Basic Memory vs Obsidian Sync MCP
A side-by-side look at the Basic Memory and Obsidian Sync MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Basic Memory for knowledge & memory work as a local process; choose Obsidian Sync MCP for knowledge & memory as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Basic Memory when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
write_note, read_note, edit_note.
Choose Obsidian Sync MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
VAULT_PATH, VAULT_NAME, COUCHDB_URL, COUCHDB_USER, COUCHDB_PASSWORD, COUCHDB_DATABASE, COUCHDB_PASSPHRASE, MCP_AUTH_TOKEN. - You want tools like
read_note, write_note, edit_note.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Knowledge & Memory | Knowledge & Memory |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 61/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Freemium | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | VAULT_PATHVAULT_NAMECOUCHDB_URLCOUCHDB_USERCOUCHDB_PASSWORDCOUCHDB_DATABASECOUCHDB_PASSPHRASEMCP_AUTH_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 4,258 | 63 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 21 | 10 |
| Full listing | View Basic Memory | View Obsidian Sync MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Basic Memory tools 21
write_noteread_noteedit_notemove_notedelete_noteread_contentview_notesearch_notesrecent_activitylist_directorybuild_contextlist_memory_projects- +9 more on the listing page
Obsidian Sync MCP tools 10
read_noteRead a note's markdown content by pathwrite_noteCreate or overwrite a note (replaces entire content)edit_noteEdit a note without rewriting it — append, prepend (after frontmatter), or replace exact textlist_foldersList all folders in the vault with note counts — use to discover folder nameslist_tagsList all tags in the vault with counts — use to discover tags before filteringlist_notesList notes with timestamps. Filter by folder, name, tag, or date. Sort by name or modified.search_notesSearch note text for terms (OR, case-insensitive substrings); paths and frontmatter titles are searched first. Filter by folder, tag, or date. Returns paths with one context line each, never the note body, after a status line that states which CouchDB sequence the index is caught up with.delete_noteDelete a notemove_noteMove or rename a note — works across folders, creates destination folders automaticallyget_note_metadataGet frontmatter, tags, outgoing links, backlinks, size, and timestamps — navigate the knowledge graph
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Basic Memory
{
"mcpServers": {
"basicmachines-co-basic-memory": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"--prerelease=allow",
"basic-memory"
]
}
}
}
Obsidian Sync MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"obsidian-sync-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"obsidian-sync-mcp"
],
"env": {
"VAULT_PATH": "YOUR_VAULT_PATH_HERE",
"VAULT_NAME": "YOUR_VAULT_NAME_HERE",
"COUCHDB_URL": "YOUR_COUCHDB_URL_HERE",
"COUCHDB_USER": "YOUR_COUCHDB_USER_HERE",
"COUCHDB_PASSWORD": "YOUR_COUCHDB_PASSWORD_HERE",
"COUCHDB_DATABASE": "YOUR_COUCHDB_DATABASE_HERE",
"COUCHDB_PASSPHRASE": "YOUR_COUCHDB_PASSPHRASE_HERE",
"MCP_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Basic Memory is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. Obsidian Sync MCP belongs to Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Basic Memory for knowledge & memory work and Obsidian Sync MCP for knowledge & memory.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Basic Memory is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. Auth: no auth required. Obsidian Sync MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add basicmachines-co-basic-memory and obsidian-sync-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Basic Memory has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 4,258 GitHub stars. Obsidian Sync MCP has 61/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 63 GitHub stars.