GitHub (read Only) vs Github
A side-by-side look at the GitHub (read Only) 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 (read Only) for version control work as a local process; choose Github for version control. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose GitHub (read Only) 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.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Version Control | Version Control |
| Quality signal | 33/100 · Emerging | 32/100 · Emerging |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | Not listed |
| Full listing | View GitHub (read Only) | View Github |
Tools & capabilities
GitHub (read Only) tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Github tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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 (read Only)
{
"mcpServers": {
"github-read-only": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"--from",
"git+https://github.com/AbdulMuhaiminKhan/github-mcp",
"github-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Github
No confirmed install command for Github yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
GitHub (read Only) is categorized under Version Control and uses a local stdio subprocess. Github belongs to Version Control and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick GitHub (read Only) 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 has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
GitHub (read Only) has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Auth: api key required. 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-read-only and github-4 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, GitHub (read Only) has a quality signal of 33/100 (Emerging) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Github has 32/100 (Emerging) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.