The recommendation
Build a remote MCP server with OAuth first to provide connectivity and core functionality. Then create a plugin with skills that helps users get the most out of that MCP server.| MCP server | Plugin | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A live tool surface Claude calls over HTTP | An installable bundle of skills and connectors |
| Mental model | ”Claude can call your API" | "Claude knows how to use your product” |
| Contains | Tools, prompts, resources, optionally MCP App UI | Skills, MCP connector references, slash commands |
| Works in | Claude.ai, Desktop, mobile, Cowork, Claude Code | Claude Code, Cowork |
When to build only one
MCP server only is fine when your integration is simple and doesn’t need skills—a few well-named tools that Claude can use without additional guidance. Plugin only is fine when you already have a public API or CLI that doesn’t need an MCP wrapper. A plugin can ship skills that teach Claude to use that API or CLI directly.What a plugin can bundle
A plugin can contain any combination of:- Skills only
- A single MCP connector reference
- Skills plus one or more MCP connectors
- Multiple MCP connectors
How they coexist
A plugin references a remote MCP server by URL. If a user has both your directory connector and your plugin installed, Claude sees one set of tools—the plugin and the connector point at the same server. If a plugin references an MCP URL that isn’t in the directory, the connector appears as Custom in the user’s settings. Both MCP servers and plugins can update without Anthropic involvement. When you add tools to your MCP server, plugins that reference it pick them up automatically. Plugin updates are pushed via GitHub and pass through automated screening.Skills are not a standalone directory type
Skills are user-shared micro-workflows. Plugins are the distribution mechanism for skills—you can’t submit a skill to the directory on its own. If you have skills to ship, bundle them in a plugin.Build it with Claude
The fastest way to scaffold an MCP server is with Claude itself. Install the officialmcp-server-dev plugin in Claude Code and run /mcp-server-dev:build-mcp-server—it interviews you about your use case, picks the right deployment model, and generates a working server.
Next steps
Build an MCP server
Start with the MCP building guide.
Build a plugin
Bundle skills and connectors together.