--- {"title": "MCP gateways in 2026: Four Options Compared", "description": "Compare Composio, Zapier MCP, Pipedream Connect and Connections Studio: what each connects, how keys are kept and how access is managed.", "url": "https://uncommoncomforts.com/best-mcp-gateways-2026/", "date": "2026-10-13"} --- Compare Composio, Zapier MCP, Pipedream Connect and Connections Studio: what each connects, how keys are kept and how access is managed. Four options are compared here, and the right one depends on what you need to start. Connections Free costs $0, and going over a limit stops the feature rather than billing you [^1]. Composio has a Hobby plan that costs $0 and needs no credit card [^2]. Zapier MCP and Pipedream Connect are described in their own sections below, with only the facts each source gives. | Option | Starting price | Usage included | |---|---|---| | Connections Studio | Free plan costs $0 [^1] | Connects 5 services and needs no card [^1]. Going over a limit stops the action and does not charge you [^1]. | | Composio | Hobby plan costs $0 and needs no credit card [^2] | 100,000 tool calls, 50,000 triggers and 3 team members each month [^2]. Usage pauses at a cap until the next month or an upgrade [^2]. | | Zapier MCP | not published | Included in every Zapier plan, and each tool call uses two tasks from your existing task quota [^3] | | Pipedream Connect | not published | not published | ## How to read this list This page compares four options: Composio, Zapier MCP, Pipedream Connect and Connections Studio. Each section answers the same four questions. How many services does it connect? What does it cost to start? Where are the service keys kept? What record is kept of what the AI did? Where an option's own page gives a figure, the section quotes it and ties it to that page. Where the page is silent, the section says what to check instead of guessing. Prices and plan limits change, so confirm them on each option's site before you commit. The table below puts the starting prices and usage limits side by side, and the choice guide at the end matches situations to options. ## Composio: connects an AI to many apps Composio gives your AI access to 1,500+ apps in minutes [^4]. It supports apps including Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion and GitHub [^4]. It also works with any AI tool that supports connecting to MCP servers [^4]. You can add custom MCP servers for free [^4]. The Hobby plan costs $0 and needs no credit card [^2]. Its free monthly allotment is 100,000 tool calls, 50,000 triggers and 3 team members [^2]. When a cap is reached, usage pauses until the next month or until you upgrade [^2]. The page also says the company is SOC 2 Type II compliant [^4]. ## Zapier MCP: gives an AI access to many app actions Zapier MCP is included in every Zapier plan, and each tool call uses two tasks from your existing task quota [^3]. Building a Zap from any surface, including through Zapier MCP, is free [^3]. Running Next Gen Zaps is free during Early Access [^3]. After that, they use 1 task per standard action, and only successful runs are charged [^3]. It gives developers access to 30,000+ actions across 9,000+ apps through the MCP standard [^3]. Zapier manages app credentials outside the model and lets you control which apps and actions the agent can use [^3]. You can review every MCP action in History and remove agent access at any time [^3]. Zapier states it is SOC 2 Type II certified [^3]. ## Pipedream Connect: managed connections and tools for developers Pipedream Connect provides managed auth and 10,000+ tools across 3,000+ APIs [^5]. Your users authorize their accounts, and Pipedream stores and refreshes the credentials [^5]. Pipedream credentials are encrypted at rest and scoped per project [^5]. Pipedream Connect supports TypeScript, Python, Java, REST and MCP [^5]. Pipedream's Conduit provides SSO, access policies, per-user permissions and a full audit trail [^5]. No price for Pipedream Connect is given here, so check its own pricing page before you compare. ## Connections Studio: one link for your AI to use your services Connections Studio is made by the team that publishes this site. Studio is a web console [^1]. In Claude, ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini you start by adding one link as a connector [^1]. You paste one link, install nothing, and your AI can use your connected services [^1]. You connect a service by approving access on the service's own site, or by pasting its key once [^1]. Your service keys are encrypted on Connections' servers, never in a config file, and your AI sees only the answer [^1]. Connections Free costs $0, and going over a limit stops the feature rather than billing you [^1]. It connects 5 services and needs no card [^1]. Paid plans connect any number of services in any number of workspaces [^1]. The Business plan adds a second account of one service, like production and staging [^1]. A local package adds about 80 more tools, including shell, git, files, SSH and a real browser [^1]. The local package requires Node 22 or newer [^1]. A connection's access log records each time its stored credential was handed out, including when and by whom [^1]. ## How to choose If the first question is what it costs to start, compare the free plans. Connections Free costs $0, and going over a limit stops the feature rather than billing you [^1]. Composio's Hobby plan also costs $0 and needs no credit card [^2]. Connections Studio's free plan covers 5 services [^1], while Composio's free allotment covers 100,000 tool calls each month [^2]. If your work already runs in Zapier, Zapier MCP is included in every Zapier plan, and each tool call draws on your existing task quota [^3]. If you are building an agent and want managed authorization, Pipedream Connect describes managed auth and 10,000+ tools across 3,000+ APIs [^5]. If the question is who on the team can use which apps, Zapier says IT can enable or disable MCP per workspace [^3], and Pipedream's Conduit provides per-user permissions [^5]. If you want to paste one link and install nothing, Connections Studio is built around that [^1]. Before you decide, check each option's current price and plan limits on its own site. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Connections Studio free to start? Connections Free costs $0, and going over a limit stops the feature rather than billing you [^1]. It connects 5 services and needs no card [^1]. On the free plan, going over a limit stops the action and does not charge you [^1]. Paid plans connect any number of services in any number of workspaces [^1]. Check the plan page for the current price of paid plans before you decide. ### Is Composio free for a small project? Composio has a Hobby plan that costs $0 and needs no credit card [^2]. Its free monthly allotment is 100,000 tool calls, 50,000 triggers and 3 team members [^2]. When you reach a cap, usage pauses until the next month or until you upgrade [^2]. The page says the Hobby plan is hard-capped and never produces a surprise bill [^2]. Whether that is enough depends on how many tool calls your project makes each month. ### Does Zapier MCP cost extra to use? Zapier MCP is included in every Zapier plan, and each tool call uses two tasks from your existing task quota [^3]. Building a Zap from any surface, including through Zapier MCP, is free [^3]. Running Next Gen Zaps is free during Early Access [^3]. After Early Access, they use 1 task per standard action, and only successful runs are charged [^3]. No separate price for Zapier MCP is given here, so check Zapier's pricing page for current figures. ### Which option keeps service keys away from the AI? Connections Studio stores your service keys encrypted on Connections' servers, never in a config file, and your AI sees only the answer [^1]. Zapier says it manages app credentials outside the model [^3]. Pipedream says its credentials are encrypted at rest and scoped per project [^5]. Composio says it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and built to keep app connections and credentials secure [^4]. Compare the security pages of each option before you decide. ### Can an admin control which apps the AI uses? Zapier says IT can enable or disable MCP per workspace [^3]. It also respects account-level restrictions, including action restrictions, managed connections, app access controls and workspace scoping [^3]. Pipedream's Conduit provides SSO, access policies, per-user permissions and a full audit trail [^5]. A connection's access log in Connections Studio records each time a stored credential was handed out, including when and by whom [^1]. Compare these controls against how your team signs in and what records you need. On the free plan, going over a limit stops the action and does not charge you. [^1] The free plan connects 5 services and needs no card. [^1] - [Visit Connections Studio](/go/best-mcp-gateways-2026) ## Sources [^1]: Connections Studio's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/best-mcp-gateways-2026) [^2]: Composio, composio.dev/pricing, read 2026-10-08 (https://composio.dev/pricing) [^3]: Zapier MCP, zapier.com/mcp, read 2026-10-08 (https://zapier.com/mcp) [^4]: Composio, composio.dev, read 2026-10-08 (https://composio.dev) [^5]: Pipedream Connect, pipedream.com, read 2026-10-08 (https://pipedream.com)