Do I need a NinjaChat API key to use MCP in Claude?

No. claude.ai connects over OAuth — you sign in to NinjaChat once in the browser and approve the scopes. API keys (nj_sk_…) are only for editor/CLI clients like Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, and VS Code.

What can Claude actually generate through this connector?

Images on 11 models (FLUX.1 Schnell $0.003 and Z-Image Turbo $0.01 through FLUX.2 Pro up to GPT Image 2 $0.128), prompt-based image edits, and videos on Veo 3.1, Veo 3.1 Fast, Seedance 2, Seedance Lite, and Kling 2.6 — priced per second, from $0.036/s on Seedance Lite to $0.40/s on Veo 3.1, with a 4-second minimum. It can also run multi-model bakeoffs with compare_models under a budget you set.

How does billing work when Claude spends my credits?

Every generation is priced per output and deducted from your NinjaChat balance. You set a monthly spending limit, failed generations are refunded automatically, and requests are idempotent — a retried tool call never bills twice.

Can Claude compare image models before I commit?

Yes — that's the compare_models tool. Give it one prompt, a model list, and a strict budget cap; it runs them in parallel and returns each result with its actual cost and latency so Claude (or you) can pick the winner.

Does this work in Claude Projects and on the Claude mobile apps?

Yes. Once the connector is added to your account it's available anywhere claude.ai runs, including Projects — just enable it per-project. Add it from the web app first; mobile picks it up from your account.

Is this the same as Claude's built-in image understanding?

No — Claude can natively see images but can't create them. The NinjaChat connector adds actual generation: new images, edits of your uploads, and video, all billed per output with no separate subscriptions to each model provider.

Create free key

Claude · That races models.

Every creative model, inside Claude.

Add the NinjaChat MCP server to claude.ai as a custom connector and Claude can generate images from $0.003, edit them, and make Veo or Kling videos — with OAuth, no API key to manage.

Connect Claude

OAuth — sign in when prompted, no API key to paste.

Watch it work

Step 1

Connect Claude. Once.

Open Claude.

Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector.

Open Claude

Add NinjaChat.

Paste this URL, sign in and approve the connection.

https://www.ninjachat.ai/api/mcp

Need help connecting?

Use a desktop browser with an account or workspace that allows custom MCP connections. If a setting is missing, check your plan or ask your workspace admin.

Open connector settings. In claude.ai, go to Settings → Connectors and choose “Add custom connector”. Your account and workspace must allow custom connectors.
Paste the NinjaChat endpoint. Name it NinjaChat and paste the server URL — nothing else to configure.
Sign in when prompted. Sign in to NinjaChat and approve the connection. No API key needed. Enable NinjaChat in each chat or project where you want to use it.
Ask Claude to make something. Start a new chat and enable NinjaChat in the tools menu.

Check your connection Free

Enable NinjaChat in a new chat, then send this check.

View check prompt

Use NinjaChat to check my account balance and spending headroom, then list the available image models. Do not generate anything or add credits. If NinjaChat is unavailable, tell me which setup step is missing.

Balance & spending limit

Different client?Cursor ChatGPT Claude Code Codex VS Code Hermes OpenClaw

Step 2 · First ask in Claude

Paste this.
Review the quote.

Check the connection above, then paste your request. Approve the quoted cost before generating.

Example style · your result will vary

Say this in Claude

Use NinjaChat for this task: Make one image of a lighthouse in a storm, with golden light through a wave. First check my balance and use estimate_cost to quote the model, quantity, dimensions or duration, and total price. Ask for any missing reference files. Do not generate, publish, or add credits until I approve the quote. For video, retain the job ID and poll get_generation_status until complete; resume that job instead of starting another. Return the finished media and download links.

Open claude.ai

Step 3 · What Claude races

Bakeoff → storm. Under budget.

Four lighthouse concepts. Keep the golden light. Animate eight seconds.

Storm · motion

Four engines. One budget. Keep the light through the wave.

Models

Every model Claude can ask for.

Image and video engines behind one URL — Claude asks, NinjaChat runs them. New models appear here; your connection never changes.

Google Veo 3.1Veo 3.1

Seedance 2.0Seedance

An editorial shot of a cobalt coat in white dunes — a real FLUX.2 Pro run

FLUX.2 ProFLUX.2 Pro

Kling 2.6 ProKling

Google Veo 3.1 FastVeo Fast

A flamenco dancer mid-turn under a single spotlight — a real Seedream run

Seedream 4.5Seedream

A red-sailed boat crossing a mirror-still turquoise fjord — a real Nano Banana 2 run

Google Nano Banana 2Nano Banana 2

Seedance LiteSeedance Lite

A matte espresso machine in a shaft of morning light — a real Nano Banana Pro run

Google Nano Banana ProNB Pro

A red fox mid-leap over a frozen creek at sunrise — a real Nano Banana run

Google Nano BananaNano Banana

A hummingbird frozen mid-air at a fuchsia flower — a real Z-Image Turbo run

Z-Image TurboZ-Image

GPT Image 2's take on the tiny astronaut asleep on a crescent moon

GPT Image 2GPT Image

What Claude can call.

Make

generate_imageCreate images and download the full-resolution results.
edit_imageChange a background, color, or detail with a prompt.
generate_videoTurn a description into a video.

Decide

compare_modelsTry one prompt across models with a spending limit.

Money

estimate_costCheck the price before generating.

Also on the server

create_mediagenerate_speechimage_to_videoedit_videoextend_videoget_generation_statussearch_creationsget_creationsave_creation_aslist_creative_entitiessearch_modelsupload_assetprepare_scrub_videopublish_pageget_account_balanceadd_credits

Troubleshooting

When it doesn't connect.

“Add custom connector” doesn't appear in Settings

Custom connector availability depends on your Claude account and workspace policy. Look under Settings → Connectors. On mobile, add the connector from the web app first — it syncs to your account.

OAuth window opens but sign-in loops

Third-party-cookie blockers can break the OAuth popup. Allow popups for claude.ai, or finish sign-in at ninjachat.ai in the same browser first, then reconnect.

Claude says the tool call failed with a spending-limit error

Your monthly spending limit is exhausted. Raise it under Developers → Billing at ninjachat.ai, or wait for the cycle reset. Failed generations are auto-refunded, so retries don't double-charge.

Tools show up but Claude won't call them

Enable the NinjaChat connector for the current chat via the search-and-tools toggle in the composer. In Projects, the connector must also be enabled per-project.