MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard way for AI assistants to connect to other services. Once your assistant is connected to Webshare, it can use Webshare's tools on your behalf to look up information and, if you allow it, make changes.
Before you start: you'll need a Webshare account on any plan, including the free plan, and a supported AI client (see below).
What can you do with it?
You can ask things like:
"List my Webshare proxies grouped by country."
"What's my error rate this month, and what are the most common reasons?"
"How much bandwidth have I used this month?"
"What would 500 proxies in Germany cost?"
"Add my current IP to the authorization list." (needs Write access)
The assistant can work with your:
Proxies and configuration: list proxies, view settings, check availability. With Write access: refresh your proxy list and move unallocated proxies to specific countries. A refresh replaces your whole proxy list and uses one of your plan's on-demand refreshes
Usage and errors: bandwidth, request statistics, error breakdowns with troubleshooting guidance
Proxy replacements: view past requests. With Write access: create new ones. Replacements use your replacement credits and can't be undone
IP authorization: view authorized IPs. With Write access: add and remove them
Account and billing: view your subscription, plans, payment methods, and transaction history. With Write access: cancel auto-renewal and, when no paid plan is active, remove the saved payment method
Products and pricing: browse proxy products and get a price for a configuration
Notifications: view your Webshare notifications, such as bandwidth alerts and renewal reminders
Webshare MCP can't buy, renew, or upgrade plans, add a payment method, manage API keys, or change your login and security settings. It can quote prices, but purchases and upgrades happen in the dashboard.
Canceling auto-renewal applies to your whole subscription, not a single plan. Your plans keep running until their end date, and the saved payment method is removed. Auto-renewal can't be turned back on afterward, so continuing after the end date means making a new purchase.
Good to know: When the assistant lists your proxies, the response includes each proxy's address, port, username, and password. They go to the AI client you connected and to the AI service that client uses, so connect only AI clients you trust. If you don't want the assistant to see them, untick the Proxies Read permission when you connect.
Read and Write access
Most tools are read-only. Actions that change your account are marked Write. Write access is off by default. When you connect a client, the Allow Access screen ticks the Read permissions and lists the Write permissions unticked. Tick a Write permission only if you want the assistant to make those changes. To change permissions later, disconnect the client under Integrations → Connected Apps and connect it again.
For the full list of tools, each marked Read or Write, see the Tools section on Integrations → MCP Server in your dashboard, or MCP Server in the API docs.
Which AI clients are supported?
Claude Code
Claude Desktop (the same connector also works on claude.ai)
Cursor
Other clients that support remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP with OAuth may also work. Use the Generic HTTP client tab for the connection details
How do I set it up?
In your dashboard, go to Integrations > MCP Server and pick your AI client. If yours isn't listed, pick Generic HTTP client.
Follow the setup steps for that client. They add the Webshare server address,
https://mcp.webshare.io/, to your client. You don't need an API key.Your client opens Webshare in your browser. Log in if asked, check the app name and the permissions, and click Allow Access.
Test the connection with one of the example prompts on the page.
Only the account owner can connect apps. If you're logged in as a sub-user, use Switch Account to log in as the owner.
Every client you allow appears under Integrations → Connected Apps, where you can disconnect it at any time. Disconnecting cuts off access right away. You may be asked for your two-factor authentication code.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
The assistant asks you to sign in again: this happens when the connection hasn't been used for 30 days, and occasionally at other times. Sign in again from your AI client. In Claude Code, run
/mcp, select webshare, and choose Authenticate.The assistant says it can't make a change: the Write permission for that action wasn't ticked when you connected the client. Proxy changes (refreshing the list, moving proxies, replacements, authorized IPs) need the Proxies Write permission. Cancelling auto-renewal needs the Billing Write permission. To change permissions, disconnect the client under Integrations → Connected Apps and connect it again.
The Allow Access screen says "Not verified by Webshare": this is expected. Claude Code, Claude, Cursor and most other clients register themselves when they first connect. Check that the app name is the one you're connecting and that it returns you where you expect. Claude Code, for example, shows "Returns you to localhost on this computer".
"This link has expired": the Allow Access link is valid for 10 minutes and can be used once. Go back to your AI client and start the connection again.
"Only the account owner can connect apps": you're logged in as a sub-user. Use Switch Account to log in as the account owner.
MCP, Skills, the CLI, SDKs, and the API: what's the difference?
| What it is | What you need |
MCP | Gives your AI assistant access to Webshare's tools. | A supported AI client. No API key. |
Skills | Ready-made workflows for AI agents, such as troubleshooting blocked proxies or reviewing your spend. | Most Skills use the Webshare CLI, so you'll need it installed and an API key. See What are Webshare Skills? |
Webshare CLI | A command-line tool for managing your account and proxies from the terminal. | The CLI installed. Sign in with your browser or an API key. See How can I use the Webshare CLI? |
SDKs | Official libraries for Node.js, Python, and Go, for using Webshare from your own code. | An API key, which you can create under Integrations → API Keys. |
Webshare API | The HTTP API you call from your own code. See apidocs.webshare.io. MCP lets an assistant do similar things for you in plain language. | An API key, which you can create under Integrations → API Keys. |
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions, our Customer Support team is here to help. Reach out at [email protected].