Usercall MCP - AI agents that run real user interviews
AI can build products. But it still doesn't talk to users.
Give your AI agents the ability to ask real users why.
Usercall MCP runs AI-moderated voice or text interviews with real users. Use it to learn why users churn, where onboarding drops off, or why an action failed, and get themes, insights, and verbatim quotes.
Give your AI agents the ability to ask real users why.
API key
USERCALL_API_KEY, USERCALL_BASE_URL
Last checked
2026-11-08
Stars
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Tools
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Uptime
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Why this exists
AI agents can now build and ship products extremely quickly.
But most agents still rely on synthetic feedback or assumptions about users.
Usercall MCP lets agents gather real qualitative feedback directly from users.
Cursor Directory / Grok Bot: this repo ships .mcp.json so cursor.directory can install the hosted connector. Grok Bot cannot run the local npx package.
This package: local / API-key / machine-to-machine
Use @usercall/mcp over stdio when you want a Bearer API key (scripts, local clients, M2M).
Sign in at app.usercall.co โ Home โ Developer โ Create API key
Run npx -y @usercall/mcp with USERCALL_API_KEY
Example workflow
Agent: "Why are users confused about onboarding?"
โ create_study
โ share interview_link with users
โ get_study_results
The returned interview_link is an https://app.usercall.co/interview/ URL. Share it with participants through email, Slack, Discord, or in-product prompts.
Example result:
{
"themes": [
{
"name": "Onboarding confusion",
"summary": "Users struggled to understand the second step.",
"quotes": [
"I wasn't sure what the app was asking me to do.",
"I didn't know I had to verify my email before continuing."
]
},
{
"name": "Pricing confusion",
"summary": "Free plan limits were not clearly communicated.",
"quotes": ["I wasn't sure if the free plan included analytics."]
}
]
}
How it works
AI Agent
โ
Usercall MCP (hosted OAuth or this stdio package)
โ
Usercall Agent API
โ
Real user interviews
โ
Themes and verbatim quotes returned to the agent
With Research Triggers, the agent can also target users in your product:
Analytics MCP (PostHog, Mixpanel, โฆ) finds a behavior
โ
Usercall MCP creates a study and a paused Research Trigger
โ
You activate it in Usercall
โ
The Usercall SDK invites matching users to an interview right after the behavior
Research Triggers
Analytics tells an agent what users do. Research Triggers let it ask them why.
User: "Look at our PostHog data and find something worth investigating."
Agent (PostHog MCP): users who test a study rarely launch one.
Agent (Usercall MCP):
list_trigger_events() โ study_tested, study_launched, โฆ
get_trigger_event_schema("study_tested")
โ properties: source, interview_type
traits: plan ("free", "pro"), account_type
create_study(...) or list_studies()
create_research_trigger({
study_id, event_name: "study_tested",
traits: { plan: "free" }, sampling_percent: 25, max_invites_per_day: 10
}) โ status: "paused", summary, activation_url
Agent: "I've prepared a Research Trigger. When: study_tested ยท Audience: plan = free ยท
25% sampled ยท max 10 invites/day. It's paused. A human activates it here: <activation_url>"
The Usercall SDK has to be installed. If list_trigger_events returns nothing, call get_trigger_sdk_setup (with your analytics provider and event names) to get the snippet. Coding agents can install it for you.
Only events Usercall has actually received can be used. Filters are exact matches on event properties or user traits. get_trigger_event_schema shows which field is which.
Unsupported conditions are rejected, not silently dropped. These include event counts, sequences, absence ("did not do X"), time windows, and not-equals. get_trigger_capabilities returns the full list.
Local install (API key)
1. Get an API key
Sign in at app.usercall.co โ Home โ Developer โ Create API key
2. Add to your MCP client
Claude Desktop (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):
For Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor remote connectors, prefer https://mcp.usercall.co instead of this JSON config.
Restart your MCP client.
3. Ask your agent
Run user interviews to understand why users drop off during onboarding.
Context:
- B2B SaaS product
- 3-step signup flow
Goal:
Identify confusion points and friction.
Target interviews: 5
Language: ko
Interview mode: voice
Show participants this prototype during the interview:
https://www.figma.com/proto/abcd1234/onboarding-flow
The agent will:
create a study
return an interview link
collect responses
return the summary (themes, insights, and risks)
Structured tool example
Equivalent create_study tool call:
create_study
key_research_goal: "Understand why users drop off during onboarding"
business_context: "B2B SaaS signup flow"
target_interviews: 5
languages: ["en"]
interview_mode: "voice"
study_media:
type: "prototype"
url: "https://www.figma.com/proto/abcd1234/onboarding-flow"
description: "New onboarding flow concept"
Tools
create_study
Create an AI-moderated interview study to learn why users churn, drop off in onboarding, fail an action, or where a product assumption is wrong. Returns HTTP 201 with study_id and interview_link for a voice, text, or voice-and-text interview. interview_link is an https://app.usercall.co/interview/ URL. key_research_goal is required and cannot be changed later. business_context is optional. Defaults: target_interviews 1, duration_minutes 12, interview_mode voice. One active agent study per account. Does not run the interview or invite a participant. HTTP 402 includes checkout_url.
Field
Type
Required
Default
key_research_goal
string (5โ2000)
yes
business_context
string (5โ2000)
no
additional_context_prompt
string
no
target_interviews
number (1โ200)
no
1
languages
string[]
no
duration_minutes
number (5โ65)
no
12
interview_mode
voice | text | voice_and_text
no
voice
voice_gender
female | male
no
enable_link_context
boolean
no
custom_link_variables
{ key, label?, default_value? }[]
no
metadata
object
no
study_media
object
no
One locale turns the language picker off; two or more turn it on. Research goal cannot be changed after create.
study_media (optional). Visual stimulus shown during all interview questions:
Field
Type
Required
type
image | prototype
yes
url
string (URL)
yes
description
string (max 500 chars)
no
image: Direct image URL (.png, .jpg, .gif, .webp)
prototype: Figma prototype URL (converted to interactive embed)
Media is only visible to web participants; phone callers won't see it
update_study
Update an interview study: slots, guide questions, intro, languages, voice, or an image or Figma prototype shown to participants. Returns the updated study. key_research_goal cannot be changed. is_link_disabled true stops new interviews and keeps recordings. One locale hides the language picker; two or more show it. Query parameters on interview_link are ignored until enable_link_context is true. study_media null clears media. API errors include http_status. Does not dry-run the guide or invite a participant.
Field
Type
Required
study_id
uuid string
yes
target_interviews
number (1โ200)
no
is_link_disabled
boolean
no
ai_agent_intro_message
string
no
key_learning_goals
string
no
workflow_end_message
string
no
workflow_questions
{ text, ... }[]
no
interview_mode
voice | text | voice_and_text
no
languages
string[]
no
voice_gender
female | male
no
enable_link_context
boolean
no
custom_link_variables
{ key, label?, default_value? }[]
no
study_media
object or null
no
Pass study_media: null to clear media. The study_media object follows the same schema as in create_study.
get_study_status
Check whether interviews about churn, onboarding, or a failed action have started. Returns completed_interviews, target_interviews, interview_link, and next_step. interview_link is an https://app.usercall.co/interview/ URL. Zero interviews is status: "not_started". running means an interview is underway. running and analyzing include no findings, themes, or quotes. next_step is update_study while a ready review still has unapplied edits. After the guide matches those edits, or when there are no edits, share is correct if a terminal simulation or review exists and completed interviews are still 0. Does not change the study.
Field
Type
study_id
uuid string
Status values: not_started ยท running ยท analyzing ยท complete
get_study_results
Get interview findings after real users have talked: themes, insights, risks, and verbatim quotes. format omitted or summary returns themes, insights, and risks. format=full also returns transcripts. Empty themes mean analysis is not ready. Does not create interviews or edit the guide.
Field
Type
Required
study_id
uuid string
yes
format
summary | full
no
Summary/full responses include study progress fields and analysis output.
simulate_interview
Dry-run an interview guide before a real participant joins, including a question about churn, onboarding, or a failed action. Omit simulation_id to start; returns immediately with status: "running" and a simulation_id. Pass simulation_id to read that run. Omit persona and the server writes one from the research question, including that the person did not do the thing the study is about. A sent persona is used as-is: name is 1โ80 characters and prompt is 1โ4000. Result status is pass, fail, or error. A finished transcript is [{ "role": "agent" | "user", "content": "..." }]. Do not expect call_id, timezone, or timestamps. Max 5 simulations per account per UTC day. HTTP 429 means the daily cap is reached. A dry-run does not change completed_interviews and does not invite a participant.
Field
Type
Required
study_id
uuid string
yes
simulation_id
uuid string
no
persona
{ name, prompt }
no
persona.name
string (1โ80)
with persona
persona.prompt
string (1โ4000)
with persona
Omit simulation_id to POST /api/v1/agent/studies/{studyId}/simulations. Pass simulation_id to GET that simulation. The tool does not poll. Omit persona on start and the server writes one. A sent persona is forwarded unchanged.
review_study
Review an interview guide before real users see the questions, including a question about churn, onboarding, or a failed action. The body keeps findings and adds suggested_edits. suggested_edits is an update_study body, or null when there is nothing to change. Send suggested_edits to update_study as-is. Nothing is applied for you. Costs 1 credit. Request is study_id only; call_ids are not accepted. Works when the in-app review control is hidden. HTTP 402 includes checkout_url. Reads the guide only: no transcripts.
Field
Type
Required
study_id
uuid string
yes
Sends study_id only. It does not send call_ids. A non-null suggested_edits value is the update_study body, unchanged.
delete_study
Permanently delete an interview study, its recordings, and unused reserved credits. Cannot be undone. Does not delete in-product research triggers.
Field
Type
Required
study_id
uuid string
yes
Research Trigger tools
Tool
Purpose
get_trigger_capabilities
Which in-product trigger conditions work. One event, exact property or trait, URL rule, page dwell. No counts, sequences, absence, time windows, or not-equals
get_trigger_sdk_setup
Snippet for product events (failed action, onboarding, churn). install_snippet, identify_snippet, allowlist_update_snippet. No secret keys
list_trigger_events
Product event names from the last 30 days. A trigger accepts only an observed name
get_trigger_event_schema
Fields on one product event, with types and sample values. Exact, case-sensitive, type-sensitive
Paused invite after a product moment (failed action, churn, onboarding). Returns activation_url
list_research_triggers
In-product triggers with status and activation_url
get_research_trigger
One trigger: who it invites, activation_url, invite and interview counts. No themes or quotes
update_research_trigger
Who gets invited. status: "active" is rejected (409). Editing an active trigger pauses it
delete_research_trigger
Permanently delete a trigger. Completed interviews stay on the study
create_research_trigger
Field
Type
Required
Default
study_id
uuid string
yes
event_name
string (from list_trigger_events)
yes
properties
object of exact-match values
no
traits
object of exact-match values
no
url
{ match: equals | contains | starts_with, value }
no
dwell_seconds
1โ600 (page-visit triggers only)
no
source
page_visit | analytics_event | custom
no
sampling_percent
1โ100
no
100
cooldown_days
0โ365
no
30
max_invites_per_day
1โ100
no
100
intercept_title
string (โค120), small label above the prompt
no
default
intercept_body
string (โค500), prompt text
no
default
delivery_method
intercept | webhook
no
intercept
webhook_url
public https URL (required for webhook)
no
webhook_secret
string (16โ200), HMAC key, write-only
no
invite_link_params
{ static?, from_traits?, from_properties? }
no
name
string (โค100)
no
generated
For page-visit triggers, use source: "page_visit" and event_name: "$pageview", with url and optionally dwell_seconds.
Delivery.
intercept (default) shows the Usercall widget in your product, and the user takes a voice or text interview in the page. The modes come from the study; list_studies returns each study's interview_mode.
webhook POSTs each matched user to webhook_url, with their user ID, email if known, traits, event properties and a personal interview link. If webhook_secret is set, requests carry an x-usercall-signature HMAC header.
Only public https URLs are accepted, and the activation page shows the destination before a person activates the trigger.
Safety
Agents cannot activate triggers. Triggers are always created paused. Calling update_research_trigger with status: "active" returns HTTP 409 and the activation_url. A person has to open that link, review who will be invited, what they will see and the credit cost, and click Activate.
Changes to an active trigger need re-approval. Changing an active trigger's configuration pauses it again.
Secret keys are never returned. The ingestion secret key never comes back from any tool.
Example workflow
1. create_study
key_research_goal: "Why do users drop off during onboarding?"
business_context: "B2B SaaS, 3-step signup flow"
target_interviews: 5
languages: ["ko"]
interview_mode: "voice"
โ HTTP 201 { study_id, interview_link: "https://app.usercall.co/interview/..." }
(`business_context` is optional; `key_research_goal` alone still creates a study)
2. simulate_interview
study_id
โ status "running", simulation_id
call again with simulation_id
โ pass, fail, or error
finished transcript: [{ "role": "agent" | "user", "content": "..." }]
omit persona unless you want a specific one (name 1โ80, prompt 1โ4000)
3. review_study
study_id
โ findings, plus suggested_edits (an update_study body, or null)
send suggested_edits to update_study as-is; nothing is applied for you
4. Share interview_link with participants
(email, Slack, in-product prompt, etc.)
share is correct once a terminal simulation or review exists,
completed interviews are still 0, and any suggested edits are already on the guide
5. get_study_status
โ "not_started" when completed_interviews is 0
โ "running" while an interview is underway
โ next_step "update_study" while a ready review still has unapplied edits
6. get_study_results
โ summary: themes, insights, and risks
use format=full only for a quote
With visual stimulus
1. create_study
key_research_goal: "Get feedback on new dashboard design"
business_context: "Redesigning analytics dashboard for power users"
study_media:
type: "image"
url: "https://example.com/dashboard-mockup.png"
description: "New dashboard design concept"
โ returns { study_id, interview_link }
2. After simulate_interview passes, a human shares interview_link. Participants see the mockup during the interview.
For Figma prototypes, use type: "prototype" with a Figma proto URL.
Requirements
Node.js 18+
A valid Usercall API key (local / API-key path only)
pnpm test # unit + MCP contract tests
USERCALL_API_KEY="your_key_here" pnpm smoke # creates a real study
USERCALL_API_KEY="your_key_here" SMOKE_STUDY_ID="<uuid>" SMOKE_EVENT_NAME="<observed event>" pnpm smoke:triggers