What is the key difference between Cortex and Collective Memory?

Cortex belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution, while Collective Memory belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Cortex or Collective Memory 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 Cortex and Collective Memory free or paid?

Cortex operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Collective Memory operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Cortex lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Collective Memory lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Cortex and Collective Memory 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.

How do I install Cortex or Collective Memory in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Cortex and Collective Memory free to use, or do they require API keys?

Cortex is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Collective Memory operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Cortex and Collective Memory at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both cortex-3 and collective-memory as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Cortex has a Quality Score of 29 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. Collective Memory holds a Quality Score of 39 /100 ( Fair ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Cortex vs Collective Memory

In-depth architectural comparison of the Cortex and Collective Memory 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

Cortex

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 29/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Collective Memory

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 39/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Cortex if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose Collective Memory if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Cortex when:

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

Explore Cortex Details

Choose Collective Memory when:

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

Explore Collective Memory Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	C Cortex Knowledge & Memory	C Collective Memory Knowledge & Memory
Summary	Local multi-client RAG server over the Model Context Protocol.	MCP server for persistent, semantic memory across AI sessions
Category & Scope	Knowledge & Memory	Knowledge & Memory
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Cortex Tools (0)

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

Collective Memory 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).

Cortex Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cortex-3": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "cortex-3"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Collective Memory Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "collective-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "collective-memory"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Cortex is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Collective Memory belongs to Knowledge & Memory using local stdio subprocess. Select Cortex when you need capabilities focused on knowledge & memory and Collective Memory when you require tools for knowledge & memory.

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