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Connect Claude to SQL Databases with MCP

Choose the right MCP server for MySQL, BigQuery, Snowflake, ClickHouse, or Fireproof. Copy a safe starter config and run your first query in minutes.

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Connect Claude to SQL Databases with MCP

Connect Claude to SQL Databases with MCP

If your goal is “ask Claude questions about database data and get reliable SQL answers,” this is the shortest path.

ServerBest forNot ideal whenAuthPermission risk
MySQL MCP ServerApp databases, ops dashboards, small-to-mid production workloadsYou need warehouse-scale analytics or columnar performanceDB credentialsMedium (read/write depends on DB user)
BigQuery MCP ServerGCP analytics, event pipelines, scheduled reportingYou are not on GCP or need local-first DB accessGCP project authMedium (project and dataset scope sensitive)
MCP Snowflake ServerEnterprise warehouse workflows and governed datasetsYou need zero-admin local setupSnowflake credentialsMedium-High (warehouse + role scope)
MCP ClickHouse ServerHigh-volume analytical queries, fast read workloadsYour stack is OLTP-heavy and mostly transactionalClickHouse credentialsMedium (defaults are read-oriented, still verify user grants)
MCP Database Server (Fireproof)JSON documents, prototyping MCP data workflowsYou need mature SQL warehouse featuresLocal process / app-level authLow-Medium (depends on host environment)

Quick selection (30 seconds)

  • Pick MySQL MCP if your source of truth is a product MySQL database.
  • Pick BigQuery MCP if your team already runs analytics in GCP.
  • Pick Snowflake MCP if governance/roles/warehouse controls are a hard requirement.
  • Pick ClickHouse MCP if query speed on large read-heavy datasets is the priority.
  • Pick Fireproof MCP for local demos or JSON-first experimentation.

Copy-paste config (Claude Desktop)

Use a dedicated read-only database account first.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mysql_readonly": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "/absolute/path/to/mysql_mcp_server",
        "run",
        "mysql_mcp_server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MYSQL_HOST": "localhost",
        "MYSQL_PORT": "3306",
        "MYSQL_USER": "mcp_readonly_user",
        "MYSQL_PASSWORD": "REPLACE_ME",
        "MYSQL_DATABASE": "analytics"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment variable checklist

VariableRequiredSensitiveNotes
MYSQL_HOSTYesNoHostname or IP of MySQL instance
MYSQL_PORTOptionalNoDefaults to 3306 in most setups
MYSQL_USERYesNoUse a dedicated least-privilege user
MYSQL_PASSWORDYesYesStore in local secret manager when possible
MYSQL_DATABASEYesNoPrefer a scoped analytics DB

First tool-call prompts

  • “List all available tables and describe the top 5 most relevant for product analytics.”
  • “Run a read-only query for weekly active users in the last 8 weeks.”
  • “Explain this SQL result in plain English and highlight data quality risks.”

Risk and permission notes

  • Data access: start with read-only grants and avoid production write credentials.
  • Network scope: only allow outbound access to your database host(s).
  • Secrets: never commit credentials in repo config; inject locally.
  • Audit: log executed queries during rollout for review and rollback.

FAQ

Which MCP server should I start with for SQL?

Start with the database you already trust operationally. If your core data is in MySQL, use MySQL MCP first; switching stacks just for MCP usually increases setup risk.

Can I allow write queries?

You can, but rollout should start with read-only access until query quality and guardrails are validated. Move to scoped write permissions only for specific workflows.

How do I reduce security risk fastest?

Use a dedicated least-privilege DB user, isolate credentials, and test in a staging dataset before connecting production systems.

Sources and freshness

  • Sources: official server pages listed above.
  • Updated: February 27, 2026.
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