Arcads is a platform that lets you generate AI video ads with realistic AI avatars. Instead of hiring actors, renting studios, and paying editors, you type a prompt and Arcads builds the video for you. The avatars look like real people. The videos look like real UGC content.
Now someone built a skill that connects Arcads directly to Claude. You can use the Code tab inside the Claude desktop app, or Claude Code in your terminal, or wherever else you are running it. Just type a single sentence like "Generate a high-converting UGC ad for my product," and Claude will create the AI avatar, write the script, pick the right model, and output a finished video. No switching between apps. No manual prompting on the Arcads dashboard. Just talk to Claude and get ads.
What You Get
Why This Matters
A single UGC ad from a creator costs $200 to $500 and up. An agency charges $2,000 to $10,000 per month. With this setup, you can generate unlimited variations for the cost of Arcads credits (as low as $0.03 per image, around $0.05 to $1.00 per video depending on the model). You can test 10 different hooks, 10 different avatars, and 10 different scripts in the time it takes to brief one freelancer.
Full Setup Guide
This takes about 5 minutes. Four steps and you are generating ads.
Step 1: Install the Skill
First, come over to this GitHub link: github.com/krusemediallc/arcads-claude-code
Copy the URL. Then open Claude and go to the Code tab inside the Claude desktop app. If you are using Claude Code in your terminal or anywhere else, that works too.
Paste the GitHub link into Claude and say:
Install this skill.
Claude will clone the repo and set everything up for you. Once it finishes, the Arcads skill is loaded and ready to go.
Behind the scenes, Claude downloads the skill files, creates the folder structure, and prepares everything you need. It also generates a MASTER_CONTEXT.md file, which is Claude's memory. It stores your default product, brand voice, credit costs, and lessons learned from previous sessions. Every time you start a new session, Claude reads it first so it knows your preferences without you repeating yourself.
Step 2: Get Your Arcads API Key
Now you need your Arcads API key so Claude can actually talk to Arcads and generate your ads.
Important: keep your API key secret. It is like a password. Never share it publicly, never paste it into a public chat, and never post it anywhere. The skill stores it in a local .env file that is automatically excluded from version control, so it stays safe on your machine.
Step 3: Add Your API Key
There are two ways to do this.
Option A (easiest): just tell Claude:
Here is my Arcads API key: [paste your key here]
Claude will automatically create the .env file and save your key in the right place. It will also test the connection to make sure everything works.
Option B: open your terminal, navigate to the project folder, and run ./scripts/setup.sh. The script will ask you to paste your API key, save it to a .env file, and verify that the connection works.
Step 4: Generate Your Ads
You are fully set up. Drop your product image into the conversation and say something like:
Generate a high-converting UGC ad for my product.
Claude handles everything from here.
If something goes wrong, run ./scripts/check-arcads-env.sh in your terminal to test your API connection. You can also just tell Claude "my API key is not working" and it will help you troubleshoot.
Your First UGC Ad
Upload your product image and tell Claude what you want. Claude will:
Want variations? Just say:
Generate 10 different variations with 10 different avatars.
Claude will fire off 10 separate generations, each with a unique AI avatar. You get 10 different ad variations to test, all from one command.
Pro tip: approval gates. Claude will not burn your credits without asking first. Before every generation, it shows you the estimated cost and waits for your "yes." For videos with dialogue, it also shows you the exact script and waits for approval. Nothing gets generated until you confirm.
Every Workflow You Can Run
The Arcads skill supports 15+ different workflows. Here are the most useful ones with example prompts you can copy and paste.
1. UGC Video Ad (the main one)
Generate a high-converting UGC ad for my product.
2. Image-Only Generation
Generate a UGC selfie of Sofia holding the product in her apartment kitchen. Natural lighting, iPhone quality.
3. Still-to-Video Animation
Take any still image and bring it to life. Claude uses the image as a starting frame and generates a video where the person talks, moves, and interacts with the product.
Turn that image into a video. Have her talk about why she loves the product for 8 seconds.
4. Direct Video (no starting image)
Generate a UGC video of someone unboxing my product on their kitchen counter. Excited, genuine reaction.
5. Scene with Dialogue
Generate a scene of someone trying my coffee for the first time at a cafe. Script: 'Okay wait, this is actually incredible.'
6. Premium Product Reveal
Dark, cinematic product reveal. No person needed. Think Apple-style launches with dramatic lighting and slow reveals.
Generate a premium product reveal for my headphones. Dark void background, dramatic lighting, slow rotation.
7. Clone an Existing Ad
Clone this reference video for my product. Match the tone, pacing, and visual style but use my branding.
The AI Models (and When to Use Each)
Arcads gives you access to multiple AI models, each with different strengths. Claude picks the right one automatically, but it helps to understand what each does. Veo 3.1 is great for animating existing images. Nano Banana handles stills cheaply at around $0.03 per image. Seedance 2.0, Kling 3.0, and Grok Video round out the lineup for different styles and durations.
Pro tip: let Claude pick the model. You do not need to memorize any of this. Just describe what you want and Claude will automatically select the best model. The defaults are solid.
Pro Tips for Better Results
Quick Copy-Paste Prompts
Get the Skill
Everything you need is in one GitHub repo. Paste this link into Claude and say "Install this skill": github.com/krusemediallc/arcads-claude-code
A single sentence to Claude. A finished AI video ad in minutes. No actors, no editors, no agency.