Field notes
cost and buying
Published numbers and the arithmetic behind them. What a custom MCP server costs, what "managed" should include, build versus buy, and how long a build actually takes. Written for the person deciding this quarter, with a rate card and a 24-month total rather than a "contact us".
This category is not yet indexed; it needs three published posts. Currently 2.
Should you build your MCP server in-house? An honest decision framework
For roughly half of readers the answer is build it yourself. This is the framework, with the conditions spelled out and the cases where we lose.
How much does a custom MCP server cost in 2026?
Nobody in this category publishes prices. Here are ours, the formula behind them, and what the alternatives cost over 24 months.