Arc0 vs Arcade.
Considering Arc0 as an Arcade.dev alternative? A like-for-like read on tool-calling and auth infrastructure for AI agents, including where Arcade's larger tool catalog, open-source framework, and self-hosted deployment options are still the better choice.
Arc0 and Arcade, line by line.
| Item | ARC0 | ARCADE |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per active user per month, with 5,000 pooled tool calls included per user | Per tool call ($0.01) plus per auth event ($0.10) on the Team plan, on top of a $25/mo platform fee |
| Entry pricing | Free (Build) for up to 100 active users in production; unlimited in development mode | Free plan: 2,000 tool calls and 2,000 auth events per month; Team: $25/mo plus usage |
| Your users' consent screen | Arc0 Connect carries your logo on every plan; paid plans run on your domain with your own OAuth apps | Shows "Arcade" as the requesting application by default; your branding requires registering your own OAuth app with each provider |
| Catalog | 1,500+ apps; vendors' official MCP servers can sit behind Arc0 auth | 7,000+ tools across 80+ toolkits, expanded by the August 2026 acquisition of MCP registry Smithery |
| Audit log | Every call logged on every plan, including free; retention 7/30/90 days by tier; OpenTelemetry export on paid plans | Audit logs, RBAC and SSO are Enterprise-tier features, not included on the Free or Team plans |
| Deployment / self-host | Cloud today; the Scale plan adds EU hosting and dedicated hosting | Cloud by default; Enterprise tier adds VPC, on-prem, or fully air-gapped self-hosted deployment |
| Focus / ownership | Independent, focused only on agent connectivity; operated by Exa Labs LLC | VC-backed ($72M raised, including a $60M Series A); broadened scope with the Smithery MCP-registry acquisition |
Where Arcade is the better choice.
7,000+ prebuilt tools across 80+ toolkits, and the August 2026 Smithery acquisition adds a public MCP server registry on top.
arcade-mcp, the Python framework used to build Arcade's tools and servers, is open source, so teams can audit or extend it directly.
Enterprise customers can run the full Arcade Engine in their own VPC, on-prem, or fully air-gapped for disconnected, high-control environments.
What Arc0 does differently.
Arcade bills $0.01 per tool call and $0.10 per auth event separately on the Team plan, on top of a $25/mo fee. Arc0 bundles 5,000 calls per active user into one per-user price.
Arcade's consent screen shows "Arcade" as the requesting app unless you register your own OAuth app with each provider. Arc0 Connect carries the customer's logo on every plan.
Audit logs, RBAC and SSO ship only on Arcade's Enterprise plan. Arc0 logs every call on every plan, including free.
Arcade is VC-backed and now owns an MCP server registry (Smithery) alongside its auth and execution platform. Arc0 stays focused only on agent connectivity.
Arcade's Enterprise tier supports VPC, on-prem, and fully air-gapped deployment. Arc0's Scale plan adds EU and dedicated hosting but not on-prem or air-gapped deployment.
Free migration from Arcade.
An engineer moves you over at no charge, on any plan. You keep shipping while we do the work, and nothing changes for your users until you say so.
- 01We map itEvery app, action and auth config your agent uses in Arcade, matched to Arc0.
- 02We set it upYour OAuth apps registered, Arc0 Connect in your brand, and your first policies written with you.
- 03We move your usersTokens imported wherever Arcade lets you export them, and reconnects staged in-product where it doesn’t.
What moving from Arcade looks like.
Moving from Arcade to Arc0 mainly changes how users authorize and how usage is priced, not what agents can do.
Connections
Arcade's docs describe reading a token inside a running tool (context.get_auth_token_or_empty()) but do not document a customer-facing API to export previously issued tokens in bulk. Plan on your users reconnecting once through Arc0 Connect's branded flow.
Your agent
Any agent already calling Arcade's tools over MCP can point at the Arc0 MCP endpoint instead; the SDK and REST-plus-proxy paths cover clients that call Arcade directly rather than through MCP.
Questions, answered.
Is Arc0 a good Arcade.dev alternative?
Yes if you want one per-user price with your brand on the consent screen from day one. If you need Arcade's larger prebuilt catalog, its open-source tool framework, or on-prem/air-gapped deployment, Arcade is still the better choice.
How does pricing actually compare?
Arcade charges $0.01 per tool call plus $0.10 per auth event on its Team plan ($25/mo base). Arc0 charges per active user (from $0.10 down to $0.03 per user above the included tiers) with 5,000 pooled calls per user included, so the better deal depends on your calls-per-user ratio.
Whose brand do my users see when they connect an app?
With Arcade's default setup, users see "Arcade" requesting access unless you register your own OAuth app with each provider. Arc0 Connect shows your logo on every plan, and paid plans can run it on your own domain with your own OAuth apps.
What did the Smithery acquisition change?
Arcade acquired Smithery, a public MCP server registry and hosting platform, in August 2026, adding a broader public catalog and hosting layer on top of Arcade's existing auth and execution platform.
Moving from Arcade? We’ll move you.
Tell us where your connections live today and what your agent does. An engineer plans and runs the move with you, free, including how to keep reconnects to a minimum.