MCP Pricing Guide: How to Set the Right Price for Your MCP Server

TL;DR: Use the 10x rule: Price = Value Delivered / 10. Most MCP servers land at $9-29/mo for Pro tier. Always include a free tier (100 calls/day). Don't underprice. Test and iterate based on conversion data.

MCP pricing is the single most uncomfortable decision developers face when launching an MCP server. You've built something valuable—a Slack integration, a database connector, an AI-powered automation tool—but now you're staring at a blank pricing page wondering if $9/month is too cheap or $49/month is too ambitious.

The discomfort isn't surprising. Most developers spent their careers consuming tools, not selling them. There's no pricing course in CS curricula. And the fear of rejection—"what if nobody pays?"—pushes most MCP developers toward the same mistake: underpricing.

Underpricing costs you revenue immediately—that's obvious. Less obvious: it signals low value to potential customers. A $5/month MCP server triggers the same skepticism as a $5 steak dinner. "What's wrong with it?"

This MCP pricing guide gives you frameworks and specific price points to set confident MCP server pricing that captures the value you deliver. You'll learn the 10x rule for MCP pricing, category-specific recommendations on how much to charge for your MCP server, tier structures that convert, and how to test and iterate on MCPize.

The #1 MCP Pricing Mistake Developers Make#

When developers ask how much to charge for an MCP server, most make the same mistake: pricing based on cost instead of value.

Wrong thinking sounds like this:

• "It only took me a weekend to build"
• "The API calls cost me $0.001 each"
• "I'll charge $1/month to get users"

This is cost-plus pricing—add up your costs, add a small margin, and call it a day. It works for manufacturing widgets. It fails for software because your costs don't reflect your customer's value.

Right thinking sounds different:

• "This saves users 5 hours per week"
• "Companies pay consultants $200/hour to do this manually"
• "What would users pay to solve this problem without my tool?"

The 10x Rule for MCP pricing cuts through the noise: if your MCP server delivers $100 of value per month, charge $10 per month. You capture 10% of the value you create, leaving 90% as obvious ROI for the customer. This is the foundation of any solid MCP server pricing strategy.

Consider a GitHub MCP server that helps developers navigate repositories, search code, and manage issues through their AI assistant. A senior developer earning $150,000/year (~$75/hour) might save 2 hours per week using this tool.

Monthly value: 8 hours × $75 = $600

10x rule price: $60/month

Realistic market price: $9-29/month (the MCP market is young, so prices run lower than pure value-based math suggests)

Even at $19/month, the customer gets 30x return on their investment. That's an easy yes.

The Value-Based MCP Pricing Framework#

Value-based MCP pricing requires four steps: identify your value metric, quantify the value, apply the 10x rule, and sanity-check against market rates. This framework answers the question of how much to charge for your MCP server with data, not guesswork.

Step 1: Identify Your Value Metric#

Every MCP server delivers value in a measurable unit. Find yours.

A Notion MCP server's value metric might be "pages searched and updated." A Slack MCP might measure "messages sent and channels monitored." A database MCP measures "queries executed."

Step 2: Quantify the Value#

Different users experience different value from the same tool. A developer saving time at $75/hour values your tool differently than an operations manager at $35/hour.

Your ideal customer profile determines which row matters. Building for enterprises? Use senior developer rates. Building for indie hackers? Adjust downward.

Step 3: Apply the 10x Rule#

The math is straightforward:

Price = Value Delivered ÷ 10

Example:
- Value: 4 hours saved/month × $75 = $300
- Price: $300 ÷ 10 = $30/month

This 10x cushion makes the purchase decision obvious. "Pay $30 to save $300? Done."

Step 4: Sanity Check Against Market#

The 10x rule gives you a ceiling. The market gives you a floor and reality check. If competitors charge $15/month for similar functionality, your $30 price needs justification—better features, better support, or a different target customer.

Check the MCPize marketplace for comparable servers. Note their pricing and tier structures. This becomes your competitive context.

MCP Server Pricing by Category#

How much should you charge for your MCP server? Based on analysis of API pricing trends, SaaS benchmarks, and early MCP marketplace data, here are recommended MCP pricing tiers by server category:

Why these ranges?

Developer tools and API integrations command lower MCP pricing because alternatives exist and switching costs are low. Database and enterprise systems command premiums because they touch business-critical data and require security guarantees.

These MCP server pricing ranges assume the current market maturity—still early, still growing. As the market matures and AI assistants become ubiquitous, expect upward pressure on prices. Use these benchmarks when deciding how much to charge for your MCP server.

Why These MCP Price Points Work#

The recommended MCP pricing tiers above aren't arbitrary. They're based on three factors:

1. Value delivered per category. Enterprise integrations (SAP, Salesforce) save companies thousands of dollars in custom development. That justifies higher MCP pricing. Developer tools save individual developers hours per week—valuable, but at a lower scale.

2. Alternative cost analysis. What would users pay to solve this problem without your MCP server? For database access, alternatives include expensive enterprise licenses or complex self-hosted solutions. For simple API wrappers, alternatives are often free open-source tools.

3. Market willingness to pay. Early MCP marketplace data shows developers converting at higher rates in the $9-29/month range. MCP pricing above $49/month requires enterprise-level features and support commitments.

Usage-Based Alternatives#

Some servers work better with pay-per-use models:

Usage-based works when your costs scale with usage (you're wrapping an LLM API) or when customers have wildly variable workloads.

Designing Your MCP Pricing Tier Structure#

The three-tier formula dominates successful MCP pricing for good reason: it maps to clear customer segments with different needs and budgets. When figuring out how much to charge for your MCP server, structure matters as much as the actual numbers.

FREE → PRO → TEAM/ENTERPRISE

Tier 1: Free (Required for Adoption)#

Purpose: acquisition, trust-building, and product validation.

- name: free
  price: 0
  limits:
    calls_per_day: 100
    features: [basic_tools]
  restrictions:
    - no_priority_support
    - rate_limited

Industry experience shows free tiers significantly increase adoption compared to trial-only models. Developers want to test tools in their actual workflow before committing money. A free tier lets them do that indefinitely—building habits and discovering value.

Free tier rules:

• Useful enough to evaluate the core functionality
• Limited enough to make upgrading worthwhile
• Never unlimited—that's charity, not business

Time-limited trials convert worse than permanent free tiers. The deadline creates pressure that pushes users away rather than toward purchase.

Tier 2: Pro (Your Core Revenue)#

Purpose: individual developers and small teams who need the tool daily.

- name: pro
  price: 19
  billing: monthly
  limits:
    calls_per_day: unlimited
    features: [all_tools, priority_support]
  annual_discount: 20%

Pro tier pricing psychology:

• $9/month = commodity positioning, may signal low value
• $19/month = professional tool, the sweet spot for most MCP servers
• $29/month = premium positioning, requires clear differentiation
• $49+/month = entering team/business territory

At $19/month, you hit the intersection of "affordable enough to expense" and "expensive enough to signal quality." Most Pro conversions happen here.

Tier 3: Team/Enterprise#

Purpose: organizations with multiple users, compliance needs, and budget for proper tools.

- name: team
  price: 49
  billing: monthly
  limits:
    seats: 5
    calls_per_day: unlimited
    features: [all, audit_logs, sso]
  annual_discount: 20%

Enterprise contracts go custom—$5,000 to $50,000+ annually—and require sales conversations. These customers need SLAs, dedicated support, and security certifications you may not have yet.

Start with Free + Pro + Team. Add Enterprise when customers ask for it.

Testing and Iterating Your MCP Pricing#

Most developers guess their MCP server pricing once and never revisit. That's leaving money on the table. Smart MCP pricing evolves with data.

The Problem with Guessing#

Without data, you can't optimize. A 5% conversion rate might mean your price is perfect—or it might mean you're 50% too expensive and could double revenue by adjusting down 25%.

How to Test on MCPize#

Method 1: A/B Testing

If MCPize supports price experiments:

pricing:
  experiment: true
  variants:
    - name: control
      pro_price: 19
      weight: 50
    - name: test
      pro_price: 29
      weight: 50

Half of visitors see $19/month; half see $29/month. After 2-4 weeks, compare conversion rates.

Method 2: Sequential Testing

Without A/B infrastructure:

1. Launch at Price A ($19/month) for 2-4 weeks
2. Change to Price B ($29/month) for 2-4 weeks
3. Compare conversion rates

This isn't as clean as A/B testing (time effects exist), but it's better than guessing.

Method 3: Ask Users

Survey free tier users: "Would you pay $X/month for unlimited access and priority support?"

Multiply stated willingness-to-pay by 0.5-0.7. People consistently overstate how much they'd pay.

Metrics to Track#

When to raise prices:

• Conversion rate exceeds 10% (too cheap)
• Zero churn complaints mention price
• You've added significant new features
• Six or more months since last change

When to lower prices:

• Conversion rate below 2% (likely too expensive)
• Users frequently cite price as the primary objection
• Competitors are significantly cheaper for equivalent features

Competitive MCP Pricing Research#

MCP pricing doesn't happen in a vacuum. Your customers compare you to alternatives. Understanding competitive MCP server pricing helps you position your offering effectively.

How to Research#

1. MCPize Marketplace

Browse similar servers in your category. Note their tier structures, price points, and what's included in free vs. paid. This is your most direct competitive context.

2. Alternative Solutions

What would customers use without your MCP server?

Price below the alternative's total cost (including time investment).

3. Direct Comparables

Positioning Strategy#

Warning: Racing to the bottom on MCP pricing rarely works. Competing purely on price attracts cost-sensitive customers who churn first and complain most. Compete on value instead. When deciding how much to charge for your MCP server, always anchor to value delivered, not competitor prices.

MCP Pricing Psychology Tactics#

Small presentation changes in your MCP server pricing can significantly impact conversion without changing the actual price. These psychological tactics make your MCP pricing more compelling.

Tactic 1: Anchor High#

Display your most expensive tier first. When users see Enterprise at $199/month, Team at $49/month looks reasonable by comparison.

Enterprise: $199/mo
Team: $49/mo ← This looks cheap now
Pro: $19/mo
Free: $0

Tactic 2: Use $9 Endings#

$19 feels meaningfully cheaper than $20. This is classic pricing psychology that persists because it works. Many A/B tests show higher conversion on $X9 pricing versus round numbers.

Tactic 3: Annual Discounts#

Offer 20% off for annual payment—effectively "2 months free."

• Increases customer commitment and reduces churn
• Brings cash forward
• Phrase as "Pay $190/year (save $38)" rather than "$15.83/month"

Tactic 4: Feature Anchoring#

Highlight the gap between free and paid tiers:

• ❌ Free: 100 calls/day
• ✅ Pro: Unlimited calls/day

The word "unlimited" does heavy lifting. Nobody tracks whether they need 1,000 or 10,000 calls—they just want no ceiling.

Tactic 5: Social Proof#

"Trusted by 500+ developers" makes pricing feel validated even if most users are on the free tier. Numbers build confidence that the product works and the price is fair.

Tactic 6: Risk Reversal#

"14-day money-back guarantee" removes purchase anxiety. For software subscriptions, refund requests are typically rare, so the risk is minimal while the conversion boost is real.

MCPize Pricing Configuration#

Setting up MCP pricing on MCPize requires editing your mcpize.yaml configuration. This is where your MCP server pricing strategy becomes real:

name: my-mcp-server
version: 1.0.0

pricing:
  model: tiered
  currency: USD

  tiers:
    - name: free
      price: 0
      limits:
        calls_per_day: 100
        tools: [basic_search]

    - name: pro
      price: 19
      billing: monthly
      annual_price: 190
      limits:
        calls_per_day: unlimited
        tools: [basic_search, advanced_search, export]
      features:
        - priority_support
        - no_rate_limits

    - name: team
      price: 49
      billing: monthly
      annual_price: 490
      limits:
        seats: 5
        calls_per_day: unlimited
        tools: all
      features:
        - priority_support
        - audit_logs
        - team_management

    - name: enterprise
      price: custom
      contact: true
      features:
        - sso_saml
        - dedicated_support
        - sla_guarantee

The workflow is simple:

1. Edit your mcpize.yaml with the tier structure
2. Test locally to verify limits work
3. Run mcpize publish
4. Monitor conversion rates in your MCPize dashboard

MCPize handles all Stripe integration, invoicing, and payouts. You receive 85% of revenue monthly. Your MCP pricing goes live immediately after publishing.

FAQ: MCP Pricing Questions#

How much should I charge for my MCP server?#

Use the 10x rule as a starting point for MCP pricing: Price = Value Delivered ÷ 10. For most MCP servers, Pro tier lands between $9-49/month depending on category. Developer tools and integrations cluster around $9-19/month; data processing and AI tools command $19-49/month. When in doubt on how much to charge, start at $19/month and adjust based on conversion data.

Should I offer a free tier in my MCP pricing?#

Yes. Free tiers in MCP pricing typically see higher adoption than trial-only models. Developers want to test tools in their actual workflow before committing. Keep the free tier useful enough to evaluate but limited enough to upgrade.

What's the best MCP pricing for developer tools?#

$9-19/month for Pro tier is the sweet spot for developer tool MCP pricing. Include a free tier with 100 calls/day, and consider a Team tier at $29-49/month for organizations.

How do I know if my MCP server price is too high?#

Watch for conversion rates below 2%, users frequently citing MCP pricing as their primary objection, or competitors offering similar features significantly cheaper. If churn mentions price, you may be attracting the wrong customers rather than having set MCP server pricing too high.

Should I use subscription or usage-based MCP pricing?#

Subscription MCP pricing works for predictable tools where users need consistent access. Usage-based MCP pricing works when your costs scale with usage (wrapping LLM APIs) or customers have wildly variable workloads. Many successful MCP servers combine both—a subscription base plus usage overage fees. This hybrid approach often optimizes how much you can charge for your MCP server.

Next Steps for Your MCP Pricing#

You have the MCP pricing frameworks, the price recommendations, and the psychology. Now execute your MCP server pricing strategy:

1. Calculate your value metric using the 10x rule
2. Check the competitive landscape on MCPize marketplace
3. Design your tier structure with Free + Pro + Team
4. Configure pricing in mcpize.yaml
5. Launch and monitor conversion metrics
6. Iterate based on data after 2-4 weeks

Don't underprice your MCP server. A $19/month server with 5% conversion generates more revenue than a $5/month server with 12% conversion—and attracts higher-quality customers who value their time. Your MCP pricing signals your value.

Related:

• MCP Business Models — Five ways to monetize
• Make Money with MCP — Complete monetization strategy
• Publish MCP Server — Publishing walkthrough

Pricing questions? Join MCPize Discord or browse successful servers for reference.