MCP frequently asked questions

What is an MCP server?

An MCP server is a small program that exposes tools, data (resources) and prompt templates to AI applications through the Model Context Protocol, an open standard introduced by Anthropic in November 2024.

Which apps support MCP servers?

Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code with GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, LM Studio, OpenCode and many other clients. See our install guides for each one.

Are MCP servers free?

Most servers listed here are open source and free to run. Some connect to paid services and need your own API key.

Are MCP servers safe?

A server runs with your permissions and its output goes straight to the model, so only install servers you trust, pin versions and grant the least access possible. Our security checklist covers the details.

What is the difference between a local and a remote MCP server?

A local server runs on your computer and talks to the client over stdio. A remote server runs on the internet and is reached by URL over Streamable HTTP, often with OAuth sign-in.

How does Socketlist choose and rank servers?

From public GitHub data and READMEs, filtered for real MCP servers and ranked by GitHub stars. The about page explains the full methodology.

How do I get my server listed?

Add the mcp-server topic to your GitHub repository and it is picked up on the next refresh, or submit it by email. Listing is free.

More: What is MCP? · Security checklist · Methodology