Obsidian MCP Server vs Zotero Library MCP

In-depth architectural comparison of the Obsidian MCP Server and Zotero Library MCP 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.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

O

Choose Obsidian MCP Server 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).
• Primary tools included: read_note, write_note, list_directory.

Explore Obsidian MCP Server Details

Choose Zotero Library MCP 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).
• Primary tools included: list_libraries.

Explore Zotero Library MCP Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	O Obsidian MCP Server Knowledge & Memory	Zotero Library MCP Knowledge & Memory
Summary	Filesystem-based MCP server for Obsidian vaults — read, search, and edit notes, no app required.	Add papers and books to Zotero by DOI, arXiv ID, or ISBN and manage your library
Category & Scope	Knowledge & Memory	Knowledge & Memory

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

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).

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "zotero-library-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Related MCP Server Comparisons