About ChatRail
ChatRail is an MCP server for developers managing a ChatRail WhatsApp workspace. It provides connection health, group and delivery inspection, plus preview-confirmed controls for scheduled messages and webhook retries.
Key features
- 01Inspect WhatsApp connection health
- 02Look up groups and participants
- 03Trace message delivery and failures
- 04Manage scheduled messages
- 05Review and replay webhook deliveries
Use cases
- 01Check a WhatsApp connection's status
- 02Investigate a failed message delivery
- 03Reschedule or cancel a pending message
- 04Replay a failed webhook delivery
MCP support
ChatRail connects to MCP clients through a hosted remote server with OAuth or a local stdio package using a workspace API key. Its tools inspect and manage workspace operations; they do not send messages.
Configuration
Remote servers need no local install. Pick your client, then copy the config or install in one click.
https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcpclaude mcp add --transport http dev-chatrail-chatrail https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp{"mcpServers":{"dev-chatrail-chatrail":{"type":"http","url":"https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp"}}}Open in Cursor{"servers":{"dev-chatrail-chatrail":{"type":"http","url":"https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp"}}}Open in VS Code{"mcpServers":{"dev-chatrail-chatrail":{"type":"http","url":"https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp"}}}{"mcpServers":{"dev-chatrail-chatrail":{"serverUrl":"https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp"}}}Run commands in a terminal; paste JSON into the client’s MCP config and restart. Servers that need sign-in will prompt on first connect.
Tools
Details
From the project READMEChatRail MCP server
Operate a ChatRail workspace from Claude, Cursor, VS Code and any other Model Context Protocol client. Check the health of your WhatsApp connections, look up groups, trace why a message failed, manage scheduled messages and replay webhook deliveries without leaving your editor.
ChatRail is a WhatsApp API for developers: send and receive WhatsApp messages over HTTP from a number you already have. See the MCP documentation for the full reference.
Privacy by design
- Message bodies, recipient phone numbers and credentials are never returned by any tool.
- Tools that change state return a preview first and apply only when called again with
confirm: true. - Every call is scoped to one workspace and recorded in its audit log.
Two ways to connect
1. Hosted server with OAuth (recommended)
Point any client that supports remote MCP servers at:
https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp
Your client opens a browser window where a workspace owner, admin or developer approves access. Nothing to install and no key to copy.
Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport http chatrail https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp
Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json)
{
"mcpServers": {
"chatrail": { "url": "https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp" }
}
}
VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json)
{
"servers": {
"chatrail": { "type": "http", "url": "https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp" }
}
}
2. Local stdio server with an API key
For clients that only run local servers, or when you would rather use an API key. This package runs on your machine and forwards requests to the hosted server.
- In the ChatRail dashboard, create a workspace API key with
the
mcp:readscope. Addmcp:writeif the assistant may reschedule, cancel, react or replay. - Add the server to your client.
Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)
{
"mcpServers": {
"chatrail": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "chatrail-mcp"],
"env": { "CHATRAIL_API_KEY": "cr_live_..." }
}
}
}
The package is published on npm as chatrail-mcp, so npx fetches it from the
registry. If you need a version that is not published yet, run it straight from
the repository instead:
"args": ["-y", "github:chatrail/chatrail_mcp"]
Docker
docker build -t chatrail-mcp .
docker run -i --rm -e CHATRAIL_API_KEY=cr_live_... chatrail-mcp
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
CHATRAIL_API_KEY | Yes, to call tools | Workspace API key with mcp:read (and optionally mcp:write). |
CHATRAIL_MCP_URL | No | Override the endpoint. Defaults to https://www.chatrail.dev/v1/mcp. |
Without a key the server still starts and lists its tools, so you can inspect it before signing up.
Tools
| Tool | Scope | What it does |
|---|---|---|
list_connections | read | Every WhatsApp connection in the workspace with its state and health. |
get_connection | read | One connection with its state, health and recent state history. |
list_whatsapp_groups | read | Groups visible to a connected number, with ids and participant counts. |
get_whatsapp_group | read | Name, description, settings and member counts for one group. |
list_messages | read | Recent messages with their delivery state. |
get_message | read | One message and its delivery timeline. |
explain_message_failure | read | A structured explanation of why a message failed. |
list_scheduled_messages | read | Messages waiting to be sent, soonest first. |
list_webhook_deliveries | read | Recent webhook deliveries and their outcomes. |
reschedule_message | write | Change when a scheduled message is sent. Previews first. |
cancel_scheduled_message | write | Cancel a message that has not been sent. Previews first. |
react_to_message | write | Set or remove an emoji reaction on a message. Previews first. |
replay_webhook | write | Requeue a dead or skipped webhook delivery. Previews first. |
Plans
MCP access is included on the ChatRail Core + AI and Team plans. See pricing.
Development
npm install
npm run build
CHATRAIL_API_KEY=cr_test_... node dist/index.js
tools.json is the tool catalog served when no API key is configured. It is exported from the
hosted server and should be refreshed when the hosted tools change.
Agent skill
ChatRail publishes a skill file that tells an agent when to use ChatRail, what a person has to set up, how to send and receive, and the rules for sending. This MCP server operates a workspace and cannot send messages, so the skill points to the REST API for sending.
Give your agent this line:
Read https://www.chatrail.dev/SKILL.md and follow it to set up ChatRail.
Or install it with the skills CLI, which installs agent skills from a GitHub repository:
npx skills add chatrail/chatrail_mcp
Or copy it into Claude Code by hand:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/chatrail
curl -fsSL https://www.chatrail.dev/SKILL.md -o ~/.claude/skills/chatrail/SKILL.md
The canonical file is https://www.chatrail.dev/SKILL.md. A copy lives in this repository at
skills/chatrail/SKILL.md so tools that install skills from GitHub can find it.
Links
- Website: https://www.chatrail.dev
- MCP docs: https://www.chatrail.dev/mcp
- API reference: https://www.chatrail.dev/api-reference
- Authentication: https://www.chatrail.dev/auth.md
- Agent skill: https://www.chatrail.dev/SKILL.md
License
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.