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MCP vs REST — which to use

Equibles serves the same data two ways. Which you want depends on who's calling.

Pick one

MCP server REST API
Best for AI agents & assistants (Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT) Your own scripts, backends, dashboards
You write nothing — the model calls tools in chat HTTP requests + JSON parsing
Shape tools the model picks by name endpoints you call by URL
Auth OAuth sign-in or API key API key
Endpoint https://mcp.equibles.com/mcp https://api.equibles.com/v1

Reach for the MCP server when a person or an agent is asking questions in natural language and you want the answers in the conversation — no glue code. It's the fastest path and how most people start. See Connect the MCP server.

Reach for the REST API when you're writing code that needs the data on a schedule or inside your own product — a nightly job, a screener, a chart. Standard JSON over HTTPS. See the REST API guide.

They share one daily limit

Both surfaces draw on the same daily request quota for your account — an MCP tool call and a REST call each count once. Mixing them is fine; just budget against the single limit. See Rate limits & errors.

Using both

Nothing stops you from doing both — connect an agent over MCP for exploration, and call REST from a backend for the parts you've automated. Same data, same account, same key.