This tutorial shows how to build and deploy an MCP server on Replit in minutes, so you can create tools and extend AI capabilities across any platform that supports the Model Context Protocol. Notes:
- You need a Replit account. MCP server templates are available free in the Replit community and can be remixed instantly.
- The MCP server will be deployed with a public URL that you can share with any MCP client (Claude, ChatGPT, VS Code, etc.).
- Your MCP server session secret should be stored securely in the Replit Secrets pane for authentication.
- Sign in at replit.com and search for the MCP server template (https://replit.com/@mattpal/MCP-on-Replit-TS). Click Remix to create your own copy of the template in your workspace.
- Click Use Framework to start your MCP server. The server will boot up and display a development endpoint in the Preview pane. This is your live MCP server running on the internet.
- Click Publish in the top menu to deploy your server to a production URL. This will give you a permanent endpoint that stays live and can be connected to any MCP client.
- In the Preview pane, copy your MCP server connection string and session secret.
- From the Secrets pane, use these credentials to connect your server to any MCP-compatible client like Claude, ChatGPT, or VS Code.
- To extend your server, use the Agent prompt field to describe what you want to add - for example: Help me add a tool to this MCP server that fetches Hacker News articles via RSS feed. The Agent will research the framework, add the tool, and redeploy automatically.
- Verify your new tool is live by checking the Preview pane, which displays all available tools dynamically from your running server. Your MCP server is now ready to use with any client.
