Easy Obsidian MCP vs Obsidian MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Easy Obsidian MCP and Obsidian MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Easy Obsidian MCP for knowledge & memory work as a local process; choose Obsidian MCP Server for knowledge & memory as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Easy Obsidian MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
OBSIDIAN_API_KEY. - You want tools like
obsidian_simple_search, obsidian_dataview_search, obsidian_get_file_content.
Choose Obsidian MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
OBSIDIAN_API_KEY, OBSIDIAN_ENABLE_COMMANDS, OBSIDIAN_READ_PATHS, OBSIDIAN_DELETE_ELICITATION. - You want tools like
obsidian_get_note, obsidian_list_notes, obsidian_list_tags.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Knowledge & Memory | Knowledge & Memory |
| Quality signal | 60/100 · Good | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | OBSIDIAN_API_KEY | OBSIDIAN_API_KEYOBSIDIAN_ENABLE_COMMANDSOBSIDIAN_READ_PATHSOBSIDIAN_DELETE_ELICITATION |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 17 | 700 |
| Directory activity | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 6 | 14 |
| Full listing | View Easy Obsidian MCP | View Obsidian MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Easy Obsidian MCP tools 6
obsidian_simple_searchsimple search for documents matching a specified text query across all files in the vault. use this tool when you want to do a simple text searchobsidian_dataview_searchexecute a dataview query language (dql) query. dql is a powerful, sql-like language for querying obsidian notes based on metadata (frontmatter, inline fields), tags, folders, links, file properties (name, path, dates), and tasks. use it to filter, sort, group, and transform data from your obsidian vault. **key difference from sql:** dql executes queries sequentially, line by line, passing results between commands. this allows multiple 'where', 'sort', or 'group by' steps, unlike declarative sql. **finding people/names:** - search note titles: 'table file.name where contains(file.name, "ben")' - find notes linking to person: 'list from [[Ben]]' - search by person tag: 'list from #person/ben' **common patterns:** - get note metadata: 'table file.name, file.mtime from "NOTENAME"' - search by tag: 'list from #tag' - folder search: 'list from "folder/"' - backlinks: 'list from [[FILENAME]]' - all notes: 'list from ""' this tool is especially good at finding relationships between notes, metadata searches, and structured queries. use it when simple text search doesn't find what you need. see dataview documentation for full syntax: https://blacksmithgu.github.io/obsidian-dataview/obsidian_get_file_contentretrieves the full content of a specific file from the obsidian vault.obsidian_list_fileslists files and folders within a specified directory in the obsidian vault. if no directory is specified, lists items in the vault root.obsidian_fuzzy_searchfuzzy search for notes using approximate matching. works even when obsidian api is unavailable. great for finding notes when you're not sure of exact spelling or phrasing.obsidian_graph_searchanalyze links and connections between notes. finds orphaned notes, builds link graphs, and discovers note relationships. works without obsidian api.
Obsidian MCP Server tools 14
obsidian_get_noteRead a note as raw content, full structured form, document map, or a single sectionobsidian_list_notesList notes and folders under a vault path, recursively, with extension and name filtersobsidian_list_tagsList vault tags with usage counts, most-used firstobsidian_search_notesSearch by text, JSONLogic, or BM25-ranked Omnisearch when that plugin is reachableobsidian_write_noteCreate a note, replace one section, or overwrite a whole file with `overwrite: trueobsidian_append_to_noteAppend to a note (creating it if missing) or to one heading, block, or frontmatter fieldobsidian_patch_noteAppend, prepend, or replace against one heading, block reference, or frontmatter fieldobsidian_replace_in_noteLiteral or regex search-replace inside one note, body-only by defaultobsidian_manage_frontmatterGet, set, or delete one frontmatter keyobsidian_manage_tagsAdd, remove, or list a note's tags in frontmatter, inline, or bothobsidian_delete_notePermanently delete a note, optionally after the user confirms (`OBSIDIAN_DELETE_ELICITATION`)obsidian_open_in_uiOpen a file in the Obsidian app, optionally in a new pane- +2 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.
Easy Obsidian MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"louis030195-easy-obsidian-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@louis030195/mcp-obsidian"
],
"env": {
"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Obsidian MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"obsidian-mcp-server": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"obsidian-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY_HERE",
"OBSIDIAN_ENABLE_COMMANDS": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_ENABLE_COMMANDS_HERE",
"OBSIDIAN_READ_PATHS": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_READ_PATHS_HERE",
"OBSIDIAN_DELETE_ELICITATION": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_DELETE_ELICITATION_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Easy Obsidian MCP is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. Obsidian MCP Server belongs to Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Easy Obsidian MCP for knowledge & memory work and Obsidian MCP Server for knowledge & memory.
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.
Easy Obsidian MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. Obsidian MCP Server 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 louis030195-easy-obsidian-mcp and obsidian-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Easy Obsidian MCP has a quality signal of 60/100 (Good) with 6 views, 0 installs and 17 GitHub stars. Obsidian MCP Server has 64/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 700 GitHub stars.