Importly MCP Server
# Importly MCP Server
Give your AI agent the ability to **download, transcribe, and inspect any video or audio URL** — YouTube, TikTok, X, podcasts, and 1000+ other sites.
[Importly](https://importly.io/?utm_source=mcp&utm_medium=integration&utm_campaign=readme) runs yt-dlp, rotating residential proxies, ffmpeg, and speech-to-text server-side, so your agent (and you) never deal with IP bans, 429s, cookie rot, or extractor breakage.
## Tools
| Tool | What it does |
| ---- | ------------ |
| `import_media` / `check_import` | Download media to hosted storage, get a direct link (optionally with a transcript) |
| `transcribe_media` / `check_transcription` | Speech-to-text with timestamped segments |
| `get_metadata` / `check_metadata` | Full metadata: formats, uploader, thumbnails, stats |
| `get_basic_metadata` / `check_basic_metadata` | Fast title/duration/thumbnail lookup |
| `check_balance` | Remaining credit balance |
Jobs are async: submit tools return a `jobId`, check tools poll it. Responses tell the agent exactly what to do next.
## Setup
1. Get an API key at [importly.io](https://importly.io/?utm_source=mcp&utm_medium=integration&utm_campaign=readme) — **$3.00 in free credits, no card required**.
2. Add the server to your MCP client:
### Claude Code
```bash
claude mcp add importly -e IMPORTLY_API_KEY=your_key -- npx -y importly-mcp
```
### Claude Desktop / Cursor / Cline / Windsurf
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"importly": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "importly-mcp"],
"env": { "IMPORTLY_API_KEY": "your_key" }
}
}
}
```
(Claude Desktop: `claude_desktop_config.json` · Cursor: `.cursor/mcp.json` · Cline: MCP settings UI · Windsurf: `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`)
## Example prompts
- "Transcribe this talk and summarize the key points: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=…"
- "Download the audio of this podcast episode and give me a link"
- "How long is this video and who uploaded it?"
## Pricing
Usage-based credits (downloads ~$0.01/MB, transcription per media minute) — see [pricing](https://importly.io/pricing?utm_source=mcp&utm_medium=integration&utm_campaign=readme). New accounts get $3.00 free.
## Docs & support
- [Setup guide](https://importly.io/docs/integrations/mcp?utm_source=mcp&utm_medium=integration&utm_campaign=readme)
- [API docs](https://importly.io/docs?utm_source=mcp&utm_medium=integration&utm_campaign=readme)
- support@importly.io
MIT licensed. The server is a thin wrapper over the [Importly API](https://importly.io/docs?utm_source=mcp&utm_medium=integration&utm_campaign=readme).
TDQS
Scored across 9 tools
Tools are clearly organized into four async operations (import, full metadata, basic metadata, transcription) each with a paired check tool, plus a balance check. The only ambiguity is between import_media with includeTranscript and transcribe_media, but descriptions clarify the intended use.
All tool names follow a verb_noun pattern with action verbs (import_media, get_metadata, transcribe_media) and check_ prefixed status tools (check_import, check_metadata, check_basic_metadata, check_transcription). The pattern is consistent and predictable.
With 9 tools, the server is well-scoped for its purpose: four async operations, four corresponding status checks, and a balance check. Each tool serves a distinct need without redundancy.
The server covers the core workflows of media import, metadata retrieval (full and basic), transcription, and balance monitoring. Minor gaps exist such as no job cancellation or listing, but these are not essential for the stated purpose.