diff --git a/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/api/menu.py b/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/api/menu.py
index 0cb7edd40d..e3ef50cdc0 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/api/menu.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/hosts/maya/api/menu.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import json
 import logging
 from functools import partial
 
@@ -214,8 +215,18 @@ def install(project_settings):
             )
             return
 
-        config = project_settings["maya"]["scriptsmenu"]["definition"]
-        _menu = project_settings["maya"]["scriptsmenu"]["name"]
+        menu_settings = project_settings["maya"]["scriptsmenu"]
+        menu_name = menu_settings["name"]
+        config = menu_settings["definition"]
+
+        if menu_settings.get("definition_type") == "definition_json":
+            data = menu_settings["definition_json"]
+            try:
+                config = json.loads(data)
+            except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+                print("Skipping studio menu, error decoding JSON definition.")
+                log.error(exc)
+                return
 
         if not config:
             log.warning("Skipping studio menu, no definition found.")
@@ -223,8 +234,8 @@ def install(project_settings):
 
         # run the launcher for Maya menu
         studio_menu = launchformaya.main(
-            title=_menu.title(),
-            objectName=_menu.title().lower().replace(" ", "_")
+            title=menu_name.title(),
+            objectName=menu_name.title().lower().replace(" ", "_")
         )
 
         # apply configuration
diff --git a/server_addon/maya/server/settings/scriptsmenu.py b/server_addon/maya/server/settings/scriptsmenu.py
index d01dff1621..7b0ba7d831 100644
--- a/server_addon/maya/server/settings/scriptsmenu.py
+++ b/server_addon/maya/server/settings/scriptsmenu.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+import json
+
+from pydantic import validator
+from ayon_server.exceptions import BadRequestException
 from ayon_server.settings import BaseSettingsModel, SettingsField
 
 
@@ -14,19 +18,60 @@ class ScriptsmenuSubmodel(BaseSettingsModel):
     )
 
 
+_definition_mode_type = [
+    {"value": "definition", "label": "Menu Builder"},
+    {"value": "definition_json", "label": "Raw JSON (advanced)"}
+]
+
+
 class ScriptsmenuModel(BaseSettingsModel):
+    """Add a custom scripts menu to Maya"""
     _isGroup = True
 
     name: str = SettingsField(title="Menu Name")
+
+    definition_type: str = SettingsField(
+        title="Define menu using",
+        description="Choose the way to define the custom scripts menu "
+                    "via settings",
+        enum_resolver=lambda: _definition_mode_type,
+        conditionalEnum=True,
+        default="definition"
+    )
     definition: list[ScriptsmenuSubmodel] = SettingsField(
         default_factory=list,
         title="Menu Definition",
         description="Scriptmenu Items Definition"
     )
+    definition_json: str = SettingsField(
+        "[]", title="Menu Definition JSON", widget="textarea",
+        description=(
+            "Define the custom tools menu using a JSON list. "
+            "For more details on the JSON format, see "
+            "[here](https://github.com/Colorbleed/scriptsmenu?tab=readme-ov-file#configuration)."  # noqa: E501
+        )
+    )
+
+    @validator("definition_json")
+    def validate_json(cls, value):
+        if not value.strip():
+            return "[]"
+        try:
+            converted_value = json.loads(value)
+            success = isinstance(converted_value, list)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            success = False
+
+        if not success:
+            raise BadRequestException(
+                "The definition can't be parsed as json list object"
+            )
+        return value
 
 
 DEFAULT_SCRIPTSMENU_SETTINGS = {
     "name": "Custom Tools",
+    "definition_type": "definition",
     "definition": [
         {
             "type": "action",
@@ -39,5 +84,6 @@ DEFAULT_SCRIPTSMENU_SETTINGS = {
                 "shader"
             ]
         }
-    ]
+    ],
+    "definition_json": "[]"
 }
diff --git a/server_addon/maya/server/version.py b/server_addon/maya/server/version.py
index e332ce4b6e..75b463f198 100644
--- a/server_addon/maya/server/version.py
+++ b/server_addon/maya/server/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """Package declaring addon version."""
-__version__ = "0.1.14"
+__version__ = "0.1.15"