# github-mcp-server vs MCP Reference Servers
_MCP Servers · independent comparison_

> github-mcp-server and MCP Reference Servers are both open-source mcp servers you can self-host for free. MCP Reference Servers has wider GitHub adoption — 91k stars vs 33k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**github-mcp-server**
- Open source · MCP server · 33k★ · Go · MIT · active today
- Best for: Connecting MCP clients like Claude Code or Cursor to GitHub repos, issues, and PRs — the official server.
- Avoid if: You need write-heavy automation beyond what the API surface exposes.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/github-mcp-server) · [official](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server)

**MCP Reference Servers**
- Open source · MCP server · 91k★ · TypeScript · MIT AND Apache-2.0 · active today
- Best for: Learning how MCP servers work and adding basic filesystem, git, fetch or memory tools to a client.
- Avoid if: You need production-hardened servers; the maintainers present these as reference examples and ask you to apply your own security safeguards.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/mcp-reference-servers) · [official](https://modelcontextprotocol.io)

## Key differences

- MCP Reference Servers has wider GitHub adoption — 91k stars vs 33k.
- github-mcp-server is written primarily in Go; MCP Reference Servers in TypeScript.
- Licensing differs: github-mcp-server is MIT, MCP Reference Servers is MIT AND Apache-2.0.

## Which to choose

**Choose github-mcp-server if:** Connecting MCP clients like Claude Code or Cursor to GitHub repos, issues, and PRs — the official server.

**Choose MCP Reference Servers if:** Learning how MCP servers work and adding basic filesystem, git, fetch or memory tools to a client.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between github-mcp-server and MCP Reference Servers?**
MCP Reference Servers has wider GitHub adoption — 91k stars vs 33k.

**Is github-mcp-server or MCP Reference Servers better?**
Neither is universally better. github-mcp-server is the stronger fit for Connecting MCP clients like Claude Code or Cursor to GitHub repos, issues, and PRs — the official server; MCP Reference Servers for Learning how MCP servers work and adding basic filesystem, git, fetch or memory tools to a client. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is github-mcp-server or MCP Reference Servers free?**
github-mcp-server is free to run and self-host; MCP Reference Servers is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.

**Which is more popular, github-mcp-server or MCP Reference Servers?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — MCP Reference Servers is ahead (91k vs 33k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/github-mcp-server-vs-mcp-reference-servers