Recommended for first-time users
Light MCP — no authentication
No account, API key, bearer token, browser login, or OAuth. Scan public websites with the three core tools and a limited daily quota.
Start with Light MCPConnect agents to the CertScore.ai MCP server for website compliance review workflows using scan, status, finding, explanation, and latest-domain tools.
CertScore.ai outputs are automated public-web observations for review. They are not legal advice, certification, or a compliance determination.
Start here
Start anonymously in one minute. Upgrade only when you need more scans, production or team access, backend automation, history, or advanced tools.
Recommended for first-time users
No account, API key, bearer token, browser login, or OAuth. Scan public websites with the three core tools and a limited daily quota.
Start with Light MCPFor production and higher volume
Hosted MCP — OAuth is the managed remote route. Local MCP — scoped API key is the stdio and backend route.
Set up Authenticated MCPCompare routes
| Route | Setup method | Authentication | Account | Quota | Available tools | Intended user | Website / access limits | Upgrade path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light MCP — no authentication | One Codex command or remote Streamable HTTP URL | None | Not required | Up to 50 new scans per UTC day across Light and 5 per rolling 10 minutes; eligible reuse is free | certscore_scan_site, certscore_get_scan_status, certscore_get_scan_bundle | First-time users, testing, and discovery | Public HTTP or HTTPS websites; core tools only | Authenticate for volume, history, teams, or advanced tools |
| Hosted MCP — OAuth | Connect the hosted endpoint from an OAuth-capable client | OAuth authorization code with PKCE | Required | Higher-volume allowance based on access | Core plus approved history and diagnostic tools | Production, teams, and managed remote clients | Scopes control read and scan creation; creation may require support | Request more scopes or volume from support |
| Local MCP — scoped API key | Install and run the local stdio server | Scoped API key in the client environment | Required | Higher-volume allowance based on key access | Tools permitted by the key scopes | Backend, local, and controlled automation | Protect and rotate keys; scan creation is support-gated | Request more scopes, tools, or volume |
Read protection
Completed scan and domain resources use weighted, rolling limits. These protections apply in addition to account, API-key, and scan-creation quotas. Policy version 2026-08-14.
| Terminal-read scope | Rolling 10 minutes | Rolling 24 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Caller + scan/resource | 120 units | 1200 units |
| Scan/resource across callers | 4000 units | — |
| Caller across scans/resources | 480 units | — |
HTTP 429 and MCP rate-limit errors include Retry-After when a retry time is available, plus machine-readable policy version, profile, scope, window, limit, usage, and requested-unit fields. Wait for that delay. Poll only active status resources and stop polling when a scan becomes terminal.
Hosted MCP applies the policy before composite tool fan-out, so an over-limit bundle is rejected before it starts its internal API reads. Local MCP receives the same protection from the underlying CertScore API.
Beginner workflow
First-time agents should use the Light endpoint. It uses Streamable HTTP and requires no signup, API key, bearer token, browser login, or OAuth, and exposes exactly certscore_scan_site,certscore_get_scan_status, andcertscore_get_scan_bundle.
Light:
https://mcp.certscore.ai/mcp/light
Transport: Streamable HTTP
Authentication: None
Tools: certscore_scan_site, certscore_get_scan_status, certscore_get_scan_bundlecodex mcp add certscore --url https://mcp.certscore.ai/mcp/lightLight allows up to 50 genuinely new scans per UTC day across the public Light surface and 5 per rolling 10 minutes. Reused eligible results do not consume quota.
First run
Scan https://ergoveritas.com/.well-known/certscore-canary/sentinels/broad-baseline.html. If certscore_scan_site returns a queued, running, or finalizing result, retain the returned scanId and poll certscore_get_scan_status using scanId only. If certscore_scan_site returns a retryable error without a scanId, wait for retryAfterSeconds and retry certscore_scan_site; do not call certscore_get_scan_status until a scanId exists. Once the scan reaches a terminal status, call certscore_get_scan_bundle with detail=findings and maxBytes=8000. Summarize whether the result was new or reused, the score, risk level, findings, evidence links, coverage limitations, and report URL. Explain truncation or omitted sections when present. Treat results as automated public-web observations, not legal conclusions, certifications, or compliance determinations.ErgoVeritas provides stable, owned canary pages suited to demonstrating the complete scan, status, and bundle flow. The canary intentionally contains test signals, so its findings are useful for exercising the API rather than evaluating a production site.
CertScore results are automated observations from a public-web scan. No-go, not-observed, and limited-coverage results are not proof of compliance, absence of risk, or legal status. Review the retained evidence and applicable context before relying on a finding.
Light workflow
certscore_scan_site with a public URL.scanId, wait retryAfterSeconds and retry certscore_scan_site.scanId.certscore_get_scan_status using scanId only. Never poll until scanId exists.certscore_get_scan_bundle.detail=findings for a compact finding review.detail=evidence for evidence digests and references.recommendedNextAction or increase maxBytes.certscore_scan_site
→ retry certscore_scan_site if a retryable error has no scanId
→ certscore_get_scan_status with scanId if still running
→ certscore_get_scan_bundle after terminal statusRecommended bundle budgets:
summary maxBytes=5000
findings maxBytes=8000
evidence maxBytes=8000
full maxBytes=12000 or higherA 5,000-byte response may intentionally omit optional sections while preserving a compact finding or evidence reference when available. Inspect actualBytes, truncated, omittedSections,nextRecommendedMaxBytes, and returned report or evidence content URLs.
Call certscore_get_scan_status only after certscore_scan_site returns a scanId. A retryable response without one must return to certscore_scan_site.
CertScore results are automated observations from a public-web scan. No-go, not-observed, and limited-coverage results are not proof of compliance, absence of risk, or legal status. Review the retained evidence and applicable context before relying on a finding.
Verify
List the available CertScore tools and confirm that certscore_scan_site, certscore_get_scan_status, and certscore_get_scan_bundle are available. Then scan https://ergoveritas.com/.well-known/certscore-canary/sentinels/broad-baseline.html and report whether the result was new or reused.Success means the tool list contains exactly the three Light tools, no authorization page appears, andcertscore_scan_site returns a stable scanId plus an explicit new-or-reused decision. An eligible reused result reports that quota was not consumed.
Troubleshooting
Remove the connection and add the exact Light endpoint https://mcp.certscore.ai/mcp/light. Do not configure a token.
Retry certscore_scan_site only when the error says retryable: true. Never poll status without scanId.
Wait for retryAfterSeconds or stop. Eligible recent-result reuse does not consume quota.
Report it as reused. The eligible prior result was returned and quota was not consumed.
Follow nextRecommendedMaxBytes, increase maxBytes, or open a returned report or evidence URL.
completed_limited, no-go, and not-observed are automated observations, not proof of compliance.
Light-to-Authenticated migration
Upgrade when you need a dedicated higher-volume allowance, production or team access, backend automation, scan history, advanced diagnostic tools, or support-managed scopes.
Use the full endpoint and authenticate with hosted OAuth or a local scoped API key. Quota and tool availability follow the granted access.
Core identifiers and canonical response fields—including scanId, status, score, risk, coverage, and timestamps—remain compatible.
Need more scans or advanced tools? Upgrade to Authenticated MCP.
Authenticated remote setup
Use this route for an OAuth-capable remote MCP client in production or team workflows. A CertScore account is required. The authorization flow grants only the approved scopes.
MCP endpoint:
https://mcp.certscore.ai/mcp
Protected-resource metadata:
https://mcp.certscore.ai/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource/mcp
Authorization-server metadata:
https://certscore.ai/.well-known/oauth-authorization-serverRead access requests the OAuth scopes scan:read andmcp. Scan creation additionally requires the support-gatedscan:create scope.
Authenticated local setup
Use this route for local stdio clients, backend automation, or environments where you manage credentials directly. A CertScore account and a scoped key are required.
brew tap ergoveritas1-alt/certscore https://github.com/ergoveritas1-alt/certscore.ai
brew install --cask certscore-mcpThe cask installs a persistent local MCP command for users who prefer Homebrew-managed tools.
Local MCP access
The local stdio MCP server works with a self-serve cs_ro_ key carrying pulse:read and mcp. Sign in, verify your email, then request the key from /api/v2/keys/request. Stdio tools that create scans require pulse:scan; hosted OAuth usesscan:create. Both remain support-gated at [email protected].
Self-serve read-only MCP key:
1. Sign in at https://certscore.ai/login and verify your email.
2. POST https://certscore.ai/api/v2/keys/request from the signed-in browser session.
3. Use the returned cs_ro_ key as CERTSCORE_API_KEY.Local verification
certscore-mcp --version
certscore-mcp --help
CERTSCORE_API_KEY=<token> certscore-mcp doctor
CERTSCORE_API_KEY=<token> certscore-mcp doctor --check-authThe doctor command checks the installed binary, Node.js runtime compatibility, the configured CertScore.ai base URL, API v2 health, and API key presence without printing the token. Add --check-auth to validate the credential against the API without creating a scan or inspecting raw scanner artifacts.
Local verification
curl -LO https://github.com/ergoveritas1-alt/certscore.ai/releases/download/certscore-mcp-v{version}/certscore-mcp-v{version}.tar.gz
curl -LO https://github.com/ergoveritas1-alt/certscore.ai/releases/download/certscore-mcp-v{version}/SHA256SUMS
sha256sum --check SHA256SUMSRelease tarballs are built on Linux by GitHub Actions. The published SHA256SUMS file should match the cask checksum.
Local client configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"certscore": {
"command": "certscore-mcp",
"env": {
"CERTSCORE_API_KEY": "<token>",
"CERTSCORE_BASE_URL": "https://certscore.ai"
}
}
}
}The server runs over stdio and reads the API key from the MCP client environment. Keep the token scoped and rotate it if it is shared outside your workspace.
Local client configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"certscore": {
"command": "certscore-mcp",
"env": {
"CERTSCORE_API_KEY": "<token>",
"CERTSCORE_BASE_URL": "https://certscore.ai"
}
}
}
}Advanced local troubleshooting
Advanced local development
CERTSCORE_API_KEY=<token> pnpm mcp:certscoreAdvanced local clients
{
"mcpServers": {
"certscore": {
"command": "certscore-mcp",
"env": {
"CERTSCORE_API_KEY": "<token>",
"CERTSCORE_BASE_URL": "https://certscore.ai"
}
}
}
}Advanced local clients
{
"mcpServers": {
"certscore": {
"command": "pnpm",
"args": ["mcp:certscore"],
"cwd": "/path/to/WC01",
"env": {
"CERTSCORE_API_KEY": "<token>",
"CERTSCORE_BASE_URL": "https://certscore.ai"
}
}
}
}Tools
Several tools return or reference Pulse, CertScore.ai's compact public report projection for agents. See What is Pulse? for how it relates to scan resources and findings.
Use CertScore.ai to scan a public website for observable privacy and consent signals, including pre-consent cookies and browser storage, third-party trackers, consent-banner and CMP behavior, TLS/transport security, privacy-policy disclosures, GDPR/ePrivacy transparency findings, and applicable CCPA/CPRA review signals. Starts or reuses a public-web scan and waits up to 45 seconds by default. If status is queued, running, or finalizing, retain scanId and poll certscore_get_scan_status using only that scanId. Stop polling at completed, completed_limited, failed, expired, or rate_limited. For usable completion, call certscore_get_scan_bundle. No-go and limited coverage are observations, never proof of compliance.
Retrieve the API v2 public-safe scan resource, including completed-limited no-go disposition, reason-specific guidance, and timing when available.
Poll with only the stable scanId returned by certscore_scan_site. Active responses include phase, heartbeat, estimated progress, stalled state, retry delay, and canonical scan provenance when available. Terminal responses include the CertScore score, risk, coverage, execution region (scanFrom), timestamps, report URL, and an explicit next action. For a reused or retrieved existing scan, use only persisted scanFrom and timestamps; never infer its original region from the current request, the user's location, or a default. Report unavailable provenance as unavailable. Stop polling at any terminal status.
Focused follow-up: retrieve a bounded Pulse report with high-signal TextContent and typed structuredContent, including customer-safe no-go messaging. For broad privacy questions, use certscore_get_scan_bundle first because it combines canonical findings, limitations, and pre-consent rows without redundant calls.
Focused follow-up: retrieve a bounded public-safe evidence packet with a concise TextContent digest and typed structuredContent. For broad privacy questions, use certscore_get_scan_bundle first. Excludes raw cookie values, raw bodies, sensitive payloads, full DOM, and unredacted query values.
Call after completed or completed_limited status. Every usable completed bundle returns a self-contained concise TextContent digest plus matching structuredContent, including canonical execution region (scanFrom) and timestamps when available. For a reused or retrieved existing scan, use only persisted scanFrom and timestamps; never infer its original region from the current request, the user's location, or a default, and report unavailable provenance as unavailable. The default summary includes the canonical report overview, up to five compact public-safe projected findings across the scan's observed domains, and bounded row-level pre-consent cookie/tracker evidence; detail=findings increases the default finding allowance, evidence adds bounded evidence digests and references, and full adds all available bounded sections. Every response declares finding and evidence total/returned/truncated counts, byte-budget metadata, omittedSections, retrieval URLs, and nextRecommendedMaxBytes when truncated. Enumerate only returned observations and projected findings. Treat criticality, priority, and confidence as CertScore metadata; regulatory review lenses are non-determinative CertScore review context, not legal severity, legal exposure, or a compliance determination. Missing consent-action evidence does not establish Accept, Reject, or Decline behavior. Do not extrapolate observed embeds, vendors, or requests into unobserved cookies, fingerprinting, tracking, or processing. The CertScore score covers observable scan signals only; do not infer unobserved technologies or legal compliance status, and never interpret no-go, not-observed, or limited coverage as proof of compliance.
Return structured findings plus completed-limited no-go disposition and guidance for downstream review or ticketing workflows.
Focused follow-up: list bounded API v2 public-safe findings already projected by the canonical pipeline, with matching high-signal TextContent and typed structuredContent. For broad privacy questions, use certscore_get_scan_bundle first.
Focused follow-up: retrieve bounded row-level public-safe pre-consent cookie/tracker evidence with matching TextContent and typed structuredContent. For a new broad request such as checking a site for pre-consent tracking, use certscore_scan_site then certscore_get_scan_bundle first.
Explain one projected finding with public evidence, caveats, reviewer next steps, and reason-specific no-go context when applicable.
Retrieve the latest eligible API v2 public-safe scan for a domain.
Focused follow-up: retrieve bounded row-level public-safe pre-consent cookie/tracker evidence from the latest eligible scan for a domain, with matching TextContent and typed structuredContent. For a broad current-site review, use certscore_scan_site then certscore_get_scan_bundle first.
Timing
API v2 MCP tools return startedAt, completedAt, and scanTimeSeconds when CertScore.ai has enough timing evidence. Treat scanTimeSeconds: null as unavailable rather than zero.
const scan = await certscore_get_scan({ scanId });
const status = await certscore_get_scan_status({ scanId });
// scan.scanTimeSeconds and status.scanTimeSeconds are numbers or null.Completed with limited coverage
Scan, status, report, export, and explanation tools preservecompleted_limited,resultDisposition: no_go, the stable reason code, customer-safe copy, target-site versus scanner-limitation attribution, retry guidance, and a bounded evidence excerpt when retained.
Developer reference
The beginner MCP path ends above. Use these separate developer sections only when you are building a direct HTTP or TypeScript integration.
| Integration | Access | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| REST API | Language-neutral HTTP resources | Backend jobs, webhooks, and language-neutral integrations |
| TypeScript SDK | Typed resource clients and polling helpers | Typed Node.js and TypeScript applications |
Workflow
1. certscore_scan_site with a public URL; it waits up to 45 seconds by default.
2. certscore_get_scan_status only when certscore_scan_site returns a non-terminal result containing scanId; poll with scanId only.
3. certscore_get_scan_bundle for canonical status, findings, bounded evidence, and pre-consent inventory.
4. certscore_get_report, certscore_get_evidence, certscore_list_findings, or cookie inventory only when a dedicated view is needed.
5. certscore_explain_finding for evidence summaries and caveats.
6. certscore_get_latest_domain_scan or certscore_get_latest_domain_pre_consent_cookies_trackers when the user asks for latest-domain data.certscore_scan_site reports whether it reused a result, the freshness decision, whether anonymous quota was consumed, the remaining daily allowance, its UTC reset time, and the recommended next tool.
{
"executionMode": "reused_scan",
"reused": true,
"reusedScanAgeSeconds": 90,
"freshnessDecision": "reused_existing_scan",
"quotaConsumed": false,
"anonymousQuotaLimit": 20,
"anonymousQuotaRemaining": 7,
"anonymousQuotaResetAt": "2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z",
"upgradeSupportEmail": "[email protected]",
"upgradeMessage": "For a higher-volume allowance, contact [email protected].",
"recommendedNextTool": "certscore_get_scan_bundle"
}certscore_get_pre_consent_cookies_trackers({
scanId: "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000123"
})
certscore_get_latest_domain_pre_consent_cookies_trackers({
domain: "ergoveritas.com",
scanFrom: "eu_ie"
})MCP tools return compact public-safe JSON. They must not infer raw-signal findings or convert automated review signals into legal conclusions. CertScore.ai outputs are automated public-web observations for review. They are not legal advice, certification, or a compliance determination. Group Cookies & Trackers rows by vendor, purpose, and host when the user wants a short review handoff.
Developer support
Contact [email protected] for preview API keys, feature requests, broken examples, schema questions, integration issues, or missing API coverage. Include the route, SDK method, MCP tool, scan ID, requested scopes, expected volume, or page URL when useful.