Compare
Comparisons, including the ones that end with "don't hire us"
Every comparison here names a reader for whom the honest answer is "not Portkeel". A comparison with no losing case is marketing, and a security-conscious buyer can smell that in four seconds. These are written to be useful even if you never email us, because that is the only kind of comparison worth publishing.
Build vs buy an MCP server
For about half of readers the answer is build it yourself. The conditions are spelled out.
Custom vs hosted MCP platforms
When a $5–$229/month platform is the right call, and when it quietly stops being one.
Agency vs freelancer vs in-house
Three delivery models, three failure modes, and who each one actually suits.
MCP vs plain API tool calling
The answer differs by client, and sometimes the right answer is neither.
