What is MCP?
Think of MCP as a universal plug between AI assistants and the tools you already use. Instead of copying data between your AI chat and your shipping dashboard, the assistant can work with your Shippo account directly, so you can ask for what you need in plain English. Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open protocol, developed by Anthropic, that standardizes how AI applications connect to external tools and data. The Shippo MCP Server implements it, making Shippo’s shipping capabilities available to MCP-compatible clients, meaning AI apps that support MCP, such as Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor.Shippo MCP Server overview
The Shippo MCP Server lets your AI assistants and LLMs interact with the Shippo API in natural language: compare carrier rates, buy shipping labels, track packages, validate addresses, handle customs for international shipments, and process batches. To connect, point any MCP-compatible client at Shippo’s hosted server,https://mcp.shippo.com, and authorize with your Shippo account. Nothing to install, no API key to manage.
In Claude (claude.ai and Claude Desktop) and in ChatGPT, you can add Shippo directly from the directory in one click.
Why use the Shippo MCP Server?
- No context switching. Get rates, buy labels, and track packages from the same chat where you’re already working.
- No code required. Ask in natural language instead of writing API calls or learning endpoint structures.
- Faster prototyping for developers. Explore API behavior (rates, customs, address validation) from an MCP-enabled editor like Cursor before writing integration code.
- Works with the clients you already use. Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor, with no installation or API key management.
Example scenarios
Compare rates without opening a dashboard.Ask “What’s the cheapest way to ship a 2 lb package from Denver to Austin, and what’s the fastest?” and get carrier options side by side, then buy the label from the same chat. Answer “where’s my package?” in seconds.
Paste a tracking number and ask for the status and estimated delivery, or paste several and ask which are delayed. Clean up addresses before you ship.
Paste a messy address or a list of them and ask the assistant to validate and standardize them, so you catch errors before they turn into returns. Figure out international shipping without the research.
Ask “I’m shipping a $25 cotton t-shirt to Canada. What do I need for customs?” and have the assistant help build the customs declaration. Prototype an integration before writing code.
From an MCP-enabled editor like Cursor, try out rates, address validation, or customs payloads against the live API, then turn what works into integration code.
Next steps
Get connected
Add Shippo to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude Code, or any MCP client, then give it Shippo’s skills and knowledge.
Features
What you can ask the assistant to do, with an example prompt for each capability.
Additional resources
Live account and charges, security, troubleshooting, and support.