Claude Code MCP server for WhatsApp and Instagram DMs.
Run one command and Claude Code can read your inbox, draft replies, and explain delivery errors. Free workspaces are read-only; paid plans can send. WhatsApp needs Growth, Pro, or the 7-day trial.
claude mcp add, or .mcp.json in your project root
claude mcp add --scope user instantreply -- npx -y @instantreply.co/mcpNo key needed to start. Ask Claude Code to connect InstantReply and approve the code in your browser.
Set up Claude Code
Install the InstantReply server in Claude Code
Config paths for Claude Code come from Anthropic's public docs and can change between releases. If a step does not match your version, check the Claude Code MCP docs.
- 01
Add the server
Run the CLI command, or save the JSON block as .mcp.json in a project. The --scope user flag makes the server available in every project on your machine.
- 02
Check it loaded
Run claude mcp list in a shell, or type /mcp inside a session. The instantreply entry should show as connected.
- 03
Connect your workspace
Type: Connect InstantReply for my business. Claude calls start_setup and hands you a link and a short code to approve in the browser.
Config options
CLI (user scope)
claude mcp add --scope user instantreply -- npx -y @instantreply.co/mcp.mcp.json (shared with the repo)
{
"mcpServers": {
"instantreply": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@instantreply.co/mcp"
]
}
}
}Remote, no Node.js
claude mcp add --transport http instantreply https://api.instantreply.co/mcp
# then run /mcp inside Claude Code and sign inWith an API key
claude mcp add --scope user --env INSTANTREPLY_API_KEY=ir_live_YOUR_KEY_HERE instantreply -- npx -y @instantreply.co/mcpWhat is specific to Claude Code
- Claude Code keeps user-scope servers in ~/.claude.json and project-scope servers in .mcp.json at the repo root.
- MCP prompts show up as slash commands named /mcp__instantreply__<prompt>. This server ships 11, such as weekly_inbox_digest and debug_last_failure.
- Pairing saves the key to ~/.instantreply/config.json, outside your repo. A committed .mcp.json carries no secret.
- On native Windows, Claude Code's docs ask you to wrap npx in cmd /c: claude mcp add instantreply -- cmd /c npx -y @instantreply.co/mcp.
What you can ask
Three workflows in Claude Code
- 01
Start a session with the inbox in context
Ask for your active WhatsApp conversations, then have Claude open the ones you pick and summarize each thread. It lists conversations filtered by status and platform, then reads the messages for the chats you choose.
list_conversationslist_messages - 02
Debug a failed template send from the repo
Paste the error code from your logs and ask what it means. Claude returns the cause in plain English with next steps, so you can fix the template or the payload without leaving the terminal.
explain_delivery_failurecheck_journey_status - 03
Dry-run a journey trigger before you wire it in
Have Claude validate the trigger first. The dry run catches phone, journey, duplicate, and metadata errors. Only then ask it to trigger the send, and only for contacts who agreed to hear from you.
validate_journey_triggertrigger_journey
What the server exposes
60 tools and 11 prompts, gated by plan
Free workspaces get read-only access. Creator does not include MCP. The MCP plans (MCP Starter, MCP Growth and MCP Pro) are built for bringing your own agent and model: they include the MCP tools but no InstantReply-hosted AI replies. Starter, Growth, Pro, and the three Developer plans include the full tool set. WhatsApp automation needs Growth or Pro, or the 7-day Pro trial that every new workspace starts with. See pricing for the plan table.
- Conversations and messages (7)
list_conversationsget_conversationlist_messagessend_messagereact_to_messageassign_conversationclose_conversation- Contacts (3)
list_contactsget_contactupdate_contact- Channels and per-channel AI (13)
list_channelslist_channel_groupsconnect_channelcreate_channel_groupupdate_channel_groupassign_channel_grouplist_channel_group_knowledgeadd_channel_group_knowledgedelete_channel_group_knowledgelist_channel_ai_providersset_channel_ai_providerdelete_channel_ai_providerset_channel_ai_replies- Comments and keyword automations (11)
list_keyword_automationscreate_keyword_automationupdate_keyword_automationdelete_keyword_automationlist_commentsget_commentreply_to_commentset_channel_comment_ai_repliesset_comment_ai_repliesget_comment_automation_settingsset_comment_keyword_rules- WhatsApp templates and journeys (13)
list_templatesget_templatevalidate_template_draftvalidate_templatesubmit_templatesubmit_stored_templatedelete_templatesend_whatsapp_templatetrigger_journeyvalidate_journey_triggercheck_journey_statuslist_journey_historytrigger_journey_batch- Analytics, limits, and diagnostics (7)
get_analytics_summaryget_usageget_developer_capabilitiesget_developer_onboardingget_developer_limitsrecommend_planexplain_delivery_failure- Barq and approvals (5)
ask_barqpropose_knowledge_entrypropose_follow_up_rulelist_pending_approvalsdecide_approval
Last verified: October 2, 2026, against the MCP server source and the plan table.
Claude Code MCP questions
Where does Claude Code store the InstantReply MCP config?
User-scope servers live in ~/.claude.json and project-scope servers live in .mcp.json at the repo root. Running claude mcp add writes the right file for you. Run claude mcp list to confirm the server is registered.
Do I need an API key to use InstantReply in Claude Code?
No. Add the server with no key and ask Claude to connect InstantReply. It calls start_setup and returns a link and a code that expire after 10 minutes. Approve the code in your browser, then reconnect the server from /mcp so the full tool set loads. The key is saved at ~/.instantreply/config.json.
Can Claude Code send a message without asking me?
Every write tool, including send_message, declares destructiveHint in its MCP metadata, and Claude Code asks for permission before running MCP tools unless you have allowed them. Leave send_message off your allow list if you want a prompt on every send.
What can I do on the Free plan?
Free keys are read-only, so list and read tools work and write tools are rejected. Starter, Growth, Pro, and the three Developer plans include the full tool set. WhatsApp is available on Growth, Pro, and during the 7-day trial.
More: MCP overview, developer quickstart, API reference, MCP inbox guide, WhatsApp API Python tutorial.
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Give Claude Code an inbox to work with.
Connect Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, then let Claude Code read threads and draft replies while you work. Writes need a paid plan.