Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison
Norn vs Subconscious
In-depth architectural comparison of the Norn and Subconscious 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
Norn
Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio
Quality: 39/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required
Subconscious
Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio
Quality: 37/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required
Verdict Summary: Choose Norn if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose Subconscious if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's
mcpServers manifest.Which MCP Server Should You Choose?
N
Choose Norn when:
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
- Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
S
Choose Subconscious when:
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
- Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Feature & Specification Comparison
Tools & Capabilities Breakdown
Norn Tools (0)
No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.
Subconscious 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).
Norn Configuration
Subconscious Configuration