The best Smithery alternative depends on what you used Smithery for. Smithery shuts down its connection management and proxy on October 31, 2026, so Smithery URLs stop working. If you just use servers yourself, switch to the vendor's own remote MCP URL. If you want hosted servers with tool control, use a gateway like MCPifex. If you manage connections for your own users, pick a platform like Arcade or Composio.
What is changing at Smithery, and who is affected?
According to Smithery's own notice, as of October 30, 2026 the following stops on October 31: server URLs on run.tools and server.smithery.ai, the Smithery API, Connect and Toolbox, and Smithery accounts and API keys. The CLI and SDKs stop working and current versions are marked deprecated. The public registry at smithery.ai stays online as a directory, now powered by Arcade.dev. Verified servers will show their direct vendor MCP URLs.
Smithery also says it is refunding every charge since August 5 and cancelling subscriptions. Check your own billing page for the details that apply to you.
You are affected if any MCP client of yours points at a Smithery URL, or if your app authenticates users through Smithery. The registry staying up helps with discovery only. It will not proxy your requests. For the step-by-step move, read how to migrate after the Smithery shutdown. For a direct product comparison, see MCPifex vs. Smithery.
What should you look for in a replacement?
Match the replacement to the job Smithery did for you. Five questions sort most cases.
- Who runs the server? A hosted service runs it for you. A vendor runs its own. Or you run it yourself. This decides who patches it and who gets paged when it breaks.
- Where do credentials live? Know who stores your OAuth tokens or API keys and how they reach the server.
- Can you limit tools? An AI that can read a database can sometimes also write to it. Look for per-tool on and off switches. See how to control what AI agents can reach.
- What does it cost per call? Some options count tool calls, some count tasks, some count instances. Estimate your monthly calls before you commit.
- Which clients does it work with? Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and Claude Code differ in whether they can send an Authorization header. Check yours.
The glossary entries on MCP gateways and remote MCP servers cover the terms if you are new to them.
Which Smithery alternatives are there?
These are eight options, from managed services to self-hosting. Prices are as of October 30, 2026 and come from each vendor's public page. Where a page gives no figure, this article gives none either.
1. MCPifex: hosted servers with a gateway and tool policy
What it is. MCPifex hosts MCP servers for you and gives your AI one endpoint, https://mcp.mcpifex.com/mcp. You create an instance of a server in the portal, save your credentials, switch individual tools on or off, and get an API key. We run the real server package, so nothing is installed on your machine. (We make MCPifex, so weigh this section accordingly.)
Hosting model. Fully hosted. Write and destructive tools start off. Calls to tools you have not enabled, or tools outside our catalog, are refused. Calls are logged per instance. The key works as a header or inside the URL for clients that cannot send headers, such as ChatGPT connectors.
Best for. People who want Claude or ChatGPT to reach their own data without terminals or Docker. Live servers today are PostgreSQL, Google Trends, Google Search Console, App Store Connect and WhatsApp. The catalog is far smaller than Smithery's was, so check that your server is on the marketplace.
Pricing. Free is $0 for 3 instances, no card. Pro is $19 a month or $190 a year for 10 instances. Team is $49 a month or $490 a year for 30 instances and up to 5 members. Gateway calls are unlimited on every plan. Details are on the pricing page.
2. Glama: directory, hosting and gateway
What it is. Glama runs a large MCP directory plus hosting and a gateway. Its hosting docs describe deploying from the Glama registry, a GitHub repository, or a Dockerfile, npm package or PyPI module.
Hosting model. Hosted on dedicated machines, one per deployment, behind a Streamable HTTP endpoint. Glama's gateway adds OAuth 2.1 credential handling, per-tool enable and disable controls and logging of each call. Deployments are private by default.
Best for. Developers who have their own server package and want it hosted without running infrastructure. It is the closest match to Smithery's old bring-your-own-server hosting.
Pricing. Glama says hosting is billed on top of your workspace plan, with infrastructure metered by machine hours and egress. It publishes no exact rates on that page, so look at the rate card in your workspace settings. See MCPifex vs. Glama.
3. Composio: an integration platform for agent builders
What it is. Composio provides app integrations and per-user account connections for agents, reached through SDKs and MCP. It is aimed at people building products on top of agents.
Hosting model. Hosted platform. Its pricing page lists unlimited connected accounts, custom tools and MCP on the free plan.
Best for. Teams that need connection management for their own end users, which is the part of Smithery that is shutting down. Smithery itself says people in that position need a replacement before October 31.
Pricing. As of October 30, 2026, Composio lists Hobby at $0 with 100,000 tool calls a month, and Pro at $29 a month with $29 of usage credit, then $0.0003 per tool call. Enterprise is custom. Composio notes that this pricing applies to signups on or after August 15, 2026. See MCPifex vs. Composio.
4. Pipedream MCP: thousands of apps through one connection
What it is. A hosted MCP layer over Pipedream's integrations. The docs cite more than 3,000 apps and over 10,000 pre-built tools, with Pipedream Connect handling OAuth and credential storage.
Hosting model. Hosted by Pipedream. Individuals connect their own accounts. Developers can embed it in their own app to make calls for their users.
Best for. Everyday SaaS actions such as Slack, Sheets and CRM updates, and for developers who want OAuth for many apps handled for them.
Pricing. The docs say personal use is free and development mode is free to start. For production they point to Pipedream's pricing page without listing prices in the MCP docs. See MCPifex vs. Pipedream MCP.
5. Zapier MCP: Zapier actions as MCP tools
What it is. Zapier lets AI clients such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor run Zapier actions as tools. Its MCP page cites 9,000+ apps.
Hosting model. Hosted by Zapier, with the connection and access controls managed there. It is Zapier automation with an MCP front door, so it does not proxy arbitrary MCP servers.
Best for. People who already use Zapier and want an agent to trigger the same app actions.
Pricing. Zapier says each tool call uses two tasks from your existing task quota, and that MCP is included in every plan. It names no separate MCP price. See MCPifex vs. Zapier MCP.
6. Arcade: the service Smithery points to
What it is. Arcade is an agent tool platform. Smithery's notice says that for ready-made MCP servers such as Gmail or Slack, "that's what we build at Arcade," and that the smithery.ai directory is now powered by Arcade.dev. We verified that on Smithery's page. Smithery points to it; we do not endorse it.
Hosting model. Arcade's pricing page says the Free and Team plans run fully managed on Arcade Cloud. Enterprise adds deployment in your VPC or fully air-gapped.
Best for. Agent builders who need authorized tool calls on behalf of their own users.
Pricing. Free is $0 with 2,000 tool calls a month. Team is $25 a month plus $0.01 per tool call. Enterprise is custom. The billed unit is tool calls.
7. Vendor-official remote MCP servers
What it is. Many products now run their own remote MCP server. Smithery's notice tells people who use a server themselves to switch to the vendor's official URL, found on the server's page at smithery.ai. Linear is an example: its docs list a centrally hosted server at https://mcp.linear.app/mcp that uses Streamable HTTP and OAuth 2.1.
Hosting model. The vendor hosts it and you connect your client straight to it. There is no middle layer, so there is no extra tool control beyond what the vendor offers.
Best for. One or two well-known tools where the vendor's server covers your task. It is the lowest-effort fix for personal use.
Pricing. Set by each vendor and usually part of the product plan. Check the vendor's docs.
8. Self-hosting with Docker MCP Gateway
What it is. Docker MCP Gateway is Docker's open-source tool for orchestrating MCP servers. It acts as a proxy between clients and servers, starts each server as a container when a tool is requested, injects credentials and applies security restrictions. The code is on GitHub.
Hosting model. You run it, on Docker Desktop with MCP Toolkit or on Docker Engine with the binary installed. Docker notes that the AI Governance version is invite-only through Docker Sales.
Best for. Developers who are comfortable operating containers and want full control, including private or custom servers.
Pricing. The open-source gateway is free. You pay for your own hardware and your own time to update and secure it. See build vs. buy for MCP hosting, MCPifex vs. Docker MCP Gateway and hosted vs. self-hosted MCP.
How do they compare side by side?
This table summarizes the options as of October 30, 2026. Cells say "not published" where the vendor's page gave no figure.
| Option | Who runs it | Tool control | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCPifex | MCPifex hosts it | Per-tool on/off, write tools off by default | Per instance: Free $0 (3), Pro $19/mo (10), Team $49/mo (30); calls unlimited |
| Glama | Glama hosts it | Per-tool enable/disable in the gateway | Workspace plan plus machine hours and egress; rates not published on its page |
| Composio | Composio hosts it | Allowed-tool lists in its MCP setup | Hobby $0 (100,000 calls/mo), Pro $29/mo, then $0.0003 per call |
| Pipedream MCP | Pipedream hosts it | Choose which apps to enable | Personal free; production pricing on Pipedream's pricing page |
| Zapier MCP | Zapier hosts it | Choose actions, approve or block | 2 tasks per call from your Zapier plan |
| Arcade | Arcade Cloud (VPC on Enterprise) | Authorized tool calls per user | Free $0 (2,000 calls/mo), Team $25/mo plus $0.01 per call |
| Vendor-official remote server | The vendor | Whatever the vendor offers | Set by the vendor |
| Docker MCP Gateway | You | Profiles and restrictions you configure | Free software, your own infrastructure |
Which Smithery alternative should you choose?
Pick by use case, not by catalog size.
- You use one or two servers for yourself: go to the vendor-official URL. It takes minutes and adds nothing to maintain.
- You want Claude or ChatGPT to reach your database, Search Console, Trends, App Store Connect or WhatsApp: choose MCPifex. It runs the server, and you control the tools.
- You have your own server package to host: choose Glama, or self-host with Docker.
- You build a product that connects your users' accounts: compare Arcade, Composio and Pipedream. This is the group Smithery says needs a replacement before October 31.
- You live in Zapier already: Zapier MCP reuses what you built.
- You want full control and have the skills: self-host with Docker MCP Gateway.
How do you test a replacement before October 31?
Run one harmless task on the new option before you move everything. Use a test data source and the same client your team uses. Confirm which account makes the upstream call, try a tool you have disabled and see that it is refused, then reconnect from a second client. Our MCP security checklist lists what else to check. If you want to try MCPifex, register free. No card is needed.
Quick answers
No. Smithery says its connection management services shut down on October 31, 2026: server URLs, the API, Connect, Toolbox, accounts and API keys. The public registry at smithery.ai stays online as a directory.
The vendor's own remote MCP URL. Smithery tells people who use a server themselves to switch to the official URL listed on the server's page. Linear, for example, hosts one at mcp.linear.app/mcp.
Yes, for out-of-the-box servers like Gmail or Slack. Its notice says that is what Arcade builds, and that the smithery.ai directory is now powered by Arcade.dev. For managing connections for your own users, Smithery says it will help you choose a replacement even if it is not Arcade.
MCPifex lets you switch each tool on or off per instance, with write tools off by default. Glama's gateway also offers per-tool enable and disable controls. With vendor-official servers you get only what the vendor provides.
For personal use, usually yes, because you change one URL in your client. Anything that depends on Smithery's API or Connect needs more work. Follow the steps in our Smithery shutdown migration guide.
Sources
- Smithery: the future of Smithery (shutdown notice)
- Glama MCP hosting and gateway
- Composio pricing
- Pipedream Connect: MCP
- Zapier MCP
- Arcade pricing
- Linear MCP server docs
- Docker MCP Gateway docs and GitHub repository
- MCP transports
Ready to try it?
Run hosted MCP servers behind one endpoint and choose exactly which tools your AI can use.