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Github MCP Server vs MCP Gitlab

A side-by-side look at the Github MCP Server and MCP Gitlab MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Github MCP Server logoGithub MCP ServerVersion Control · Remote HTTP/SSEOfficial GitHub server for integration with repository management, PRs, issues, and more.81ExcellentAuth: oauth 2.0MCP Gitlab logoMCP GitlabVersion Control · Local subprocess (stdio)MCP server for GitLab API — projects, MRs, pipelines, CI/CD, approvals, issues, code review.55GoodAuth: api key required

Verdict: choose Github MCP Server for version control work over a hosted endpoint; choose MCP Gitlab for version control as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Github MCP Server logoChoose 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.
Explore Github MCP Server

MCP Gitlab logoChoose MCP Gitlab when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Version Control domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You have the keys it needs: GITLAB_URL, GITLAB_TOKEN, GITLAB_PAT, GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN, GITLAB_API_TOKEN, MCP_READ_ONLY, GITLAB_READ_ONLY, GITLAB_AUTH.
  • You want tools like gitlab_get_project, gitlab_create_project, gitlab_delete_project.
Explore MCP Gitlab

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecGithub MCP Server logoGithub MCP ServerMCP Gitlab logoMCP Gitlab
CategoryVersion ControlVersion Control
Quality signal81/100 · Excellent55/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportRemote HTTP/SSELocal subprocess (stdio)
AuthOAuth 2.0API key required
PricingFreeNot declared
Required env varsNone listedGITLAB_URLGITLAB_TOKENGITLAB_PATGITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKENGITLAB_API_TOKENMCP_READ_ONLYGITLAB_READ_ONLYGITLAB_AUTH
Verified owner VerifiedCommunity listing
GitHub stars33,9196
Directory activity 8 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools280
Full listingView Github MCP Server View MCP Gitlab

Tools & capabilities

Github MCP Server tools 2

  • get_file_contents
  • getFileContents

MCP Gitlab tools 80

  • gitlab_get_projectGet project details
  • gitlab_create_projectCreate a new project
  • gitlab_delete_projectDelete a project
  • gitlab_update_project_merge_settingsUpdate merge settings
  • gitlab_get_project_approvalsGet approval config
  • gitlab_update_project_approvalsUpdate approval settings
  • gitlab_list_project_approval_rulesList approval rules
  • gitlab_create_project_approval_ruleCreate approval rule
  • gitlab_update_project_approval_ruleUpdate approval rule
  • gitlab_delete_project_approval_ruleDelete approval rule
  • gitlab_list_mr_approval_rulesList MR approval rules
  • gitlab_create_mr_approval_ruleCreate MR approval rule
  • +68 more on the listing page

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 (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github-github-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

MCP Gitlab

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-gitlab-2": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-gitlab"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITLAB_URL": "YOUR_GITLAB_URL_HERE",
        "GITLAB_TOKEN": "YOUR_GITLAB_TOKEN_HERE",
        "GITLAB_PAT": "YOUR_GITLAB_PAT_HERE",
        "GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "YOUR_GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE",
        "GITLAB_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_GITLAB_API_TOKEN_HERE",
        "MCP_READ_ONLY": "YOUR_MCP_READ_ONLY_HERE",
        "GITLAB_READ_ONLY": "YOUR_GITLAB_READ_ONLY_HERE",
        "GITLAB_AUTH": "YOUR_GITLAB_AUTH_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Github MCP Server is categorized under Version Control and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. MCP Gitlab belongs to Version Control and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Github MCP Server for version control work and MCP Gitlab 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. MCP Gitlab has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Auth: api key required. 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 mcp-gitlab-2 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. MCP Gitlab has 55/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 6 GitHub stars.

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