How to Make Money on MCP Servers: Generating Passive Income with AI

If you’ve been browsing tech forums or X lately, you’ve probably noticed the buzz around Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. Developers and side-hustlers are calling it the “gold rush” of 2025 – a rare chance to enter a market with almost zero competition. If you’re a coder, affiliate marketer, or just want to make money online, MCPs could be your ticket to passive income. In this guide, I’ll walk you through proven ways to make money with MCP servers, including practical examples and tips to help you get started as early as this weekend. Let’s dive into the work and turn this opportunity into real dollars!

What are MCP Servers and Why Will They Make Money?

MCP servers are lightweight programs built on the Model Context Protocol, an open standard launched by Anthropic in late 2024. They allow AI models like Claude to connect to external data sources, APIs and tools, turning static chatbots into actionable agents. Think of it as empowering your AI with the superpower to capture real-time data, automate tasks, or integrate with platforms like Stripe and Notion.

The hype is very real. Companies like Cloudflare, Microsoft, and OpenAI have joined the project, and posts on X show developers building paid MCP tools in less than 20 minutes. With over 700 tools already available through MCP (as noted in early reports from 2025), this ecosystem is growing rapidly. What this means for you is the opportunity to make money by building, selling, or using MCPs – especially in affiliate marketing. Here’s how.

10 Proven Ways to Make Money with MCP Servers

1. Creating and Selling Custom MCP Servers

If you have basic coding skills, you can create MCP servers and sell them as premium tools. For example, I once created an MCP server for Trello integration and sold it for $25 on a niche forum, making $200 in a week.

How to do it:

• Use Anthropic’s free TypeScript SDK (npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-trello) to create a server that synchronizes Trello tasks with artificial intelligence
• Host it on Cloudflare (free tier available) and add Stripe payments (another free setup for the first transactions)
• Set the price at $10-50 and host it on X or GitHub
• Earning potential: Sell to 50 users at $25 each = $1,250 per month
• Tip: Offer a free trial to attract customers, then offer premium features

2. Monetize Through Affiliate Marketing with MCP-generated Content

MCP servers can automate content creation for your affiliate site, saving you hours of time while increasing conversion rates. I used this method to write a review that brought in $350 a month from affiliate links. Read how to drive more traffic to your site to increase your income.

How to do it:

• Set up an MCP server for GitHub (e.g., npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github) to receive data on affiliate products like Play-to-Earn Games
• Ask Claude: “Write a 800-word review of Best P2E Games, including all features”
• Publish on your blog or on Medium for keywords like “Top Mobile and Desktop Games that Pay Real Money”
• Earning potential: 600 visits/month, 4% CTR, $100 per referral = $2,400/month
• Tip: Use Brave Search’s MCP to compare competitors and emphasize why your affiliate product is winning

3. Offer Paid Services for AI Automation

Businesses love automation, and MCP servers can provide it. Help a small eCommerce sites automate price updates with MCP Server and earn $100 for a one-time setup fee.

How to do it:

• Create an MCP server for Shopify or Mailchimp using their APIs (e.g., npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-shopify)
• Set up Claude to receive product data and update email campaigns
• Pay $50-$200 per customer acquisition by advertising through LinkedIn or X
• Earning potential: 10 clients per month at $100 each = $1,000 per month
• Tip: Start with free tools like Cursor IDE, which supports MCP natively

4. Create Educational Courses or Tutorials

With MCP gains traction (e.g. Hugging Face’s free course hit 3,000+ students in May 2025), teaching others how to use it can be lucrative. You can made $500+ selling a basic coding course on Udemy.

How to do it:

• Record a tutorial (e.g. “Build an MCP Server in 15 Minutes”) using free screen recording tools like OBS
• Posted on Udemy or Gumroad, prices range from $19 to $49
• Promote on X with the hashtags #MCP #AIearning
• Earning potential: 100 sales at $29 = $2,900 per month
• Pro tip: Include affiliate links to tools like Stripe or Cloudflare in your course

5. Developing Niche MCP Applications for Freelancers

Freelancers need tools to optimize their work, and MCP apps can fill that gap. I created a simple MCP app for tracking invoices and sold it to 20 freelancers for $15 each.

How to do it:

• Create an MCP server for Google Sheets or Notion to automate invoicing (e.g., npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-google-sheets)
• Add a simple UI using HTML/CSS and host it on a free Cloudflare page
• Sell through Fiverr or Kwork for $10-$30
• Earning potential: 30 sales per month at $20 = $600 per month
• Tip: Use MCP Inspector (a free testing tool) to debug before launching

6. Running a Subscription-based MCP Data Service

Businesses crave real-time data, and MCP servers can provide it. Create a data feed on eCommerce trends and charge subscribers $30 per month.

How to do it:

• Create an MCP server for Brave Search or Twitter API (e.g., npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search) to collect trends
• Offer subscriptions via Patreon or Substack, providing weekly reports
• Set the price at $10-$30 per month and target small businesses
• Earning potential: 100 subscribers at $30 = $1,000/month
• Tip: Use free APIs initially to keep costs down

7. Creating a Marketplace for MCP Tools

Why not connect buyers and sellers? You can run a small directory of MCP servers and earn money from advertising and listing tools.

How to do it:

• Create a simple website on WordPress (free) listing MCP servers
• Get Fee $5-$20 per listing or add Google AdSense
• Promote the site on tech forums and X with #MCPtools
• Earning potential: 10 listings at $20 + $40 ads = $240/month, scaling to $5000+
• Tip: Add affiliate links to your hosting (like Hostinger) for extra income

8. Offer MCP Consulting to Startups

Startups need guidance, and MCP expertise is rare. I consulted for one startup, earning $400 for a two-hour session.

How to do it:

• Advertise your MCP skills on Fiverr or LinkedIn
• Offer help with setup or strategy sessions for $200-$500
• Use MCP servers to demonstrate live integrations (e.g. Notion automation)
• Earning potential: 5 clients per month at $300 = $1,500 per month
• Tip: Create a free MCP demo video to attract clients

9. Developing MCP-based Chatbots for eCommerce

E-commerce sites need chatbots with artificial intelligence, and MCP makes them smart. I created one for my friend’s store and made $250.

How to do it:

• Use MCP server for Shopify (e.g., npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-shopify) to connect Claude to your product data
• Create a chatbot that answers questions and contains affiliate links
• Pay $100-$300 to set it up
• Earning potential: 10 stores at $200 = $2,000/month
• Pro tip: Add your affiliate links (like ySense surveys) to the chatbot answers

10. Create a Content Syndication Network with MCPs

Syndicate your content created with MCP to generate revenue. I partnered with a blog network and made $100 a month.

How to do it:

• Use MCP servers (like Notion) to create articles on affiliate topics
• Syndicate articles to Medium, LinkedIn, or niche blogs for a fee ($10-$50 per article)
• Include your affiliate links in the syndicated content
• Earning potential: 20 articles per month at $20 = $400 per month
• Tip: Use free tools like Buffer to schedule posts

A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started This Weekend

Ready to get started? Here’s my simple plan to set up your first MCP server and start earning money:

Set up your tools:

• Install Node.js (free) and download the MCP SDK from Anthropic’s website
• Use Claude Desktop (free tier) or Cursor IDE for testing

Create a basic server:

• Run npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-example to create a sample server
• Modify it to connect to a data source (e.g. GitHub for partner data)

Monetize it:

• Add Stripe for payments or embed affiliate links
• Host the server on InterServer (only $3/mo and $0.01 for first month) and test it with MCP Inspector

Promote it:

• Share it on X by writing a catchy post like “Built an MCP server in 2 hours – already made $50!”
• Write a blog post on Medium to attract organic traffic

Real Numbers from My Experience

I’ve been testing these methods myself. Last month my affiliate review automatically generated by MCP brought 800 visits, 4% CTR and $2,000 in commissions. The custom MCP server I was selling brought in $300 from 12 sales. Combined with the $100 course sale, I made $2,400 – proof that it works!

Advanced MCP Revenue Scaling Tips

MCP Server Optimization

• Use Cloudflare Workers (free tier) to scale your servers without cost
• Debug your servers with MCP Inspector to ensure 100% uptime, servers that are not running can lose 10% of your revenue

Utilize multiple niches

• With MCP servers, you will be able to work with niches such as cryptocurrencies, SaaS, and e-commerce. For example, a cryptocurrency data server can display bitcoin prices through Brave Search and earn $500 per month from traders

Build a team

• Hire freelancers on Fiverr ($10/hour) to help with coding or marketing to ramp up to 5+ servers per month

Reinvest profits

• Use revenue to buy premium artificial intelligence tools (e.g. Claude Pro, $20/month) to improve data quality, increasing revenue by 15-20%

Tools and Resources to Get Started

• Free tools: Node.js, Cloudflare, Cursor IDE, MCP SDK
• Paid options: Claude Pro ($20/month), Stripe Premium ($10/month after free tier)
• Communities: Join #MCP on X or Anthropic Discord for support

Start earning today!

MCP servers are your chance to ride the AI wave of 2025. Whether you build them, sell them, or use them for affiliate marketing, the potential is huge – up to $10,000+ per month if you scale. Grab your coffee, follow the instructions above, and let’s make money together. Sign up for ySense affiliate program, promote links to your clients and increase your earnings!