Frequently asked questions about AnythingMCP
Short, factual answers about MCP, the AI clients AnythingMCP works with, building connectors, security, pricing and setup.
Basics
What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
MCP, the Model Context Protocol, is an open standard that lets AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and Cursor call external tools in a structured way. An MCP server describes its tools with a name, a description and parameters, and the AI client decides during a conversation when to call one and what to pass. Because MCP is a standard, one MCP server works in every client that speaks the protocol.
What is an MCP connector?
An MCP connector exposes one of your systems, such as an API, a database or an internal service, as a set of tools that Claude, ChatGPT or Copilot can call during a conversation. A connector for an ERP might offer tools like list_invoices or create_quote. Claude calls these remote MCP servers custom connectors. In AnythingMCP a connector is configuration, not code: you point it at the system and it generates the tools.
What is an MCP gateway?
An MCP gateway is a single server that sits between your AI clients and many backend systems. Instead of running a separate MCP server for every system, you run one gateway that fronts all of them, handles sign-in, decides which user may call which tool and logs every call. AnythingMCP is an open-source MCP gateway: REST APIs, SOAP services, GraphQL, SQL databases and even other MCP servers sit behind one endpoint.
What does AnythingMCP do?
AnythingMCP turns the software your company already runs into tools that Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and Cursor can use. You import an OpenAPI spec, a WSDL, a GraphQL schema or a database connection, or install a ready-made connector, and AnythingMCP generates the MCP tools without code. It runs as AnythingMCP Cloud, hosted in Frankfurt, or on your own infrastructure, and is developed by helpcode.ai GmbH in Freiburg, Germany.
What is the AnythingMCP knowledge graph?
The AnythingMCP knowledge graph is a private map of how your connected systems relate: which entities they share and how data flows between them. With it, an agent can link a customer in the CRM to their orders in the ERP without being told how, and call the tools in the right order. It is the difference between a gateway that only forwards calls and one that knows how your systems fit together.
AI clients
Which AI clients work with AnythingMCP?
AnythingMCP works with every client that supports remote MCP servers, including Claude (Claude.ai, Claude Desktop and Claude Code), ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Cursor and Meta Muse. All of them get the same tools from the same gateway URL, so you build a connector once and use it everywhere, even in several clients at the same time. Clients sign in with OAuth 2.0 or a personal MCP API key, and each user only sees the tools their role allows.
How do I add AnythingMCP to Claude?
The fastest way: AnythingMCP is listed in Claude's connector directory. Open AnythingMCP in the Claude Directory, click Connect and sign in to AnythingMCP Cloud, then choose which MCP servers Claude may use. For a self-hosted gateway or a single MCP server, copy its MCP URL and add it as a custom connector under Customize → Connectors; on Team and Enterprise plans an Owner adds it in the organization settings. Claude offers custom connectors on the Free (one connector), Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, and a connector on your account also works in Claude Desktop. In Claude Code, use claude mcp add. See Claude connectors and the Claude guides.
Can I use AnythingMCP with ChatGPT?
Yes, ChatGPT connects to AnythingMCP as a custom MCP server. In ChatGPT on the web, on paid plans, open Plugins, click +, choose Add custom MCP server and enter your gateway's MCP URL with OAuth; developer mode is no longer needed. In Business, Enterprise and Edu workspaces an admin decides who may add one. AnythingMCP provides the MCP backend: tools, sign-in and data access. A full ChatGPT App with its own interface also needs OpenAI's Apps SDK. See ChatGPT Apps and the ChatGPT guides.
Does AnythingMCP work with GitHub Copilot, Gemini and Cursor?
Yes, GitHub Copilot, Gemini and Cursor all connect to AnythingMCP through the same MCP URL. GitHub Copilot uses it from Copilot Chat in Visual Studio Code, Gemini CLI reads it from its settings.json and Cursor from ~/.cursor/mcp.json, each with your MCP API key in the X-API-Key header. The step-by-step guides are listed for GitHub Copilot, Gemini and Cursor.
Connectors
Are there ready-made connectors?
Yes, the AnythingMCP marketplace lists more than 430 ready-made connectors, among them DATEV, DHL, Personio, weclapp, Shopware and WooCommerce. You install one, paste that system's credentials, and its tools are available in your AI client minutes later. Every connector in the catalogue is also in the open-source repository, so self-hosted instances get the same ones. Browse them in the marketplace.
Can I build a connector for my own API?
Yes, building a connector for your own or internal API is the main use case. Upload an OpenAPI/Swagger spec, a Postman collection or a cURL command, or introspect a GraphQL schema, and every endpoint becomes a draft MCP tool. In the visual editor you rename tools, rewrite descriptions, hide parameters and set defaults. No code is needed, and the MCP bridge can even put other MCP servers behind the same gateway.
Does AnythingMCP support SOAP, WSDL and legacy systems?
Yes, AnythingMCP parses a WSDL and turns each SOAP operation into one MCP tool, including WCF and older enterprise services such as SAP SOAP interfaces. WS-Security, basic auth and TLS client certificates are built in. The legacy system stays as it is: nothing has to be rewritten or migrated before an AI agent can call it. The legacy systems page covers SOAP and on-prem databases in detail.
Can I connect a database directly?
Yes, AnythingMCP connects directly to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SQLite and MongoDB and exposes them as MCP tools. Database connectors are read-only by default, so an agent can query data but not change it unless you allow writes. This works for on-prem databases too, for example an MSSQL server that is only reachable inside your network, when AnythingMCP runs self-hosted next to it.
Does it work with on-prem systems behind a VPN or firewall?
Yes, for on-prem systems you run AnythingMCP self-hosted inside your own network, next to the systems it connects, so the ERP or database itself never has to be exposed to the internet. Only the gateway's MCP endpoint has to be reachable by the AI client you use. Credentials and the audit log stay in your own PostgreSQL. It runs on Docker, Kubernetes (Helm), Railway or DigitalOcean.
Security and compliance
Where are my credentials stored?
AnythingMCP stores every API key, password and OAuth refresh token encrypted with AES-256-GCM in the gateway's PostgreSQL database, and only the gateway can decrypt them. The AI client never sees them: Claude or ChatGPT only get the tools, not the credentials behind them. When you self-host, that database is yours and nothing reaches our servers; on AnythingMCP Cloud it is hosted in Frankfurt, Germany.
Is there an audit log of what the AI does?
Yes, AnythingMCP writes an audit log entry for every tool call: who called which tool, when, with which arguments, what came back, how long it took and whether it succeeded. The audit log is included on every plan, including the free Community edition and the Cloud trial. When you self-host, it lives in your own database and you can query it with SQL.
Can I control who can use which tools?
Yes, AnythingMCP has users and roles (admin, developer and viewer, plus custom roles when self-hosted and on Cloud from the Team plan). You grant each connector to specific users or teams and switch individual tools on or off per role, for example allowing list_invoices but not create_quote. Every person gets their own MCP API key, so each person's AI client only sees the tools they are allowed to use, and the audit log shows who did what.
Does AnythingMCP support SSO and SCIM?
Yes, when you self-host. Single sign-on and SCIM provisioning come with the Enterprise edition of self-hosted AnythingMCP, and an admin can try them for 30 days on the instance under Settings → License, without payment details. People sign in with Microsoft Entra ID, Google, Okta, Auth0, GitHub or any OIDC provider such as Keycloak, and their AnythingMCP roles follow their directory groups at every sign-in. SCIM works with Microsoft Entra ID: it creates, updates and deactivates accounts automatically, and once someone is deactivated their MCP API keys stop working too. An admin can also require SSO for the whole workspace. SSO and SCIM are not available on AnythingMCP Cloud. Setup guides: SSO and SCIM with Entra ID.
Is AnythingMCP GDPR-ready, and where is the data hosted?
AnythingMCP Cloud is hosted in the EU, in Frankfurt, Germany, and a data processing agreement (DPA) comes with every paid plan. The vendor, helpcode.ai GmbH, is a German company based in Freiburg im Breisgau. If your data must not leave your own infrastructure at all, self-host AnythingMCP: then nothing reaches our servers. How we build and handle security is described on the trust page.
How does AnythingMCP relate to the EU AI Act?
Under the EU AI Act, the AnythingMCP gateway itself contains no AI: it forwards tool calls and returns results. Its optional AI-assisted features are off by default and need an explicit opt-in per workspace. For your own obligations it provides the audit log, role-based access, per-tool permissions and human approval of every exposed tool. The AI Act page explains the details; it is not a compliance certification.
Pricing and licence
Is AnythingMCP free?
Yes, the AnythingMCP Community edition is free to self-host under the AGPL-3.0 open-source licence, for up to 3 active users with unlimited connectors, and commercial use inside your own company is included. A Enterprise licence adds more users, single sign-on and SCIM. The one condition of the AGPL: if you modify AnythingMCP and offer it to others as a network service, you must publish your changes. The source code is on GitHub, and the Community edition page shows how to run it.
How much does AnythingMCP Cloud cost?
AnythingMCP Cloud starts with a 7-day free trial. After that, Starter costs €19 per month (5 connectors, 3 MCP servers, 1 user) and Team €49 (15 connectors, 10 MCP servers, 3 users). Enterprise, with unlimited users, is priced on request. Prices are in euros with VAT included, and yearly billing is cheaper. Details on the pricing page.
What does the free Cloud trial include?
The AnythingMCP Cloud trial is free for 7 days and includes 5 connectors, 3 MCP servers and 1 user, with the full audit log from the first call. You sign up with an email address, with no credit card and no sales call, and your workspace is hosted in Frankfurt, Germany. When the trial ends you choose a paid Cloud plan; the self-hosted Community edition stays free. Start here.
When do I need a licence for self-hosting?
Community is free under AGPL-3.0 for up to 3 active users and suits personal use, education and evaluation. For use at work there are licence keys: Starter (€12 per month, 1 user) and Team (€24 per month, up to 3 users) with email support and priority updates. Enterprise adds unlimited users, single sign-on and SCIM provisioning, white-labelling, custom contracts and a contractual SLA; an admin can try single sign-on and SCIM for 30 days under Settings → License. If you modify AnythingMCP and offer it to others as a service without publishing your changes, you need a commercial licence without the AGPL-3.0 copyleft obligation. For that, or for white-label or OEM use, contact us.
Setup
How long does it take to set up the first connector?
Setting up the first connector takes about five minutes for a REST API with an OpenAPI spec or for a ready-made connector from the marketplace; complex WSDLs and large database schemas take a little longer. On AnythingMCP Cloud there is nothing to install. Self-hosted, the setup script brings the whole stack up in about two minutes. No code is required at any step.
How do I self-host AnythingMCP?
To self-host AnythingMCP you only need Docker and Docker Compose: clone the repository and run the interactive setup script, which generates secrets, sets up PostgreSQL and Redis and starts every service. For production there is a Helm chart for Kubernetes, a Railway template and a one-click DigitalOcean image. The Community edition page has the commands.
Should I choose AnythingMCP Cloud or self-hosted?
Choose AnythingMCP Cloud if you want no operations work: we run the database, updates, backups and scaling in Frankfurt, and you start with a 7-day free trial. Choose self-hosted if your credentials and data must stay on your own infrastructure or your systems are only reachable inside your network. Both run the same gateway, dashboard, connectors and audit log; the pricing page compares the plans. Single sign-on and SCIM are only available when you self-host, with the Enterprise edition.
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