What is Instantly MCP Server?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude connect to external apps. Think of it as a universal translator between AI and software.
Instantly MCP Server is a connector that lets your AI assistants communicate directly with your Instantly account. Your AI can create campaigns, manage leads, pull analytics, and more.
Instead of logging into Instantly, clicking through menus, and manually managing campaigns, you can simply tell your AI what you need:
"Create a 3-step email campaign targeting SaaS founders"
"Show me which campaigns have the best reply rates this week"
"Add these 500 leads to my outreach sequence"
"Pause campaigns with less than 2% reply rates"
Your AI understands the request, connects to Instantly through MCP, and executes the action — all in seconds.
How to set up Instantly MCP
Step 1: Get Your API Key (2 min)
Log in to your Instantly account
Go to Integrations → API Keys
Click Create API Key
Copy your key and store it securely.
⚠️ Keep this key private — it's like a password to your Instantly account.
Step 2: Connect Your AI Client
Option A: Claude Desktop (Easiest)
Open the Claude Desktop app
Go to Settings → Connectors
Click Add custom connector
Enter:
Name: Instantly MCP
Remote MCP server URL: https://mcp.instantly.ai/mcp/YOUR_API_KEY
Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the API key you created
Click Add. That's it — no restart needed!
Option B: Claude Desktop (Config File)
If you prefer editing the config file directly:
Go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config
Add this to your config file: Replace PASTE_YOUR_API_KEY_HERE with the API key you created
{
"mcpServers": {
"instantly": {
"url": "<https://mcp.instantly.ai/mcp>",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "PASTE_YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
3. Save and restart Claude Desktop
Once connected, you will be able to manage the actions that Claude can perform.
Option C: Cursor
Open Cursor → Settings (⌘ + ,)
Search for MCP
Click Edit in settings.json
Add the following: Replace PASTE_YOUR_API_KEY_HERE with the API key you created
{
"mcpServers": {
"instantly": {
"url": "<https://mcp.instantly.ai/mcp>",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "PASTE_YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
5. Save and restart Cursor
Option D: n8n (AI Agents & Workflows)
For automating workflows with AI agents in n8n:
Add the MCP Client node to your workflow
Select Streamable HTTP as the transport option
Enter the URL: https://mcp.instantly.ai/mcp/YOUR_API_KEY
Connect to your AI agent node
Pro tip: When building automated workflows, consider which specific tools your AI agent needs access to. The Instantly MCP provides 31 tools across 5 categories:
Campaigns (6 tools) - Create, pause, update campaigns
Leads (11 tools) - Add, move, manage leads
Email (5 tools) - View, reply, verify emails
Analytics (3 tools) - Performance metrics
Accounts (6 tools) - Manage sending accounts
Design your agent's prompts around the specific tools needed for each automation.
Option E: Other MCP Clients
For any MCP-compatible clients, use the URL with your API key:
This URL works with any client that supports Streamable HTTP transport.
Step 3: Test It! (30 sec)
Open your AI assistant and try: "What campaigns do I have in Instantly?"
If you see your campaign list, you're connected! 🎉
What Can You Do Now?
📧 Campaign Management
Create a new campaign called 'Q1 Outreach
Pause my underperforming campaigns
Show all active campaigns
👥 Lead Management
Add these leads to my Sales campaign
List all leads in my Enterprise list
Move leads from Campaign A to Campaign B
📊 Analytics
What are my reply rates this week?
Which campaign has the best reply rate?
Show daily breakdown for last 7 days
📬 Email Operations
Show my recent replies
How many unread emails do I have?
Reply to the email from John at TechCo
⚙️ Account Management
List my email sending accounts
Enable warmup for my new account
Check account health status
Example Conversations
Morning Check-In
You: "Give me a quick summary of my outreach performance"
AI: "Here's your summary:
• 3 active campaigns
• 847 emails sent yesterday
• 6% reply rate overall
• Top performer: 'SaaS Founders' (9% reply rate)
• 12 new replies waiting"
Quick Campaign Creation
You: "Create a campaign for fintech companies, 3 emails, send weekdays 9-5 EST"
AI: "Created 'Fintech Outreach' campaign:
• 3-step email sequence
• Schedule: Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm EST
• Status: Draft (ready to activate)"
Performance Optimization
You: "Find and pause campaigns with less than 2% reply rate"
AI: "Found 2 campaigns under 2% reply rate:
• 'Old List' (1.5% reply rate) - Paused ✓
• 'Cold Outreach v1' (0.8% reply rate) - Paused ✓"
Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
Connection failed | Double-check your API key is correct |
Unauthorized | Regenerate API key in Instantly |
No response | Restart your AI client |
Server unavailable | Check internet connection and try again |
Still need Help?
Instantly Support: [email protected]
MCP Documentation: modelcontextprotocol.io
API Endpoint: https://mcp.instantly.ai/mcp
You're all set! Start asking your AI to manage your outreach. 🚀
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to know how to code?
No. Setting up takes about 5 minutes and just requires pasting your API key into your AI assistant's settings.
2. Which AI assistants work with this?
Any MCP-compatible client, including:
Claude Desktop (Anthropic)
Cursor (AI code editor)
n8n (for AI agent workflows)
Any app supporting Streamable HTTP transport
3. Is my data safe?
Yes. The connection uses your personal API key over encrypted HTTPS. Your AI can only access what your API key permits.
4. What can my AI do with Instantly?
Everything you can do in the dashboard:
Create and manage campaigns
Add and organize leads
Pull analytics and reports
View and reply to emails
Manage sending accounts
5. How much does it cost?
The MCP server is free with your Instantly subscription. You just need an account with API access.
6. What's the connection URL?
7. What if something goes wrong?
Most actions can be undone, and destructive actions like delete are clearly marked. The AI will typically confirm before taking major actions.