Substack API MCP

Substack does not provide a native public API for publishing posts.

But authors who want to draft, publish, and schedule from AI agents (Cursor, Claude, and other MCP hosts) still need a way out. This is the MCP server to publish to Substack via any agent.

Will not start without a valid APISUBSTACK_API_KEY (ask_*). Get API key here: apisubstack.com.

Why this exists

Reality	What we built
No official Substack write/publish API for authors	A posting MCP so agents can create drafts, publish now, and schedule
Authors live in the browser editor	Authors publish through their agents instead
Session-cookie auth is the practical path today	`substack.sid` + your publication URL, gated by an API Substack key

Examples

ignalex.substack.com

Tools

Tool	Description
`test_connection`	Verify `substack.sid` and return profile
`create_post`	Create draft / publish now / schedule (+ optional tags)
`get_draft`	Fetch draft by id
`pangram_detection`	Pangram AI-text / AI-slop check on a draft
`update_draft`	Update draft fields
`publish_post`	Publish existing draft
`schedule_post`	Schedule existing draft
`delete_draft`	Delete draft
`list_tags`	List publication tags
`create_tag`	Create tag
`set_tags`	Ensure + attach tags
`get_post_tags`	List tags on a post/draft
`create_note`	Create a Substack Note (optional link attachment)
`delete_note`	Delete a Substack Note by id

Install

cd /path/to/Substack-API-MCP
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -e .

Auth env

Sign in at apisubstack.com, start the free trial, generate an ask_* API key.
Copy your Substack substack.sid cookie:
- Open Chrome and sign in to Substack.
- Open DevTools → Application → Cookies.
- Select https://substack.com (or your publication host, e.g. https://yourname.substack.com).
- Find the cookie named substack.sid and copy its Value.
Export:

export APISUBSTACK_API_KEY="ask_YOUR_KEY"
export SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL="https://yourname.substack.com"
export SUBSTACK_SID="YOUR_SUBSTACK_SID_VALUE"
# optional
# export SUBSTACK_USER_ID="123456"

Cookies expire. If you get 401/403, refresh substack.sid and try again.

Run

substack-api-mcp
# or
python -m substack_api_mcp

Cursor / Claude Desktop config

See mcp.example.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "substack-api": {
      "command": "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/Substack-API-MCP/.venv/bin/substack-api-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "APISUBSTACK_API_KEY": "ask_YOUR_KEY",
        "SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL": "https://yourname.substack.com",
        "SUBSTACK_SID": "YOUR_SUBSTACK_SID_VALUE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Use absolute paths. Restart the host after config changes.

License

Attribution-or-Royalty (source available). See LICENSE and COMMERCIAL_LICENSE.md.

Non-commercial use: allowed (keep copyright + license notice).
Commercial use: either visible attribution everywhere the software is used, or a paid royalty / commercial license via apisubstack.com.

Use at your own risk. Not affiliated with Substack. Built so authors can publish through their agents when Substack itself does not offer a native publishing API.

Substack API MCP

Substack API MCP

Why this exists

Examples

Tools

Install

Auth env

Run

Cursor / Claude Desktop config

License

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