kitio.aiModel Context Protocol vs Rivet
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Model Context Protocol is completely free, while Rivet is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Open specification
- Official SDKs
- MCP Inspector
- Server registry
- Local and remote servers
- Durable actors
- Agent memory across restarts
- Replayable workflows
- agentOS sandboxes
- Self-hosting and BYOC
| Feature | Model Context Protocol | Rivet |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open standard for connecting AI apps to tools, data and workflows | Open-source orchestrator for running AI agents as durable actors |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Agentic AI Foundation | Rivet |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Model Context Protocol is completely free, while Rivet is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- 1 control plane node
- Up to 1 actor node
- Community support
Hobby
$10/mo
- Up to 3 actor nodes
- Email support
Team
$120/mo
- 3 availability zones
- Up to 10 actor nodes
- Slack and email support
Enterprise
$900/mo
- Up to 50 actor nodes
- SSO and audit logs
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD, checked Nov 5, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Model Context Protocol
- Supported by many AI clients
- One server works across many apps
- Free and open source
- Spec changes between dated versions
- Remote servers need careful auth setup
- Aimed at developers, not end users
Rivet
- Open source and self-hostable
- Runs inside your own network
- Free tier for prototypes
- Aimed at developers, not end users
- Extra actor nodes cost more
- Cloud runs only on Google Cloud
Which one should you choose?
Choose Model Context Protocol if you want:
- Supported by many AI clients
- One server works across many apps
- Free and open source
Watch out: spec changes between dated versions.
Choose Rivet if you want:
- Open source and self-hostable
- Runs inside your own network
- Free tier for prototypes
Watch out: aimed at developers, not end users.
Model Context Protocol vs Rivet FAQ
What is the difference between Model Context Protocol and Rivet?
Model Context Protocol: Open standard for connecting AI apps to tools, data and workflows. Rivet: Open-source orchestrator for running AI agents as durable actors. Both are coding tools.
Is Model Context Protocol or Rivet cheaper?
Model Context Protocol is completely free, while Rivet is freemium.
Do Model Context Protocol and Rivet have free plans?
Model Context Protocol: Yes, fully free. Rivet: Yes.
Who makes Model Context Protocol?
Model Context Protocol is made by Agentic AI Foundation.
Who makes Rivet?
Rivet is made by Rivet.
Which should I choose, Model Context Protocol or Rivet?
Choose Model Context Protocol if you value supported by many ai clients and one server works across many apps. Choose Rivet if you value open source and self-hostable and runs inside your own network.