MCP server
Is there an MCP server for local business data?
Yes. AlleyPulse runs a remote MCP server at https://api.alleypulse.com/mcp. An AI assistant that supports MCP can read the weekly neighborhood issues of the shops on your account: what changed within their radius, why it matters, what to do and the source. It is read only and included with every shop subscription.
Last updated: 27 October 2026
What local business data does the MCP server return?
Neighborhood intelligence for your own shops, not a directory. It is the same data as the Monday email.
- What changed within your radius: competitor posts and promos, rating and review count changes, new and closed Google Maps listings, local events and news, search interest and weather.
- Per item: tier (A act this week, B worth knowing, C skim), category, distance, what changed, why it matters, what to do this week, source link and date.
- Only your shops: a key can read all shops on your account or only the ones you choose. Nearby businesses are anonymized and no review text is returned.
- Weekly: one new issue per shop every Monday. It is not a live feed.
How do I connect an AI assistant to AlleyPulse?
- 01
Add a shop
Enter the shop's address in the web app. The first issue of every shop is free.
About 2 minutes - 02
Create a read only key
Open the API and MCP screen in the app and create a key. It is shown once and stored only as a hash. Keys never go in a URL.
1 minute - 03
Add the server to your client
Use the address below with the key as a bearer token. The examples use the placeholder key ap_live_EXAMPLE: replace it with your own.
1 minute - 04
Ask
For example: What changed around my shop this week? What should I act on before Friday? Did a new listing appear near me in the last month?
Any time
claude mcp add --transport http alleypulse https://api.alleypulse.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer ap_live_EXAMPLE"{
"mcpServers": {
"alleypulse": {
"url": "https://api.alleypulse.com/mcp",
"headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ap_live_EXAMPLE" }
}
}
}Claude Desktop, a generic mcp.json and the REST API are in the developer documentation.
Which MCP tools are there?
| Tool | Arguments | Returns |
|---|---|---|
list_shops | none | The shops this key can read, with ids. |
get_latest_digest | shop_id (optional), tier (optional) | The latest issue with its items. |
list_issues | shop_id, limit | Recent issues, newest first, without items. |
get_item | item_id | One item with every field. |
search_items | query, shop_id, since, tier | Items whose headline or text match the query, newest first. Searches only your own issues. |
check_coverage | address | Whether the address is supported, has few listings or is not supported. |
Full endpoint, field and error reference: developer documentation. Agencies managing several client shops: API and MCP for agencies.
Questions about the MCP server
Is there an MCP server for local business data?
Yes, with a specific scope. AlleyPulse runs a remote MCP server that lets an AI assistant read the weekly neighborhood issues of the shops on your AlleyPulse account: what changed within your radius, with tiers, why it matters, what to do and a dated source link. It is not an open database of every business.
What is the AlleyPulse MCP server address?
https://api.alleypulse.com/mcp, a remote server over streamable HTTP. You sign in with a read only API key sent as a bearer token. OAuth sign in for MCP clients is not part of v1.
Which MCP clients does it work with?
Any client that supports remote MCP servers over streamable HTTP with a bearer header. The developer documentation has setup examples for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and a generic mcp.json. Client configuration formats differ and change, so check your client's current documentation.
What can an assistant ask the server?
It can list your shops, read the latest issue (optionally only tier A items), list recent issues, fetch one item, search items by text, and check whether an address is supported. Every tool is read only: no tool sends email, edits a shop or posts anywhere.
Does it return competitor names or review text?
No. Nearby businesses are anonymized, for example a café 200 m away, and no review text is stored or returned. Items carry a dated source link.
Can the MCP server return data for any address?
No. Items are only returned for the shops that belong to the key's account. The one exception is the coverage check, which says whether an address is supported, has few listings or is not supported.
What does the MCP server cost?
API and MCP access are included with every shop subscription at no extra cost: $29 USD per month per shop, cancel anytime, with a free first issue for every shop. Keys are created in the web app.
What are the limits?
60 requests per minute per key, shown in rate limit headers. The data is weekly: it is the same issue as the Monday email, so it is not live.
Is there also a REST API?
Yes. The read only REST API v1 at https://api.alleypulse.com/v1 returns the same issues and items as JSON, and an OpenAPI 3.1 file is at https://api.alleypulse.com/v1/openapi.json. The developer documentation lists every endpoint.
Start with a free first issue
Add a shop, read the first issue free, then create a read only key on the API and MCP screen of the app.