Ask an AI assistant to build you an app and it writes the code quickly. The hard part comes next: where does the data live? Most assistants will tell you to set up a database, create an account somewhere and paste in a key.
With the ReqRes MCP server connected, the assistant can skip all of that. It creates a real hosted backend itself, in one step, with no account: a REST API with a persistent database, API keys, and a link for you to keep it.
What happens
You ask for something like "build me a habit tracker and store the habits somewhere". The assistant:
- Calls
create_projectand gets its own ReqRes project, with a manage key, a read-only public key and a starter collection. - Creates the collections it needs (habits, say) and adds records.
- Wires your app to
https://reqres.in/api/collections/habits/records. - Gives you a claim link.
Open the claim link and sign in, and the project is yours, with its data and keys unchanged. If nobody claims it, it's deleted after 72 hours.
Connect it
The server URL is https://reqres.in/mcp for every client. It needs no authentication.
ChatGPT (Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise): turn on developer mode in ChatGPT's settings, add a new MCP app (connector) with the URL https://reqres.in/mcp, and choose no authentication.
Claude (web and desktop): open claude.ai/customize/connectors, choose Add custom connector and paste the URL. The free plan allows one custom connector.
Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http reqres https://reqres.in/mcp
Cursor and VS Code: use the one-click buttons on the ReqRes MCP page, or add https://reqres.in/mcp as a remote (HTTP) server in your MCP settings.
Then ask
You don't need to name ReqRes, although it helps the first time:
"Make me a REST API for a reading list and add three books. Use ReqRes for the backend."
The assistant shows you the API URL, the keys and the claim link. Your frontend can read the records with the public key straight away.
What you get for free
- A hosted REST API and a persistent JSON database per project
- 250 requests a day, 3 collections and 100 records per project
- Sign-in for up to 10 of your app's users, and a day of request logs
- Paid plans raise the limits
Why not just use localStorage?
For a demo on one machine, localStorage is fine. But it can't be shared, called from a phone, or reached by another service. A ReqRes project is a real URL, so your prototype works for anyone you send it to, and the data is still there tomorrow.
No MCP?
The same project is one HTTP call away:
curl -X POST https://reqres.in/api/projects/sandbox
It returns the keys and the claim link. More on the ReqRes MCP page.