OP3 MCP Server &amp; CLI

Add it with a single command in a terminal.

claude mcp add op3 \
  -- npx -y @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
In Claude Code, type /mcp. OP3 should show as connected.
```
/mcp
```

Your computer

Add it with a single command in a terminal.

codex mcp add op3 \
  -- npx -y @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check that Codex lists it.
```
codex mcp list
```

1
Open Cursor's settings, go to the MCP tab, and click Add new global MCP server.

Add the server.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "op3": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
    }
  }
}

3
Open the MCP tab again. It should show 22 tools.

1
Open the Command Palette and run MCP: Open User Configuration.

Add the server to that mcp.json.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside servers.

{
  "servers": {
    "op3": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Your computer

Add it with a single command in a terminal.

copilot mcp add op3 \
  -- npx -y @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check that Copilot CLI has it.
```
copilot mcp get op3
```

Your computer

1
Open your Gemini CLI settings.
```
~/.gemini/settings.json
```

Add the server to settings.json.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "op3": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
    }
  }
}

3
Restart Gemini CLI and type /mcp to check it.
```
/mcp
```

1
Open your Gemini CLI settings.
```
%USERPROFILE%\.gemini\settings.json
```

Add the server to settings.json.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "op3": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
    }
  }
}

3
Restart Gemini CLI and type /mcp to check it.
```
/mcp
```

1
Open your Gemini CLI settings.
```
~/.gemini/settings.json
```

Add the server to settings.json.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "op3": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
    }
  }
}

3
Restart Gemini CLI and type /mcp to check it.
```
/mcp
```

Your computer

1
Open your OpenCode config.
```
~/.config/opencode/opencode.json
```

Add the server under mcp.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcp.

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "op3": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["npx", "-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

3
Restart OpenCode.

Open your OpenCode config.

%USERPROFILE%\.config\opencode\opencode.json

Add the server under mcp.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcp.

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "op3": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["npx", "-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

3
Restart OpenCode.

1
Open your OpenCode config.
```
~/.config/opencode/opencode.json
```

Add the server under mcp.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcp.

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "op3": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["npx", "-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

3
Restart OpenCode.

Your computer

Add it with a single command in a terminal.

openclaw mcp add op3 \
  --command npx \
  --arg -y \
  --arg @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check that it starts and lists its tools.
```
openclaw mcp doctor op3 --probe
```

Add it with a single command in a terminal.

openclaw mcp add op3 \
  --command npx \
  --arg -y \
  --arg @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check that it starts and lists its tools.
```
openclaw mcp doctor op3 --probe
```

1
In the agent panel, click the … menu, then MCP Servers, Manage MCP Servers and View raw config.

Add the server to mcp_config.json.

If the file already has servers, add only this one inside mcpServers.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "op3": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Your computer

1
Open your Hermes config.
```
~/.hermes/config.yaml
```
2
Add the server under mcp_servers.
If the file already has mcp_servers, add only this one under it.
```
mcp_servers:
  op3:
    command: "npx"
    args: ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
```

1
Open your Hermes config.
```
%USERPROFILE%\.hermes\config.yaml
```
2
Add the server under mcp_servers.
If the file already has mcp_servers, add only this one under it.
```
mcp_servers:
  op3:
    command: "npx"
    args: ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
```

1
Open your Hermes config.
```
~/.hermes/config.yaml
```
2
Add the server under mcp_servers.
If the file already has mcp_servers, add only this one under it.
```
mcp_servers:
  op3:
    command: "npx"
    args: ["-y", "@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest"]
```

Your computer

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give Claude Code the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Claude Code what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.claude/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Claude Code to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Claude Code finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

Give Claude Code the skill, so it knows every command.

The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Claude Code what each command does and which ones ask first.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.claude\skills\op3-podcast-analytics" | Out-Null
Copy-Item "$(npm root -g)\@thenavidm\op3-mcp-cli\SKILL.md" "$HOME\.claude\skills\op3-podcast-analytics\"

3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Claude Code to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Claude Code finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give Claude Code the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Claude Code what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.claude/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Claude Code to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Claude Code finds the one it needs.

Your computer

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give Codex the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Codex what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.agents/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.agents/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Codex to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Codex finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

Give Codex the skill, so it knows every command.

The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Codex what each command does and which ones ask first.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.agents\skills\op3-podcast-analytics" | Out-Null
Copy-Item "$(npm root -g)\@thenavidm\op3-mcp-cli\SKILL.md" "$HOME\.agents\skills\op3-podcast-analytics\"

3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Codex to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Codex finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give Codex the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Codex what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.agents/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.agents/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Codex to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Codex finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
3
Ask Cursor to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Cursor finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
3
Ask VS Code to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so VS Code finds the one it needs.

Your computer

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give Copilot CLI the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Copilot CLI what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.copilot/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Copilot CLI to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Copilot CLI finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

Give Copilot CLI the skill, so it knows every command.

The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Copilot CLI what each command does and which ones ask first.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.copilot\skills\op3-podcast-analytics" | Out-Null
Copy-Item "$(npm root -g)\@thenavidm\op3-mcp-cli\SKILL.md" "$HOME\.copilot\skills\op3-podcast-analytics\"

3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Copilot CLI to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Copilot CLI finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give Copilot CLI the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells Copilot CLI what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.copilot/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask Copilot CLI to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Copilot CLI finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
3
Ask Gemini CLI to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Gemini CLI finds the one it needs.

Your computer

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give OpenCode the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells OpenCode what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.config/opencode/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.config/opencode/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask OpenCode to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so OpenCode finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

Give OpenCode the skill, so it knows every command.

The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells OpenCode what each command does and which ones ask first.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.config\opencode\skills\op3-podcast-analytics" | Out-Null
Copy-Item "$(npm root -g)\@thenavidm\op3-mcp-cli\SKILL.md" "$HOME\.config\opencode\skills\op3-podcast-analytics\"

3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask OpenCode to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so OpenCode finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give OpenCode the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells OpenCode what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.config/opencode/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.config/opencode/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask OpenCode to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so OpenCode finds the one it needs.

Your computer

Podcast RSS feed validator Podcast rank checker Podcast sponsorship calculator Top podcasts Audiogram generator

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give OpenClaw the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells OpenClaw what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.openclaw/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask OpenClaw to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so OpenClaw finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

Give OpenClaw the skill, so it knows every command.

The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells OpenClaw what each command does and which ones ask first.

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$HOME\.openclaw\skills\op3-podcast-analytics" | Out-Null
Copy-Item "$(npm root -g)\@thenavidm\op3-mcp-cli\SKILL.md" "$HOME\.openclaw\skills\op3-podcast-analytics\"

3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask OpenClaw to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so OpenClaw finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Give OpenClaw the skill, so it knows every command.
The skill is the SKILL.md in the package. It tells OpenClaw what each command does and which ones ask first.
```
mkdir -p ~/.openclaw/skills/op3-podcast-analytics
cp "$(npm root -g)/@thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli/SKILL.md" ~/.openclaw/skills/op3-podcast-analytics/
```
3
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
4
Ask OpenClaw to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so OpenClaw finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
3
Ask Antigravity to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Antigravity finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
3
Ask Hermes to use op3-cli.
Running op3-cli on its own lists every command, so Hermes finds the one it needs.

Install the CLI. It needs Node 22 or newer.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli@latest

2
Check your setup.
It names anything that's wrong and the fix.
```
op3-cli doctor
```
3
List every command, then try one.
```
op3-cli
op3-cli op3-global-app-share
```

Needs Node 22 or newer. It works with no token at first, and your own free token from op3.dev is better. Set it up.

It's free and open source. If it saves you time, star it on GitHub, so more people find it.

Rate this tool

This free OP3 MCP server and CLI gives your AI real access to OP3, the Open Podcast Prefix Project: downloads, real listeners, retention, geography and apps for any show with the OP3 prefix. It turns downloads into actual listeners, tracks whether they come back, compares episodes at the same age, and benchmarks your app mix against the whole of OP3.

It's one install with two ways in. Claude, Codex, Cursor or any other MCP app calls its 22 tools for you, and the same tools work as a CLI that agents like Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode run, or that you type yourself.

In this guide, I'll show you:

What the OP3 MCP server & CLI is, and what you can ask it
How to install it and check that it works
When to use the MCP server, and when the CLI
Every tool, and how to keep your account safe

Every tool on this page comes from the server itself, and every cost was measured in Claude Code.

key_takeaways.md

TL;DR

Key takeaways

It gives your AI 22 tools for OP3: downloads, real listeners, retention, geography and apps for any show with the OP3 prefix.

It turns downloads into actual listeners and tracks whether they come back.

Your listeners stay anonymous, because OP3's per-listener codes never leave the server.

Nothing here writes, so there's nothing to undo.

What is the OP3 MCP server & CLI?

The OP3 MCP server & CLI is a free, open source program that lets AI agents read open podcast analytics from OP3 for you, in two ways. The MCP server is what an AI app like Claude, Codex or Cursor connects to, through MCP (Model Context Protocol), the open standard AI apps use to call outside tools.

You ask in plain language. Your AI picks the right tool, and the server makes the call to OP3's public API.

The CLI is the same program as commands. op3-cli op3-show-downloads --identifier <feed url> runs the same code your AI runs when you ask how your show did this month, whether an agent like Claude Code runs it or you do.

In an AI OS, the layer that connects your AI to your context, your data and your tools, a server like this is how your AI reaches OP3. I explain how the parts fit together in how to build an AI operating system, and here's how I use AI myself.

What can you ask it?

Once it's set up, you ask the way you'd ask an assistant. These are real prompts it handles:

Try asking
How many downloads did my podcast get this month?
How many actual people is that, not downloads?
Are my listeners coming back, or is it a new audience every month?
Is this week's episode tracking ahead or behind my usual?
Which podcast apps do my listeners use, and is that unusual?
OP3 shows nothing for my feed. What's wrong?

The second one shows why this is useful. Every podcast dashboard counts downloads, which are apps fetching files, and OP3's rows let this count the people behind them.

It works well next to my Apple Podcasts MCP server and Podcast Index MCP server, so your AI can check where your show ranks in each country and read any episode's transcript in the same chat. Every server I've made is on my MCP servers page.

For your show, my free podcast RSS feed validator and podcast rank checker help too. When your show is ready to earn, I cover how to make money podcasting.

How to install the OP3 MCP server

Pick your app in the box at the top of this page. Each one is a single command or a pasted block, with no account and no key to start.

Windsurf, Zed and Cline take the same server, though they don't have a tab in the box yet. Follow the box's Cursor tab, and put its block here instead:

App	Where the block goes
Windsurf	In the Cascade panel, open the Actions menu (…) and choose Open MCP config file, then paste the block.
Cline	Click the MCP Servers icon in the Cline panel, open the Configure tab, click Configure MCP Servers, and paste the block.
Zed	Go to Settings, then AI, then MCP Servers, and choose Add Server, then Add Local Server. Enter the block's command, arguments and variables, and Zed saves them under `context_servers`.

Before you start0/3

You use an AI app that speaks MCP, like Claude Code, Codex or Cursor. Here's how to install Claude Code if you don't have one yet.

You have Node 22 or newer on your computer.

The show you want has the OP3 prefix on its feed. Any show with it works, whoever hosts it.

Pro tip: It works right away on OP3's shared preview token. Get your own free token at op3.dev before you rely on it, because the shared one is rate limited.

Set up OP3

There's nothing to set up to start. The server falls back to OP3's shared preview token, which is rate limited and which OP3 can withdraw.

Get your own token0/3

1Go to op3.dev/api/keys.

2Create an API key and copy its bearer token.

3Set it as OP3_TOKEN in your app's config.

You don't need to own a podcast. The token reads public OP3 data, which covers every show with the prefix on its feed.

Check that it works

Run the doctor. It checks the token and makes a live call to OP3.

npx -y @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli doctor

If OP3 has nothing for a show, the feed has no OP3 prefix yet. op3_verify_prefix checks it.

In Claude Code, /mcp also shows whether the OP3 server is connected. It's one of the Claude Code commands worth knowing.

Use the OP3 CLI

The CLI is the same 22 tools as commands. AI agents that run commands, like Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode, use it on their own, and you can type the same commands in a terminal or a script.

Every tool name becomes a command with dashes, so op3_show_downloads runs as op3-cli op3-show-downloads.

npm install -g @thenavidm/op3-mcp-cli
op3-cli
op3-cli op3-global-app-share
op3-cli op3-get-show --identifier https://feeds.example.com/show.xml
op3-cli op3-audience-summary --help

The bare op3-cli lists every command, op3-cli which <words> finds the command for a task, and op3-cli <command> --help shows what a command takes. Nothing asks first, because nothing here writes.

op3-cli install <app> adds the server to Claude Code, Codex, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code or Gemini CLI, in each app's own format.

These are the flags you'll use most:

Flag	What it does
`--json`	Prints JSON
`--compact`	Prints the JSON on one line
`--select a,b.c`	Keeps only those fields, and a dotted path goes deeper
`--agent`	Machine mode: compact JSON, no prompts, and it never confirms anything
`--confirm`	Lets a write that asks first go ahead
`--dry-run`	Shows what a write would do, without doing it

A script can branch on the exit code:

Exit code	What it means
0	It worked
2	The command was typed wrong
3	OP3 has nothing for that show or episode
4	OP3 rejected the token
5	OP3's API failed
7	You hit a rate limit, so wait and try again

MCP server or CLI: which one?

Both are the same program with the same 22 tools. The difference is when your AI pays for them, in the tokens it reads.

Every message, in an app that loads every tool

MCP server: 9,000 tokens
CLI: Nothing

Every message, in Claude Code

MCP server: 1,000 tokens
CLI: Nothing

When OP3 comes up

MCP server: Nothing more, or in Claude Code the tools it picks
CLI: 3,400 tokens, once

20 messages with OP3 in one, every tool loaded

MCP server: 181,000 tokens
CLI: 3,400 tokens

Works in Claude Desktop's chat

MCP server: Yes
CLI: No, there's no terminal there

Works in a script, a cron job or CI

MCP server: No
CLI: Yes

What it costs	MCP server	CLI
Every message, in an app that loads every tool	9,000 tokens	Nothing
Every message, in Claude Code	1,000 tokens	Nothing
When OP3 comes up	Nothing more, or in Claude Code the tools it picks	3,400 tokens, once
20 messages with OP3 in one, every tool loaded	181,000 tokens	3,400 tokens
Works in Claude Desktop's chat	Yes	No, there's no terminal there
Works in a script, a cron job or CI	No	Yes

An app that loads every tool up front sends the full list with every message, whether you mention OP3 or not. Claude Code doesn't by default: its tool search sends only the tool names and the server's instructions, and loads a tool's full definition when your AI reaches for it.

The CLI costs nothing until OP3 comes up. Then your agent reads its skill file once and runs the commands it needs. With the skill added, Claude Code also lists its one-line description with every message, about 200 tokens.

When the whole conversation is about OP3, the gap closes. Then the MCP server is the better experience, because you ask in plain language and your AI never has to look up a command.

How to spend less

In Claude Code, leave tool search on, which it is unless you've set ENABLE_TOOL_SEARCH=false.

Turn the server off when you aren't looking at your stats, with your AI app's own switch.

Or install the CLI and connect the server later, on the days it earns its place. Every tool stays in reach, and the standing cost drops to nothing.

Every number here was measured on October 5, 2026 in Claude Code 2.1.286 with Claude Opus 5.5. It's the same one-line prompt with and without the server connected, once with tool search off so every tool loads, and once with Claude Code's default. The skill was measured the same way, and other apps and models count tokens a little differently.

Reading the numbers

A few things about podcast numbers explain most of the questions people ask.

A download isn't a person

It's an app fetching a file, and one listener whose app fetches again over 3 days counts 3 times. op3_audience_summary gives both numbers and the ratio.

Compare episodes at the same age

An older episode has had longer to collect downloads. op3_episode_curve compares each one against your show's own median at the same age.

Nearly every show's biggest app is Apple Podcasts, so 40% on Apple can be below average. op3_benchmark_apps divides by OP3's global share, so 100 means exactly average.

The totals lag about a day

Rolled-up figures carry the date they're as of, which is why they won't match a live dashboard exactly.

Every OP3 tool

The tables below list all 22 tools, grouped the way the repo groups them. Every one only reads, and the server reaches nothing but OP3.

Shows and episodes

op3_resolve_show

What it does: Turn any podcast identifier into an OP3 show uuid.
Kind: Reads

op3_get_show

What it does: Look up a show on OP3: its uuid, title, podcast guid and public stats page.
Kind: Reads

op3_list_episodes

What it does: List a show's episodes with their OP3 episode ids, titles and publication dates, newest first.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_resolve_show`	Turn any podcast identifier into an OP3 show uuid.	Reads
`op3_get_show`	Look up a show on OP3: its uuid, title, podcast guid and public stats page.	Reads
`op3_list_episodes`	List a show's episodes with their OP3 episode ids, titles and publication dates, newest first.	Reads

Downloads

op3_show_downloads

What it does: A show's headline download numbers: downloads in the last 30 days, the week-by-week breakdown over the last four weeks, and the weekly average.
Kind: Reads

op3_episode_downloads

What it does: Per-episode download counts for a show's recent episodes: downloads in the first 1, 3, 7 and 30 days after publication, plus all-time.
Kind: Reads

op3_compare_shows

What it does: Compare several shows side by side on monthly downloads and weekly average, ranked.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_show_downloads`	A show's headline download numbers: downloads in the last 30 days, the week-by-week breakdown over the last four weeks, and the weekly average.	Reads
`op3_episode_downloads`	Per-episode download counts for a show's recent episodes: downloads in the first 1, 3, 7 and 30 days after publication, plus all-time.	Reads
`op3_compare_shows`	Compare several shows side by side on monthly downloads and weekly average, ranked.	Reads

Listeners and retention

op3_audience_summary

What it does: Unique listeners against downloads for a show over any window.
Kind: Reads

op3_new_vs_returning

What it does: Split a show's listeners in a window into first-time and returning, by comparing against a longer baseline period immediately before it.
Kind: Reads

op3_listener_retention

What it does: Cohort carry-over between two periods: how much of the earlier period's audience showed up again in the later one.
Kind: Reads

op3_episode_overlap

What it does: Which episodes share an audience.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_audience_summary`	Unique listeners against downloads for a show over any window.	Reads
`op3_new_vs_returning`	Split a show's listeners in a window into first-time and returning, by comparing against a longer baseline period immediately before it.	Reads
`op3_listener_retention`	Cohort carry-over between two periods: how much of the earlier period's audience showed up again in the later one.	Reads
`op3_episode_overlap`	Which episodes share an audience.	Reads

Trends

op3_download_trend

What it does: A show's downloads and unique listeners over time, bucketed by day, week or month, with a growth rate and the peak period.
Kind: Reads

op3_listening_patterns

What it does: When downloads happen, by hour of day and day of week, in UTC.
Kind: Reads

op3_episode_curve

What it does: How one episode is tracking against the show's own median at the same age.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_download_trend`	A show's downloads and unique listeners over time, bucketed by day, week or month, with a growth rate and the peak period.	Reads
`op3_listening_patterns`	When downloads happen, by hour of day and day of week, in UTC.	Reads
`op3_episode_curve`	How one episode is tracking against the show's own median at the same age.	Reads

Geography

op3_geography

What it does: Where a show's downloads come from, at whichever level you ask for: continent, country, region (state or province), metro area, or timezone.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_geography`	Where a show's downloads come from, at whichever level you ask for: continent, country, region (state or province), metro area, or timezone.	Reads

Apps and devices

op3_app_share

What it does: Which podcast apps a show's audience uses, over any window you choose, with unique listeners alongside downloads.
Kind: Reads

op3_device_breakdown

What it does: How a show is consumed, across all four dimensions OP3 records: agentType (app, browser, bot), agentName (the specific app), deviceType (mobile, computer, tablet, smart speaker) and deviceName (Apple iPhone, Android Phone).
Kind: Reads

op3_global_app_share

What it does: Podcast app market share across every show OP3 measures, over the last thirty days.
Kind: Reads

op3_benchmark_apps

What it does: A show's app mix against OP3's global mix, with an index where 100 means exactly average.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_app_share`	Which podcast apps a show's audience uses, over any window you choose, with unique listeners alongside downloads.	Reads
`op3_device_breakdown`	How a show is consumed, across all four dimensions OP3 records: agentType (app, browser, bot), agentName (the specific app), deviceType (mobile, computer, tablet, smart speaker) and deviceName (Apple iPhone, Android Phone).	Reads
`op3_global_app_share`	Podcast app market share across every show OP3 measures, over the last thirty days.	Reads
`op3_benchmark_apps`	A show's app mix against OP3's global mix, with an index where 100 means exactly average.	Reads

Discovery

op3_recent_transcripts

What it does: Recently published episodes across all of OP3 that carry a podcast:transcript tag, newest first.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_recent_transcripts`	Recently published episodes across all of OP3 that carry a podcast:transcript tag, newest first.	Reads

Raw data

op3_query_downloads

What it does: Raw download rows for a show, with every filter OP3 offers.
Kind: Reads

op3_query_hits

What it does: Raw request rows from OP3's redirect log, across every show unless filtered by url.
Kind: Reads

op3_verify_prefix

What it does: Check whether OP3 is actually receiving downloads for a show, and say what is wrong when it is not.
Kind: Reads

Tool	What it does	Kind
`op3_query_downloads`	Raw download rows for a show, with every filter OP3 offers.	Reads
`op3_query_hits`	Raw request rows from OP3's redirect log, across every show unless filtered by url.	Reads
`op3_verify_prefix`	Check whether OP3 is actually receiving downloads for a show, and say what is wrong when it is not.	Reads

Is the OP3 MCP server safe?

There's nothing to undo, because nothing here writes. Every tool reads OP3's public data.

Your listeners stay anonymous too. OP3's per-listener codes are counted inside the server and stripped from everything it returns, so your AI only sees counts, rates and shares.

Watch out: Show and episode titles come from anyone's RSS feed, so some text your AI reads was written by strangers. The server tells your AI to treat it as data, and since it only reads OP3, there's little it could be tricked into doing.

Your data

There's no server of ours in between. The server runs on your computer, talks to op3.dev and stores nothing on disk.

Answers are kept in memory for 5 minutes, so several questions about one show don't repeat the same slow scan. Set OP3_CACHE_TTL_MS=0 to turn that off.

OP3 MCP server settings

Every setting is optional, as an environment variable in your app's config.

OP3_TOKEN

Default: the preview token
What it does: Holds your own bearer token from op3.dev

OP3_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS

Default: 45000
What it does: Sets how long one request may take

OP3_MIN_REQUEST_INTERVAL_MS

Default: 150
What it does: Sets the pause between requests

OP3_MAX_ROWS

Default: 50000
What it does: Caps the rows any one analysis pulls

OP3_CACHE_TTL_MS

Default: 300000
What it does: Sets how long answers are kept in memory. 0 turns it off

OP3_API_KEY

Default: none
What it does: Another name for OP3_TOKEN, the word OP3's keys page uses

OP3_MAX_RETRIES

Default: 3
What it does: Retries on 429 and server errors

OP3_MAX_PAGES

Default: 40
What it does: Cap on continuation pages

OP3_USER_AGENT

Default: op3-mcp
What it does: Sent on every request

OP3_BASE_URL

Default: https://op3.dev/api/1
What it does: OP3's API root

OP3_SURFACE

Default: full
What it does: Full tool list, or search for very large catalogs

OP3_TOOL_TIMEOUT_MS

Default: none
What it does: Deadline for any tool

OP3_HTTP_PORT

Default: 8787
What it does: Port for --http, 8787 when unset

OP3_HTTP_HOST

Default: none
What it does: Address for --http, 127.0.0.1 when unset; any other needs a token

OP3_HTTP_TOKEN

Default: none
What it does: Bearer token --http requires

OP3_HTTP_ALLOWED_ORIGINS

Default: none
What it does: Browser origins beyond localhost that may call --http, comma-separated

OP3_DEBUG

Default: none
What it does: Print debug lines on stderr

Variable	Default	What it does
`OP3_TOKEN`	the preview token	Holds your own bearer token from op3.dev
`OP3_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS`	`45000`	Sets how long one request may take
`OP3_MIN_REQUEST_INTERVAL_MS`	`150`	Sets the pause between requests
`OP3_MAX_ROWS`	`50000`	Caps the rows any one analysis pulls
`OP3_CACHE_TTL_MS`	`300000`	Sets how long answers are kept in memory. `0` turns it off
`OP3_API_KEY`	none	Another name for OP3_TOKEN, the word OP3's keys page uses
`OP3_MAX_RETRIES`	`3`	Retries on 429 and server errors
`OP3_MAX_PAGES`	`40`	Cap on continuation pages
`OP3_USER_AGENT`	`op3-mcp`	Sent on every request
`OP3_BASE_URL`	`https://op3.dev/api/1`	OP3's API root
`OP3_SURFACE`	`full`	Full tool list, or search for very large catalogs
`OP3_TOOL_TIMEOUT_MS`	none	Deadline for any tool
`OP3_HTTP_PORT`	`8787`	Port for --http, 8787 when unset
`OP3_HTTP_HOST`	none	Address for --http, 127.0.0.1 when unset; any other needs a token
`OP3_HTTP_TOKEN`	none	Bearer token --http requires
`OP3_HTTP_ALLOWED_ORIGINS`	none	Browser origins beyond localhost that may call --http, comma-separated
`OP3_DEBUG`	none	Print debug lines on stderr

Troubleshooting

Run the doctor first. It names the step that failed and the fix.

What you see	What to do
"OP3 has nothing at /shows/…"	The feed has no OP3 prefix. Run `op3_verify_prefix`, then follow op3.dev/setup
Downloads are zero but the show exists	The prefix was added recently. Widen the window
A tool times out	The window is too wide for a scan. Narrow it
A result says it was cut short	A cap stopped the pull. Narrow the window or raise `OP3_MAX_ROWS`
Rate limited on the preview token	It's shared. Get your own at op3.dev/api/keys

If the server doesn't show up in your app at all, run the command your app runs, in a terminal, and read the error.

More free tools for your podcast

Price a sponsorship from your downloads, or see where your show ranks.

Free tools

MCP servers

Apple Podcasts MCP server & CLI Podcast Index MCP server & CLI

FAQs about the OP3 MCP server & CLI

Here are the questions people ask most about the OP3 MCP server and CLI.

What is the OP3 MCP server & CLI?

The OP3 MCP server & CLI is a free, open source program that lets an AI app like Claude, Codex or Cursor read open podcast analytics from OP3.

It has 22 tools for downloads, listeners, retention, geography, apps and trends, and the same tools run as a CLI that agents like Claude Code and Codex use, or that you type yourself.

What is an MCP server?

An MCP server is a standard way to give an AI app real access to a tool, so it can act instead of guessing.

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, and Claude, Codex, Cursor and many other AI apps speak it.

Every server I've made is on my MCP servers page.

What is the OP3 CLI?

The OP3 CLI is the same program as the OP3 MCP server, run as commands.

AI agents like Claude Code, Codex and OpenCode run them for you, and you can type them in a terminal or a script.

One npm package installs both.

Should I use the OP3 MCP server or the CLI?

Use the OP3 MCP server in an AI app with no terminal, like Claude Desktop's chat, and the CLI in a terminal, a script or a cron job.

In an AI app that can run commands, like Claude Code, Codex or Cursor, the CLI is the lighter choice, because it costs nothing until it runs.

Is the OP3 MCP server free?

Yes, the OP3 MCP server is free and open source under the MIT license, and OP3's data is free to read.

The only thing you pay for is your own AI app.

Do I need an OP3 account?

No, it works on OP3's shared preview token with nothing set up.

A free token of your own from op3.dev avoids the shared rate limit.

Does it work with my podcast host?

It works with any show whose feed carries the OP3 prefix, whoever hosts it.

Without the prefix, OP3 has never seen a download for the show.

Why are the numbers different from Apple or Spotify?

Each counts differently, and OP3 counts downloads through the prefix across every app.

OP3's totals also lag about a day.

Can my listeners be identified?

No, OP3's per-listener codes are counted inside the server and never returned.

Your AI only sees counts, rates and shares.

Which AI apps does the OP3 MCP server work with?

The OP3 MCP server works with any app that speaks MCP.

That includes Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Zed, Cline, GitHub Copilot CLI, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Antigravity and Hermes.

Who made the OP3 MCP server & CLI?

I did.

I'm Navid Moazzez, and I made the OP3 MCP server & CLI as one of my free tools on navid.me.

You can read more about me.

The code is on GitHub under the MIT license, and the package is on npm.

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