GitLab API MCP vs MCP Gitlab
A side-by-side look at the GitLab API MCP and MCP Gitlab MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose GitLab API MCP 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?
Choose GitLab API MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Version Control domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
Choose MCP Gitlab when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Version Control domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
GITLAB_TOKEN, GITLAB_URL, SSL_CERT_FILE, GITLAB_SSL_VERIFY.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Version Control | Version Control |
| Quality signal | 40/100 · Fair | 40/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Remote HTTP/SSE | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | GITLAB_TOKENGITLAB_URLSSL_CERT_FILEGITLAB_SSL_VERIFY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 10 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | Not listed |
| Full listing | View GitLab API MCP | View MCP Gitlab |
Tools & capabilities
GitLab API MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
MCP Gitlab 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.
GitLab API MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"gitlab-api": {
"url": "http://localhost:8000/gitlab-mcp/mcp"
}
}
}
MCP Gitlab
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-gitlab": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp-gitlab-crunchtools"
],
"env": {
"GITLAB_TOKEN": "YOUR_GITLAB_TOKEN_HERE",
"GITLAB_URL": "YOUR_GITLAB_URL_HERE",
"SSL_CERT_FILE": "YOUR_SSL_CERT_FILE_HERE",
"GITLAB_SSL_VERIFY": "YOUR_GITLAB_SSL_VERIFY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
GitLab API MCP 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 GitLab API MCP 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.
GitLab API MCP is listed as free. MCP Gitlab 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 gitlab-api and mcp-gitlab as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, GitLab API MCP has a quality signal of 40/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 10 GitHub stars. MCP Gitlab has 40/100 (Fair) with 2 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.