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Last updated: April 2026
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Willow vs. Lunar MCPX: Enterprise Platform vs. OSS Control Plane

MCPX is an open-source control plane with YAML config and Prometheus metrics. Willow is an AI governance platform with shadow AI detection, unified build & runtime guards, infrastructure-as-code via GitHub, and a plugin marketplace—proven at 5,000+ employees.

Webrix admin panel dashboard showing integration flow with Okta connecting tools like Cursor, Claude, Windsurf, VSCode on left, to Figma, GitHub, Jira, Linear, and Slack on right.

Willow Admin Console

AI governance platform. Shadow AI detection, unified guards, plugin marketplace, infrastructure-as-code, and 5,000+ employee deployments.

MCPX dashboard showing system connectivity with 27 connected tools, 1 MCP server, no active agents, and an interface to add agents or servers.

Lunar MCPX Control Plane

Open-source MCP control plane. YAML-based configuration, Prometheus metrics, and 13 pre-built MCPs.

The Bottom Line

MCPX is open-source with YAML config and Prometheus observability for DevOps teams. Willow provides shadow AI detection, unified build & runtime guards, infrastructure-as-code governance, and a plugin marketplace at enterprise scale.

Best for Willow

Enterprises needing shadow AI detection, unified guards, and infrastructure-as-code governance at scale

Best for Archestra

DevOps teams wanting open-source with YAML config and Prometheus observability.

Key Differentiator

Willow offers shadow AI detection, unified guards, and infrastructure-as-code governance. MCPX provides open-source infrastructure with YAML config.

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Feature Comparison

Feature
Willow Agent Access Platform
Lunar MCPX
Architecture
Access Control Layer—per-agent governance
MCP Pipe—infrastructure aggregation
Deployment
SaaS, on-prem, or air-gapped
Open-source / Enterprise on-prem
Configuration
Web admin UI + API
YAML-based (infrastructure-as-code)
Authentication
OAuth2, OIDC, SAML, SSO (Okta/Entra/JumpCloud)
API keys, OAuth options
Identity & Access
RBAC, SCIM, Groups, Auto-provisioning
ACL per tool/service, consumer tags
Machine Users
Service accounts for automation
Not supported
MCP Catalog
100+ MCPs + API-to-MCP
13 pre-built MCPs + customization
Employee Portal
Self-service + toolkit creation
Not available
Guardrails Granularity
Per-agent, per-MCP, per-team, per-user
Infrastructure-level policies
Observability
Splunk/Loki/Grafana integrations
Prometheus metrics native
Shadow AI Detection
Detects unmanaged MCPs, skills, and AI agents + browser extension
Not supported
Guards Layer
Unified build & runtime guards, easily extensible
Infrastructure-level policies
Infrastructure as Code
GitHub-based governance—manage MCPs, skills, plugins via git
YAML-based configuration
Plugin Marketplace
Skills, commands, MCPs, hooks—GitHub/GitLab 2-way sync
Not supported
Plugin Marketplace
Skills, commands, MCPs, hooks—GitHub/GitLab 2-way sync
Not supported
CLI Access
Single CLI installs entire gateway in your IDE
Not supported
Compliance
SOC 2 certified
Self-managed compliance

Who Each Solution Is Best For

Willow is Best For

Enterprises needing employee enablement and fine-grained governance. Ideal if you:

Need shadow AI detection for MCPs, skills, and AI agents
Want unified build & runtime guards—easily extensible
Prefer infrastructure-as-code governance via GitHub
Need a plugin marketplace with GitHub/GitLab sync
Want a single CLI to install your gateway in any IDE

Cloudflare MCP Portals is Best For

DevOps teams wanting open-source with infrastructure control. Ideal if you

Prefer open-source with no licensing costs
Are comfortable with YAML-based configuration
Have existing Prometheus infrastructure
Can build MCPs beyond the 13 pre-built
Can manage your own deployment and support

Deployment & Infrastructure

Web UI vs. YAML configuration approaches.

Willow offers offers managed deployment:

  • SaaS or On-Prem: SOC 2 compliant infrastructure
  • Air-Gapped: Fully isolated environments
  • Web Admin UI: Visual configuration
  • Rapid Setup: Deployments in days

MCPX provides open-source infrastructure:

  • Open-Source Core: Free for personal use
  • YAML Config: Infrastructure-as-code approach
  • Self-Managed: You handle deployment and updates
  • DevOps-Centric: Requires technical expertise

Security & Governance

Enterprise identity vs. infrastructure-level controls.

Willow delivers enterprise governance:

  • Shadow AI Detection: Discover unmanaged MCPs, skills, and AI agents org-wide
  • Browser Extension: Enforce governed AI usage wherever employees work
  • Unified Guards: Build & runtime policy enforcement, easily extensible
  • Audit Trails: SOC 2 compliance logs

Cloudflare focuses on Zero Trust access:

  • API Key Auth: Token-based access
  • ACL Per Tool: Access control lists
  • Consumer Tags: Tag-based management
  • Infrastructure Policies: General enforcement

Connectors & Extensibility

Pre-built catalog vs. DIY approach.

Willow provides 100+ connectors:

  • Plugin Marketplace: Skills, commands, MCPs, hooks—all in one place
  • GitHub/GitLab Sync: 2-way sync for Claude, Codex, Cursor integration
  • API-to-MCP: Convert any REST API
  • CLI Access: Single CLI installs your entire gateway in any IDE

MCPX offers focused options:

  • 13 Pre-built MCPs: Core connectors
  • Tool Customization: Extend and modify
  • Bring Your Own: Build additional MCPs
  • Lightweight Focus: Core aggregation

Employee Enablement

Self-service portal vs. developer infrastructure.

Willow enables self-service:

  • Employee Connect Panel: Browse MCPs, skills, commands, and plugins
  • Machine Users: Agent-to-agent automation
  • One-Click Connect: Cursor, Claude, VS Code
  • No IT Bottleneck: Self-service discovery

MCPX focuses on infrastructure:

  • No Employee UI: Technical infrastructure only
  • Developer-Centric: Config file management
  • API-First: Integration via APIs
  • IT Setup Required: DevOps intervention needed

Guardrails Granularity

Fine-grained vs. infrastructure-level governance.

Willow offers fine-grained policies:

  • Unified Guards: Build & runtime enforcement in one layer
  • Per-Agent: Policies for Cursor, Claude, Codex, custom
  • Per-MCP: Access and limits per connector
  • Easily Extensible: Add custom guards out of the box

MCPX provides infrastructure controls:

  • General Policies: Infrastructure-level enforcement
  • ACL Per Tool: Access control lists
  • Consumer Tags: Tag-based management
  • DIY Granularity: Build custom as needed

FAQS

Everything you need to know about Willow compared to Archestra

Is MCPX free?
Open-source core is free for personal use. Enterprise requires on-prem deployment. Willow is commercial with managed deployment.
Which has more pre-built connectors?
Willow has 100+ connectors. MCPX has 13 pre-built—you build or source additional MCPs.
Can I set per-agent policies?
Willow provides unified build & runtime guards—per agent, per MCP, per team—easily extensible out of the box. MCPX offers infrastructure-level controls—granular policies require custom implementation.
Does either support machine users?
Willow supports machine users for automated workflows. MCPX does not currently support machine users.
Does Willow detect shadow AI usage?
Yes. Willow detects unmanaged MCPs, skills, and AI agents across your org—plus a browser extension that enforces governed AI usage. MCPX does not offer shadow AI detection.

Everything you need to get your Basecamp running.

Resources

What's happening on the AI agent frontier.

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Documentation

Get up and running fast.

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Rollout playbook

How to deploy across your org without chaos.

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