---
name: myaltbox
description: Find alternatives to software, apps and online services, compare open-source and self-hostable options, and add products or alternatives to MyAltBox (myaltbox.com). Use when the user asks for an alternative to a product ("what can replace Notion"), wants open-source or self-hosted options for a task, compares similar tools, or wants to submit a product to MyAltBox.
---

# MyAltBox

MyAltBox (https://myaltbox.com) is a directory of software, apps and self-hostable services, with community-recommended alternatives for each product. Content is available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

## Pick a method

1. **MCP tools available** (tools named `search_services`, `get_service`, `get_alternatives`, `list_categories`, `submit_service`, `add_alternative`): use them. They return clean JSON.
2. **No MCP tools**: use the public HTTP API and pages below with whatever web or shell tools you have.

To set up the MCP server, see https://myaltbox.com/en/mcp. The read-only tools need no account.

## Finding alternatives

1. Find the product: `search_services` with its name, or
   `curl -s "https://myaltbox.com/api/search?q=<name>&limit=5&locale=en"`
2. Get its alternatives: `get_alternatives` with the product name, or open
   `https://myaltbox.com/en/<id>-<slug>/alternatives` using `id` and `slug` from the search result.
3. If the product isn't listed, search by what it does instead (e.g. "note taking", "password manager").

Useful search parameters (API and `search_services`):

| Need | MCP argument | API query parameter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Keywords | `query` | `q` |
| Open source only | `openSource: true` | `openSource=1` |
| Self-hostable only | `selfHostable: true` | `selfHosted=1` |
| Category | `category` (value from `list_categories`) | `category` |
| Number of results | `limit` (max 50) | `limit` (max 50) |
| Language | `locale`: `en`, `zh`, `ja`, `ko` | `locale` |

Answer in the user's language and pass the matching `locale` so descriptions and categories come back in that language.

## Presenting results

- Lead with the 3-5 best matches for the user's stated needs, not the whole list.
- For each, say in one line what it is and why it fits: open source, self-hostable, license, pricing (`free`, `freemium`, `subscription`, `one_time`, `usage_based`, `enterprise`), platforms.
- Link every product to its MyAltBox page (`url` in MCP results) so the user can read reviews and compare.
- Don't invent features. If a detail matters and isn't in the data, say so or check the official `website`.

## Contributing

`submit_service` and `add_alternative` need a personal API token (create one at https://myaltbox.com/en/mcp).

- **Submit a product**: `submit_service` with `name` and official `website`. AI fills in the category, description and tags from the website; an admin reviews it before it's published. If it's already listed, the tool returns the existing entry.
- **Add an alternative**: `add_alternative` with `service` (already listed) and `alternative`. If the alternative isn't listed yet, also pass `alternativeWebsite`.
- Confirm with the user before submitting, and only submit real products with their official website (not a review site or app store page).
- Without a token, point the user to https://myaltbox.com/en/submit.