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Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started​

What is MCPBundles?​

MCPBundles connects your AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, etc.) to real-world tools and APIs. Instead of adding 50 individual tools, you add one bundle URL and get access to all its tools at once.

Do I need an account?​

Yes, to create and use bundles you need a free account. This lets you:

  • Connect provider credentials (API keys, OAuth)
  • Enable bundles on your account
  • Create custom bundles
  • Track your usage

Which AI tools can I use MCPBundles with?​

Any AI tool that supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP):

  • ChatGPT (with connectors)
  • Claude Desktop
  • Claude Code (CLI)
  • Cursor
  • VS Code Copilot
  • Raycast
  • Windsurf
  • Gemini Code
  • Goose
  • Any MCP-compatible client

See our Integration Guides for setup instructions.

Bundles​

What's the difference between a bundle and a tool?​

  • Bundle: A collection of related tools (like an app)
  • Tool: A single action (like a function in an app)

Example: "Marketing Suite" bundle contains 12 tools like list_campaigns, create_contact, generate_email, etc.

Can I use multiple bundles at once?​

Yes! Enable as many bundles as you want. Your AI sees all tools from all enabled bundles. They're organized by name in your AI client.

Can I create my own bundles?​

Yes. Go to Dashboard → Bundles → Create Bundle. Add existing tools or create new ones. Publish when ready. You can keep bundles private or share them publicly.

How do I share my bundle with others?​

  1. Publish your bundle
  2. Share the bundle's URL or slug
  3. Others can find it in the marketplace
  4. They enable it and connect their own credentials

Your credentials are never shared—each user connects their own API keys.

What does "Bundle Readiness" mean?​

It shows whether you can use the bundle right now:

  • Operational (Green): All providers connected, works fully
  • Partial (Yellow): Some providers missing, some tools work
  • Blocked (Red): No providers connected, nothing works
  • Unknown (Gray): You haven't enabled this bundle yet

What's the difference between MCP URL and .mcpb files?​

Two ways to add the same bundle to your AI:

MCP URL Method (Universal):

  • Copy: https://mcp.mcpbundles.com/bundle/your-bundle
  • Paste into any MCP-compatible AI client
  • Works everywhere: ChatGPT, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, etc.

.mcpb Extension File (Claude Desktop Only):

  • Download a .mcpb file from the bundle page
  • Double-click to install in Claude Desktop
  • One-click installation experience

Both connect to the same cloud-hosted bundle on MCPBundles. The .mcpb file is just a convenient installer that wraps the MCP URL.

What's a ".mcpb file" and how does MCPBundles relate to it?​

Background: Anthropic introduced .mcpb as a standard packaging format for distributing MCP servers—think of it like an installer file.

How MCPBundles uses it:

  • Your bundles are cloud-hosted on MCPBundles.com
  • We generate .mcpb extension files for easy installation
  • The .mcpb file contains a lightweight bridge client
  • It connects your AI to our cloud service (not a local server)

Simple analogy:

  • MCPBundles = The streaming service (like Netflix)
  • Bundle = A channel or collection (like "Action Movies")
  • .mcpb file = The app installer that connects you to the service

Different from: Local/standalone MCP servers that run entirely on your machine. MCPBundles bundles are cloud-hosted for easier management, credential security, and automatic updates.

Credentials & Security​

How are my API keys stored?​

All credentials are encrypted at rest using Fernet symmetric encryption. Encryption keys are stored separately from the encrypted data. No one can read your keys—not even platform admins.

Can other users see my credentials?​

No. Credentials are completely isolated per user. Even if you use the same bundle as someone else, you each use your own API keys.

What's the difference between OAuth and API keys?​

  • OAuth: You authorize via browser (like "Sign in with Google"). More secure, tokens auto-refresh, can be revoked easily.
  • API Key: You generate a secret key from the provider and paste it in. Simpler but requires manual management.

We recommend OAuth when available.

Why do I need to verify credentials?​

Verification runs a test tool to confirm your credentials actually work. Unverified credentials won't enable tools—they'll stay hidden until verified.

How often are OAuth tokens refreshed?​

Automatically in the background. System checks tokens every hour and refreshes any expiring within 24 hours. You won't notice it happening.

What if my OAuth token expires?​

Usually auto-refresh handles it. If refresh fails (provider revoked access, etc.):

  1. You'll see "Re-authorization required"
  2. Click "Re-authorize"
  3. Complete OAuth flow again
  4. Tools resume working

Can I have multiple API keys for the same provider?​

Only one active credential per provider per user. If you need to switch (production → development), delete the old key and add the new one.

Providers​

What's a provider?​

An external API service that tools connect to. Examples: Smartlead (email), GitHub (code), Slack (messaging). You connect providers by adding credentials.

Do all providers cost money?​

Many providers have free tiers. Costs depend on the provider—we don't charge for using providers, but the providers themselves might have their own pricing.

How do I know which providers a bundle needs?​

Open the bundle page. It lists all required and optional providers. Required providers must be connected for tools to work. Optional providers add features but aren't mandatory.

What if a provider is down?​

Tools using that provider won't work temporarily. Your credentials remain safe. Tools resume working when the provider comes back online.

Tools​

Why can't I see all the tools in my AI?​

Tools only appear when:

  1. Tool status is Active
  2. All required providers are connected and verified
  3. Bundle containing the tool is enabled on your account

Check bundle readiness for details.

How do I know what arguments a tool needs?​

Your AI reads the tool's schema and knows what inputs it requires. Ask your AI: "What does the list_campaigns tool need?"

Can tools access my files?​

Only if you explicitly give them file paths or content. Tools can't browse your filesystem. They only get the data you provide in the request.

Are tool calls logged?​

Yes, for debugging and billing. We log:

  • Which tool was called
  • When it was called
  • Whether it succeeded or failed
  • Usage counts for your subscription

We don't log the actual data returned from providers (your campaigns, contacts, etc.).

Pricing & Limits​

Is there a free tier?​

Yes. Free accounts can:

  • Use public bundles
  • Connect providers
  • Run tools (with usage limits)

Paid plans remove limits and add features. See Pricing for details.

What counts toward my usage limit?​

Every tool call counts as one API request. Viewing bundles, editing credentials, and browsing the marketplace don't count.

What happens if I hit my limit?​

Depends on your plan:

  • Free: Tool calls blocked until next billing cycle
  • Pro/Business: May have overage charges or soft limits

Upgrade your plan to increase limits.

Can I downgrade my plan?​

Yes, anytime. Changes take effect at your next billing cycle. Existing enabled bundles remain enabled but usage limits decrease.

Troubleshooting​

My bundle says "Needs Credentials"​

Bundle requires providers you haven't connected yet. Click the bundle, see which providers are missing, and connect them.

Tool says "Scope Mismatch"​

You authorized OAuth but didn't grant all required permissions. Go to the provider, click "Re-authorize", and grant the missing scopes.

"Authentication failed" error​

API key is invalid, expired, or revoked. Go to provider page, delete credential, add new one, verify.

Tools disappeared from my AI​

Check:

  1. Bundle still enabled?
  2. Providers still verified?
  3. Tool status still Active?
  4. AI client still connected?

Most common: OAuth token expired and auto-refresh failed. Re-authorize the provider.

My AI can't find the bundle​

Make sure you:

  1. Copied the correct MCP URL
  2. Pasted it in the right place in your AI client
  3. Restarted your AI client (if needed)
  4. Enabled the bundle on your account

See Integration Guides for platform-specific setup.

Bundle says "Partial" but I connected all providers​

Some providers might be Unverified. Go to each provider, run validation, confirm all show "Verified" status.

Can I test tools without connecting them to an AI?​

Not directly. Tools are designed to be called by AI clients. Test by:

  1. Connecting bundle to an AI
  2. Asking AI to call the tool
  3. Reviewing the result

Use our AI Copilot feature in the dashboard to test tools without leaving the browser.

Advanced​

Can I use MCPBundles programmatically?​

Not yet. API access for bundle management is coming soon. Currently, bundles are configured through the web dashboard.

Can I self-host MCPBundles?​

No. MCPBundles is a hosted SaaS platform. We handle infrastructure, updates, and security so you don't have to.

Can I create tools that call other tools?​

Yes, but they're independent calls. Tool A can't directly call Tool B. Your AI orchestrates multi-step workflows by calling tools in sequence.

Does MCPBundles support webhooks?​

Not yet. Coming soon. You'll be able to trigger workflows when external events happen.

Can I export my bundle configuration?​

Not yet. Bundle export/import is on the roadmap. Currently, bundles live in your account on the platform.

Still Have Questions?​