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As of November 2026, AI apps do not find products only through web search. Claude, ChatGPT and other AI apps keep their own directories of tools that a user can add in a few clicks. Most of these directories list remote MCP servers, and each one has its own rules.
The directories and what each one asks for
| Directory | What it lists | What it asks for | How you apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official MCP Registry | Remote and local MCP servers | A server.json file and proof that you own the domain (a DNS record or a file on your site) | The mcp-publisher command line tool, with no form |
| Claude Connectors Directory | Remote MCP servers (connectors) | OAuth 2.0 with Dynamic Client Registration or CIMD and S256 PKCE, or no sign-in; a title and a read-only or destructive hint on every tool; a privacy policy URL; a reviewer test account | The developer portal at claude.ai/directory/manage, from a paid Claude plan |
| ChatGPT apps | Remote MCP servers (apps) | Identity and domain verification; website, support, privacy policy and terms URLs; an icon; a demo video; 5 positive and 3 negative test cases; a test account without MFA | The plugins page at platform.openai.com/plugins |
| skills.sh | Agent skills (a SKILL.md file in a public GitHub repo) | A public repo with a skill folder | No form: a skill shows after people install it with npx skills add |
| Manus | Connectors | A remote MCP server and a setup guide | No public form: ask through the Manus help center |
Apply in this order
- Official MCP Registry first. It is free, it has no form, and you publish again when your tools change.
- skills.sh next. A skill needs no server, so it can come first if you do not have an MCP server yet.
- Claude Connectors Directory. Anthropic scans each submission and by default lists it as a community connector. Some submissions also get a review from a person.
- ChatGPT apps. Prepare the test cases, the video and the test account before you start, because the review needs all of them.
- Manus last. Manus users can already add any remote MCP server as a custom server, so show that on your setup page while you wait.
What blocks most listings
- No remote MCP server. Claude takes remote servers only and calls local connectors deprecated.
- API key sign-in. Claude and ChatGPT take OAuth or no sign-in. A server that asks for an API key or a custom header does not fit their forms.
- OAuth with no client registration. Claude registers itself through Dynamic Client Registration or a client ID metadata document (CIMD), and sends S256 PKCE on every sign-in.
- Tools with no hints. Claude asks for a title on every tool, and readOnlyHint or destructiveHint.
- No terms page. ChatGPT asks for website, support, privacy policy and terms of service URLs.
How we did it
Our server at mcp.whywontai.com is in the official MCP Registry and the Claude Connectors Directory, and our skills are on skills.sh. We asked Manus to list it through their help center chat.
Check your product
Our MCP server has a check_agent_listings tool that needs no key. Give it your site. It finds your MCP server, reads your OAuth metadata and the MCP Registry, and gives each directory a status and the next steps. Members see the same check on the Agent directories tab of the dashboard, and Ask AI can take them through it one directory at a time.
Questions people ask
Do I need an MCP server?
For the MCP Registry, Claude, ChatGPT and Manus, yes. For skills.sh, no: a skill is a SKILL.md file with instructions that point at your API or docs.
Does a listing make AI recommend my product?
A listing makes your tools easy to add in the AI app. It is separate from what an assistant says in its answers, which comes from the pages it reads and cites.
How long does a review take?
Claude says review time is not fixed. OpenAI does not give a time.
Who can submit to Claude?
A person on a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan. On Team and Enterprise, an Owner submits. Free accounts cannot submit.
What this does not tell you
Whether a reviewer will accept your listing, or where your listing shows inside each directory.
Sources
- 1.Claude: Submit a connector: who can submit, the portal steps and the checklist
- 2.Claude: Authentication for connectors: OAuth types, PKCE and callback URLs
- 3.OpenAI: Upload and submit your plugin: verification, listing URLs, test cases and test accounts
- 4.MCP Registry: Quickstart: server.json and mcp-publisher
- 5.skills.sh: FAQ: how skills appear on the leaderboard
- 6.Manus: Custom MCP servers: how users add a server themselves