How does an AI agent pay for Zambo?

The agent calls the day_pass_activate MCP tool, which creates a 0.99 USDC payment intent on Base (x402 protocol). After the confirmed payment is verified onchain, 24-hour Day Pass access activates - no human checkout required.

What does the Day Pass cost?

$0.99 (0.99 USDC on Base) for 24 hours of authenticated access to 138 native tools. A valid capability key bypasses anonymous MCP quota and burst gates; product and provider allowances apply.

Is the payment verifiable?

Yes. Every payment produces an onchain record and every tool execution produces a cryptographically verifiable receipt with a UUID, timestamp, SHA-256 hash, and audit URL at zambo.dev/receipt/ .

MCP Server for Payments - Agent-Native x402 on Base

How x402 works

x402 is a web payment protocol for machine-to-machine requests. When a paid action is needed, a service can return a payment request instead of requiring a human checkout flow. Zambo implements x402 with USDC on Base so an agent can complete an eligible payment and continue the task. For the missing verification step before machine payments, read Verify Before You Pay: The Missing Step in Machine Payments.

Payment is optional: the free tier provides 20 free calls per metered tool each day with no account. A wallet and client that support the payment flow are required for paid actions.

Connect one endpoint

Use the standard remote MCP configuration below. It is the canonical URL for Zambo's MCP server.

{"mcpServers":{"zambo":{"url":"https://zambo.dev/mcp"}}}

After the client connects, the agent can discover the tools it is allowed to use. Payment is handled through the day_pass_activate tool when an eligible paid action or pass is requested.

Machine detail: public copy refers to 138 tools. A compatible MCP client may receive an 11-tool default list; requesting the full catalog can expose the live catalog. The exact list depends on the client's discovery request.

Verified pricing

Free tier

20 free calls per metered tool each day, no account required. Start here to test the connection.

Day Pass

$0.99 for 24 hours, paid in USDC on Base through x402 and day_pass_activate.

Zambo Pass

$29/month or $290/year; verified $ZAMBO holders pay $19/month. Check the live pricing page for current terms.

17-product stack

One MCP connection reaches the Zambo product layer; public descriptions use 138 tools.

View verified pricing Zambo MCP details Read the payment verification guide

Agent payment flow

Connect an MCP-compatible client to https://zambo.dev/mcp.
Use the free allowance or request an action that requires a pass.
When prompted, let the agent use day_pass_activate with a compatible USDC-on-Base wallet and review the payment request.
Retry the requested action after the payment is confirmed.

Never approve a transaction you have not reviewed. Wallet, network, and client support can vary; consult the current documentation for the client you use. For a neutral comparison of agent payment approaches, read this comparison of agent payment approaches.

Quick FAQ

Is a payment required to try Zambo?

No. The free tier is 20 free calls per metered tool each day with no account.

What is the payment tool called?

day_pass_activate. It uses x402 with USDC on Base for supported paid access.

Who built Zambo and how is it licensed?

Brennan Zambo built it solo. Zambo is MIT licensed.

For a builder's walkthrough of paying for APIs through an agent, read the agent payment walkthrough.