About Shotapi
Shotapi is an MCP server for agents that need screenshots of web pages or images rendered from HTML and CSS. It offers URL-based capture and configurable screenshots, plus an HTML/CSS rendering tool.
Key features
- 01Capture a URL as a screenshot
- 02Control viewport and full-page capture
- 03Capture a selected CSS element
- 04Render HTML and CSS to images
- 05Remote Streamable HTTP setup
Use cases
- 01Inspect a generated page visually
- 02Check a deployed site for layout issues
- 03Capture screenshots for UI regression checks
MCP support
It exposes screenshot and HTML/CSS rendering tools to MCP clients through a remote Streamable HTTP endpoint, with a local STDIO mode also documented.
Configuration
Remote servers need no local install. Pick your client, then copy the config or install in one click.
https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcpclaude mcp add --transport http shotapi https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp{"mcpServers":{"shotapi":{"type":"http","url":"https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp"}}}Open in Cursor{"servers":{"shotapi":{"type":"http","url":"https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp"}}}Open in VS Code{"mcpServers":{"shotapi":{"type":"http","url":"https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp"}}}{"mcpServers":{"shotapi":{"serverUrl":"https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/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 READMEShotAPI — Web Screenshot & Render MCP Server for AI Agents
Give your AI Agent eyes. One command, zero install.
Quick Start (Remote Mode — No Install)
# Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport streamable-http shotapi https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp
# Or with npx
npx -y @anthropic-ai/claude-code@latest --mcp https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp
For Claude Desktop / Cursor, add to your config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"shotapi": {
"type": "streamable-http",
"url": "https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/mcp"
}
}
}
Real Use Cases
1. Claude verifies its own code
Human: Build a landing page with a hero section, testimonials, and pricing grid.
Claude: [writes HTML/CSS code]
Claude: Let me check this with the render tool...
[Claude calls ShotAPI render tool with the HTML it wrote]
Claude: The pricing grid overlaps on mobile. Fixing responsive breakpoints...
2. Deployment verification
Human: I just deployed. Check if it looks right.
Claude: [calls ShotAPI screenshot on https://yourapp.com]
Claude: Footer text is cut off — CSS overflow issue. Background image 404.
3. UI regression in CI/CD
# Capture before/after screenshots and compare
curl -s "https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/v1/screenshot?url=https://staging.myapp.com" -o before.png
curl -s "https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/v1/screenshot?url=https://staging.myapp.com" -o after.png
3 MCP Tools
| Tool | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
screenshot_one_liner | One URL, one screenshot | screenshot_one_liner(url="https://github.com") |
screenshot | Full control: viewport, full-page, CSS selector, format | screenshot(url="https://github.com", selector="#hero") |
render | Render HTML/CSS to image — Agent writes code, sees result instantly | render(html="<h1>Hello</h1>") |
The render tool closes the feedback loop: write code → render → see → revise → render again.
Why ShotAPI?
- MCP-native — No glue code. Agent calls tools directly in conversation.
- Zero install remote mode — streamable-http, no Python/Playwright needed.
- Direct China access — No VPN required.
- Free tier — 50 screenshots + 50 renders/month, IP-based, no signup, no API key. All features unlocked (full-page, selector, WebP).
- Render capability — Not just screenshots of existing pages. Render Agent-generated HTML.
- Built-in ad blocking — Cleaner screenshots, less noise.
- Listed in MCP Registry — Official Anthropic MCP server directory.
Try It Now (No Signup)
curl -s "https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/v1/screenshot?url=https://github.com" -o shot.jpg
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50+50/month (IP-based, all features, no signup) |
| Starter | $4.90/mo | 5,000/month |
| Pro | $9.90/mo | 20,000/month |
Free tier: no API key needed. Paid: get key at pricing page.
Local Mode (STDIO)
For private deployments or paid-tier usage, run locally:
# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
playwright install chromium
# Set env vars
export SHOTAPI_BASE_URL=https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc
export SHOTAPI_KEY=your_key_here # optional for paid tiers
# Add to Claude Code
claude mcp add shotapi python mcp_stdio.py
Links
- Docs: https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/docs
- Pricing: https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/pricing
- Health: https://aiphotoshop.mynatapp.cc/health
- MCP Registry: https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/servers/io.github.smallhandsome/shotapi-mcp-server
- Smithery: https://smithery.ai/server/@ljs/shotapi
- awesome-mcp-servers: https://github.com/punkpeye/awesome-mcp-servers
- Dev.to Article: https://dev.to/smallhandsome/give-your-ai-agent-eyes-building-a-visual-mcp-server-for-web-screenshots-3f49
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