---
name: prowl
description: Install and use the Prowl MCP — one MCP that gives any AI agent 408 market-intelligence tools (SEO, ads, SERP, scraping, AI) on pay-as-you-go USD wallet billing.
version: 1.4.0
tags:
  - market-intelligence
  - competitive-analysis
  - seo
  - ads
  - mcp
---

# Prowl MCP — Install Skill

Feed this file to your coding agent (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, or any MCP-capable client) and it will wire up the **Prowl MCP** for you and remember it across sessions.

Prowl is **the MCP that turns any AI agent into a research analyst**. One server exposes **408 marketing-intelligence API tools** (DataForSEO, Majestic, SearchAPI, SerpAPI, web scraping, SEO, ads, AI) plus the full Prowl pipeline (`prowl_analyze`, async research sessions, artifacts). Your agent calls real data instead of guessing.

- MCP URL: `https://prowl.chat/mcp`
- Transport: Streamable HTTP
- Auth header: `Authorization: Bearer prowl_<your_key>`

---

## Token handling (read this first)

Prowl API keys (`prowl_...`) are **billing-bearing**: every `prowl_call_tool` / `prowl_analyze` invocation debits your USD wallet (provider cost x markup). Treat the key like a secret.

- It is fine to write the key into **ignored local MCP config** (`.cursor/mcp.json`, `~/.codex/...`, `~/.prowl/prowl_mcp_token`) when the user asks you to make setup work.
- **Never commit the key to a public repo or to git history.** Make sure the config path is git-ignored first.
- Keys can be scoped (allowed/denied categories, daily/total spend caps, IP allowlist) and revoked anytime from the web UI.
- New accounts get **$5 starter credit** so the user can test before topping up.

---

## Human steps (the user does these in the browser)

The agent cannot create the account or top up the balance — the human does this once, then hands you the token.

1. **Sign up / log in** at [https://prowl.chat](https://prowl.chat).
2. **Top up the wallet** (optional but recommended): MCP Home -> **Wallet** -> pick a top-up pack ($10 / $50 / $200, Stripe checkout). Starter credit ($5) covers light testing.
3. **Generate a token**: MCP Home -> **Set up in 3 steps** -> Step 1 **Generate your token** -> click **Generate token**. The full `prowl_...` key is shown **once** — copy it.
4. **Hand the token to the agent**: paste the key into the agent chat (or tell the agent where it is) and ask it to "set up the Prowl MCP using the install skill at https://prowl.chat/mcp/install.md".

---

## Agent steps (client-specific setup)

Pick the block matching the user's client. In every case: confirm the config file is git-ignored, write the token, and verify.

### Cursor

1. Write `.cursor/mcp.json` (merge if it exists) with a Streamable HTTP server:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "prowl": {
      "url": "https://prowl.chat/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer prowl_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

2. Install the local `/prowl` slash skill so it appears in Cursor: save this file to `.cursor/skills/prowl/SKILL.md` (project) or `~/.cursor/skills/prowl/SKILL.md` (global). Connecting the MCP server alone exposes the tools but does **not** create the slash skill.
3. Ensure `.cursor` (or `.cursor/mcp.json`) is in `.gitignore`, then reload Cursor.

### Claude Code

1. Add the remote MCP server (CLI):

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http prowl https://prowl.chat/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer prowl_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
```

2. (Optional) install the packaged skill for namespaced `/prowl:*` commands:

```bash
claude plugin marketplace add https://github.com/PROWL-AI/prowl-skill
claude plugin install prowl@prowl
```

3. Restart Claude Code, then verify the `prowl_*` tools are listed.

### Codex

1. Store the token at `~/.prowl/prowl_mcp_token` (create the dir, `chmod 600` the file).
2. Add the MCP server to `${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}/config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.prowl]
url = "https://prowl.chat/mcp"

[mcp_servers.prowl.headers]
Authorization = "Bearer prowl_YOUR_KEY_HERE"
```

3. (Optional) install the packaged skill:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add https://github.com/PROWL-AI/prowl-skill
```

Then ensure `[plugins."prowl@prowl"] enabled = true` in `config.toml`.
4. Restart Codex and verify the Prowl plugin skills and MCP tools.

### Generic MCP client

Configure a **Streamable HTTP** MCP server at `https://prowl.chat/mcp` with header `Authorization: Bearer prowl_YOUR_KEY_HERE`.

---

## Verify

1. List MCP tools and confirm `prowl_list_tools`, `prowl_tool_info`, `prowl_call_tool`, and `prowl_analyze` are present.
2. Run `prowl_list_tools` (free) — it returns the 408 tools grouped by category.
3. Optional connectivity check (no auth): `curl https://prowl.chat/mcp/health` → `{ "status": "ok", "server": "prowl_mcp", "version": "1.4.0", "transport": "streamable-http", "endpoint": "/mcp" }`.
4. First real call (debits wallet): `prowl_call_tool` with `{ "tool_name": "extract_domain_from_url", "params": { "url": "https://www.stripe.com/pricing" } }` (a $0 utility tool — safe smoke test).

---

## Core tools

| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `prowl_list_tools` | Browse the 408 tools by category (free) |
| `prowl_search_tools` | Semantic search over the catalog by intent, paginated (free) |
| `prowl_tool_info` | JSON input schema + estimated cost for one tool |
| `prowl_call_tool` | Invoke any single tool, metered (wallet debit) |
| `prowl_analyze` | Full multi-agent competitive report in one shot |
| `prowl_start_session` / `prowl_session_status` / `prowl_get_session` | Async deep-research: kick off, poll, read back |

Recommended flow: `prowl_search_tools` (or `prowl_list_tools`) → `prowl_tool_info` → `prowl_call_tool`. Use `prowl_analyze` when you want a complete strategy report. Pass a stable `session_id` across calls to keep per-conversation memory.

Full reference: [https://prowl.chat/mcp/skill.md](https://prowl.chat/mcp/skill.md)

---

## Billing & wallet

- **Subscription pool** — credited by Stripe plan renewal; burns at period end (charged 1st).
- **Extra pool** — one-time top-ups ($10 / $50 / $200); never expires (charged 2nd).
- Each `prowl_call_tool` response includes a `billing` object (`estimated_cost_usd`, `actual_cost_usd`, `debited`).
- Insufficient balance → the tool blocks before running. Top up at MCP Home.
- Check balance: MCP Home, or `GET https://prowl.chat/api/v1/wallet` (JWT). Public price catalog: `GET https://prowl.chat/api/v1/tools/pricing`.

---

## When to use Prowl

- Competitive / market intelligence: competitors, pricing, funnels, reviews, positioning.
- SEO research: SERP, keyword research, backlinks, domain analytics, on-page.
- Ad creative & spend research (Meta, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn).
- Any task where the agent needs **real numbers** instead of guesses.

## When not to use

- Generic coding with no research/data component.
- Tasks fully answerable from the local codebase.