What is the key difference between Memory and Filesystem?

Memory belongs to the Other Tools and Integrations category with local stdio execution, while Filesystem belongs to the Other Tools and Integrations category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Memory or Filesystem 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 Memory and Filesystem free or paid?

Memory operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Filesystem operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Memory lists 9 tools with 2 views and 90,510 GitHub stars. Filesystem lists 9 tools with 3 views and 90,510 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Memory and Filesystem 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

Memory vs Filesystem

In-depth architectural comparison of the Memory and Filesystem 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

Memory

Other Tools and Integrations · Local stdio

Quality: 88/100 (Excellent) | Auth: No auth required

Filesystem

Other Tools and Integrations · Local stdio

Quality: 80/100 (Excellent) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Memory if you need specialized Other Tools and Integrations tools running via a local process. Choose Filesystem if your workspace requires Other Tools and Integrations integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Memory when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Other Tools and Integrations domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: create_entities, create_relations, add_observations.

Explore Memory Details

Choose Filesystem when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Other Tools and Integrations domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: create_entities, create_relations, add_observations.

Explore Filesystem Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Memory VerifiedOther Tools and Integrations	Filesystem VerifiedOther Tools and Integrations
Summary	Knowledge graph-based persistent memory system.	Secure file operations with configurable access controls.
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Memory Tools (9)

create_entities

Create multiple new entities in the knowledge graph

create_relations

Create multiple new relations between entities in the knowledge graph. Relations should be in active voice

add_observations

Add new observations to existing entities in the knowledge graph

delete_entities

Delete multiple entities and their associated relations from the knowledge graph

delete_observations

Delete specific observations from entities in the knowledge graph

delete_relations

Delete multiple relations from the knowledge graph

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).

Memory Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Filesystem Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "filesystem"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Memory is categorized under Other Tools and Integrations and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Filesystem belongs to Other Tools and Integrations using local stdio subprocess. Select Memory when you need capabilities focused on other tools and integrations and Filesystem when you require tools for other tools and integrations.