MCP server examples

Twelve real MCP servers worth trying, each showing a different kind of job.

An MCP server example is a real, working server that shows one pattern, such as fetching a page, reading your issues or drawing a diagram. They run on your computer or are hosted online.

Also called MCP server examples, example MCP servers, sample MCP server, MCP server list.

The same idea comes in a few shapes. A small server on your computer does one job, like fetching a web page. A hosted server from a company lets you sign in and work with your account, like Notion or Linear.

A third kind adds a visual app to the chat, like Excalidraw.

Each server below has its own page here, with setup steps for Claude and other apps, a list of its tools and a safety check. For a ranked list, see the best MCP servers. To write one yourself, start with our Python build guide.

The MCP project also keeps a small set of reference servers: Fetch, Filesystem, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking and Time are covered here. They are meant as educational examples of MCP features, not production-ready products, so they are good for learning how a server behaves.

These are twelve real MCP servers, from a one-tool web fetcher to full integrations with Notion, Linear and GitHub. Six of them (Fetch, Filesystem, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking and Time) are the MCP project's own reference servers, which run on your computer and need no account.

The one thing to know first: examples differ a lot in what they can change. Fetch, Time and Context7 only read. Filesystem, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking, Linear, GitHub, Playwright and Notion can write, and Memory, GitHub, Playwright and Notion can also delete.

Our advice: start with a read-only one like Fetch, Time or Context7 to see how a connection works. Then try a hosted one like Notion or Linear that you sign in to, and use a read-only option where one exists.

MCP servers can run on your computer or be hosted by the vendor. The MCP docs call the first kind local and the second remote.

Good for

First-time users who want a safe server to start with
Developers looking at what a good server offers before building one
Anyone who wants to see local and hosted servers side by side

Comparison

Our advice: start with Fetch, Time or Context7 if you want something low-risk. Try Notion or Linear to see a hosted server with account sign-in.

Server	Runs	Sign-in	Risk
FetchThis page	Local	No sign-in	Low
Sequential Thinking	Local	No sign-in	Low
Time	Local	No sign-in	Low
Filesystem	Local	No sign-in	Medium
Memory	Local	No sign-in	Medium
Git	Local	No sign-in	Medium
Context7	HostedLocal	Optional API key	Low
Excalidraw	HostedLocal	No sign-in	Low
Linear	Hosted	Account	Medium
Notion	Hosted	Account	Medium
GitHub	HostedLocal	Account	High
Playwright	Local	No sign-in	High

Questions

What is a good first MCP server to try?

Fetch. It has one tool that reads a web page, needs no sign-in and cannot change anything. Time is equally simple, and Context7 is a good second pick for coding.

What is an example of a hosted MCP server?

Notion and Linear are both hosted by the vendor. You add the address in your AI app and sign in with your account, with nothing to install.

What is an example of a local MCP server?

Fetch, Filesystem, Git, Memory, Time and Sequential Thinking run on your computer. Your app starts them for you, and they do not need an account.

Which MCP servers are the official reference servers?

Fetch, Filesystem, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking and Time are maintained by the MCP project and each has a page here: Fetch, Filesystem, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking, Time. The project describes them as examples, not production-ready products.

Which MCP servers can change my data?

Filesystem, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking, Notion, Linear, GitHub and Playwright can all write. Memory, Notion, GitHub and Playwright can also delete. Our advice: use a read-only option if the server page lists one, and read each approval prompt.

Where can I see more MCP server examples?

Our best MCP servers list ranks 15 popular ones by the data we hold. The MCP project also maintains reference server implementations in its servers repository on GitHub.

Is there an MCP server that shows a visual app in the chat?

Yes. Excalidraw draws diagrams in the chat that you can open fullscreen to edit, in apps that support MCP Apps.

How do I write my own MCP server?

Follow our Python build guide, which uses the official SDK. You can test it with the MCP Inspector before adding it to Claude.

Do example servers work in Claude and ChatGPT?

Support varies by server and by app. Each server page has a "Works in" section that lists the apps and any known problems.

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 3

Architecture overview · modelcontextprotocol.io
modelcontextprotocol/servers README · github.com
Understanding MCP servers · modelcontextprotocol.io