fal.ai MCP server

Run fal.ai models, poll the inference queue and read model schemas. Hosted by usefulapi: connect it to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client.

Connect fal.aiFree 50 tool calls / monthPro $9/mo · $90/yr · pricing11 tools

What can I ask?

Turn on the fal.ai connector, then ask in plain words. The AI picks the tools.

What you can do with fal.ai in Claude and ChatGPT

For developers and creators who run AI image and video models on fal.ai.

Find a model by keyword

Searches the fal.ai model registry by keywords, page by page, and lists matching models, for example for images or short video.

Check which inputs a model needs

Reads the model's OpenAPI schema and explains its input and output fields, so you know what to send before you run it.

Run a model and get the result

Runs a model with your input, waits until it is done and returns the result. If it takes too long, you get a request id to keep checking.

Changes data

Queue a request and follow its progress

Submits a request to the queue and returns at once with a request id. Then checks its status (in queue, in progress, completed) and fetches the result.

Changes data

Cancel a queued request that has not started

Asks to cancel a request that is still in the queue. Checks its status first, because a started request cannot be cancelled this way.

Changes data

How do I connect fal.ai?

Before you connect

The login page asks for your fal.ai API key.

Create one at fal.ai/dashboard/keys. Your token is used only to call the API on your behalf and to derive a private account id; it is never shown to anyone.

Claude claude.ai · Desktop

  1. Open Customize → Connectors, then click + Add → Add custom connector.
  2. Enter the name fal.ai and this URL, then click Add:
    https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp
  3. Claude opens the login page: enter your fal.ai API key.
  4. In a chat, click + → Connectors and turn on fal.ai.

Team and Enterprise: an Owner adds the connector for the organization first.

ChatGPT chatgpt.com

  1. Open Plugins, click +, then Add custom MCP server.
  2. Enter the name fal.ai and this URL, choose OAuth as the authentication, confirm the warning and create it:
    https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp
  3. ChatGPT opens the login page: enter your fal.ai API key.
  4. In Plugins, install fal.ai, then choose it in a chat.

No Add custom MCP server option? It depends on your account or workspace settings: see OpenAI's guide.

Claude Code

Run this command, then run /mcp in Claude Code to log in:

claude mcp add --transport http falai https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp

Cursor

Add to Cursor or add this to ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "falai": {
      "url": "https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp"
    }
  }
}

VS Code

Add to VS Code or add this to .vscode/mcp.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "falai": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Codex

Run these commands. The second one opens the login page:

codex mcp add falai --url https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp
codex mcp login falai

Other clients

Windsurf, Cline, Zed and other MCP clients: add this URL as a remote MCP server (Streamable HTTP). The client then opens the login page in your browser.

https://falai.usefulapi.io/mcp

Add only the URL. Do not add an Authorization header or an API key to the client config. The server signs you in with OAuth: the login page asks for your fal.ai API key. If the config has such a header, remove it: some clients then send that header instead of the login token, and every call fails with 401.

Pricing

PlanPriceLimit
Free$050 tool calls / month
Pro$9/mo · $90/yr10,000 tool calls / month
Pro+$39/mo · $390/yr100,000 tool calls / month

Each paid plan covers this fal.ai server only. Ask your AI to run falai_upgrade and choose Pro or Pro+, billed monthly or yearly (it returns a Stripe Checkout link). If you already have Pro, ask to change it to Pro+. The change requires your confirmation, keeps your billing interval and charges the price difference for the rest of the period immediately. Cancel any time with falai_cancel_subscription: your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period, with no refund for the current period, and asking to resume the same plan with falai_upgrade before then undoes the cancel. Or write to [email protected].

Tools 11

Show all 11 tools (the AI picks them for you)

Read only · 4

  • List modelsfalai_list_models
    List or search fal.ai models in the registry (paginated). fal.ai API: GET /models (query: keywords, page, total).
  • Get model schemafalai_get_model_schema
    Get the OpenAPI 3 schema for a model — its input/output fields (components.schemas). Use this to learn what inputs a model accepts before submitting.
  • Get request statusfalai_get_request_status
    Get the status of a queued request (IN_QUEUE | IN_PROGRESS | COMPLETED). fal.ai queue: GET {queue}/{model_id}/requests/{request_id}/status (optional logs=1).
  • Get request resultfalai_get_request_result
    Get the final output of a COMPLETED queued request. fal.ai queue: GET {queue}/{model_id}/requests/{request_id}.

Changes data · 3

  • Submit requestfalai_submit_request
    Submit an inference request to the queue and return immediately (async — does NOT wait for completion). Returns { request_id, response_url, status_url, cancel_url, queue_position }. Consumes fal credits when the model runs. fal.ai queue: POST {queue}/{model_id} with body = the model input.
  • Run model (subscribe)falai_run_model
    Convenience 'subscribe': submit a request, poll its status until COMPLETED, then return the result. Consumes fal credits. If it does not complete within the wait budget, returns a { status, request_id, status_url, note } object (NOT an error) so you can keep polling with falai_get_request_status / falai_get_request_result.
  • Cancel requestfalai_cancel_request
    Request cancellation of a queued (not-yet-started) request. Returns 202 { status: 'CANCELLATION_REQUESTED' }. fal.ai queue: PUT {queue}/{model_id}/requests/{request_id}/cancel.

Your usefulapi plan · 4

  • Usage status (free-tier meter)falai_usage_status
    Report the caller's current usage: the plan, calls used this month, the limit of the plan (the free monthly cap or the Pro fair use limit), remaining, and whether the limit is reached. Read-only; does not count against the meter.
  • Request a missing featurefalai_request_feature
    Tell usefulapi that the user needs something the fal.ai tools cannot do yet (a missing tool, field or filter). Call it only when the user asks for something none of the tools can do, and tell the user that you send the request. Do not call it for errors or for normal requests. Do not include personal data, credentials or customer records. Stored with the product name and the client type (for example Claude or Cursor), without the user's account. At most 5 requests per day. Does not count against the meter.
  • Upgrade to Pro or Pro+falai_upgrade
    Get a paid plan for fal.ai (the free tier caps monthly usage). Pro: 10,000 tool calls a month, for normal use — plan "monthly" ($9/month) or "yearly" ($90/year, 2 months free). Pro+: 100,000 tool calls a month, for automations and heavy use — plan "plus" ($39/month) or "plus_yearly" ($390/year). Without a plan it returns both Pro and Pro+, each with a payment link, for the user to choose; with a plan, one link. An existing Pro subscription changes to Pro+ in place (needs confirm: true; the price difference for the rest of the period is charged at once). Cancel any time: the plan then runs to the end of the paid period, so it also suits a one-time job. A link opens Stripe Checkout in the browser; after payment the account upgrades automatically. Does not count against the meter.
  • Cancel the Pro subscriptionfalai_cancel_subscription
    Cancel the caller's fal.ai Pro subscription at the end of the paid period (no refund for the current period; Pro continues until then, then the free tier applies). Requires confirm: true. Run falai_upgrade later to undo the cancel before the period ends. Does not count against the meter.

FAQ

What can I do with fal.ai in Claude or ChatGPT?

Find a model by keyword. Check which inputs a model needs. Run a model and get the result. Queue a request and follow its progress. Cancel a queued request that has not started. See what you can do for the details.

Is this an official fal.ai product?

No. usefulapi is an independent service. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by fal.ai. The server calls the fal.ai API with your own fal.ai access, so it sees only the data that your account can see.

Can I connect fal.ai to Claude or ChatGPT?

Yes. In Claude, add this server's URL as a custom connector. In ChatGPT, add it as a custom MCP server in Plugins. Then log in once. Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code and Codex work too. See the setup steps.

What do I need to connect?

The login page asks for your fal.ai API key. See Before you connect for where to find it.

Do I put my fal.ai key or an Authorization header in the client config?

No. Add only the URL. Do not add an Authorization header or an API key to the client config. The server signs you in with OAuth: the login page asks for your fal.ai API key. If the config has such a header, remove it: some clients then send that header instead of the login token, and every call fails with 401.

How do you keep my fal.ai credentials?

The login stores them encrypted in the authorization grant of your connection. The server uses them to call the fal.ai API for you and to derive a private account id for usage metering. usefulapi does not show them on any page or in any reply. To stop all access, remove the connector and change or delete these credentials in fal.ai.

Can the AI change my fal.ai data?

Yes, if you approve it. 3 of the 7 fal.ai tools can create or change data. The other 4 are marked read-only. Most MCP clients ask you to approve a tool call before it runs.

What does it cost?

The Free plan gives 50 tool calls / month. Pro costs $9/mo or $90/yr, with 10,000 tool calls / month. Pro+ costs $39/mo or $390/yr, with 100,000 tool calls / month. Each subscription covers this fal.ai server only. Cancel any time: your paid plan then runs to the end of the paid period. Run falai_usage_status to see how many calls you used.

How do I subscribe or cancel?

Ask the AI to run falai_upgrade and choose Pro or Pro+, billed monthly or yearly: it returns a Stripe Checkout link. If you already have Pro, ask to change it to Pro+. After you confirm, your existing subscription changes in place, keeps its billing interval and charges the price difference for the rest of the period immediately. To cancel, run falai_cancel_subscription. Your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period.

What if a fal.ai tool that I need is missing?

Tell the AI what you wanted to do. It can send the request with falai_request_feature. We store the text with the server name, the type of AI client and the tool you tried, not with your account, and read every request when we plan new tools. You can send up to 5 requests per day.

Which AI clients can I use?

Any client that supports remote MCP servers (Streamable HTTP) with OAuth login: Claude (web and desktop), Claude Code, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and others.

This is a Model Context Protocol endpoint — meant to be connected from an AI client, not opened in a browser. An invalid_token response at the URL is the auth gate working as designed; clients authenticate automatically.

Need a tool this server does not have, or a connection to another system? We build custom integrations and MCP servers.

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