Better Chatbot
Just a Better Chatbot. Powered by Agent & MCP & Workflows.
What is Better Chatbot?
Better Chatbot is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to just a better chatbot. powered by agent & mcp & workflows.
Just a Better Chatbot. Powered by Agent & MCP & Workflows.
This server falls under the Communication category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Just a Better Chatbot. Powered by Agent & MCP & Workflows.
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx better-chatbotConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Better Chatbot
Better Chatbot is a self-hosted, open-source chatbot platform powered by agents, MCP servers, and visual workflows that lets users build smarter conversational AI experiences without being locked into a single LLM vendor. It supports Claude, Gemini, and other providers, includes built-in MCP client capabilities for tool use, and provides a low-code workflow editor so non-developers can design multi-step automation sequences. Teams use it as a drop-in replacement for commercial chatbot platforms when they need custom MCP tool integration, multi-agent orchestration, and full control over their conversation data.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later and pnpm package manager installed
- PostgreSQL database running locally or accessible remotely
- API keys for at least one LLM provider (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY, or OPENAI_API_KEY)
- Docker (optional, for containerized deployment with docker-compose)
- A modern web browser to access the chatbot UI
Clone the repository and install dependencies
Clone the better-chatbot repository and install all npm dependencies using pnpm. A .env file will be auto-generated during the install step.
git clone https://github.com/cgoinglove/better-chatbot.git
cd better-chatbot
pnpm iConfigure environment variables
Edit the auto-generated .env file to add your LLM API keys and database connection string. At minimum you need a POSTGRES_URL and at least one LLM provider key.
# .env
POSTGRES_URL=postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/betterchatbot
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-your-key
GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY=your-gemini-key
BETTER_AUTH_SECRET=your-random-secret
BETTER_AUTH_URL=http://localhost:3000Start PostgreSQL (if not already running)
If you do not have a PostgreSQL instance running, use the provided Docker command to start one quickly.
pnpm docker:pgBuild and start the application
Build the Next.js application for local use and start the development server.
pnpm build:local && pnpm startOpen the chatbot UI and configure MCP servers
Navigate to http://localhost:3000 in your browser. Use the MCP settings panel to add MCP server configurations for the tools you want available in your chatbot conversations.
Better Chatbot Examples
Client configuration
MCP server configuration entry as entered in the Better Chatbot MCP settings panel, using the npx command format.
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/tmp"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts to use with Better Chatbot once MCP tools and workflows are configured.
- "List the MCP tools currently available in this chat session"
- "Create a new workflow that searches the web and summarizes the top 3 results"
- "Use the filesystem tool to read the contents of my notes.txt file"
- "Switch to Gemini and ask the same question I just asked Claude"
- "Build a customer support chatbot workflow that escalates to a human after 3 unanswered questions"Troubleshooting Better Chatbot
Application fails to start with database connection errors
Verify that POSTGRES_URL in your .env file points to a running PostgreSQL instance and that the user has CREATE TABLE permissions. If using the built-in Docker setup, confirm the container is healthy by running 'docker ps' and checking the pg container status.
MCP tools are not appearing in the chat interface
Navigate to the MCP settings panel and confirm the server configuration was saved correctly. Check that the required runtime (Node.js for npx servers, Python for uvx servers) is installed and accessible in the system PATH. Browser console errors may reveal additional detail.
LLM responses stop working after switching providers
Ensure all required API keys are set in the .env file for the provider you switched to. Different providers require different key names: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY for Claude, GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY for Gemini, and OPENAI_API_KEY for OpenAI. Restart the server after updating .env.
Frequently Asked Questions about Better Chatbot
What is Better Chatbot?
Better Chatbot is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that just a better chatbot. powered by agent & mcp & workflows. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Better Chatbot?
Follow the installation instructions on the Better Chatbot GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Better Chatbot?
Better Chatbot works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Better Chatbot free to use?
Yes, Better Chatbot is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
Better Chatbot Alternatives — Similar Communication Servers
Looking for alternatives to Better Chatbot? Here are other popular communication servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
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★ 11.9kA cross-platform Markdown AI note-taking software.
DeepChat
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Apple
★ 3.1kEnables interaction with Apple apps like Messages, Notes, and Contacts through the MCP protocol to send messages, search, and open app content using natural language.
Browse More Communication MCP Servers
Explore all communication servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up Better Chatbot in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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