AI skills vs plugins vs MCP

Skill: the workflow layer

A skill describes how the agent should complete a repeatable task: instructions, sequencing, constraints, examples, and checks. It can exist even when no external integration is required.

Plugin: the packaged capability layer

A plugin bundles access to an external product or workflow so the agent can read data or take permitted actions without every user manually rebuilding the integration.

MCP: the interoperability layer

Model Context Protocol standardizes how an AI client can discover and use tools, resources, and prompts exposed by an MCP server. It is infrastructure, not the task workflow itself.

How they fit together

One workflow can use all three: a skill defines the steps, a plugin handles a product-specific experience, and an MCP server can expose the underlying tools or context through a standard interface.

• Use a skill when you need repeatable behavior.
• Use a plugin when you need a packaged integration or product workflow.
• Use MCP when you need a standard interface between AI clients and external capabilities.