MCPCore vs Smithery: Which One Do You Need?
Smithery was acquired by Arcade.dev in August 2026, which changes what evaluating it actually means today. Here is where things stand, and how MCPCore compares to what Smithery offered.
If you're comparing MCPCore to Smithery, the first thing worth knowing is that Smithery isn't an independent company anymore. It was acquired by Arcade.dev in August 2026, with Smithery's co-founder joining Arcade.dev directly. If you're evaluating Smithery today, you're really evaluating Arcade.dev's roadmap for the product, not the original standalone platform.
What Smithery Was (and What to Check Now)
Smithery operated as an MCP server registry with one-click hosting. Separately from the acquisition, Smithery had already announced changes to its free hosting plan earlier in 2026, moving away from free hosting for new deployments. Between the pricing changes and the acquisition, anything you read about Smithery from before mid-2026 should be treated as potentially outdated. If you're specifically considering Smithery, check Arcade.dev's current product and terms directly rather than relying on older Smithery-specific documentation.
What MCPCore Offers
MCPCore is an independently operated, standalone platform: create a server, write tools in a browser-based IDE, and get a live HTTPS endpoint immediately. Four authentication modes, AES-256 encrypted secrets, per-tool analytics, and rate limiting are included for every server, with transparent published pricing and a free tier that requires no credit card.
Side by Side
| Smithery (now Arcade.dev) | MCPCore | |
|---|---|---|
| Company status | Acquired by Arcade.dev, August 2026 | Independent, standalone |
| Original model | Registry + one-click hosting | Browser IDE build + host |
| Free hosting | Changed/reduced as of 2026 | Free tier, one server, no credit card |
| Roadmap stability | Tied to Arcade.dev's post-acquisition plans | Stable, single-company roadmap |
What This Means for Your Decision
Acquisitions aren't inherently bad for a product, but they do introduce uncertainty about pricing, feature direction, and support continuity while the new owner integrates it. If you're choosing a platform to build production tooling on, that uncertainty is worth weighing, especially against a platform with a stable, independent roadmap and pricing that hasn't been through a recent restructuring.
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The Smithery/Arcade.dev acquisition and related product changes are current as of the time of writing. Verify the latest status directly with Arcade.dev before making a decision based on Smithery's original offering.