Using Shippo MCP: Connect Shippo to AI assistants

Overview

Shippo MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets you use Shippo directly inside AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, and other MCP-compatible tools. Instead of switching between apps to validate addresses, compare rates, create labels, or track packages, you can handle everything through natural language in the tools you already use.

How it works

You describe what you need in plain language ("validate this address" or "get shipping rates to Chicago"), and your AI assistant uses MCP to execute it using your Shippo account. MCP handles the translation from natural language to API calls.

Skills add a layer on top of this: they give your assistant Shippo's own shipping playbooks, so it follows the right steps automatically instead of improvising. See the Shippo skills section below.

Benefits

Work faster: Handle shipping tasks without leaving your AI assistant

No API knowledge needed: Natural language replaces technical syntax

Access your real account: Connect your Shippo account to work with your actual carriers, rates, and data

Save development time: Prototype and test shipping workflows without building a full integration

Who can use it

All Shippo users with an active account. Shippo MCP is free to connect and uses your existing account and plan features. Test mode can be enabled for your carrier accounts for safe experimentation with no charges and full functionality.

What you can do with Shippo MCP

Shippo MCP gives your AI assistant access to core shipping actions:

Address management

• Validate and standardize addresses worldwide
• Create and store addresses in your address book
• Correct invalid addresses automatically

Rate shopping

• Compare rates across all your connected carriers
• See estimated delivery dates alongside pricing
• Filter by service level, speed, or cost

Label creation

• Buy shipping labels for domestic and international shipments
• Choose from multiple carriers and service levels
• Generate return labels

Package tracking

• Track packages across all carriers with unified status updates
• Get real-time shipment location and delivery estimates
• Monitor exceptions and delays

Carrier accounts

• View all connected carrier accounts
• Check available service levels for each carrier
• Access carrier-specific options

International shipping

• Create customs declarations for international orders
• Define customs items and HS codes
• Calculate duties and taxes

Batch operations

• Process multiple shipments at once
• Generate manifests for end-of-day pickups
• Schedule carrier pickups

Analytics and insights

• Review shipping cost trends
• Analyze carrier performance
• Track delivery success rates

Shippo skills

Give your assistant the playbook

Connecting Shippo MCP gives your assistant access to your Shippo account. Skills go a step further: they're pre-built shipping playbooks that teach your assistant how we'd handle a task, not just what tools are available. With skills installed, your assistant follows the right sequence from the first ask instead of guessing.

There are 8 skills available:

Installing skills

• Claude: Download the plug-in, then go to Customize → Plugins and upload the file.
• ChatGPT: Download the skills pack, then go to Create → Upload. This requires a paid ChatGPT plan.
• Other AI assistants: Download the skills pack and point your agent to the downloaded files.

Skills are optional. Shippo MCP works fully without them; skills just make your assistant faster and more consistent on multi-step tasks.

Getting started

Prerequisites

Before connecting Shippo MCP, you'll need:

• A Shippo account: Sign up for free here.
• An MCP-compatible AI assistant: Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code CLI, or another MCP client

Installation

Choose your setup path below.

Claude: Go to Customize → Connectors, find Shippo, and click Connect. Log in to your Shippo account (or create a free one) through a simple OAuth flow.

ChatGPT: Go to Plugins, find Shippo, and click Connect. Log in to your Shippo account (or create a free one) to get started.

Other AI assistants and agents
Follow your agent's recommended MCP installation path and point it to mcp.shippo.com. Then connect your Shippo account to get started.

Shippo MCP is also discoverable through Smithery, Glama, and ClawHub if your agent sources connectors from one of those directories.

Using Shippo MCP

Once connected, interact with Shippo through natural language. Your AI assistant translates your request into the appropriate Shippo action.

Example prompts

Validate an address:

Validate this address:

215 Clayton St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Compare shipping rates:

Get shipping rates for a 5 lb package (12x10x8 inches) 

from Los Angeles, CA 90001 to Chicago, IL 60601

Create a shipping label:

Create a shipping label from:

123 Main St, San Francisco, CA 94105

To:

456 Market St, New York, NY 10001

Package: 10x8x6 inches, 2 lbs

Track a package:

Track package with tracking number: 1Z999AA10123456784

Find the cheapest option:

Print the cheapest label from San Diego to Boston for a 3 lb package

International shipping:

Get rates from St. Petersburg, FL to Munich, Germany for a 4 lb package (10x8x6 inches)

Batch operations:

Create shipping labels for all orders in this CSV file: [path/to/orders.csv]

Automate a recurring workflow:

Every day at 8 a.m., check for new orders. For each one, validate the address and buy the cheapest Shippo label that gets it there in 3 days. At 9 a.m., send me a summary with everything ready to print and ship.

Use cases

Operations teams

WISMO responses: Look up tracking status and respond to customer inquiries without switching tools.

Refund processing: Check shipment details and process refunds through your AI assistant.

Exception handling: Monitor delivery exceptions and take action: request pickups, file claims, or contact carriers.

Proactive delay monitoring: Ask your assistant to check all shipments in transit each morning, flag anything running behind its original ETA, and send a summary to your team so exceptions get caught before a customer has to ask.

Developers

Rapid prototyping: Test shipping workflows and API interactions without writing integration code first.

Ad hoc tasks: Query production data, validate addresses, or check carrier availability on the fly.

Debugging: Reproduce customer issues by recreating shipments and viewing exact API responses.

Individual shippers

One-off labels: Buy a label for a single package without logging into Shippo's web app.

Rate comparison: Get instant quotes before committing to a carrier.

Address validation: Confirm a recipient's address is deliverable before shipping.

FAQ

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard from Anthropic that lets AI assistants interact with external tools and data sources. It standardizes how AI applications connect to services like Shippo.

Do I need to know how to code?

No. Shippo MCP translates natural language into API calls. You describe what you need in plain language, and MCP handles the technical execution.

Does it cost extra?

No. Connecting Shippo MCP is free. You use your existing Shippo account and plan features. Standard API fees apply (if any) based on your plan.

Can I use my own carrier accounts?

Yes. Shippo MCP accesses all carrier accounts connected to your Shippo account, including your own negotiated rates.

What happens if I make a mistake?

Follow general safe AI practices when using Shippo MCP: manually approve tool calls before they execute, review all AI-generated output before it goes live, and keep yourself in the loop. Your AI assistant can suggest actions, but you decide what happens.

Can I use this for production workflows?

Yes, you can use it to create real labels and shipments.

What AI assistants support MCP?

Claude Desktop, Cursor, ChatGPT (Plus/Pro), Claude Code CLI, and other MCP-compatible tools. More platforms are adding support regularly.

Is my data secure?

Yes. Shippo MCP follows Shippo's standard security practices.

Can I access my stored addresses and preferences?

Yes. MCP connects to your Shippo account with access to your stored data.

What if something goes wrong?

If you encounter errors:

1. Check if MCP is properly connected in your AI agent
2. Check if MCP is properly connected to your Shippo account
3. Check status.goshippo.com for service issues
4. Contact Shippo support if problems persist

Can I use MCP alongside the Shippo web app or API?

Yes. Shippo MCP, the web app, and direct API access all work with the same account. Use whichever tool fits your workflow.

Are there rate limits?

Standard Shippo API rate limits apply. For most users, these limits are generous and won't affect normal usage.

Can I automate workflows with MCP?

Yes. You can use MCP in conjunction with AI agents to automate recurring tasks like batch label creation, tracking updates, or exception monitoring.

What are Shippo skills, and do I need them?

Skills are optional add-ons that give your assistant pre-built shipping playbooks for common tasks like buying labels, comparing rates, or analyzing spend. Shippo MCP works fully without them, but installing skills means your assistant follows Shippo's recommended steps automatically instead of figuring out the right approach each time. See the Shippo skills section above for the full list and install instructions.

What happened to the original Shippo MCP from December 2025?

Shippo MCP originally launched in December 2025 as a self-hosted, developer-configured product. This hosted version is a direct upgrade: one-click setup, no API key required, and the 8 skills available on top. If you're on the original self-hosted version, we recommend migrating for easier setup — contact support if you need help.

Troubleshooting

Rate requests return no results

• Verify you have carrier accounts connected in Shippo
• Check if the origin/destination combination is supported by your carriers
• Confirm package dimensions and weight are within carrier limits

Slow response times

• Check your internet connection
• Verify Shippo's API status at status.goshippo.com
• Break complex requests into smaller steps

Learn more

Shippo resources:

• Shippo API documentation: Complete technical reference
• API quickstart guide: Get started with Shippo's API
• Authentication guide: API token management
• Shippo support portal: Help articles and contact options

MCP resources:

• MCP technical documentation: Detailed setup and usage
• Model Context Protocol specification: Learn about the MCP standard
• Shippo MCP on GitHub: Source code and examples

Additional help:

• API status page: Check for service interruptions
• Contact Shippo sales: Questions about plans or features
• Submit a support request: Technical assistance