What You Get When You Buy an AI Skill — and How Installation Works
When you buy an AI skill, you get a ZIP file containing a folder of plain-text instructions — a SKILL.md playbook, usually with a starter template. You upload that ZIP to your AI assistant, switch the skill on, and the assistant follows the playbook whenever you give it a matching task. No software to install, and no account to create.
What a skill actually is
A skill is not software, and it is not an app. Nothing gets installed on your computer, and nothing runs in the background. A skill is a structured folder of instructions that your AI assistant reads before it starts work:
SKILL.md— the playbook itself. It tells the assistant what the task is, the steps to follow, the format to deliver, and the rules to respect.- A starter template — a ready-to-fill document, so your first run takes minutes instead of an afternoon of setup.
- Reference files or scripts — some skills add examples, checklists, or small scripts for exact, repeatable steps.
Because a skill is plain text, you can open it and read every word before you use it. That is the honest test of any skill on any marketplace: if you cannot read it, do not install it.
What you receive when you buy here
At checkout you pay once — a single skill costs $4.99 — and the ZIP download appears immediately. There is no account and no sign-in. You pay, you download, and the files are yours.
Three things come with every pack:
- The files, forever. The ZIP is yours to keep, copy to your other machines, and use for as long as you like.
- Free updates. When we improve a skill — clearer steps, a better template, a fixed mistake — the updated version is yours at no extra cost.
- A workflow you can check first. Before you pay, the skill page shows the full file list, a preview of the workflow, and the install instructions. You see exactly what you are buying.
If you would rather have everything, Pro covers all of our original skills: $9.99 a month, $79 a year, or $169 once for lifetime access. While you are subscribed, you can download any original skill in the catalog. Both routes are fine. A single skill suits one repeated job; Pro suits people who keep finding new ones.
How installation works
Installing a bought skill works the same as installing a free one, and it takes about two minutes in Claude:
- Download the ZIP and keep it zipped.
- In Claude, make sure Settings → Capabilities → Code execution and file creation is turned on.
- Open Customize → Skills, click +, choose Create skill → Upload a skill, and upload the ZIP.
- Switch the skill on — uploads start turned off.
- Open a new chat and give it a task the skill is made for.
Anthropic's help center describes the same upload flow in its guide to using skills in Claude.
Prefer not to upload anything yourself? Our install page offers a one-line install: copy one line, paste it to your AI assistant, and the assistant fetches and installs the skill for you. Either way ends in the same place — the skill sits inside your assistant, ready whenever the right task shows up.
What a legit seller shows you before you pay
The skills market is new, and not every seller plays straight. Before buying anywhere — including here — check for four things. A real seller shows the complete list of files in the pack, not just a sales page. The workflow can be previewed, so you can judge whether the steps are real. The install instructions are public before purchase, not a surprise after it. And the price is one clear number in USD, paid through a known payment processor. If a seller hides the files until after you pay, keep your money.
FAQ
Is it safe to install third-party AI skills?
It is safe when the files are readable and you check them first. Every pack here is plain text — SKILL.md, templates, and any scripts — so you can open and inspect everything before installing. Only install skills whose contents you can read.
Are paid AI skill packs worth the money?
They are worth it when the workflow repeats every week and the pack documents its steps, templates, and limits instead of hiding them. At $4.99, a pack pays for itself the first time it saves you an hour of re-explaining the same task to your assistant.
How can I tell if an AI skills marketplace is legit?
Look for readable files before purchase, a named seller, clear USD pricing through a known payment processor like Stripe, and real contact details. A marketplace that shows its files and its prices up front has nothing to hide.
What do I actually receive after paying?
A ZIP containing the skill folder — SKILL.md plus a starter template — delivered immediately after checkout. If you are a Pro member, you can download any original skill while your subscription is active.