Best Claude Code Plugins in 2026
Claude Code plugins extend your AI coding assistant with new skills, agents, MCP servers, hooks, and slash commands. This guide covers the best Claude Code plugins across every category -- from code review and testing to deployment and documentation.
New to plugins? Read the Claude Code Plugins Guide first to learn how plugins work, then come back here to find the best ones to install.
What Are Claude Code Plugins?
Claude Code plugins are packages that extend Claude's capabilities. A plugin can include:
- Skills -- System prompts that configure Claude for specific tasks (e.g., code review, TDD, architecture)
- Slash commands -- Custom
/commandsyou invoke on demand - Agents -- Autonomous sub-agents for complex multi-step tasks
- Hooks -- Event-driven automation (PreToolUse, PostToolUse, Stop)
- MCP servers -- Model Context Protocol servers that give Claude access to external tools and data
You can install plugins from GitHub repos, or browse the Skills Playground directory which catalogs 8,600+ skills and 5,000+ MCP servers.
Best Coding Skills
These skills configure Claude as a domain expert with detailed methodology and output formats.
Next.js Developer
Full-stack Next.js expertise with App Router, Server Components, and TypeScript best practices. One of the most-installed skills on the platform.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/nextjs-developer/Python Developer
Python best practices with type hints, async patterns, and project structure conventions. Covers FastAPI, Django, and CLI tools.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/python-developer/Rust Developer
Rust ownership, lifetimes, error handling, and idiomatic patterns. Includes cargo workspace and trait-based design guidance.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/rust-developer/Best Code Review Plugins
Code Reviewer
Thorough code review with security analysis, performance checks, and maintainability scoring. Produces structured review reports with severity levels.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/code-reviewer/Security Auditor
OWASP Top 10 analysis, dependency vulnerability scanning, and security-focused code review. Identifies injection risks, auth issues, and data exposure.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/security-auditor/Best Testing Plugins
TDD Expert
Strict test-driven development with Red-Green-Refactor methodology. Writes failing tests first, then minimum implementation to pass. Never skips the cycle.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/tdd-expert/Test Writer
Generates comprehensive test suites with unit, integration, and edge case coverage. Supports Jest, Vitest, pytest, and Go testing.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/test-writer/Best MCP Server Plugins
MCP servers give Claude access to external tools and data sources. These are the most useful ones to add to your workflow.
GitHub MCP Server
Official GitHub MCP server. Search repos, read files, manage issues and PRs, and interact with GitHub APIs directly from Claude.
claude mcp add github -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-githubPostgreSQL MCP Server
Query PostgreSQL databases, inspect schemas, and run read-only SQL queries. Essential for database-driven development.
claude mcp add postgres -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgresBrave Search MCP Server
Web search capability for Claude. Research documentation, find code examples, and look up error messages without leaving your editor.
claude mcp add brave-search -- npx -y @anthropic/mcp-server-brave-searchFilesystem MCP Server
Gives Claude safe, sandboxed access to your filesystem. Useful when you need Claude to work with files outside the project directory.
claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/dirSee the full Best MCP Servers guide for more recommendations.
Best DevOps Plugins
Docker Expert
Dockerfile optimization, multi-stage builds, docker-compose configurations, and container best practices. Optimizes for layer caching and image size.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/docker-expert/CI/CD Engineer
GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and CI/CD pipeline design. Generates workflow files with caching, matrix builds, and deployment steps.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/ci-cd-engineer/Best Frontend Plugins
Frontend Design
Creates distinctive, production-grade UI components with semantic HTML, modern CSS, micro-interactions, and dark mode support. Avoids generic AI aesthetics.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/frontend-design/React Developer
Modern React patterns with hooks, context, suspense, and Server Components. Covers state management, performance optimization, and component architecture.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/react-developer/Best Productivity Plugins
Documentation Writer
Generates API docs, README files, architecture decision records, and inline documentation. Follows Google and Microsoft style guides.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/documentation-writer/Git Expert
Advanced git operations: interactive rebasing, cherry-picking, bisecting, and conflict resolution. Writes conventional commit messages.
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/git-expert/How to Install Claude Code Plugins
Install a skill from Skills Playground
# Install directly from the directory
claude install-skill https://skillsplayground.com/skills/{skill-name}/Install a plugin from GitHub
# Install a full plugin with skills, hooks, and commands
claude plugin add owner/repoAdd an MCP server
# Add an MCP server to your project
claude mcp add server-name -- npx -y @package/server-nameInstalled skills appear as slash commands. Type / in Claude Code to see all available skills.
Pro tip: Install skills per-project (not globally) so each project gets exactly the expertise it needs. A React project gets /react-developer, a Python project gets /python-developer.
Create Your Own Plugin
Creating a Claude Code plugin is straightforward:
- Create a
plugin.jsonmanifest in your repo - Add skills as Markdown files in a
skills/directory - Optionally add hooks, commands, agents, and MCP server configs
- Submit to Skills Playground for discovery and tracking
# plugin.json
{
"name": "my-plugin",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "My Claude Code plugin",
"skills": ["skills/*.md"],
"hooks": ["hooks/*.js"]
}Read the full Plugins Guide for the complete plugin development walkthrough.
Browse All Plugins
Skills Playground is the largest directory of Claude Code plugins with 8,600+ skills and 5,000+ MCP servers. Every skill includes install counts, a one-click install command, and a README badge you can add to your repo.