# DreamFactory > DreamFactory is a secure, self-hosted AI data gateway and enterprise data access platform that instantly generates fully governed REST APIs from any database or data source — with built-in role-based access control (RBAC), API keys, and live OpenAPI documentation — deployable on-premises, air-gapped, or in the cloud. DreamFactory turns any database into a documented, secured REST API in minutes, without hand-coding integration layers. It gives applications, internal teams, and AI agents governed access to data through controlled API endpoints, so systems never touch the underlying database directly. It connects to 30+ data sources (SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Salesforce, and more) and is used by enterprises and government agencies including ExxonMobil, Deloitte, NIH, U.S. Steel, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. ## Start here - [What is DreamFactory](https://www.dreamfactory.com/what-is-dreamfactory): Plain-language overview of the platform — automatic REST API generation, security, and SOAP-to-REST. - [Features](https://www.dreamfactory.com/features): Self-hosted deployment, database & network API generation, RBAC & security, scripting and business logic. - [Pricing](https://www.dreamfactory.com/pricing): Open-source (free), Linux Lite ($1,500/mo), Professional ($4,000/mo), and custom Enterprise tiers. - [Free 30-day on-prem trial](https://www.dreamfactory.com/trial): Self-service trial of the fully unlocked platform — one Docker command on your own infrastructure, every connector, RBAC, scripting and MCP included; the instance locks itself after 30 days. - [AI Data Gateway — overview](https://www.dreamfactory.com/ai-data-gateway/overview): How DreamFactory provides a governed data-API layer for enterprise AI and local LLMs. - [Glossary](https://www.dreamfactory.com/use-cases/glossary): Definitions of core terms — REST API, MCP, RBAC, FHIR, FISMA, ATO, and more. ## Connectors - [All connectors](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors): Index of supported databases and data sources. - [SQL Server connector](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/sql-server): Generate a secure REST API for Microsoft SQL Server. - [Snowflake connector](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/snowflake): Auto-generate governed APIs over Snowflake data products. - [Oracle connector](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/oracle): Create a documented REST API for Oracle databases. - [MySQL connector](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/mysql): Step-by-step MySQL REST API generation. - [MongoDB connector](https://www.dreamfactory.com/connectors/mongodb): REST APIs for MongoDB collections. ## Guides & explainers - [Set up an MCP server for PostgreSQL](https://www.dreamfactory.com/hub/set-up-mcp-server-for-postgresql): How to give AI agents governed access to a PostgreSQL database via MCP. - [Enterprise data access for RAG systems](https://www.dreamfactory.com/hub/enterprise-data-access-rag-systems): Structured, governed data access as an alternative to vector embeddings. - [API rate limiting statistics](https://www.dreamfactory.com/hub/api-rate-limiting-statistics): Sourced 2026 data on API rate-limiting practices. - [Legacy system modernization statistics](https://www.dreamfactory.com/hub/legacy-system-modernization-statistics): Sourced 2026 data on the cost, risk and ROI of API-led legacy modernization. ## Whitepapers - [Architecture guide](https://www.dreamfactory.com/resources/whitepapers/architecture-guide): DreamFactory platform architecture in depth. - [Security guide](https://www.dreamfactory.com/resources/whitepapers/security-guide): Security model, RBAC, and API hardening. - [Scalability guide](https://www.dreamfactory.com/resources/whitepapers/scalability-guide): Scaling DreamFactory for high-volume workloads. ## Customer stories - [Case studies](https://www.dreamfactory.com/case-studies): Named enterprise and government outcomes with quantified results. ## Comparisons - [How DreamFactory Compares](https://www.dreamfactory.com/compare): Index of every comparison page, grouped by API gateways, integration platforms, and database-to-API tools. - [DreamFactory vs MuleSoft](https://www.dreamfactory.com/mulesoft-alternative): Why teams choose DreamFactory over MuleSoft for REST API generation. - [DreamFactory vs AWS API Gateway](https://www.dreamfactory.com/aws-api-gateway-alternative): Generate governed REST APIs from databases instead of building backends behind a metered gateway. - [DreamFactory vs Boomi](https://www.dreamfactory.com/boomi-alternative): Governed data APIs from your databases in minutes — versus building them as iPaaS integration processes. - [DreamFactory vs Apigee](https://www.dreamfactory.com/apigee-alternative): Generate the API and its governance together, self-hosted and flat-priced — versus a metered proxy in front of a data layer you still have to provide. - [DreamFactory vs Kong](https://www.dreamfactory.com/kong-alternative): Generate governed REST APIs from your databases with no per-request meter — versus a gateway that routes APIs you build separately. - [DreamFactory vs CData API Server](https://www.dreamfactory.com/cdata-alternative): Generate governed REST and MCP APIs from your databases, self-hosted at flat published tiers — versus publishing OData and REST over CData's driver catalog. - [DreamFactory vs Data API Builder](https://www.dreamfactory.com/data-api-builder-alternative): Governed REST and MCP APIs on 30+ databases with a console, keys, and scripting — versus Microsoft's free REST/GraphQL/MCP engine for SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. ## Videos - [Video library](https://www.dreamfactory.com/videos): 58 tutorials, product walkthroughs and recorded talks, each on its own watch page. ## For agents - [Authentication guide for agents](https://www.dreamfactory.com/auth.md): This domain is public and needs no credentials; how to authenticate to a self-hosted DreamFactory instance over MCP or REST, and which endpoints not to probe. - [MCP server card](https://www.dreamfactory.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json): SEP-2127 card for the DreamFactory MCP server. Its endpoint is a URL template resolved against your own instance -- there is no shared public endpoint. - [Agent skills](https://www.dreamfactory.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json): Three SKILL.md files -- product overview, generating a REST API from a database, and governed MCP access. - [API catalog](https://www.dreamfactory.com/.well-known/api-catalog): RFC 9727 linkset pointing at the REST API and MCP docs. - [Agent resource manifest](https://www.dreamfactory.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json): Every machine-readable resource on this domain, with the questions each one answers. - [Hub](https://www.dreamfactory.com/hub): Index of all 86 technical guides, explainers and statistics roundups. Every page listed in the sitemap is also available as Markdown: send `Accept: text/markdown`, or follow the `` in the page head. The response carries a `Link: ...; rel="canonical"` header pointing back at the HTML URL. ## Contact - [Book a demo](https://www.dreamfactory.com/demo): Free 30-minute demo with a DreamFactory engineer.