--- title: "Using the Stackby MCP Server" description: "Connect AI assistants to your Stackby stacks and tables using the Model Context Protocol." url: https://help.stackby.com/en/articles/457-using-the-stackby-mcp-server collection: "Stackby AI" updated: 2026-07-22 language: en --- # Using the Stackby MCP Server Connect AI assistants to your Stackby stacks and tables using the Model Context Protocol.

Plan availability	All plans
Permissions	Admin / Owner — can set up API key, manage MCP access, read and write all stacks Member — can read and write stacks they have permission to access Viewer — can read data via MCP for stacks they have access to
Platform(s)	Works with any AI assistant that supports Model Context Protocol (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools)

Stackby's MCP server lets you connect AI tools directly to your stacks and tables. Once connected, you can ask questions about your data, create and update records, and automate workflows—all through natural conversation with AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and more. ## **What is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?** Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that allows AI tools to securely connect to external data sources and services. With MCP, AI assistants can query your Stackby data, perform actions on your behalf, and present structured information—all while respecting your existing permissions and access controls. ## **What you can do with MCP** The Stackby MCP Server enables several types of interactions between your AI tools and your data: **Search and analyze data** Ask your AI tool questions about your Stackby data: - "Show me all open tasks in my Project Tracker stack assigned to the engineering team" - "What are the top 5 most requested features in our feedback table?" - "Find all CRM contacts from Mumbai who haven't been followed up with this month" ## **Create records** Add new information to your stacks through conversation: - "Add these 3 new leads to my Sales Pipeline stack" - "Create a new task called 'Update onboarding docs' in the Q2 Sprint table, due Friday" ## **Update existing records** Make changes to your data without opening Stackby: - "Mark task #47 as Complete in the Sprint table" - "Update the budget for the 'Website Redesign' project to $12,000" ## **Manage your stack structure** Use AI to extend your stacks with new tables and fields: - "Add a new column called 'Priority' with options Low, Medium, High to the Tasks table" - "Create a new table called 'Client Feedback' in my CRM stack" ## **Prerequisites of using Stackby MCP** Before setting up the Stackby MCP Server, you will need: - A Stackby account (any plan) - A Stackby API key (see setup steps below) - An MCP-enabled AI host such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor - Data already added or stored in at least one Stackby stack ## MCP key "clientId": "sb\_cli\_VjQkRhT7\_Mx7gY6xi4ro-s-4", "clientSecret": "sb\_sec\_5mYL5ndGlswGx4l-91fUAfGZ9FW8YU51" ## **MCP setup steps** Stackby's MCP server uses API key authentication. Follow these steps to connect your AI assistant. ## **Step 1: Get your Stackby API key** 1. Log in to your Stackby account at [stackby.com](https://stackby.com). 2. Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner and select Account Settings. 3. Navigate to the API section. 4. Copy your personal API key.

📝 Note

Keep your API key private. Anyone with your API key can read and write data in your stacks on your behalf.

## **Step 2: Configure your AI assistant** In your AI assistant's MCP configuration, add a new server entry with the following details: ### **Server URL** [https://mcp.stackby.com/mcp](https://mcp.stackby.com/mcp) ### **Authentication header** Stackby authenticates using a custom request header. Add the following header to your MCP server configuration: x-api-key: YOUR\_STACKBY\_API\_KEY ### **Example: Claude Desktop configuration (claude\_desktop\_config.json)** ```javascript { "mcpServers": { "stackby": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@anthropic-ai/mcp-client-http"], "env": { "MCP_SERVER_URL": "https://mcp.stackby.com/mcp", "MCP_HEADERS": "{\"x-api-key\": \"YOUR_STACKBY_API_KEY\"}" } } } } ``` ## **Step 3: Verify the connection** Once configured, ask your AI assistant to run a quick check: "Can you ping the Stackby MCP server and list my workspaces?" If the connection is working, your AI assistant will return a list of your Stackby workspaces. ## **Tips for optimal MCP usage** Get the most out of your MCP integration with these tips: - **Be specific:** Mention the stack name or table name when asking about data. The more context you give, the more accurate the results. - **Use natural language:** You don't need to know field IDs or table IDs—describe what you want in plain English. - **Describe your stack first:** For complex queries, briefly explain the structure of your stack before asking for data (e.g., "My CRM stack has a Contacts table with Name, Company, Status, and Last Contacted columns"). - **Check permissions:** If you can't access certain data via MCP, verify that your API key belongs to a user who has permission to view or edit that stack. - **Think about data access:** Your AI tool will be able to read and write your Stackby data on your behalf. Only connect tools you trust. ## **Available MCP capabilities** The Stackby MCP server currently provides the following tools:

Tool name	Description
list_workspaces	Lists all Stackby workspaces you have access to. Use this to find your workspace ID.
list_stacks	Lists all stacks (databases) you can access in your Stackby account. Optionally filter by workspaceId. Use this to get the stackId needed for other tools.
list_tables	Gets all tables in a given stack, including their names and IDs.
describe_table	Returns the full schema of a table: field names, types, IDs, and available views. Essential before filtering on select/multiSelect fields.
list_records	Lists rows from a table with support for filtering, sorting, pagination, and view selection. Always obtain stackId and tableId from list_stacks and list_tables first.
search_records	Searches for rows containing a text string in one or more specified columns.
get_record	Retrieves a single row by its record ID.
create_record	Creates a new row in a table. Field values are keyed by column name.
update_records	Updates up to 10 existing rows per request. Unspecified fields remain unchanged.
delete_records	Soft-deletes up to 10 rows by ID.
create_table	Creates a new table inside an existing stack.
create_field	Adds a new column (field) to a table. Supports types such as shortText, number, checkbox, singleOption, multipleOptions, dateAndTime, email, url, and more.
ping	Pings the MCP server to verify it is running and reachable.

## **Limitations** Keep these limitations in mind when using the Stackby MCP Server: - **Rate limits:** MCP server calls are subject to Stackby's standard API rate limits. - **Batch size:** Creating, updating, and deleting records is limited to 10 records per request. - **Soft deletes:** Records deleted via MCP are soft-deleted and may be recoverable from within Stackby. - **Permission enforcement:** The MCP server respects your existing Stackby permissions. You can only access or modify data that your API key's user account has permission to access. - **Schema changes:** Tool names, behaviors, and available capabilities may change as the MCP server is updated. ## **FAQs** **Can I use MCP with any stack I have access to?** Yes. If your Stackby account has access to a stack, the MCP server can read and write data within it, subject to your permission level. Viewer-level access allows reading via MCP but not creating or updating records. **What AI assistants work with Stackby's MCP Server?** Any AI assistant that supports the Model Context Protocol can connect to Stackby's MCP Server. This includes Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools. Check your AI assistant's documentation to confirm MCP support. **How do I revoke access if I no longer want my AI assistant to access my stacks?** Navigate to Account Settings > API in Stackby and regenerate your API key. This will immediately invalidate your old key and disconnect any AI tools that were using it. **Does using MCP count against my Stackby limits?** MCP uses the Stackby public API under the hood and will count against existing API rate limits. Records created using MCP count against your plan's row limits. **Are there additional costs for using MCP?** No. The MCP integration is available with your current Stackby plan at no extra charge, subject to standard API rate limits. **What happens if I try to update a field I don't have permission to modify?** The MCP server will return an error, just as the Stackby API would. Your AI assistant should communicate this limitation to you and suggest alternatives. **Can I use MCP to create entirely new stacks?** Currently, the MCP server supports creating tables and fields within existing stacks, but does not support creating brand-new stacks. Stack creation should be done directly within the Stackby interface.