What is a Claude marketplace?

A Claude marketplace is a platform that bundles and distributes extensions for Claude. These can be skills (self-contained extensions for Claude Code), MCP servers (tool integrations via the Model Context Protocol), prompts (pre-built instructions), or workflow templates. A marketplace lets you find vetted content faster than searching the open web and extend your Claude installation deliberately without building everything yourself.

How do skill marketplaces, MCP server directories, and prompt marketplaces differ?

Skill marketplaces (e.g., OpenClaw) deliver complete extension packages for Claude Code, often with their own code and configuration. MCP server directories (e.g., Smithery, MCP.so) list individual tool servers that Claude can call via the Model Context Protocol. Prompt marketplaces (e.g., PromptBase, Snack Prompt) are collections of curated text without code. Skills are the most powerful, MCP servers the most modular, and prompts the easiest to deploy.

Are Claude marketplaces safe?

Safety depends heavily on the marketplace. Platforms like Glama, MseeP, and Smithery perform security audits and check content for malicious code. Purely community-driven lists (e.g., Awesome repos) have no central review. The general rule: before installing a skill or MCP server, check the source code, permissions, and last update. For sensitive tasks, use only content from verified providers or the official Anthropic ecosystem.

Which marketplace is best for beginners?

For beginners we recommend Smithery or MCP.so because both offer a searchable web interface and install MCP servers with one click. For Claude-Code-specific skills, OpenClaw is the most direct path. If you do not know what an MCP server is, start with the Anthropic Cookbook, which provides official examples and step-by-step tutorials. Cursor Directory and Continue Hub are ideal if you already work in VS Code and want to integrate Claude there.

Which marketplaces are officially supported by Anthropic?

Directly run by Anthropic are the Anthropic Plugins Hub and the Anthropic Cookbook on GitHub. All other platforms in this overview are third parties that support Claude but operate independently. This is not a disadvantage: many third parties such as Smithery or OpenClaw cover areas Anthropic itself does not, and often have faster release cycles. With third parties, check for transparent ownership and active maintenance.

Do I need a separate account for each marketplace?

Many marketplaces let you browse without an account, including MCP.so, Glama, Cursor Directory, and the Awesome lists on GitHub. For installation or personalization, some platforms require an account, usually via GitHub OAuth (Smithery, Composio, Toolhouse) or classic login (PromptBase, Snack Prompt, Lobe Hub). Anthropic-owned services require an existing Claude account. If data minimisation matters to you, start with the login-free marketplaces and add accounts later as needed.

How do I install a skill or MCP server from a marketplace?

MCP server directories like Smithery and MCP.so typically offer an install command you paste directly into Claude Code or the Claude Desktop config (e.g., via `npx -y @smithery/cli install`). Skills from OpenClaw are installed via the `claude skills install` command in the Claude CLI. For GitHub-based sources you clone the repo and follow the README. Before installing, check permissions: an MCP server that requests filesystem or browser access needs explicit approval.

Which marketplaces are completely free?

Free to browse and use without a mandatory account are MCP.so, Glama, Cursor Directory, Anthropic Cookbook, Awesome MCP Servers, and Awesome Claude Code. Smithery, MseeP, and PulseMCP are also free for end users but partly fund themselves via sponsoring or premium features for providers. PromptBase, Lobe Hub, and LangChain Hub use freemium models in which individual premium prompts or additional features cost extra.

What risks exist with third-party skills?

The main risks are prompt injection, unintended data exfiltration, and code execution with overly broad permissions. A malicious skill could send your credentials to an external server or hide instructions inside the prompt. Mitigations: prefer open-source skills with readable code, check permissions before installation, keep sensitive API keys in a separate environment, and use tools like our skill scanner for an automated safety review.

How do I keep installed marketplace content up to date?

MCP servers installed via a package manager (npm, pip, uv) update through your package manager's normal update command. Smithery packages support `smithery upgrade`. Claude Code skills from OpenClaw can be updated via `claude skills update`. GitHub-based content needs a manual `git pull`. For production environments we recommend a weekly audit of all installed extensions and an automatic security update window.

The 22 Most Trustworthy Claude Marketplaces in 2026

Anthropic Plugins

Anthropic · since 2025

—

Entries

Official Anthropic plugin platform for Claude Code and Cowork

SkillsFreeAnthropic-OfficialEditorially Curated

Pros

Hosted and curated directly by Anthropic
One-click plugin installation
Filter by compatibility with Cowork and Claude Code

Cons

Significantly smaller catalog than community hubs
Limited to Claude Code and Cowork (no Claude Web)

Claude Marketplaces Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Claude marketplace?

How do skill marketplaces, MCP server directories, and prompt marketplaces differ?

Are Claude marketplaces safe?

Which marketplace is best for beginners?

Which marketplaces are officially supported by Anthropic?

Do I need a separate account for each marketplace?

How do I install a skill or MCP server from a marketplace?

Which marketplaces are completely free?

What risks exist with third-party skills?

How do I keep installed marketplace content up to date?

Initial release with 22 marketplaces

Claude Marketplaces Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Claude marketplace?

How do skill marketplaces, MCP server directories, and prompt marketplaces differ?

Are Claude marketplaces safe?

Which marketplace is best for beginners?

Which marketplaces are officially supported by Anthropic?

Do I need a separate account for each marketplace?

How do I install a skill or MCP server from a marketplace?

Which marketplaces are completely free?

What risks exist with third-party skills?

How do I keep installed marketplace content up to date?

Initial release with 22 marketplaces