Simplecast MCP server

Read podcasts, episodes, seasons and download and listener analytics in Simplecast. Hosted by usefulapi: connect it to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client.

Connect SimplecastFree 50 tool calls / monthPro $9/mo · $90/yr · pricing20 tools

What can I ask?

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

What you can do with Simplecast in Claude and ChatGPT

For podcasters and podcast networks that host shows on Simplecast.

Report the downloads of a show

Read the downloads and the unique listeners of a podcast for a period.

Find your best episodes

Read the top 10 episodes and the analytics of each episode.

See where listeners are

Read the downloads by location, by technology and by time of the week.

Review the episodes of a season

List the seasons and the episodes of one season.

Check the ad markers and channels

Read the ad markers of an episode and the channels where the show is listed.

How do I connect Simplecast?

Before you connect

The login page asks for your Simplecast API token.

Find it in Simplecast → Private Apps page. 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 Simplecast and this URL, then click Add:
    https://simplecast.usefulapi.io/mcp
  3. Claude opens the login page: enter your Simplecast API token.
  4. In a chat, click + → Connectors and turn on Simplecast.

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 Simplecast and this URL, choose OAuth as the authentication, confirm the warning and create it:
    https://simplecast.usefulapi.io/mcp
  3. ChatGPT opens the login page: enter your Simplecast API token.
  4. In Plugins, install Simplecast, 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 simplecast https://simplecast.usefulapi.io/mcp

Cursor

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

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

VS Code

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

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

Codex

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

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

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://simplecast.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 Simplecast API token. 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
Proper user$9/mo · $90/yr10,000 tool calls / month
Pro+per user$39/mo · $390/yr100,000 tool calls / month

Each paid plan covers this Simplecast server only. Ask your AI to run simplecast_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 simplecast_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 simplecast_upgrade before then undoes the cancel. Or write to [email protected].

Tools 20

Show all 20 tools (the AI picks them for you)

Read only · 16

  • Get the current usersimplecast_get_current_user
    Get the user and account that own the API token, with links to its podcasts and subscriptions.
  • List podcastssimplecast_list_podcasts
    List the podcasts in the account (title, status, id). Good first call to find a podcast id.
  • Get a podcastsimplecast_get_podcast
    Get one podcast with its metadata, site, language and links.
  • List episodes of a podcastsimplecast_list_episodes
    List the episodes of a podcast, with title, status, season and publish date.
  • Get an episodesimplecast_get_episode
    Get one episode with its description, audio, season, number and publish state.
  • List ad markers of an episodesimplecast_get_episode_markers
    List the ad markers (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll) of an episode.
  • List seasons of a podcastsimplecast_list_seasons
    List the seasons of a podcast.
  • List episodes of a seasonsimplecast_list_season_episodes
    List the episodes of one season.
  • List distribution channels of a podcastsimplecast_list_distribution_channels
    List where a podcast is distributed (Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others) with the channel links.
  • Get download analyticssimplecast_get_downloads
    Get the number of downloads over time for a podcast or an episode.
  • Get unique listener analyticssimplecast_get_listeners
    Get the number of unique listeners over time for a podcast or an episode.
  • Get analytics grouped by episodesimplecast_get_episode_analytics
    Get download analytics for a podcast, one row per episode. Pass episode_ids to limit the rows.
  • Get the top 10 episodessimplecast_get_top_episodes
    Get the ten most downloaded episodes of a podcast.
  • Get download analytics by locationsimplecast_get_location_analytics
    Get downloads by country for a podcast or an episode. Pass country (a country id from an earlier result) to get its states.
  • Get download analytics by technologysimplecast_get_technology_analytics
    Get downloads split by one technology dimension: podcast app, browser, device class, device, listening method, network type, operating system, provider or web player.
  • Get downloads by time of weeksimplecast_get_time_of_week
    Get when listeners download a podcast, by day of week and hour.

Your usefulapi plan · 4

  • Usage status (free-tier meter)simplecast_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 featuresimplecast_request_feature
    Tell usefulapi that the user needs something the Simplecast 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+simplecast_upgrade
    Get a paid plan for Simplecast (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 subscriptionsimplecast_cancel_subscription
    Cancel the caller's Simplecast 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 simplecast_upgrade later to undo the cancel before the period ends. Does not count against the meter.

FAQ

What can I do with Simplecast in Claude or ChatGPT?

Report the downloads of a show. Find your best episodes. See where listeners are. Review the episodes of a season. Check the ad markers and channels. See what you can do for the details.

Is this an official Simplecast product?

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

Can I connect Simplecast 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 Simplecast API token. See Before you connect for where to find it.

Do I put my Simplecast 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 Simplecast API token. 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 Simplecast credentials?

The login stores them encrypted in the authorization grant of your connection. The server uses them to call the Simplecast 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 Simplecast.

Can the AI change my Simplecast data?

All 16 Simplecast tools are marked read-only.

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 Simplecast server only. Cancel any time: your paid plan then runs to the end of the paid period. Run simplecast_usage_status to see how many calls you used.

How do I subscribe or cancel?

Ask the AI to run simplecast_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 simplecast_cancel_subscription. Your paid plan continues to the end of the paid period.

What if a Simplecast tool that I need is missing?

Tell the AI what you wanted to do. It can send the request with simplecast_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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