How to set up the Sandcastles MCP in ChatGPT
Connecting the Sandcastles MCP to ChatGPT
The quickest way to connect Sandcastles to ChatGPT is to install the Sandcastles plugin from the ChatGPT plugin directory and sign in with your Sandcastles account. You can also add Sandcastles as a custom MCP server in the ChatGPT desktop app.
Using Codex? See How to set up the Sandcastles MCP in Codex.
Before you start
- You need a Sandcastles Pro, Visionary or Titan plan. The MCP isn't included in the Starter plan.
- The Sandcastles MCP server URL is
https://mcp.sandcastles.ai/. You only need it for Option 2. To copy it, go to Settings > Connectors in Sandcastles, hover over the URL in the MCP card and click Copy.
If you're on the Starter plan, the MCP card shows a See plans button instead of the URL. Upgrade to Pro or higher to continue.
Option 1 (recommended): Install Sandcastles from the ChatGPT plugin directory
This works in ChatGPT on the web, including in your phone's browser.
- Open the Sandcastles plugin in ChatGPT. You can also get there from Sandcastles: go to Settings > Connectors and, in the MCP card, click Install from Marketplace > ChatGPT.
- Check that the listing is titled Sandcastles, with the tagline "Your content strategist". If you're not logged in to ChatGPT, click Log in in the top right corner first.
- Click Install plugin.
- Sign in with your Sandcastles account when asked, and approve access.
To get started, try one of the example prompts from the listing:
- "What formats are crushing right now?"
- "Recap kanekallaway's TikTok channel for me."
- "What are the best performing videos in my watchlist feed?"
Option 2: Add Sandcastles as a custom MCP server
For this setup you need a ChatGPT Plus, Business or Enterprise account and the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS or Windows. Download it at chatgpt.com/download. These steps don't work in ChatGPT in your browser.
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app.
- Click your profile name in the bottom left corner, then select Settings.
- Under the Integrations section on the left, click Plugins.
- Click Add, then select Add MCP server.
- Fill in the form:
- Name: Enter
Sandcastles. - Type: Select
Streamable HTTP. - URL: Paste
https://mcp.sandcastles.ai/.
- Name: Enter
- Click Save. Sandcastles now shows under Servers.
- Click Authenticate next to Sandcastles.
- In the window that opens, sign in with your Sandcastles account if asked, then click Allow access. You'll see "Authentication complete. You may close this window."
- Close the window and go back to the ChatGPT app.
- Switch from Chat to Work at the top of the screen, so ChatGPT can use plugins.
- In the Work with ChatGPT field, ask ChatGPT to use the Sandcastles MCP.
Example prompt
Here's an example of how you can use the Sandcastles MCP to analyze data. Replace creatorhandle with the Instagram account you want to study.
Use the Sandcastles MCP to pull in the top 20 performing videos in the creatorhandle IG account and run a full report breaking down the top performing topics, formats, hooks and nonobvious patterns about these winning videos that I should apply to my next videos moving forward.
Make this report as visual as possible and go into extreme detail.
Understanding the output
When you run a prompt like the example above, ChatGPT uses the Sandcastles MCP to retrieve and analyze data. For each analyzed video, it can draw on:
- Transcript: The full transcript of the video.
- Topic and angle: The topic, angle and summary of the video's idea.
- Hook: The spoken hook and its hook formula.
- Format: The storytelling format category and type.
- Visual layout: The visual layout of the video, such as greenscreen.
Tips for effective use
- Be specific: The more detailed your prompt, the better the results.
- Experiment: Try different prompts and see what insights you can uncover.
- Use the data: Use the results to inform your own content strategy and create more effective videos.
Important notes
- Analyzing a video that isn't in your workspace yet uses 1 credit. If the video is already in your workspace, it doesn't use another credit. See Does using the Sandcastles MCP cost credits? for what's free and what uses credits.
- The MCP works in the workspace you last had open in Sandcastles. Ask ChatGPT to list your workspaces or switch to another one. Switching in ChatGPT also changes the workspace you see the next time you open Sandcastles.
- ChatGPT doesn't have the slash commands from the Sandcastles Claude plugin, so you can't type
/analyzeto call a specific tool. ChatGPT still has access to all the same Sandcastles tools, so just describe what you want in plain language.
Troubleshooting
- The plugin directory doesn't work for you: use the custom MCP server setup in Option 2.
- "Your Sandcastles plan doesn't include MCP access." Your Sandcastles account doesn't have an active Pro, Visionary or Titan plan. Upgrade, then try your prompt again.
- "You don't have enough credits to perform this action." You're out of credits for analyzing new videos. You can buy more in Settings > Subscription > Buy additional credits.
Sandcastles MCP workflows
Here are a collection of videos and workflows built out using the MCP. Most of these are shown using Claude, but the workflows work the same if you run the same prompts in ChatGPT.
- 5 Claude Workflows For Automating Your Content Operation: 5 Claude Skills To Grow Faster Than 99% of People on Social Media
- Deep Analyzing Any Channel with Sandcastles MCP (generates visual report for you): https://youtu.be/Cnk9NQ8JpCs?si=1p6yF7dh4YFrM7CQ&t=453
- Using Sandcastles MCP To Build A Video Idea Pipeline (autodetect best performers from niche):
- Building A Hook Machine With Sandcastles MCP (writing/remixing hooks based on data): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7VjpIqq8Xk
Related articles
- How to set up the Sandcastles MCP in any AI assistant
- How to set up the Sandcastles MCP in Claude
- How to set up the Sandcastles MCP in Codex
- Does using the Sandcastles MCP cost credits?
If you have any questions, please reach out to support@sandcastles.ai.
