The best MCP marketplaces depend on what you need: a place to find servers, or a place that also runs them. As of October 30, 2026, the official MCP Registry, Glama, PulseMCP, mcp.so, the Docker MCP Catalog and the Claude connectors directory are mostly places to find servers. MCPifex is a hosted marketplace that also runs them.
What is the difference between an MCP marketplace, registry and directory?
People use these words interchangeably, and the sites themselves do too. The useful split is what the site does after you find a server. A marketplace in the sense of this page lets you pick a server and use it. A registry stores machine-readable metadata. A directory is a browsable list. A hosted marketplace also runs the server for you.
The official MCP Registry describes itself as a metadata repository: it points to packages hosted on npm, PyPI or Docker Hub rather than hosting code. Our MCP registry definition goes deeper. Our own MCPifex marketplace is the hosted kind.
| Type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Registry | Stores machine-readable metadata that points to packages or URLs | Official MCP Registry |
| Directory | Browsable, searchable list with filters and sometimes grades | Glama, PulseMCP, mcp.so |
| Catalog or curated list | Smaller vetted set, sometimes packaged for install | Docker MCP Catalog, awesome-mcp-servers |
| In-client directory | Listing with a one-click add inside one AI app | Claude connectors directory |
| Hosted marketplace | Lists servers and runs them for you behind one URL | MCPifex |
Which kind of MCP server site should you use?
Pick the type first, then the site. If you only want to find an MCP server, any directory works. If you want Claude or ChatGPT to use it today without installing anything, you need a hosted option.
| Site | Type | Runs servers for you? | Scale shown on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official MCP Registry | Registry (preview) | No, metadata only | Not stated on home page |
| Glama | Directory | Offers hosting and a gateway | 112,663 servers |
| Smithery | Registry only after Oct 31, 2026 | No, connection management services end Oct 31, 2026 | Not stated |
| mcp.so | Directory | No | Not stated |
| PulseMCP | Directory | No | 21,617 servers |
| Docker MCP Catalog | Curated catalog | Local containers on your machine, plus remote services | Not stated |
| awesome-mcp-servers | GitHub list | No | About 97k stars, no count |
| Claude connectors directory | In-client directory | Connects inside Claude | 1,045 connectors, 528 plugins |
| MCPifex | Hosted marketplace | Yes | 5 live servers |
What are the best MCP marketplaces and directories in 2026?
Each entry below lists what the site says about itself on October 30, 2026, with a source link. Counts change daily, so treat them as a snapshot. They also measure different things, so don't compare them directly.
1. Official MCP Registry
The official MCP Registry is the central metadata store for publicly accessible servers. Its documentation says it is in preview, with possible breaking changes or data resets before general availability. It is backed by contributors including Anthropic, GitHub, PulseMCP and Microsoft.
It checks namespace ownership: names follow a reverse-DNS format tied to a verified GitHub account or domain. It does not scan server code and leaves that to package registries and downstream aggregators. It also says host applications should consume downstream marketplaces rather than the registry directly. Best for developers and aggregators, less so for a first-time user.
2. Glama
Glama lists 112,663 servers as of October 30, 2026. You can filter by language, hosting type (remote, local or hybrid), capability and category. Listings show letter grades from A to D for license, quality and maintenance, though some servers are not graded. Glama also offers hosting and a gateway, and exposes a directory API. Best for searching a very large index. See MCPifex vs Glama.
3. Smithery
Smithery changes on October 31, 2026. Its announcement page says its connection management services end that day: server URLs on run.tools and server.smithery.ai, the API, Connect, Toolbox, accounts, API keys, CLI and SDKs stop working. Smithery stays as a public, non-proxied registry, now powered by Arcade.dev, where verified servers link to the vendor's own MCP URL. After that date it is a registry, not a host. Read what Smithery shutting down means and MCPifex vs Smithery.
4. mcp.so
mcp.so describes itself as a directory of MCP servers and clients with setup guides for each. It also lists remote servers, CLI tools, agent skills and rankings. You submit a server by entering a repository or server URL, and listings go live after review. It does not state a total server count on its home page. Best for browsing setup guides.
5. PulseMCP
PulseMCP calls itself a daily-updated directory and showed 21,617 servers when we checked. It classifies listings as Anthropic References, Official Providers or Community, and filters by remote availability. Its page says new submissions and listing changes are currently paused while the site reworks how it ingests listings. Best when you want the classification label to filter out unofficial servers.
6. Docker MCP Catalog
The Docker MCP Catalog is a curated set of servers packaged as Docker images and distributed through Docker Hub at hub.docker.com/mcp. Docker's docs say verified servers include provenance and SBOM metadata, and that Docker builds and signs the local servers it provides. Local servers run on your machine as isolated containers. The catalog also includes remote services such as GitHub, Notion and Linear. You use it through the MCP Toolkit in Docker Desktop. Best if you already run Docker. See MCPifex vs Docker MCP Gateway.
7. awesome-mcp-servers on GitHub
awesome-mcp-servers is a community-maintained GitHub list with roughly 97,000 stars and an MIT license. It is a plain README, so it has no install button, no hosting and no automated checks that we could confirm. It suits developers who want to scan a curated list and read the source. Its page links to Glama's directory.
8. Claude connectors directory
The Claude connectors directory lists 1,045 connectors and 528 plugins as of October 30, 2026. You can filter by Web, Desktop extension or Interactive, and each listing has an "Add in Claude" button. Listings can carry an "Anthropic verified" badge, though the page does not explain what verification involves. It works only inside Claude. See the best Claude connectors and the custom connector guide.
9. MCPifex
MCPifex is a hosted marketplace and gateway. You pick a server in the portal, save your credentials, choose which tools are allowed and get an API key. Then you paste one URL, https://mcp.mcpifex.com/mcp, into Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code or Cursor. MCPifex runs the real server package, so you install nothing.
The catalog is small and curated. The live servers are PostgreSQL, Google Trends, Google Search Console, App Store Connect and WhatsApp. Write tools start off, and you turn them on per tool. The Free plan includes 3 instances with no card, and gateway calls are unlimited on every plan. If the server you need is not on that list, use one of the larger directories above.
How do you judge whether an MCP server is safe to install?
A listing is not an audit. The official registry says outright that it verifies namespaces, not code. Run these checks before you connect anything to real data.
- Check the publisher. Prefer a server published by the company that owns the service. Reverse-DNS names in the official registry, the "Official Providers" label on PulseMCP and Docker's signed images all help you tell the vendor from a copycat.
- Read the tool list. Look for tools that write, delete or send. A read-only server is a smaller risk than one that can change your data.
- Look at maintenance. Glama's maintenance grade, recent commits and open issues tell you whether anyone fixes problems.
- Prefer least privilege. Use a read-only database user or a scoped token, and turn off any tool you will not use. Our MCP security checklist covers the details.
- Watch for prompt injection. Servers that read web pages, email or chats can pass hostile text to your AI. See prompt injection through MCP tools.
- Prefer isolation. A server running in a container or on a hosted service stays off your laptop. The MCP security best practices explain the main risks for local servers.
Start with a read-only setup, confirm it does what you expect, then enable more tools. That habit protects you on every site in this list.
Which MCP marketplace should you choose?
Choose by the job:
- Widest search: Glama for volume, PulseMCP for classification, mcp.so for setup guides.
- Official metadata for building tools: the official MCP Registry.
- Signed containers on your own machine: the Docker MCP Catalog.
- Only Claude: the Claude connectors directory.
- A reading list for developers: awesome-mcp-servers.
- Smithery: treat it as a registry after October 31, 2026, and move any hosted connections to each vendor's own URL.
- A server running today, with nothing to install and tool-level control: MCPifex, if your server is among its five.
Most people end up using two: a large directory to discover, and a hosted option to connect. Our best MCP servers list is a shorter starting point, and the what is MCP primer covers the basics. To try MCPifex, create a free account.
Quick answers
There is an official MCP Registry at registry.modelcontextprotocol.io, but it stores metadata and is in preview. It says host applications should use downstream marketplaces rather than read it directly.
A registry holds structured metadata that software reads through an API. A directory is a browsable list for people. Many sites are both, so check whether the site also runs the server.
Start with Glama, PulseMCP or mcp.so for broad search, the Docker MCP Catalog for container-packaged servers, the Claude connectors directory if you use Claude, or the awesome-mcp-servers list on GitHub.
Smithery ends its proxy, managed identity, API, Connect, Toolbox, accounts, CLI and SDKs that day, and stays as a public non-proxied registry. Move any connections to each vendor's official MCP URL.
Not consistently. The official registry verifies namespace ownership and leaves code scanning to others. Grades, badges and signed images help, but you should still review the tool list and use least-privilege credentials.
Sources
- Official MCP Registry
- The MCP Registry, modelcontextprotocol.io
- Smithery: what is changing
- Glama MCP servers
- mcp.so
- PulseMCP
- Docker MCP Catalog docs
- awesome-mcp-servers
- Claude connectors directory
Ready to try it?
Run hosted MCP servers behind one endpoint and choose exactly which tools your AI can use.