# A SheetDB alternative that adds MCP for AI agents SheetDB is a well-known way to turn a Google Sheet into a REST API. PasteSheet covers the same job — a hosted, cached JSON endpoint from a pasted URL — and adds a read-only MCP server so Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT can query the same sheet. *Last updated: 2026-07-11 · Source: * ## Key facts - MCP is an **open protocol** built on JSON-RPC 2.0. A server exposes Resources, Prompts and Tools to any MCP client — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, VS Code and Windsurf all speak it. ([source](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-06-18)) - The durable difference is not price, it is **surface**: PasteSheet serves the same sheet as a REST API *and* an MCP server from one query engine, so an agent and your app read identical rows. - PasteSheet's MCP server exposes three tools — `list_tabs`, `get_schema` and `query_rows` — and is **read-only by design**: an agent can query your sheet but can never modify it. - PasteSheet's **Free plan** covers 3 endpoints and 2,000 requests a month, with MCP included — no credit card, no expiry. ## What SheetDB does SheetDB is one of the original "spreadsheet as an API" tools: connect a Google Sheet and it serves the rows as a REST API you can read and write over HTTP. It is a solid, focused product — the free tier is limited, and paid plans (roughly $29.99–$129.99/mo as of 2026) unlock more requests and features. Where it stops is AI. SheetDB gives you a REST API; it does not expose your sheet as an [MCP server](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp), which is how modern agents like Claude and ChatGPT pull live data. ## Where PasteSheet is different PasteSheet is built around the same "paste a URL, get an endpoint" idea, then goes further: - **REST + MCP from one engine:** the same sheet is a [JSON REST API](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-rest-api) *and* a read-only MCP server — one query engine backs both. - **MCP on the free plan:** connect any public endpoint to an agent with no credit card. The free tier gives 3 endpoints and 2,000 requests a month. - **Typed query engine:** exact filters, `contains` matches, full-text search, sort, and aggregation (`count`, `sum`, `avg`, `group_by`) as URL params or agent tool calls. - **Read-only by design:** agents and public embeds can read every row but can never modify the sheet — safe to hand over. ## SheetDB vs PasteSheet, side by side Both turn a Google Sheet into an API from a pasted URL. The split is read-write automation versus a read-only, agent-ready data source: | | SheetDB | PasteSheet | | --- | --- | --- | | Setup | Connect a Google Sheet | Paste a share URL | | REST API | Yes | Yes — same endpoint | | Writes to the sheet | Yes | No — read-only by design | | MCP for AI agents | No | Yes — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT | | Query engine | Basic filtering | Filters, contains, full-text search, sort, paginate | | Aggregation (count/sum/group_by) | No | Yes (Pro) | | Free tier | Limited | 3 endpoints · 2,000 req/mo · MCP included | | Paid from | ~$29.99/mo | $9/mo (Starter) | ## Which one you actually want If you specifically need to **write** rows back to a sheet over an API, SheetDB (or another read-write tool) is the right pick — PasteSheet is deliberately read-only. If you want a sheet to be *readable* — by your app, a website, or an AI agent — with less setup and MCP built in, PasteSheet is the better fit. See how the same endpoint powers an agent in the [Google Sheets MCP guide](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp), or compare the [MCP-first tools](https://pastesheet.com/guides/composio-alternative). ## What it costs **MCP is included on the Free plan.** Connect any **public** endpoint over MCP with no Google Cloud project and no credit card. Private endpoints and the account-wide workspace server need a paid plan (from **Starter ($9/mo)**) for the keys and OAuth they authenticate with. Pro adds full-text search and aggregation (`count`, `sum`, `avg`, `group_by`) that your AI agent can call through `query_rows`. **Starter — $9/month.** For indie makers shipping a real app. - Endpoints: 10 - Requests: 50,000 / month - Rows per endpoint: 5,000 - Tabs per endpoint: 5 - Rate limit: 300 / minute ## Frequently asked questions ### Is PasteSheet a good SheetDB alternative? Yes, if you want a read-only Google Sheets REST API plus an MCP server for AI agents. PasteSheet includes MCP on the free plan and a typed query engine; SheetDB is REST-only and defaults to read-write. ### Can PasteSheet write to my Google Sheet like SheetDB? No. PasteSheet is read-only by design, so it is safe to embed publicly or hand to an agent. If you need to write rows over an API, a read-write tool like SheetDB fits better. ### Does PasteSheet work with Claude and ChatGPT? Yes. Every endpoint is also an MCP server, so Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT can list tabs, read the schema, and query rows in plain English — something SheetDB does not offer. ## Sources - [Model Context Protocol specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-06-18) — Model Context Protocol ## Related guides - [Sheety Alternative: Sheets API + MCP](https://pastesheet.com/guides/sheety-alternative) — Looking for a Sheety alternative? PasteSheet turns a Google Sheet into a REST API and an MCP server for Claude and ChatGPT, with a bigger free tier. - [Sheet Best Alternative for Google Sheets](https://pastesheet.com/guides/sheet-best-alternative) — A Sheet Best alternative that turns a Google Sheet into a REST API and a read-only MCP server for AI agents — with filtering, search, and aggregation. - [Google Sheets MCP Server for Claude & ChatGPT](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-mcp) — Turn any public or private Google Sheet into an MCP server so Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT can read and query it in plain English. No code, no backend. - [Turn Google Sheets Into a REST API (No Code)](https://pastesheet.com/guides/google-sheets-rest-api) — Turn a public or restricted Google Sheet into a live JSON REST API with filtering, sorting, and pagination — no backend, no code. --- [PasteSheet](https://pastesheet.com) turns any Google Sheet into a live REST API and MCP server for AI agents — no backend, no code. 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