How to add Canva MCP Server to Windsurf
Canva's hosted MCP server: agents create, edit, search and export Canva designs via OAuth at mcp.canva.com/mcp. Paste the config into ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json and restart Windsurf.
Last updated June 14, 2026 · 0★ · http · oauth · official
Windsurf config for Canva MCP Server
npx -y mcp-remote@latest https://mcp.canva.com/mcp{
"mcpServers": {
"canva-mcp-server": {
"serverUrl": "https://mcp.canva.com/mcp"
}
}
}Remote server — no local install needed. Restart the client after saving the config.
Setup steps
- 1Open Windsurf → Cascade → the hammer/MCP icon → Configure (or edit ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json).
- 2Paste the Canva MCP Server config below.
- 3Fill in placeholder secrets, then save.
- 4Click Refresh in the MCP panel.
- 5Canva MCP Server's tools become available to Cascade.
Before you start
- A Canva account (any plan)
- An MCP client with remote-server support (Claude, Claude Code, Cursor), or Node.js for the npx mcp-remote bridge
- For third-party integrations embedding the server: a redirect URI registered via Canva's waitlist form
Security
Hosted by Canva with OAuth; the scopes you approve at connect time cover design content read/write, assets, folders, brand templates and comments — so an agent can modify and export real designs in your account. No local credentials are stored, and access can be revoked from your Canva account's connected-apps settings.
Canva MCP Server + Windsurf FAQ
Where is the Windsurf config file?
Windsurf reads MCP servers from ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json. Paste the Canva MCP Server config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.
Is Canva MCP Server safe to use with Windsurf?
Hosted by Canva with OAuth; the scopes you approve at connect time cover design content read/write, assets, folders, brand templates and comments — so an agent can modify and export real designs in your account. No local credentials are stored, and access can be revoked from your Canva account's connected-apps settings.
Is the Canva MCP server free to use?
Yes — it works with any Canva account, including free plans, and the server itself costs nothing. Standard Canva plan limits still apply to what you create (premium templates and brand-kit features follow your subscription), and per-tool rate limits are documented on Canva's developer site.
What's the difference between the Canva MCP server and the Canva Dev MCP server?
They're different products. This one (mcp.canva.com/mcp, hosted, OAuth) operates on your actual designs — create, edit, search, export. The Dev MCP server (`npx @canva/cli@latest mcp`, local stdio) is a documentation assistant for developers building Canva apps against the Apps SDK and never touches your design content.
Which clients can connect, and do I need to install anything?
Clients with native remote MCP support — Claude, Claude Code, Cursor — just need the URL https://mcp.canva.com/mcp and an OAuth login; nothing is installed. Stdio-only clients (e.g. VS Code) bridge through the officially documented `npx -y mcp-remote@latest https://mcp.canva.com/mcp` config, which requires Node.js.