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Webrix vs. Runlayer: Two Approaches to AI Agent Access
Runlayer routes MCP traffic with 18K+ servers. Webrix is an access control plane—supporting MCP and other protocols, with direct service connections and IT workflows proven at 5,000+ employee orgs.
Last updated: January 2026
Webrix Admin Console
Access control plane for AI agents. Direct service connections, MCP + other protocols, employee self-service, IT approval workflows, and machine users.Runlayer Control Plane
Runlayer Control Plane
MCP gateway with 18,000+ servers. Routes and secures MCP traffic with threat detection and enterprise SSO. Backed by MCP spec co-creator.
The Bottom Line
Runlayer is an MCP gateway with 18K+ servers and MCP-specific security, backed by the MCP spec team. Webrix is an access control plane that goes beyond MCP—direct service connections, multiple protocols, and IT workflows battle-tested at scale.
Best for WebrixBest for Runlayer
Key Differentiator
Webrix is an access control plane supporting multiple protocols with direct service connections. Runlayer is MCP-focused with the largest server catalog.Feature Comparison
| Feature | Webrix Agent Access Platform | Runlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Access Control Layer—governs across protocols | MCP Pipe—routes MCP traffic |
| Protocol Support | MCP + REST APIs + custom integrations | MCP-focused |
| Service Connection | Direct to services + MCP relay | MCP server relay |
| MCP Catalog | Hundreds of MCPs with customization | 18,000+ MCP servers |
| API to MCP | Convert any API to governed MCP | Not supported |
| Deployment | Cloud, self-hosted, air-gapped on-prem | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Authentication | OAuth2, OIDC, SAML, JWT, SSO (Okta/Entra/JumpCloud) | OAuth2, OIDC, SAML, SSO (Okta/Entra) |
| Machine Users | Service accounts for automation | Not supported |
| Employee Portal | Self-service + toolkit creation | Not documented |
| IT Approval Workflows | CISO approval, sandboxed testing | Not supported |
| Agent Skills Governance | Registry, version control, approval flows | Not supported |
| Observability | Splunk/Loki/Grafana integrations | Audit trails, dashboards |
| Compliance | SOC 2 certified | SOC 2 certified |
Who Each Solution Is Best For
Webrix is Best For:
Organizations needing more than MCP routing—an access control plane with IT workflows. Ideal if you:Need direct service connections, not just MCP relay
Require IT approval workflows with sandboxed testing
Need machine users for automated agent workflows
Want employee self-service with toolkit creation
Need production-proven deployments at 5,000+ scale
Runlayer is Best For:
Teams focused on MCP with massive catalog needs and expert backing. Ideal if you:Need access to 18,000+ MCP servers
Want MCP-specific threat detection
Prefer backing from MCP protocol creators
Value no-code MCP remixing
Want one-click installs across your team
Are comfortable with early-stage products
Architecture Philosophy
MCP pipe vs. access control plane—this shapes protocol support and how you connect to services.
Webrix provides an access control layer:
Beyond MCP: Supports MCP + REST APIs + custom integrations
Direct Connections: Connect agents to services without proxy
API to MCP: Convert any API into a governed MCP endpoint
Future-Proof: Not locked into a single protocol
Runlayer provides an MCP pipe:
MCP-Focused: Purpose-built for MCP traffic
Expert Backing: MCP spec co-creator as advisor
Massive Catalog: 18,000+ servers out of the box
Specialized Security: MCP-specific threat detection
Deployment & Customization
Both offer flexible deployment with different customization approaches.
Webrix offers deep customization:
Air-Gapped On-Prem: Fully isolated environments supported
API to MCP: Turn any REST API into governed MCP
IT Workflows: Approval flows, security checks, sandboxed testing
Battle-Tested: Deployed at 5,000+ employee organizations
Runlayer offers streamlined MCP deployment:
Cloud or Self-Hosted: VPC/on-prem options
One-Click Installs: Deploy without JSON configuration
No-Code Building: Remix tools into custom MCPs
Team Sharing: Easy org-wide MCP sharing
Security & Governance
Different specializations: enterprise IT governance vs. MCP-specific threat detection.
Webrix delivers enterprise governance:
IT Approval Workflows: CISO sign-off, security checks
Sandboxed Testing: Test before production rollout
Machine Users: Service accounts for CI/CD
SOC 2 Type II: Full audit trails for compliance
Runlayer delivers MCP-focused security:
Threat Detection: Custom MCP attack vector detectors
Dynamic Scans: Vulnerability scanning before approval
EKM/BYOK: Enterprise key management support
SOC 2 Type II: Enterprise-grade certification
Connectors & Integrations
Catalog size vs. ability to connect to your own services.
Webrix provides curated connectors + custom:
Curated MCPs: Hundreds with fine-grained customization
API to MCP: Convert any REST API to governed MCP
Direct Connections: Connect without MCP layer when needed
Version Control: Track versions with rollback
Runlayer provides massive catalog:
18,000+ MCPs: Largest catalog available
Private Registry: Add self-hosted MCPs
No-Code Remixing: Adapt tools without code
One-Click Access: Instant server connection
FAQs
Webrix is an access control plane supporting MCP + other protocols with direct service connections. Runlayer is an MCP gateway with 18,000+ servers.
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