Gemini requires manual confirmation for write actions, because a third-party server can change data outside Google. Reads go through without a prompt. For a big build, ask Gemini to describe the full plan first, then confirm the writes in one sitting, or run the build in Grok and use Gemini for questions.

What happens when a Storyflow connection expires?

After 30 days, the connection ends and the assistant asks you to sign in again. Your boards are untouched; only the permission lapses. Sign in, pick your projects and choose changes again. If you remove the assistant in Settings, Connected apps, access ends within a minute instead of waiting for the expiry.

Table of Contents

Start from a template
Browse all templates →

Templates to check out for this topic

Storyflow Mindmap template showing a central idea node branching into themed idea cards on an infinite canvas
MindmapUse this template →
Story Plan template in Storyflow showing premise, three-act columns, story beats, and character arc blocks on an infinite canvas
Story PlanUse this template →
Marketing campaign plan on the Storyflow canvas with goals, audience, channels, assets, and a timeline laid out together
Marketing CampaignUse this template →

Templates you can use in Storyflow

Every Storyflow board starts from real structure and an AI that reads the whole canvas. Open one of these templates and make it yours.

Storyflow Mindmap template showing a central idea node branching into themed idea cards on an infinite canvas

Mindmap

Use this template →

Story Plan template in Storyflow showing premise, three-act columns, story beats, and character arc blocks on an infinite canvas

Story Plan

Use this template →

Marketing campaign plan on the Storyflow canvas with goals, audience, channels, assets, and a timeline laid out together

Marketing Campaign

Use this template →

Brand Strategy template in Storyflow showing mission, positioning, audience, voice, and visual direction sections on an infinite canvas

Brand Strategy

Use this template →

Storyboard template on the Storyflow canvas showing a grid of shot frames with image areas, action captions, and shot detail notes

Storyboard

Use this template →

Second Brain template in Storyflow showing notes, saved links, and idea clusters connected on an infinite canvas

Second Brain

Use this template →

Browse all templates →

See Storyflow in Action

A visual AI workspace where every feature lives inside one canvas. No tab-switching, no context lost.

Build your entire board from a single message

Type what you need in the AI chat at the bottom of your canvas. The AI adds cards, headings, and structure directly onto your board.

Use expert frameworks as AI context

Type @ in the AI chat and choose any Tactic. The AI tailors every response to that framework instead of giving generic advice.

Turn your board into a mind map in seconds

Ask the AI to restructure your canvas as a mindmap. It connects your ideas into a visual hierarchy so you can see how everything relates.

Why Storyflow Exists

Storyflow actually began as a personal tool while working on creative and research projects.

We kept running into the same problem: ideas were scattered everywhere: notes, documents, and whiteboards.

Nothing helped us see how everything connected.

So we started building a workspace designed around how ideas actually grow.

→ Read how Storyflow was created
Storyflow Team - Product & Research Team

Storyflow Team

Product & Research Team

Published: 2026-10-09

Extremely simple, seriously capable

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