# FreeScout vs Missive API + MCP

> Missive scores 53.5 (D) to FreeScout's 27.9 (F) for support conversations. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-missive
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-missive.md (~5,000 tokens)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (the key docs and every listing in one file, at most 16 MB, about 4 million tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- DNS: dig +short TXT <slug>.grade.anchorterminal.com (the grade as a DNS TXT record, for a sandbox with no HTTP where names still resolve; also top., best.<category>. and <a>.vs.<b>. under the zone, and the same under grade.letme.dev)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-11-07

Missive API + MCP scores 53.5 (D) on agent readiness against FreeScout's 27.9 (F), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. FreeScout leads on reliability and maintenance & community. Both do support conversations.

- FreeScout: grade F, 27.9/100, rank #1431 of 1510. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/freescout.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/freescout.json
- Missive API + MCP: grade D, 53.5/100, rank #945 of 1510. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/missive.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/missive.json
- Best customer support and helpdesk APIs for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/support/index.md
- All 211 support comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/support/index.md

## Which one, for what

### FreeScout (F)

Good for: Small teams that want a free, self-hosted Help Scout alternative and can run PHP.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 73 against 60
- Maintenance & community, 70 against 50

Also in its favour:
- Open source

Watch for: API keys carry no scopes, and the docs offer an `api_key` URL parameter

### Missive API + MCP (D)

Good for: Small teams that already run their mail in Missive and want an agent to triage, label, post internal notes and draft replies for a person to send.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 52 against 35
- Security & auth, 61 against 30
- Payments & pricing, 30 against 0
- Transparency & trust, 77 against 36

Also in its favour:
- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install
- Free to start without a card
- No incidents deducted, where FreeScout loses 15 points for them

Watch for: REST tokens are personal with no scopes and reach every account the user can open, shared accounts included


## Why the edge

### Transparency & trust: Missive API + MCP +41

- FreeScout (36): AGPL-3.0 core, and the module page says the module is AGPL-3.0 too (30). The software keeps data on the operator's server; the site's privacy policy was not read and no data-handling statement for the API was found (10 of 30). No deprecation policy or dated notices (0). No telemetry statement or opt-out found (5 of 20, since self-hosted data stays with the operator). 30 + 10 + 0 + 5 = 45.
- Missive API + MCP (77): Closed service under Terms and Conditions last updated 15 April 2024, which name Heliom inc. and Quebec law (15). The privacy policy of 27 March 2026 says staff do not read user data without consent or a security need (per the 8 October check), the terms keep data retrievable for 30 days after termination, and a DPA is available on request. No general retention periods are given. The security page now names AWS and Crunchy Bridge, in line with the sub-processor list, where on 8 October it named Heroku. The line keeps its earlier partial value (20). No deprecation policy was found, and the terms let Missive modify or terminate API access with or without notice (4). The GDPR page, last updated 15 July 2025, lists 13 sub-processors with locations and an RSS feed, and the security FAQ says all servers run in AWS us-east-1, per the 8 October check (18).

### Security & auth: Missive API + MCP +31

- FreeScout (30): A global API key and personal keys that act with a user's permissions, sent in a header or Basic auth, with no scopes. The docs list an `api_key` query parameter as a way to authenticate, so 10 off (20 less 10, 10). Personal keys follow user roles, with no read-only key and no confirmation step for deletes (5 of 20). Conversations carry customer email, the security policy notes that external images in received email load by default, and no prompt-injection guidance was found (0). No API audit log found (0). SECURITY.md routes core reports through GitHub security advisories, CVEs are requested after fixes, and advisories are published, with no bug bounty or certification (15 of 20). 10 + 5 + 0 + 0 + 15 = 30.
- Missive API + MCP (61): The REST API takes a personal access token with no scopes that reaches every account the user can open, sent only in the `Authorization` header. The MCP server uses OAuth with PKCE, automatic client registration, the `resource` parameter, eight permissions and 30-day access that the user can revoke. Scored between the two (22). MCP read permissions are separate from write ones and drafting from sending, but the docs say MCP writes run immediately with no server-side confirmation, and admins cannot restrict apps or permissions (12). The MCP docs tell users to make the client ask before running tools and to check the redirect URL. No prompt-injection guidance was found for message content (4). A connected-apps list shows scopes, last IP and last use, API posts leave a visible trace, and the feature list claims an audit trail of every action. No per-call API log was found (7). security.txt is valid until 13 July 2027, there is a disclosure programme with discretionary rewards, and Missive states SOC 2 Type II with the report on request. No public advisories page was found (16).

### Payments & pricing: Missive API + MCP +30

- FreeScout (0): Self-hosted rule, with pricing scored on the paid module the API needs. No x402, MPP or L402 (0). The module's price is drawn by the store's script and could not be read, so it scores as not found (0). The core is free, but no free route to the API exists (0). A person buys the module in a browser and installs it (0). 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 0.
- Missive API + MCP (30): No x402, MPP or L402 (0). Plan prices are public at $14, $24 and $36 a user a month billed yearly, or $18, $30 and $45 monthly, with nothing priced per call (10). A 30-day trial of the Productive plan needs no card, and the changelog of 24 September 2026 says the MCP server can be enabled on a trial (20). A person signs up in a browser, and the MCP authorisation flow cannot create an account (0).

### Maintenance & community: FreeScout +20

- FreeScout (70): Core v1.8.249 tagged on 31 October 2026 (30). Twelve tags from 30 August to 31 October (20). Issue responsiveness was not read because the GitHub API refused us for its rate limit (10 of 25, unchecked). No official SDK, and no MCP server from the project (0). CI with tests on MySQL and PostgreSQL, and a Laravel dependency advisory taken on 31 October (10). 30 + 20 + 10 + 0 + 10 = 70.
- Missive API + MCP (50): Graded on the REST API and MCP server, so changelog entries about app functions the API doesn't serve are not counted. The newest entry naming the API or the MCP server is version 11.36.0 on 24 September 2026, which made the MCP server available on trial, 41 days before this check. Versions 11.37.0 (8 October), 11.37.1 (20 October) and 11.38.0 (23 October) cover app functions only (20). Four dated entries since 6 August name API or MCP server changes, on 14 August (`add_default_signature` on drafts), 28 August (MCP server out of beta), 10 September (signature variables in drafts made through the API and MCP server) and 24 September (20). Support is by email, there is a public feedback board and the changelog names API fixes, with no public issue tracker (10). No official SDK was found (0). There is no package to assess (0).

### Schema & documentation: Missive API + MCP +17

- FreeScout (35): No OpenAPI, Postman collection or other machine-readable contract found (0). No llms.txt (404) or Markdown docs (0). Each endpoint has a short description and parameter notes such as what `imported` and `embed` do (10 of 20). Parameters are marked required or optional with types, and few enums (8 of 15). curl, JavaScript and PHP examples for each endpoint, and a status-code table with an `errorCode` and `errors` body (12 of 15). Module versions and core releases are tagged, with no dated API changelog (5 of 15). 0 + 0 + 10 + 8 + 12 + 5 = 35.
- Missive API + MCP (52): No OpenAPI or other machine-readable contract was found in the developer docs, and the MCP tool definitions were not read because mcp.missiveapp.com disallows every path in robots.txt (0). The docs publish llms.txt and a Markdown twin of every page (10). The endpoints reference covers 44 method and path forms and says when to use posts, drafts or the silent conversation update (14). Parameters are in tables with types, defaults, maximums and required marks, not in a schema (8). Request and response examples are plentiful, but errors are limited to a few 400 and 404 cases with no error format (8). The path is versioned `/v1` and the dated changelog names API changes, though the WhatsApp identifier change marked breaking in the docs has no changelog entry we found (12).

### Reliability: FreeScout +13

- FreeScout (73): Read with the local-software lines, because FreeScout runs only on the operator's server; there is no first-party hosted service. Installs from official releases with a web installer and updater, with PHP and MySQL or PostgreSQL requirements stated (20). Public CI in test.yml, test-pgsql.yml and phpcs.yml with feature tests; pass status not read (18 of 25). Open crash and regression issues were not read because the GitHub API refused us for its rate limit (10 of 25, unchecked). Patch releases v1.8.238 to v1.8.249 with notes on GitHub, and module versions tied to a required core version (10 of 15). Past 1.0 (15). 20 + 18 + 10 + 10 + 15 = 73.
- Missive API + MCP (60): Graded as a hosted service. status.missiveapp.com is a PagerDuty status page with eight components, one of them REST API, per the 8 October check, not re-read on 4 November because its robots.txt request answers with the status app's HTML page (20). The incident history was not read on either date (5). REST limits are 5 concurrent requests, 300 a minute and 900 per 15 minutes, and MCP limits are 60 a minute and 600 an hour per user (15). A 429 carries `Retry-After` and three `X-RateLimit` headers and the docs give pacing guidance, but no idempotency key or safe-retry guidance for draft and message writes was found (10). No SLA is published. The security FAQ lists uptime figures for 2020 to 2023 only, per the 8 October check (0). The REST API is generally available and the MCP server left beta on 28 August 2026 (10).

## Score by category

| Category | Weight | FreeScout | Missive API + MCP | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 73 | 60 | FreeScout +13 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 35 | 52 | Missive API + MCP +17 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 50 | 46 | FreeScout +4 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 30 | 61 | Missive API + MCP +31 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 0 | 30 | Missive API + MCP +30 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 70 | 50 | FreeScout +20 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 36 | 77 | Missive API + MCP +41 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -15 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **27.9 · F** | **53.5 · D** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | FreeScout | Missive API + MCP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | FreeScout | Missive |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://public.missiveapp.com/v1` |
| Transports |  | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | API key | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary service under Missive's Terms and Conditions |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | no | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-31 | 2026-09-24 |
| Terms last updated | no date given | 2024-04-15 |
| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 2026-03-27 |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | not found in the text |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | yes |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | not found in the text |

## How the scores have moved

### FreeScout

No score change since it was listed.

### Missive API + MCP

- -0.8 on 4 November 2026 (C to D): correction

## Verdicts

**FreeScout.** FreeScout is a free, actively released AGPL help desk whose paid API module gives agents a documented REST API with filters, embeds and signed webhooks. Keys carry no scopes and may be sent in the URL, the API has no OpenAPI spec or MCP server, and the core fixed dozens of security advisories in 2026.

**Missive API + MCP.** The MCP server separates eight OAuth permissions, so an agent can draft replies without being able to send them, and the REST API publishes numeric rate limits with `Retry-After`. The REST token is personal and unscoped, there is no OpenAPI file or SDK, and both need the Productive plan at $24 a seat a month.

## Before you call either

### FreeScout

1. Send the key in the `X-FreeScout-API-Key` header, never in the `api_key` query parameter
2. Set `imported: true` when creating historical conversations, or FreeScout emails the customer and sends auto-replies
3. Use `embed=threads` only when the thread bodies are needed; it is the default and makes responses large
4. Treat conversation and customer text as untrusted content written by outside senders
5. Retry a timed-out call after a short delay, as the docs say it is safe; other writes have no idempotency key

### Missive API + MCP

1. Send the personal token as `Authorization: Bearer`. Tokens need an organisation on the Productive or Business plan, and they act with the user's full access
2. Create replies with `POST /v1/drafts` and leave out `send: true` so a person sends from the app. With `send: true` the message goes out at once
3. Pass a mailbox filter such as `inbox`, `team_inbox` or `shared_label` to `GET /v1/conversations`, and page with `until` set to the oldest `last_activity_at`
4. Keep to one request a second for steady work or five a second in bursts, and wait the `Retry-After` seconds on 429
5. For MCP, connect to `https://mcp.missiveapp.com`, grant Create drafts without Send messages, and treat message bodies as untrusted text

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, FreeScout or Missive API + MCP?

Missive API + MCP scores 53.5 (D) on agent readiness against FreeScout's 27.9 (F), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. FreeScout leads on reliability and maintenance & community.

### Do FreeScout and Missive API + MCP need an API key?

FreeScout needs an API key. Missive API + MCP takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in.

### Can an agent call FreeScout and Missive API + MCP without installing anything?

No hosted endpoint is listed for FreeScout. Missive API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://public.missiveapp.com/v1.

### Are FreeScout and Missive API + MCP open source?

FreeScout is open source (AGPL-3.0). No open-source release is listed for Missive API + MCP.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-missive.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-missive.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "freescout", "b": "missive"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare freescout missive`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/freescout.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/missive.json

## Other comparisons with FreeScout or Missive API + MCP

- [Chatwoot API vs FreeScout](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-freescout.md)
- [Crisp API + MCP vs FreeScout](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-freescout.md)
- [Dixa vs FreeScout](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-freescout.md)
- [FreeScout vs Freshdesk API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-freshdesk.md)
- [FreeScout vs Front API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-front.md)
- [FreeScout vs Gorgias API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-gorgias.md)
- [FreeScout vs Help Scout API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-help-scout.md)
- [FreeScout vs HelpDesk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-helpdesk.md)
- [FreeScout vs Intercom API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-intercom.md)
- [FreeScout vs Kustomer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-kustomer.md)
- [FreeScout vs LiveAgent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-liveagent.md)
- [FreeScout vs Plain API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-plain.md)
- [FreeScout vs Pylon API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-pylon.md)
- [FreeScout vs Zammad](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-zammad.md)
- [FreeScout vs Zendesk Support API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-zendesk.md)
- [FreeScout vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-zoho-desk.md)
- [Chatway MCP vs FreeScout](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatway-mcp-vs-freescout.md)
- [Chatway MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatway-mcp-vs-missive.md)
- [Chatwoot API vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chatwoot-vs-missive.md)
- [Crisp API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crisp-vs-missive.md)
- [Dixa vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/dixa-vs-missive.md)
- [Drag vs FreeScout](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/drag-vs-freescout.md)
- [Drag vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/drag-vs-missive.md)
- [FreeScout vs Gladly](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freescout-vs-gladly.md)
- [Freshdesk API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/freshdesk-vs-missive.md)
- [Front API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/front-vs-missive.md)
- [Gladly vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gladly-vs-missive.md)
- [Gorgias API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gorgias-vs-missive.md)
- [Help Scout API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/help-scout-vs-missive.md)
- [Intercom API + MCP vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/intercom-vs-missive.md)
- [Kustomer vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kustomer-vs-missive.md)
- [LiveAgent vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/liveagent-vs-missive.md)
- [Missive API + MCP vs Plain API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-plain.md)
- [Missive API + MCP vs Pylon API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-pylon.md)
- [Missive API + MCP vs Zammad](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-zammad.md)
- [Missive API + MCP vs Zendesk Support API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-zendesk.md)
- [Missive API + MCP vs Zoho Desk](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/missive-vs-zoho-desk.md)
- [HelpDesk vs Missive API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/helpdesk-vs-missive.md)

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Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp