Alternative · MCP Security Gate + BotShield
mcp-scan alternative: a hosted score for a public MCP endpoint
Direct answer: MCP Security Gate + BotShield is an alternative to mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan for teams that need hosted heuristic score for a public mcp endpoint, plus a short prompt-injection suite for bots you own. Primary price $99 (MCP Security Gate Team). Best when: You want to score a remote MCP server from a URL, with no install. Competitor pricing checked 31 October 2026.
mcp-scan (now moving toward Snyk Agent Scan) is the reference open-source tool for this problem. We are not trying to replace it for developers. We built the same idea for people who have a URL and not a checkout of the server code.
We make MCP Security Gate + BotShield. That is a conflict of interest, so competitor facts below carry their source and the date we checked (31 October 2026). Where a price is unknown, we say so.
MCP Security Gate + BotShield vs mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan at a glance
| Feature | MCP Security Gate + BotShield | mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Hosted. You paste a public MCP endpoint URL. | Local CLI you run yourself, with a local proxy mode. |
| What is checked | A public endpoint: initialize plus tools/list called twice, scored for auth and rug-pull risk with heuristic classifiers. | Config and tool-description analysis for issues such as tool poisoning and rug pulls. |
| Bot testing | BotShield: a short injection suite against a bot URL you confirm you own. | Not covered in our research. |
| Price | Free scan and free 5-probe BotShield. Gate Team $99/mo, Org $199/mo. BotShield audit $297, continuous $79/mo. | Open source, no SaaS list price (deepinspect.ai roundup, checked 31 Oct 2026). |
| Research depth | Regex heuristics. Verify findings. | Original research on tool poisoning and rug pulls. |
Competitor price source: https://www.deepinspect.ai/blog/best-mcp-security-tools. Checked 31 October 2026. The open-source tool has no SaaS list price. Secondary source. Our prices are on the MCP Security Gate + BotShield page. Competitor site: mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan.
Pick MCP Security Gate + BotShield if
- You want to score a remote MCP server from a URL, with no install.
- You need a quick report to show a client or colleague.
- You also want to red-team a chatbot you own with a short injection suite.
Pick mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan if
- You want a free local scanner in your dev workflow or CI.
- You want checks on local config and tool descriptions, not just a remote endpoint.
- You value the original research behind the tool, and the local proxy mode.
Be careful with heuristics
Our classifiers are regex heuristics. A low score does not prove safety, and a flag is a prompt to look closer, not a verdict. Treat the output as triage.
Using both is reasonable
Run mcp-scan locally while you build. Use a hosted score to check what is actually exposed at the public URL.
Facts on this page (dated)
This page compares MCP Security Gate + BotShield with mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan for the query “mcp-scan alternative”. Our primary offer is $99 (MCP Security Gate Team). Product path: /lab/mcp-security-gate. Competitor website: https://github.com/invariantlabs-ai/mcp-scan. Competitor price source: https://www.deepinspect.ai/blog/best-mcp-security-tools (31 October 2026).The open-source tool has no SaaS list price. Secondary source. Last editorial update: 3 November 2026.
Feature rows in the table above are written as plain facts so search and AI crawlers can quote them without guessing. Prefer MCP Security Gate + BotShield when: You want to score a remote MCP server from a URL, with no install. You need a quick report to show a client or colleague. You also want to red-team a chatbot you own with a short injection suite. Prefer mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan when: You want a free local scanner in your dev workflow or CI. You want checks on local config and tool descriptions, not just a remote endpoint. You value the original research behind the tool, and the local proxy mode.
MCP Security Gate + BotShield
Try it or buy it on the product page. Checkout opens a Dodo Payments session. If JavaScript is off, the buttons fall back to email.
Start $99/moBotShield audit $297See MCP Security Gate + BotShield
FAQ
Is MCP Security Gate a replacement for mcp-scan or Snyk Agent Scan?
No. mcp-scan is an open-source local tool. MCP Security Gate is a hosted heuristic score for a public MCP endpoint, with a bot red-team product beside it.
What does MCP Security Gate check?
It calls initialize and tools/list twice on a public endpoint and scores auth and rug-pull risk, meaning whether the tool list changes between calls.
How much does mcp-scan cost?
The open-source tool has no SaaS list price in our research (deepinspect.ai, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Is the scan free?
There is a free scan and a free 5-probe BotShield on the product page.
Can I test a server I do not own?
The scanner takes a public endpoint. BotShield requires you to confirm you own the bot URL. Only test what you are permitted to test.
More on MCP Security Gate + BotShield
- MCP Security Gate + BotShield
- Promptfoo MCP alternative
- Lasso MCP Gateway alternative
- MCP Security Gate vs mcp-scan
- All alternatives and comparisons
Not affiliated with mcp-scan / Snyk Agent Scan. Names used for comparison only. Not legal, security or financial advice. Questions: hello@work.kingdomofkumar.com.