AI Developer Tools

Conduit

A local-first MCP gateway that reduces token usage by ~90% by exposing 3 meta-tools instead of hundreds, working across all major AI clients.

What is Conduit?

Conduit is a local MCP gateway that aggregates all your MCP servers into a single endpoint, replacing hundreds of tool definitions with just three meta-tools to drastically reduce token overhead in AI agents.

Conduit vs Similar AI Tools

Pricing ModelFreeFreeCustom PricingFree, Paid
Free Credits
Key Features
  • Reduces token overhead by ~90% via 3 meta-tools
  • Works with Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Codex, and more
  • Local-first with secrets in OS keychain
  • GitHub Pages hosting
  • Jekyll integration
  • Markdown content support
  • Workload monitoring and anomaly detection
  • Slow query identification and optimization
  • Natural language querying to SQL translation
  • Scans skills and MCP servers against ATR rules before loading
  • Real-time runtime protection against prompt injection and hijacks
  • Signed audit-ready evidence for compliance (EU AI Act, NYDFS, DORA)
Pros
  • Dramatically reduces token usage (up to ~90%)
  • Works with multiple AI clients without reconfiguration
  • Free hosting with custom domain support
  • Easy setup via Git
  • Quick one-line installation and setup in 15 minutes
  • Self-hosted ensures data stays within your infrastructure
  • Open source with MIT license
  • Real-time detection and prevention
Cons
  • Requires initial setup and server configuration
  • Limited to MCP-compatible servers and clients
  • Limited to static content
  • No server-side processing
  • Requires self-hosting and VPC setup
  • No free tier or trial mentioned
  • Enterprise features require paid tiers
  • Setup may require technical expertise
Best For
  • Developers using AI coding assistants like Claude, Cursor, or Codex
  • Teams managing multiple MCP servers across different tools
  • Developers
  • Open source projects
  • Database administrators
  • Data engineers
  • Developers building and deploying AI agents
  • Enterprises needing audit-ready AI security

How to use Conduit?

  1. 1Download and install Conduit from GitHub releases.
  2. 2Add your MCP servers in the Conduit app.
  3. 3Authenticate each server once (keys stored in OS keychain).
  4. 4Point your AI client (Claude, Cursor, VS Code, etc.) to Conduit's local endpoint.
  5. 5Use the client as usual; Conduit handles tool selection in the background.

Conduit Key Features

  • Reduces token overhead by ~90% via 3 meta-tools
  • Works with Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Codex, and more
  • Local-first with secrets in OS keychain
  • Per-tool governance to enable/disable any tool across all clients
  • Live observability with per-server latency, errors, and audit trail
  • No Docker or cloud required; runs as a native desktop app

Conduit Use Cases

  • Optimizing AI agent performance when using many MCP servers
  • Centralizing MCP server management for a team of developers
  • Reducing API costs by minimizing token usage
  • Enhancing security by keeping API keys out of client configs

Conduit Pricing & Free Credits

Conduit currently operates on a Free model.

This tool is completely free to use

Free & Open Source

Free

Conduit is free and open source, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Conduit Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Dramatically reduces token usage (up to ~90%)
  • Works with multiple AI clients without reconfiguration
  • Local-first architecture ensures data privacy
  • API keys stored securely in OS keychain
  • Granular tool governance for safety
  • Built-in observability tools

Cons

  • Requires initial setup and server configuration
  • Limited to MCP-compatible servers and clients
  • May not be suitable for non-developer users

What is Conduit best for?

  • Developers using AI coding assistants like Claude, Cursor, or Codex
  • Teams managing multiple MCP servers across different tools
  • Users looking to reduce token costs and improve agent speed

Conduit FAQ

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