Best Claude Code skills
A Claude Code skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file: instructions, and sometimes scripts, that Claude loads when a task calls for them. Skills are the cheapest way to change how an assistant works, because they need no server and no account. This page ranks the skill repos in SkillScout's catalogue by GitHub stars, from Anthropic's own collection to single-purpose skills.
Collections and single skills
Many popular entries are collections: dozens or hundreds of skills in one repo. They are a fast way to see what is possible, but installing all of them clutters what Claude has to choose from. Pick the few you will use.
Single-purpose skills, such as one for planning in files or for a specific framework, are easier to judge. Read the SKILL.md: if the instructions are clear to you, they will be clear to the model.
Adding a skill to Claude Code
Put the skill folder in ~/.claude/skills to use it in every project, or in .claude/skills inside a repo to share it with the team through version control. Some repos ship as plugins instead, installed with /plugin in Claude Code.
Skills can include scripts that run on your machine. Read them before you install a skill from someone you do not know, the same as any code.
Many of these skills also work in other agents that read SKILL.md folders, such as Codex and Cursor, so a good skill is rarely tied to one tool.
The list
From SkillScout's catalogue, counted on 27 October 2026: 344 entries matched this topic, and these are the 15 with the most GitHub stars, one per project, after a review for false matches. Descriptions are each project's own. Stars show popularity, not fit.
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skills
Skills for Real Engineers. Straight from my .agents directory.
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/mattpocock/skills -
ui-ux-pro-max-skill
An AI SKILL that provide design intelligence for building professional UI/UX multiple platforms
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/nextlevelbuilder/ui-ux-pro-max-skill -
graphify
AI coding assistant skill (Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor, Gemini CLI, and more). Turn any folder of code, SQL schemas, R scripts, shell scripts, docs, papers...
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify -
taste-skill
Taste-Skill - gives your AI good taste. stops the AI from generating boring, generic slop
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/Leonxlnx/taste-skill -
open-design
Local-first, open-source alternative to Anthropic's Claude Design. 19 Skills · 71 brand-grade Design Systems Generate web · desktop · mobile prototypes · slides · images...
Get the code, then follow its README to add the skill:
git clone https://github.com/nexu-io/open-design -
scientific-agent-skills
Turn any AI agent into an AI Scientist. The #1 Agent Skills library for science, used by 160,000+ scientists worldwide. 140 ready-to-use skills plus 100+ scientific...
Get the code, then follow its README to add the skill:
git clone https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills -
obsidian-skills
Agent skills for Obsidian. Teach your agent to use Markdown, Bases, JSON Canvas, and use the CLI.
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/kepano/obsidian-skills -
marketingskills
Marketing skills for Claude Code and AI agents. CRO, copywriting, SEO, analytics, and growth engineering.
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills -
cli
Google Workspace CLI, one command-line tool for Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Sheets, Docs, Chat, Admin, and more. Dynamically built from Google Discovery Service. Includes AI...
Get the code, then follow its README to add the skill:
git clone https://github.com/googleworkspace/cli -
last30days-skill
AI agent skill that researches any topic across Reddit, X, YouTube, HN, Polymarket, and the web - then synthesizes a grounded summary
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/mvanhorn/last30days-skill -
Claude-Code-Game-Studios
Structures a Claude Code session into a game studio with 49 specialized AI agents and 73 skills to maintain organization and enforce quality standards...
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/Donchitos/Claude-Code-Game-Studios -
guizang-ppt-skill
AI-agent Skill for generating polished HTML slide decks: editorial magazine and Swiss layouts, image prompts, social covers, and a WebGL/low-power presentation runtime.
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/op7418/guizang-ppt-skill -
planning-with-files
Claude Code skill implementing Manus-style persistent markdown planning, the workflow pattern behind the $2B acquisition.
Get the code, then follow its README to add the skill:
git clone https://github.com/OthmanAdi/planning-with-files -
Agent-Skills-for-Context-Engineering
A comprehensive collection of Agent Skills for context engineering, multi-agent architectures, and production agent systems. Use when building, optimizing, or debugging...
Get the code, then follow its README:
git clone https://github.com/muratcankoylan/Agent-Skills-for-Context-Engineering -
claude-skills
232+ Claude Code skills & agent plugins for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, Cursor, and 8 more coding agents, engineering, marketing, product, compliance, C-level...
Get the code, then follow its README to add the skill:
git clone https://github.com/alirezarezvani/claude-skills
Questions
What are Claude Code skills?
Folders of instructions and optional scripts, each described by a SKILL.md file, that Claude Code loads when they are relevant to a task. They teach a way of working, such as a review checklist or a writing style.
Where do I put Claude Code skills?
In ~/.claude/skills for all your projects, or .claude/skills in a project folder for that project only.
What is the difference between a skill and an MCP server?
A skill is instructions; an MCP server is a program that gives the assistant new tools. The MCP vs plugins vs skills guide explains when to use each.
Related
- Best AI tools, sorted by role and task
- MCP vs plugins vs skillsThree layers of the same stack, and when to reach for each.
- AI plugins for Claude Code, Obsidian and moreClaude Code plugins and AI plugins for apps you already use.
- Best MCP serversThe most-starred MCP servers, with the install line where the registry has it.
Your own list
This page ranks by popularity. SkillScout's scan ranks by fit: the AI you already use writes a short profile of how you work, and SkillScout scores about 22,000 AI tools against your gaps and hands back a short list with install steps. It is free, and the server never saves your profile.