What is the key difference between Gitlab MCP and RepoRelay?

Gitlab MCP belongs to the Version Control category with local stdio execution, while RepoRelay belongs to the Version Control category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution.

How do I install Gitlab MCP or RepoRelay 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 Gitlab MCP and RepoRelay free or paid?

Gitlab MCP operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). RepoRelay operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Gitlab MCP lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. RepoRelay lists 0 tools with 0 views and 25 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Gitlab MCP and RepoRelay 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.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Gitlab MCP vs RepoRelay

In-depth architectural comparison of the Gitlab MCP and RepoRelay 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

Gitlab MCP

Version Control · Local stdio

Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

RepoRelay

Version Control · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 44/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Gitlab MCP if you need specialized Version Control tools running via a local process. Choose RepoRelay if your workspace requires Version Control integration with remote web transport. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Gitlab MCP when:

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

Explore Gitlab MCP Details

Choose RepoRelay when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Version Control domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore RepoRelay Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	G Gitlab MCP Version Control	RepoRelay Version Control
Summary	GitLab over MCP from your own account: issues, merge requests, reviews, the repository and CI.	Bounded local MCP access to one approved repository for AI read/search and structured handoffs.
Category & Scope	Version Control	Version Control
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Gitlab MCP Tools (0)

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

RepoRelay 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).

Gitlab MCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitlab-mcp-2": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "gitlab-mcp-2"
      ]
    }
  }
}

RepoRelay Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "reporelay": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:7676/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Gitlab MCP is categorized under Version Control and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, RepoRelay belongs to Version Control using remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. Select Gitlab MCP when you need capabilities focused on version control and RepoRelay when you require tools for version control.

More alternatives to Gitlab MCP More alternatives to RepoRelay Version Control category hub