AI Assistant Setup (MCP Server)

AI Assistant Setup (MCP Server)

VideoStats includes a built-in AI integration that lets you connect tools like Claude (CoWork), ChatGPT, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Cursor directly to your channel's analytics data. Once connected, you can ask natural-language questions about your YouTube performance and get instant answers — no need to navigate dashboards or export CSVs.

This works using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that lets AI tools securely read data from external services.

Choose Your Connection Method

There are two ways to connect your AI tool, depending on which tool you're using:

MethodBest forHow it works
OAuth (Recommended)Claude (CoWork), ChatGPTPaste a connector URL into your AI tool. Sign in to VideoStats once when prompted — no token to copy or manage.
MCP TokenClaude Code, Claude Desktop, CursorCreate a token in VideoStats and paste a connection command into your tool's config.

If your AI tool supports custom connectors with OAuth (Claude CoWork or ChatGPT), use the OAuth method — it's simpler and more secure. For developer-style tools that need a config file (Claude Code, Cursor), use the MCP Token method.

What You Can Do

Once connected, your AI tool has access to:

  • Video performance — views, likes, clicks, leads, sales, and conversion rates for any video
  • Channel overview — subscriber counts, video counts, and aggregate metrics
  • Top content — rank videos by any metric to find your best performers
  • Landing page performance — see which destination URLs drive the most conversions
  • URL drill-down — find which specific videos are driving clicks, leads, and sales to any landing page
  • Thumbnail analysis — get AI-powered visual feedback on your thumbnails with performance context
  • Trend analysis — compare this week vs. last month, spot what's trending up or down
  • Optimization opportunities — find high-traffic videos with below-average conversions
  • Side-by-side comparisons — compare 2-5 videos head-to-head on every metric
  • QR code management — list, view stats, and create QR codes with optional video association
  • Feedback — request features or improvements directly through your AI tool

Method 1: OAuth (Recommended for Claude CoWork & ChatGPT)

The OAuth method is the easiest way to connect. You paste a single URL into your AI tool, sign in to VideoStats once when prompted, and you're done. No token to copy, store, or rotate.

Step 1: Copy Your Connector URL

  1. Go to Settings > MCP in your VideoStats dashboard
  2. Find the Claude CoWork and ChatGPT Connector section at the top
  3. Click Copy URL

The connector URL is bound to the workspace you're currently viewing. If you have multiple channels, switch to each one and copy its URL separately — each channel needs its own connector.

Step 2: Add the Custom Connector in Your AI Tool

Claude (Desktop or CoWork)

  1. Open Claude and go to Settings > Connectors
  2. Click Add custom connector
  3. Paste the URL from Step 1
  4. Click Add

ChatGPT

  1. Open ChatGPT and go to Settings > Connectors
  2. Click Add custom connector
  3. Paste the URL from Step 1
  4. Click Add

Step 3: Approve the Connection

When you add the connector, a VideoStats login window will pop up.

  1. Sign in to VideoStats (if you're not already signed in)
  2. Review the access being requested
  3. Click Authorize

Your AI tool now has access to that workspace's data — no token to manage. You can revoke access at any time from your VideoStats account settings.

Connecting Multiple Channels

(Note, this is only relevant IF your Video Stats account gives you the permission to have multiple channels ?AND if you have set up multiple channels.)

Each channel has its own connector URL. To connect a second workspace:

  1. Switch to the other workspace in VideoStats
  2. Go to Settings > MCP and copy that workspace's URL
  3. Add it as a separate custom connector in your AI tool

Your AI tool will see each workspace as a distinct connection.

Method 2: MCP Token (For Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor)

For developer-focused tools that don't support OAuth custom connectors, you'll create a token in VideoStats and paste a connection command into your tool's config.

Step 1: Create an MCP Token

  1. Go to Settings > MCP in your VideoStats dashboard
  2. Scroll to the MCP Access section
  3. Click Create MCP Token
  4. Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Claude Code - MacBook" or "Cursor - Work Laptop")
  5. Your token will be created and listed in the table

Each token is scoped to the channel you're currently viewing. For multiple channels, create a separate token from each channel's settings.

Step 2: Copy the Connection Command

  1. Find your new token in the list and click Connect
  2. Select the tab for your AI tool (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Other)
  3. Copy the connection command or JSON config

Claude Code

Run the provided command in your terminal:

claude mcp add --transport http videostats-your-channel https://app.videostats.io/mcp/video-stats --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" --scope user

Then restart Claude Code to pick up the new connection.

Claude Desktop

Add the provided JSON to your Claude Desktop settings under Developer > MCP Servers:

{
  "videostats-your-channel": {
    "type": "streamable-http",
    "url": "https://app.videostats.io/mcp/video-stats",
    "headers": {
      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

Then restart Claude Desktop.

Cursor

Add the provided JSON to your Cursor MCP settings (Settings > MCP):

{
  "videostats-your-channel": {
    "url": "https://app.videostats.io/mcp/video-stats",
    "headers": {
      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

Other MCP-Compatible Tools

Use these details to configure any tool that supports the MCP protocol:

  • Transport: Streamable HTTP
  • Endpoint URL: https://app.videostats.io/mcp/video-stats
  • Authorization Header: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN

Step 3: Start Asking Questions

Open your AI tool and start asking about your YouTube performance. The tool will automatically access your VideoStats data to answer your questions.

Example Prompts to Try

Thumbnail Coaching

  • "Audit my channel's thumbnails and tell me what visual patterns my top videos have in common"
  • "Analyze the thumbnail for my video about [topic] and suggest improvements"
  • "Compare my 5 best and 5 worst performing thumbnails — what's different?"
  • "Which of my videos have good content but weak thumbnails that I should redesign?"

Performance Analysis

  • "Give me a weekly performance report comparing this week to my monthly average"
  • "What are my top 5 videos by sales this month?"
  • "Which of my landing pages are converting the best from YouTube traffic?"
  • "Which videos are sending the most traffic to my course landing page?"
  • "Show me videos with high views but low click-through — where am I leaving money on the table?"
  • "How is my most recent video performing?"

Channel Strategy

  • "Give me a full channel health check for the last 30 days"
  • "What type of content drives the most revenue on my channel?"
  • "Compare my channel's performance this week vs last month — are things trending up or down?"
  • "Find my biggest optimization opportunities"

QR Codes

  • "Create a QR code for https://example.com/landing-page"
  • "Show me all my QR codes sorted by scans"
  • "How many scans has my product QR code gotten?"
  • "Create a QR code for my upcoming camera review video"

Multiple Channels

If you manage multiple YouTube channels in VideoStats, each channel has its own connector URL (OAuth) and its own tokens (MCP Token method).

  • OAuth: Switch to each channel, copy that workspace's connector URL, and add it as a separate connector in your AI tool.
  • MCP Token: Switch to each channel, create a token, and follow the setup steps above. Repeat for each channel.

Your AI tool will be able to access all connected channels, and will use the appropriate channel's data based on context.

Managing Your Tokens (MCP Token Method)

From the Settings > MCP page you can:

  • View all your active tokens, including when they were created and last used
  • Connect — click to see connection commands for any token at any time
  • Revoke — delete a token if you no longer need it or if it may have been compromised

OAuth connections are managed differently — there's no token to view. To revoke an OAuth connection, remove the custom connector from your AI tool's settings.

Security

  • OAuth tokens never leave your AI tool. You sign in once via the popup; the token is short-lived and renewed automatically.
  • MCP tokens are read-only — they can view your analytics data and create QR codes, but cannot modify video descriptions, channel settings, or other account data
  • Each token (and each OAuth connection) is scoped to a single channel — it can only access data for the channel it was created in
  • Keep your MCP tokens secure — don't share them publicly or commit them to version control
  • If you believe a token has been compromised, revoke it immediately and create a new one
  • Role access — only Admin and User roles can access the MCP section. Junior members do not have access

Troubleshooting

OAuth: "Sign-in popup didn't open" or "Authorization failed"

Make sure pop-ups are allowed for your AI tool. If the popup was blocked, remove the connector from your AI tool's settings, allow popups, and add the connector again.

OAuth: "I added the connector but I see the wrong workspace's data"

Each connector URL is bound to a specific workspace. If you copied the URL while viewing the wrong channel, remove the connector from your AI tool, switch to the correct workspace in VideoStats, copy that workspace's connector URL, and add it again.

Token: "No tenant context available"

This means the token couldn't be matched to a channel. Try revoking the token and creating a new one.

AI tool doesn't see VideoStats data

Make sure you restarted your AI tool after adding the connection. Most tools require a restart to pick up new MCP server connections.

Token was created before connection commands were available

If you see a message about the token being created before persistent display was available, revoke it and create a new one. Newer tokens store the connection details so you can view them anytime.

Analytics data looks empty

If your VideoStats account is new or you haven't set up link tracking yet, analytics metrics (clicks, leads, sales) will be zero. YouTube metrics (views, likes) should still appear for any imported videos.