MCP-Compatible Clients: The Complete & Updated List
A practical guide to MCP clients with step-by-step instructions on how to connect them to MCP servers
Shortly on MCP Servers
If you've found this article, you're likely already familiar with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and possibly have experience implementing MCP servers. For those new to the concept, MCP servers act as connectors between AI agents and applications, enabling structured communication and seamless integration between the two.
The MCP servers expose functionality, context, and data in a structured format that AI models can understand and interact with effectively. They define what actions are available, what parameters they require, and how responses are formatted—essentially standardizing the communication between an application and AI systems.
The MCP Clients Review
MCP clients are the other end of this bargain. They are the agent-side that bridges AI models with external tools and services in a structured way. While servers expose functionality, clients consume and integrate these capabilities into AI workflows.
The key functions of MCP clients are:
Connect to servers via standardized protocols
Format context-rich requests per MCP specifications
Handle authentication and session management
Transform server responses into AI-digestible formats
The true power of MCP clients is their ability to orchestrate multiple tools simultaneously, providing a unified interface for AI models to access diverse capabilities—from database queries to visualization tools to specialized domain knowledge.
As documented by Anthropic, there are many clients that can support connections to MCP servers, but some are less useful/convenient than others, or will not give you the full MCP experience. This is a review of such clients, including instructions on how to connect an MCP server to a client. Skip to the end if you are looking for specific recommendations based on your preferences.
As this protocol is new and constantly changing, I try my best to keep this list updated and complete. Please comment any fixes/additions needed and I will adjust accordingly!
Recommended Clients (for Engineers)
Claude Desktop
The official Anthropic product, ensures proper implementation, ongoing compatibility with protocol updates, and direct access to Claude models with native MCP support. While it offers a standalone experience outside of code editors through relatively straightforward configuration in its settings menu, it still requires technical knowledge to set up, particularly when running a local MCP server using stdio transport. Despite this limitation, it currently represents the most accessible non-IDE option in a market that's still developing user-friendly solutions for non-technical users.
To configure an MCP, go to:
Settings → Developer → Edit Config
Insert the following JSON with the right parameters:
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-name": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"required",
"args"
]
}
}
}Don’t forget to restart Claude after you save the file!
Claude Code
Great option for developers comfortable with command-line interfaces. As another official Anthropic product, it shares the same advantages as Claude Desktop. The interface is lightweight with a simple command structure, and the main distinction is its support for both SSE transport and stdio. The disadvantage is that unlike Claude Desktop, it does not support Resources (only prompts and tools).
To configure MCP servers with it:
stdio
claude mcp add <name> <command> [args...]SSE
claude mcp add --transport sse <name> <url>Additional useful commands
claude mcp list
claude mcp remove <name>Cursor
Cursor stands out as the fastest code editor to adopt MCP support, making it a top IDE choice. Its implementation mirrors Claude Desktop's configuration approach through a simple JSON config file, with a main distinction - it supports SSE transport. As a dedicated code editor with AI capabilities, it offers a seamless integration where MCP-powered tools enhance the coding experience directly within your development environment.
The JSON configuration file is accessible via:
Settings → MCP → Add a new MCP server
In the config file that opens, use JSON the same way it is configured in Claude Desktop for stdio servers, or this configuration for SSE transport MCPs:
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-name": {
"url": "http://the/url/to/your/mcp"
}
}
}Cline
Cline offers MCP support through its VSCode extension. As an open-source AI agent, it supports both marketplace MCPs and custom configurations. Setup is straightforward through the dedicated MCP Servers tab in the extension, where users can either select from supported providers or configure custom servers via SSE URL.
For more advanced users, manual configuration is available by accessing the config file through:
MCP Servers → Installed → Configure MCP Servers
This follows the same JSON structure as Claude Desktop/Cursor. Its integration with VSCode makes it particularly valuable for developers who want to maintain their existing workflow while leveraging MCP capabilities.
Further details on MCPs can be seen on their README.md MCP section.
Windsurf by Codeium
Presents a robust MCP client option within its AI framework. The integration follows familiar configuration patterns, accessible through:
Settings → Advanced Settings or via Command Palette → Windsurf Settings → Cascade → View raw config
This opens a JSON configuration file that uses the same structure as Claude Desktop/Cursor.
Notice that the MCP server name should not start with a
@
Goose CLI
Stands out as an MCP client through its intuitive CLI approach that handles both transport methods efficiently. It simplifies the MCP concept by referring to servers as "extensions," making it more approachable for developers new to the protocol. Unlike other CLI options, Goose's guided configuration process eliminates the need for manual JSON editing, making it accessible to a broader range of users while still maintaining the efficiency expected from terminal-based tools.
To configure an MCP server with Goose, simply run:
goose configureThen, select Add Extension and:
Select
Command-line Extensionfor stdio MCP server and configure there the proper command.Select
Remote Extensionfor SSE MCP server and configure the URL.
For users who prefer a graphical interface, Goose also offers Goose Desktop, which provides the same functionality as the CLI version but with a more visual, user-friendly experience that requires no command-line knowledge.
Clients for non-Engineers
This feels like a real gap in the market right now, and I'll be diving deeper into this topic in a separate post. I'm including this section as a placeholder, hoping we'll see more user-friendly options emerge soon.
Currently, Claude Desktop is pretty much the only non-IDE option available, but even that requires running a local MCP server using stdio transport - which is still quite technical for the average user. Not exactly the plug-and-play solution many are looking for.
It's worth noting that even prominent figures in the MCP community have been discussing this limitation on X without finding great solutions. Check out these conversations from Harrison Chase and Jeff Weinstein where they're essentially asking the same question:
Harrison Chase - https://x.com/hwchase17/status/1898437865132130574
Jeff Weinstein - https://x.com/jeff_weinstein/status/1897826048710262994
If you know of any emerging user-friendly MCP clients, drop them in the comments! This is definitely an area ripe for innovation.
Additional clients
These one are less popular, but adopted the MCP standard quickly/created as clients dedicated to work with MCP, which should be praised!
If you have experience with these clients, please share insights in the comments or in Slack to help expand our collective knowledge of MCP client implementations.
Continue - s VSCode / JetBrains extension. Although still considered experimental, have full supports for all MCP features.
5ire - an AI assistant and MCP client. Has built in MCPs under Tools (right panel), supporting only stdio (command) transport clients, or connecting clients from the marketplace they provide.
Zed - a code editor. Currently only supporting MCPs as Zed extensions, having only one MCP extension for Postgres.
Copilot-MCP - a VSCode extension. Dedicated to integrate MCPs with GitHub Copilot Chat.
LibreChat - open-source app compatible with any AI provider. Supports MCPs as Tools.
GenAIScript - a JavaScript tool to programmatically assemble prompts for LLMs, MCP servers can be configured in the defTool, using the same syntax as the Claude JSON.
Emacs Mcp.el - Emacs client for interacting with MCP servers. Supporting structured communication, asynchronous operations, and integration with popular Emacs packages.
oterm - a text-based terminal client for Ollama (that does not yet support MCPs, but the tool attempts to bridge the servers with it). Adding servers is done in the
config.jsonsimilarly to the Claude JSON.Sourcegraph Cody - a VSCode extension that performs as AI coding assistant. Requires editing your VSCode JSON settings.
Witsy - a desktop AI assistant, requires API keys for LLM providers. Supports only outsourced MCP servers providers (not suitable for local MCPs), Configure the MCPs in Settings → Plugins → MCP.
Theia AI/IDE by EclipseSource - a platform for building custom Cloud & Desktop IDEs and tools. Currently supports only stdio.
Tester MCP client by Apify - connects to any MCP server using SSE, designed for testing the MCP server.
Tools for building AI Agents that support MCPs
BeeAI Framework - open-source framework to implement multi-agent patterns. To connect to MCP it requires programming the connection in python or TypeScript. Found a useful example in this blog post.
SpinAI - a TypeScript framework for creating AI agents. Can add MCPs from outsourced providers using the command line (not suitable for local MCPs).
Fast-Agent - a lightweight framework for creating and managing agents and workflows using MCP, supporting all the features.
mcp-agent - a python based library to help you build AI agents that supports MCPs.
Microsoft Copilot - a graphical, low-code tool for building agents and agent flows, allows connecting MCP servers only through SSE and still in testing and trial (only in preview regions).
core by OpenSumi- an MCP client, framework to build AI Native IDE products.
Additional additional tools
These are more clients that support MCPs, but I could not find the documentation/install instructions for. Please help me complete the missing details.
daydreams - a generative agent framework for executing anything onchain.
Genkit - an open-source TypeScript toolkit designed to help you build AI-powered features in web and mobile apps.
Superinterface - platform to add AI UI to a product.
Recommendations
If you're working with MCP servers and prefer the SSE transport method, Cursor or Cline stands out as the most robust option. The straightforward configuration process and comprehensive support for MCP functionality make it ideal for developers who need reliable SSE-based connections. For those who simply need to test their MCP server implementation without committing to a full client setup, the Apify MCP tester provides a lightweight alternative focused specifically on validation.
Command-line enthusiasts will find Claude Code or Goose to be the standout choice in the CLI space. Unlike other options that require complex configurations, these two offer an intuitive setup process that can be completed in minutes.
For developers already integrated into the GitHub ecosystem, Copilot-MCP provides the most seamless experience. This extension bridges the functionality gap between GitHub Copilot Chat and your custom MCP servers, allowing you to enhance Copilot's capabilities with your specialized tools.
Got more recommendations? Let me know what you think in the comments.
Summary
While MCPs are still in the early adoption phase across platforms, they are poised to become an industry standard. More developers now recognize the value of standardized AI-application interactions, and we're witnessing increased traction that will inevitably lead to user-friendly interfaces. These improvements will cater to everyone, not only technical users, and will include easier integration options.
For those interested in staying up-to-date on all things MCP, join the MCParty Slack Community, where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn about the latest implementations.
If you have found mistakes in the article, let us know so we can keep this guide up to date and practical.
Written in collaboration with Shira Ayal.