How to give Claude its own phone number with Bland
Claude can make phone calls once connected to Bland on the Agent Phone Plan. Connect the Claude app, Claude Code, or Claude Desktop for a US number.
Yes, Claude can make phone calls once you connect it to Bland and put it on the AI phone number plan, which gives Claude its own dedicated US number for calls and texts. The plan works with the Claude app through a custom connector, with Claude Code through one command, and with Claude Desktop a few different ways, so you can pick the one that fits how you use Claude. This post is published by Bland. Bland isn't affiliated with, partnered with, or endorsed by Anthropic.
How Claude reaches Bland#
Claude dials through Bland's hosted MCP server. Every connection points at the same URL:
https://api.bland.ai/v1/mcpClaude and Claude Code can sign in with Bland today, so there's often no API key to paste. When you sign in, the client opens Bland in your browser, you sign in and choose an organization, and you approve what Claude can do. Every tool then runs as you, in the organization you chose, with the permissions of your role there. To make a read-only connection, uncheck Create and change your agents on the consent screen; leave it checked if you want Claude to place calls and build agents.
Over a sign-in connection, the purchase tools (buy_credits and buy_phone_plan) aren't offered. You buy the Agent Phone Plan or add credits in the Bland dashboard, then let Claude use the number and tools that unlocks.
The Claude app (custom connector)#
For the Claude app, use a custom connector:
- Open Settings → Connectors.
- Choose Add custom connector and enter the URL
https://api.bland.ai/v1/mcp. - Connect it, and Claude opens Bland in your browser.
- Sign in, choose an organization, and approve what Claude can do. Uncheck Create and change your agents if you want a read-only connection.
Once it's connected, ask Claude to list your Bland pathways to confirm it's authenticated, then ask it to place a call. The full flow is documented in Sign in with Bland.
Claude Code (one command)#
Claude Code connects with a single command, then a sign-in:
claude mcp add --transport http bland https://api.bland.ai/v1/mcpclaude mcp login blandClaude Code opens Bland in your browser. Sign in, choose an organization, and approve what Claude Code can do. Inside a session, running /mcp also starts sign-in for a server that needs it. By default the server is configured for the current project; add --scope user to make it available in every project. The details are in the Claude Code guide.
If you prefer a key over sign-in, Claude Code also accepts the server with an Authorization: Bearer YOUR_BLAND_API_KEY header, using a key from the dashboard.
Claude Desktop (a few ways)#
Which option fits depends on what your setup supports.
The Norm plugin is the recommended route for Bland Agents work. It installs into Claude Desktop and stores the key for you, with key configuration handled in the host. Install norm@bland and configure the key in the host, then restart the app so the MCP connection picks it up.
Sign in with Bland works without a key. In Claude, open Settings → Connectors, choose Add custom connector, enter the server URL, and connect. Claude opens Bland in your browser so you can sign in, choose an organization, and approve what Claude can do.
Request-header authentication is an option if your organization has access to Claude's request-header beta. Add a custom connector with the server URL, choose No sign-in, and add an Authorization request header with the full value Bearer YOUR_BLAND_API_KEY.
The stdio bridge is the fallback if request headers are unavailable. Install Node.js 22 or newer with npm, then add a bland entry to claude_desktop_config.json (from Settings → Developer → Edit Config) that runs mcp-remote against the server URL and keeps the entire Bearer ... value in an AUTH_HEADER environment variable. Restart Claude Desktop after saving. The full config is in the Claude Desktop guide.
What Claude can do once connected#
With the connection live and the plan active, Claude can place outbound calls (the call tool is destructive, so it asks you to confirm before it dials), read your call logs and transcripts, pull analytics, and list and work with your agents and pathways. On the Agent Phone Plan it uses a dedicated US number, which also takes incoming calls and handles texting in both directions. For inbound, see can your AI agent answer its own phone, and for two-way texting, see how to give your AI agent a number that can send texts. If you're also setting up ChatGPT, the steps differ a little, and how to connect ChatGPT to Bland covers that.
What it costs and the limits#
The Agent Phone Plan is $14.99 for your first month, which is 50% off, then $29.99/month. The first-month price applies to your first Agent Phone Plan, once per account owner. It includes a US local number and unlimited US and Canada calls and SMS subject to fair use (one call at a time across your account, 20 calls an hour, 50 a day, 1,000 call minutes a day, 60 minutes max per outbound call, and 20 texts an hour, 100 a day, to US and Canada numbers only), and you can cancel anytime in Billing & Plans. Not ready for a plan? $2 in free credits connects Claude through a shared pool of Bland numbers at $0.14 per connected minute, with no dedicated number and no texting.
These limits apply across your account. More on the costs is in what it costs to give an AI agent a phone number in 2026, and on the caps in what unlimited calling means on an agent phone plan. The full terms are on the Agent Phone Plan page.
The Claude phone calls page lays out pricing for Claude, and the plan limits are on the AI phone number plan. To explore other assistants' capabilities and connection options, read what Grok Bot can do with a number of its own, how Grok Bot signs itself up with Bland, and what ChatGPT can do after it connects.
FAQ#
Can Claude make phone calls?#
Yes. Once Claude is connected to Bland and on the Agent Phone Plan, it places outbound calls from your dedicated US number and reports back what happened. On free credits it can still call out, but from a shared Bland number.
Do I use a key or sign in?#
The Claude app and Claude Code can sign in with Bland today, so there's no key to paste. Claude Desktop also supports a key through the Norm plugin, the request-header beta, or the stdio bridge.
Can Claude buy the plan for me?#
Over a sign-in connection the purchase tools aren't offered, so buy the Agent Phone Plan or add credits in the Bland dashboard. Purchase tools are available over an API key connection.
What's the best option for Claude Desktop?#
The Norm plugin is recommended because it installs into Claude Desktop and stores the key for you. Sign in, the request-header beta, and the stdio bridge are alternatives.
Is Bland part of Anthropic?#
No. Bland isn't affiliated with, partnered with, or endorsed by Anthropic.
To give Claude a number of its own, start on the AI phone number plan.