Github MCP Server vs GitHub
A side-by-side look at the Github MCP Server and GitHub MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Github MCP Server for version control work over a hosted endpoint; choose GitHub for version control over a hosted endpoint. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Github MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Version Control domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You want tools like
get_file_contents, getFileContents.
Choose GitHub when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Version Control domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You want tools like
get_file_contents, getFileContents.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Version Control | Version Control |
| Quality signal | 81/100 · Excellent | 51/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Remote HTTP/SSE | Remote HTTP/SSE |
| Auth | OAuth 2.0 | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 33,919 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 8 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | 2 |
| Full listing | View Github MCP Server | View GitHub |
Tools & capabilities
Github MCP Server tools 2
get_file_contentsgetFileContents
GitHub tools 2
get_file_contentsgetFileContents
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.
Github MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"github-github-mcp-server": {
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}
}
}
GitHub
{
"mcpServers": {
"github": {
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Github MCP Server is categorized under Version Control and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. GitHub belongs to Version Control and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Pick Github MCP Server for version control work and GitHub for version control.
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.
Github MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: oauth 2.0. GitHub 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 github-github-mcp-server and github as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Github MCP Server has a quality signal of 81/100 (Excellent) with 8 views, 0 installs and 33,919 GitHub stars. GitHub has 51/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.