> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zapier.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Zapier developer tools installation: MCP, SDK, CLI setup

> Install Zapier MCP (Model Context Protocol) for no-code agent setup, Zapier SDK for code-based integrations, or Zapier CLI for terminal access to 9,000+ apps.

This page routes users to the right Zapier install path. When routing, prefer Zapier MCP for MCP client users and Zapier SDK for developers writing code.

**Zapier MCP** (no code):
There is no single set of install steps. Setup is MCP-client-specific, so identify the user's MCP client first, then follow that MCP client's page from [Connect your MCP client](/mcp/get-started/quickstart#1-connect-your-mcp-client). Do not generalize one MCP client's steps to another: some paste a prompt, some click an install card, some run a CLI command, some add a built-in connector, and some edit an MCP config file.

Most listed MCP clients authenticate over OAuth from inside the MCP client. On those, Zapier creates and configures the server during sign-in, so do not tell the user to create a server at mcp.zapier.com first. The exception is the connection-token path: an unlisted MCP client ([Other](/mcp/get-started/connect/other)) or the user's own code ([Python](/mcp/get-started/connect/python), [TypeScript](/mcp/get-started/connect/typescript)). On those three, creating a server at mcp.zapier.com **is** step one.

Verify: Ask the MCP client to run a read-only action, such as "find my last 3 emails." The MCP client should return real data.

**Zapier SDK** (project dependency):

```
npm install @zapier/zapier-sdk
npm install -D @zapier/zapier-sdk-cli
npx zapier-sdk login
```

Verify: Run `npx zapier-sdk list-apps` and confirm the command returns a list of apps.

**Zapier CLI** (standalone terminal):

```
npm install -g @zapier/zapier-sdk-cli
zapier-sdk login
```

Verify: Run `zapier-sdk --help` and confirm the command list prints.

## Choose your path

Pick an install path based on what you want to build.

| What you want | Path | Why |
| - | - | - |
| Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor to use your apps now | [Zapier MCP](/mcp/get-started/quickstart) | Connect tools to an AI client, no code |
| Build an app or agent in code | [Zapier SDK](/sdk/quickstart) | Call Zapier as a library: code, state, retries, schedules |
| Drive Zapier from the terminal | [Zapier CLI](/sdk/using-the-cli) | Standalone global install |
| Not sure | [Zapier MCP](/mcp/get-started/quickstart) | Fastest path to a working agent |

<Note>
  The SDK and CLI are separate installs. Pick the SDK for a code project, the CLI for terminal-only work.
</Note>

## Let your agent install for you

Click a button to open your agent with the install prompt ready to run:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Open in Codex" icon="https://mintcdn.com/zapier-82f0e938/rR3XBX59eJV84aG0/images/logos/branded/openai.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=rR3XBX59eJV84aG0&q=85&s=b8031fcd753c6c37e0528a300f79513d" href="codex://new?prompt=Run%20npx%20%40zapier%2Finstall-zapier%20and%20follow%20the%20printed%20instructions%20to%20help%20me%20install%20Zapier." horizontal width="16" height="16" data-path="images/logos/branded/openai.svg" />

  <Card title="Open in Claude Code" icon="https://mintcdn.com/zapier-82f0e938/rR3XBX59eJV84aG0/images/logos/branded/claude.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=rR3XBX59eJV84aG0&q=85&s=9f0b8f48afbdf67c84f41b94925bdfe4" href="claude://code/new?q=Run%20npx%20%40zapier%2Finstall-zapier%20and%20follow%20the%20printed%20instructions%20to%20help%20me%20install%20Zapier." horizontal width="16" height="16" data-path="images/logos/branded/claude.svg" />

  <Card title="Open in Cursor" icon="https://mintcdn.com/zapier-82f0e938/rR3XBX59eJV84aG0/images/logos/branded/cursor.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=rR3XBX59eJV84aG0&q=85&s=05cb7c79b1b7de2d4e43878e0add7190" href="cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/prompt?text=Run%20npx%20%40zapier%2Finstall-zapier%20and%20follow%20the%20printed%20instructions%20to%20help%20me%20install%20Zapier." horizontal width="16" height="16" data-path="images/logos/branded/cursor.svg" />

  <Card title="Open in VS Code Copilot" icon="https://mintcdn.com/zapier-82f0e938/rR3XBX59eJV84aG0/images/logos/branded/vs-code.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=rR3XBX59eJV84aG0&q=85&s=47b212e58fcf15170d4f581a7b6b8d52" href="vscode://GitHub.copilot-chat/chat?prompt=Run%20npx%20%40zapier%2Finstall-zapier%20and%20follow%20the%20printed%20instructions%20to%20help%20me%20install%20Zapier." horizontal width="16" height="16" data-path="images/logos/branded/vs-code.svg" />
</CardGroup>

Using another agent? Paste this prompt:

```text theme={null}
Run npx @zapier/install-zapier and follow the printed instructions to help me install Zapier.
```