PubNub MCP: PubNub docs and apps in an agent
PubNub MCP Server
PubNub's official MCP server: SDK docs in 20 languages and management of apps, keysets, channels and analytics from an agent
- 33 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
Broad access
Why this level
- An agent creates and changes apps and keysets in the PubNub account
- Through the server an agent publishes messages to channels that product users will see
Install
- Works in
Manual install
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http pubnub https://mcp.pubnub.comThe command from the README, sign-in through OAuth with the /mcp command.
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- An agent creates and changes apps and keysets in the PubNub account
- Through the server an agent publishes messages to channels that product users will see
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The server connects an agent to PubNub, a real-time messaging platform. It is hosted at https://mcp.pubnub.com and signs in with OAuth, so nothing needs to be installed. A local run through npx @pubnub/mcp with an API key also exists. The agent gets SDK documentation and code samples for 20-plus languages, creates and configures apps and keysets, sends messages and signals to channels, and manages user profiles, channel metadata and memberships. It checks presence, meaning who is online now, and analytics for channels, users and messages, plus usage by app and keyset. Some features depend on the plan: real-time decisioning needs Illuminate, while viewing profiles in the admin portal and full analytics need Manage Premium.
Who it is for. Developers of chat, notifications and other live features on PubNub who want to write code and configure apps right from Claude Code or Cursor.
Good fit when
- You need to add the PubNub SDK in Kotlin and get a sample of publishing a message to a channel
- You want to create an app with a keyset and turn on message persistence
- For a chat you want to see who is online on a channel right now
- The team needs a usage report by app keysets for the month
- You want to check channel metadata and user memberships before a release
Not a fit when
- The project does not use PubNub: the server works only with its API and docs
- You only need to read documentation without account access: the docs site is enough
- Do not give an agent full access to a production account: a separate service key with narrow rights is better
- You need messages posted to production channels with no check: the agent will actually send them
Example request
Create a chat app with message persistence, show a Swift example of publishing to a channel and tell me how many users are online now.MCP
- Transport
- http, stdio
- Authentication
- OAuth
Environment variables
PUBNUB_API_KEYsecret- PubNub API key for a local run, unused with OAuth
Limitations
The hosted server signs in with OAuth and asks you to pick an organization and allow access. A local run needs an API key, and PubNub documentation advises creating a separate service integration for it. Some tools depend on paid features: Illuminate for real-time decisioning and Manage Premium for profiles and full analytics.
When moving to the hosted server, remove the old local setup from the client. Through the server an agent creates and changes apps and keysets and publishes messages.
How to disable. Remove the server with claude mcp remove pubnub. Revoke access in PubNub settings and disable the API key of a local install in the portal.
FAQ
How do I connect PubNub MCP to Claude Code?
With claude mcp add --scope user --transport http pubnub https://mcp.pubnub.com. Then open /mcp, select pubnub, click authenticate and allow access in the browser. No package install is needed.
Is there a local run?
Yes: npx @pubnub/mcp@latest, with the API key passed in the PUBNUB_API_KEY variable. It is for clients without remote server support, and the README recommends the hosted option for the rest.
What does the server do besides documentation?
It creates apps and keysets, publishes messages and signals, manages profiles, channels and memberships, and shows presence, analytics and usage. Some features need the paid Illuminate or Manage Premium plans.
Is it safe to give an agent a PubNub key?
Give a separate service key with minimal rights, as PubNub documentation advises. The hosted OAuth option is handier because it keeps no key in the client config, but the agent can still change apps and publish messages.
Do I need a paid plan?
For documentation and basic actions an ordinary PubNub account is enough. Real-time decisioning needs Illuminate, while viewing profiles in the admin portal and full analytics need Manage Premium.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PubNub MCP: PubNub docs and apps in an agent (this card) | yes | OAuth | 33 | |
| Twilio MCP Server | yes | API key | 114 | Twilio call and SMS APIs, while here real-time messaging and PubNub keyset management |
| Slack MCP Server | no | key is optional | 1,896 | the Slack workplace messenger, here a messaging platform for your own apps |
README in short
The README opens with the hosted server and a feature list, then gives step-by-step setup for VS Code, Cursor, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, Gemini CLI and OpenCode. A separate part covers a local run with an API key, and there is a developer section.