The best agent skills in 2026

One or two picks per job. Free first where a free one does the job. Scan scores are out of 100; tokens are what the skill loads when it triggers.

• Scan score 85 or more, no critical finding. Every skill is run through the open ProSkills scanner: spec, token efficiency, clarity and security, 25 points each.
• Token cost. We show what each skill loads when it triggers. Smaller is better when two skills do the same job.
• Used and maintained. Public picks come from the 1,638 skills in 83 popular GitHub repos we scan, skipping forks and archived repos. Repo stars are shown as a signal of use, not of quality.
• Tested output. 64 of the 67 ProSkills skills have a real sample on their page: the same task answered with and without the skill.
• One clear job. A skill that does one thing and says when it loads beats a bundle that triggers on everything.

1,052 of the 1,638 public skills pass the score and security bar (64%). This page lists 35 of them by hand, for common jobs. A score measures form and known risk patterns, not whether the advice is good, so we also read each pick. See the full data on the reports pages and in the state of agent skills.

Writing skills work best when they name specific patterns to remove or a fixed structure to follow. Vague style advice changes little.

• HumanizerProSkillsStrips the most common AI tells.1,024 tokensScan 100Free
• avoid-ai-writingwshobson/agentsAudits and rewrites prose that reads as machine-written. Good for READMEs and release notes.Source on GitHub · Scan report41,069 repo stars1,805 tokensScan 95Free
• doc-coauthoringanthropics/skillsA staged workflow for writing specs, proposals and decision docs with the agent.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars3,836 tokensScan 92Free
• Humanizer ProProSkillsThree-pass rewrite. Facts locked. Your voice.2,585 tokensScan 100$9
• Tone LintProSkillsCatches drift before you publish.2,166 tokensScan 100$7

blader/humanizer is one of the most-starred single skills. It scored 79 in our scan, below our cut-off of 85. See the report for the details.

A frontend skill is a set of design decisions made once: a spacing unit, a type scale, defaults to avoid. The agent then applies them to every component.

• Taste CoreProSkillsSpacing, type scale, one accent.951 tokensScan 100Free
• web-design-guidelinesvercel-labs/agent-skillsReviews UI code against Vercel's web interface guidelines. Small and cheap to load.Source on GitHub · Scan report32,625 repo stars229 tokensScan 94Free
• stitch-design-tasteLeonxlnx/taste-skillWrites a DESIGN.md with strict type, colour and layout rules. Runs only when called by name.Source on GitHub · Scan report99,077 repo stars2,857 tokensScan 90Free
• canvas-designanthropics/skillsPosters and static visual pieces as PNG or PDF.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars2,892 tokensScan 98Free
• Taste DirectorProSkillsCommits to a direction. Bans 30 AI defaults.3,124 tokensScan 100$12
• Type PairingProSkillsFont pairs that never look default.2,351 tokensScan 100$7

Anthropic's frontend-design skill is widely installed. It scored 81 in our scan. Read the report and decide for yourself. More detail in best skills for frontend.

For reading and writing PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, Anthropic's own document skills are the standard choice. They ship scripts, so read them before you run them.

• pdfanthropics/skillsRead, merge, split and fill PDF files.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars1,879 tokensScan 96Free
• xlsxanthropics/skillsOpen, edit and build spreadsheets, CSV and TSV files.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars1,876 tokensScan 94Free
• pptxanthropics/skillsCreate and edit slide decks.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars4,956 tokensScan 95Free
• docxanthropics/skillsCreate and edit Word documents.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars1,487 tokensScan 91Free

These skills change process: write the failing test first, review against a checklist, find the root cause before the fix. They help most on teams where the agent opens pull requests.

• test-driven-developmentobra/superpowersRed, green, refactor. Loads before any feature or bugfix code is written.Source on GitHub · Scan report301,837 repo stars2,357 tokensScan 100Free
• PR DescriberProSkillsTitle and description from your diff. No filler.1,207 tokensScan 100Free
• open-code-reviewalibaba/open-code-reviewReviews Git changes with Alibaba's open-code-review CLI.Source on GitHub · Scan report47,628 repo stars2,970 tokensScan 100Free
• debugging-and-error-recoveryaddyosmani/agent-skillsRoot-cause debugging when tests fail or builds break.Source on GitHub · Scan report108,390 repo stars2,542 tokensScan 100Free
• requesting-code-reviewobra/superpowersAsks for a review before merging and checks the work against the plan.Source on GitHub · Scan report301,837 repo stars703 tokensScan 96Free
• webapp-testinganthropics/skillsTests a local web app with Playwright, with screenshots and logs.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars894 tokensScan 88Free
• TDD LoopProSkillsOne red, the least green, a refactor, a commit. Repeat.1,584 tokensScan 100$9
• PR ReviewerProSkillsStaff-level review. Every finding labelled, with a line.1,705 tokensScan 100$12
• Security ReviewProSkillsExploit sketch, severity and fix for each finding.2,188 tokensScan 100$12

obra's systematic-debugging skill is popular but scored 75 in our scan, so it is not listed here. See its report.

Skills that change how the agent works rather than what it writes: think before editing, verify before claiming success, keep context small, split work across subagents.

• karpathy-guidelinesmultica-ai/andrej-karpathy-skillsShort rules against overcomplicated, sprawling edits. Very cheap to load.Source on GitHub · Scan report221,069 repo stars557 tokensScan 96Free
• verification-before-completionobra/superpowersRun the checks and read the output before saying it works.Source on GitHub · Scan report301,837 repo stars829 tokensScan 100Free
• AGENTS.md ArchitectProSkillsA short instructions file from your real repo.1,702 tokensScan 100Free
• dispatching-parallel-agentsobra/superpowersWhen and how to hand independent tasks to parallel agents.Source on GitHub · Scan report301,837 repo stars1,473 tokensScan 100Free
• context-engineeringaddyosmani/agent-skillsSet up rules files and context at the start of a session.Source on GitHub · Scan report108,390 repo stars3,673 tokensScan 97Free
• mcp-builderanthropics/skillsA guide to building MCP servers with well-designed tools.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars2,178 tokensScan 88Free
• Context DietProSkillsCut token waste, with before and after numbers.1,758 tokensScan 100$9
• Think FirstProSkillsFive lines before the edit. A ledger after.1,607 tokensScan 100$9
• Skill AuthorProSkillsWrite skills that score 90+ on the scanner.1,864 tokensScan 100$12

Writing your own skill? Anthropic's skill-creator includes evals but is large; it scored 73 in our scan. Our guide to writing a skill covers the same ground in seven steps.

Data skills earn their place when they hold your conventions: dialect, naming, how to handle NULLs and fan-out. Give them your schema and they stop guessing.

• Analytics SQLProSkillsReadable analytics queries you can trust.1,812 tokensScan 100Free
• sql-queriesphuryn/pm-skillsSQL from plain English across BigQuery, PostgreSQL and MySQL.Source on GitHub · Scan report27,201 repo stars824 tokensScan 100Free
• database-optimizerJeffallan/claude-skillsSlow-query work on PostgreSQL and MySQL from execution plans.Source on GitHub · Scan report11,940 repo stars1,343 tokensScan 100Free
• cohort-analysisphuryn/pm-skillsRetention curves and cohort tables from engagement data.Source on GitHub · Scan report27,201 repo stars1,178 tokensScan 100Free
• SQL ReviewerProSkillsCatches the NULL, fan-out and lock bugs.1,572 tokensScan 100$9
• Query OptimizerProSkillsEXPLAIN-driven tuning with before and after timings.1,650 tokensScan 100$12

Infrastructure skills should ask before anything destructive. Check that a skill stops before a deploy, apply or delete before you give it a cloud account.

• Dockerfile DoctorProSkillsSmaller, faster, safer images.1,737 tokensScan 100Free
• github-actions-templateswshobson/agentsGitHub Actions workflows for test, build and deploy.Source on GitHub · Scan report41,069 repo stars1,698 tokensScan 100Free
• ci-cd-and-automationaddyosmani/agent-skillsCI/CD setup with quality gates.Source on GitHub · Scan report108,390 repo stars2,688 tokensScan 100Free
• terraform-module-librarywshobson/agentsReusable Terraform modules for AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI.Source on GitHub · Scan report41,069 repo stars1,276 tokensScan 100Free
• secrets-managementwshobson/agentsSecrets in CI/CD with Vault or a cloud secrets manager.Source on GitHub · Scan report41,069 repo stars1,819 tokensScan 100Free
• deploy-to-vercelvercel-labs/agent-skillsDeploys an app to Vercel and returns the link.Source on GitHub · Scan report32,625 repo stars2,865 tokensScan 100Free
• Terraform ReviewerProSkillsReads the plan before it destroys something.1,559 tokensScan 100$12
• Incident CommanderProSkillsMitigate first. Then a blameless postmortem.1,766 tokensScan 100$12

Planning skills pay off on multi-step work. They make the agent ask questions or write a plan before it edits files, which is where most wasted runs start.

• Grill MeProSkillsA relentless review of your plan.1,075 tokensScan 100Free
• writing-plansobra/superpowersTurns a spec into a step-by-step implementation plan before any code.Source on GitHub · Scan report301,837 repo stars2,548 tokensScan 96Free
• interview-meaddyosmani/agent-skillsAsks one question at a time until it knows what you actually want.Source on GitHub · Scan report108,390 repo stars3,627 tokensScan 97Free
• planning-and-task-breakdownaddyosmani/agent-skillsBreaks a spec into ordered, sized tasks.Source on GitHub · Scan report108,390 repo stars2,547 tokensScan 92Free
• Scope CutterProSkillsShips the smallest version that works.1,882 tokensScan 100$7
• ADR WriterProSkillsDecisions written down properly.2,173 tokensScan 100$7

More in best skills for planning.

Video skills drive a code-based renderer such as Hyperframes, Remotion or GSAP. Pick the one that matches the tool you already render with.

• Hyperframes StarterProSkillsYour first composition in one prompt.1,055 tokensScan 100Free
• remotiongoogle-labs-code/stitch-skillsWalkthrough videos from Google Stitch projects, rendered with Remotion.Source on GitHub · Scan report8,546 repo stars3,129 tokensScan 85Free
• slack-gif-creatoranthropics/skillsAnimated GIFs sized and checked for Slack.Source on GitHub · Scan report182,098 repo stars1,883 tokensScan 90Free
• Remotion ScenesProSkillsReusable scenes and transitions.2,405 tokensScan 100$12
• Captioned ClipsProSkillsSocial cuts with styled captions.2,006 tokensScan 100$9

Compared in detail in best AI video skills.

Outreach and marketing skills are only as good as the facts you give them. The useful ones ask for your offer and audience, and refuse to invent proof.

• Prospect BriefProSkillsOne-page research on any lead.952 tokensScan 100Free
• seo-auditAgriciDaniel/claude-seoA scored, prioritised site-wide SEO audit.Source on GitHub · Scan report19,222 repo stars2,489 tokensScan 90Free
• copywritingcoreyhaines31/marketingskillsMarketing copy for homepages, landing and pricing pages.Source on GitHub · Scan report55,444 repo stars3,611 tokensScan 88Free
• crocoreyhaines31/marketingskillsConversion fixes for marketing pages and forms.Source on GitHub · Scan report55,444 repo stars1,599 tokensScan 88Free
• SEO AuditProSkillsScores the page for search. Fixes ranked by traffic moved.1,583 tokensScan 100$12
• Page ConverterProSkillsScores your page and rewrites what's losing signups.2,167 tokensScan 100$12
• First LineProSkillsOpeners built from real signals.2,421 tokensScan 100$7

More in best skills for sales outreach.

Every free ProSkills skill, MIT licensed, no account. Install one with npx proskills-cli add <id>, or all of them with npx skills add https://proskills.dev, which reads this site's agent skills index.

The repos people ask about most, with what our scan found in each. Counts are skills we scanned, not everything in the repo.

For directories and marketplaces that list skills from many authors, see where to find agent skills.

• anthropics/skills on GitHub
• obra/superpowers on GitHub
• Agent Skills overview, Anthropic docs
• Agent Skills open format, agentskills.io

Before you install any skill you did not write, read it and run it through the scanner. The safety guide lists what to look for.