What is the key difference between AWS MCP Server and Localstack?

AWS MCP Server belongs to the Cloud Platforms category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution, while Localstack belongs to the Cloud Platforms category with local stdio execution.

How do I install AWS MCP Server or Localstack in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are AWS MCP Server and Localstack free or paid?

AWS MCP Server operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Localstack operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

AWS MCP Server lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Localstack lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both AWS MCP Server and Localstack together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

AWS MCP Server vs Localstack

In-depth architectural comparison of the AWS MCP Server and Localstack MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

AWS MCP Server

Cloud Platforms · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 42/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Localstack

Cloud Platforms · Local stdio

Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose AWS MCP Server if you need specialized Cloud Platforms tools running via a hosted cloud SSE transport. Choose Localstack if your workspace requires Cloud Platforms integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose AWS MCP Server when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Cloud Platforms domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore AWS MCP Server Details

Choose Localstack when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Cloud Platforms domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Localstack Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	A AWS MCP Server Cloud Platforms	L Localstack Cloud Platforms
Summary	A managed MCP server enabling AI agents to access AWS using docs, API calls, and SOP workflows.	MCP server for LocalStack AWS services, enabling AI agents to interact with local AWS infra.
Category & Scope	Cloud Platforms	Cloud Platforms
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

AWS MCP Server Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Localstack Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

AWS MCP Server Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Localstack Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "localstack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "localstack"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

AWS MCP Server is categorized under Cloud Platforms and uses a remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. In contrast, Localstack belongs to Cloud Platforms using local stdio subprocess. Select AWS MCP Server when you need capabilities focused on cloud platforms and Localstack when you require tools for cloud platforms.

More alternatives to AWS MCP Server More alternatives to Localstack Cloud Platforms category hub