Zotero MCP servers: which one to use
Zotero has no official MCP server. Use Zotero MCP by 54yyyu for most people, or kujenga's if you only want to search and read your library.
- Servers
- 19
- active
- Hosted
- 2
- nothing to install
- Local
- 11
- runs on your machine
Zotero does not publish an MCP server, so every option here is a community project. Zotero MCP by 54yyyu has by far the most stars and can search, read, annotate and add papers. It reads from your Zotero desktop app by default, with no account. Servers that can write change your library, and the zotero-native-mcp README says it can delete items, so start read-only.
Good for
- Researchers who want Claude or ChatGPT to search their papers and read full text
- Writers who want to pull citations or insert them into Word documents
- Zotero 10 users who want an offline server with no web account
- Developers building Zotero plugins who need an AI to debug them
Which Zotero MCP server to use
Use Zotero MCP by 54yyyu for the widest feature set and the most users. Pick kujenga for a three-tool, search-and-read server, or zotero-native-mcp if you run Zotero 10 and want no key or plugin.
| Server | Runs | Needs | Can change things | Tools | GitHub stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zotero MCP | Local | Zotero app or API key | Yes | – | 5.7K |
| cookjohn | Local | Zotero plugin | Yes | – | 1.3K |
| kujenga | Local | Zotero app or API key | No | 3 | 162 |
| xevos117 | Local | API key | Yes | 15 | 38 |
| Zotero Native | Local | Zotero 10 | Yes | 28 | 12 |
| Zotero Dev | Local | Zotero 7 to 10 | Yes | – | 40 |
All Zotero MCP servers
19 active · official first, then by GitHub stars
Zotero MCPLocalNo sign-inSearch, read, annotate, and add to your Zotero research library, local or web.
5.7K GitHub stars
papersgpt-for-zoteroProfessional AI research tool for Zotero: chat with PDFs, whole-library search, Literature Radar, AutoPilot. 30+ LLMs or local models; built-in MCP server.
2.7K GitHub stars
Zotero MCPHostedNo sign-inIt's a plugin extension in Zotero. Zotero MCP Plugin enables integration between AI assistants and Zotero through MCP. Zotero MCP Plugin 是一个 Zotero 插件，通过 MCP协议实现 AI 助手与 Zotero深度集成。插件支持文献检索、元 数据管理、全文分析和智能问答等功能，让 Claude、ChatGPT 等 AI 工具能够直接访问和操作您的文献库。
1.3K GitHub stars- @docsagent/mcp-zoteroLocal
DocsAgent MCP server for your knowledge base — Zotero, Obsidian, and Apple Notes (macOS) over a resident native C++ search core (BM25 + passage retrieval, mixed search; stdio + Streamable HTTP)
579 GitHub stars 
Zotero MCPLocalSearch your Zotero library, retrieve item metadata, and read full text from AI assistants.
162 GitHub stars
seeraiLocalZotero AI plugin Research assistant for Zotero 10. Chat with your library, run federated scholarly search, RAG, OCR, systematic reviews, and manage cloud storage. Includes standalone MCP, Agentic capabilities, and skills library.
94 GitHub stars
mcp-server-zotero-devLocalMCP server enabling AI assistants to build, test, and debug Zotero plugins
40 GitHub stars
MCP ZoteroLocalUnofficial Zotero server: search your library, add papers by DOI, import PDFs, cite in Word
38 GitHub stars
zotero-mcp-workbuddy-guide将 Zotero 文献库接入 WorkBuddy，用自然语言对话完成文献搜索、PDF 批注整理、文献综述草稿等任务。本仓库提供完整的中文配置指南，支持本地模式和云端模式，且设计为 AI 可自主执行——你只需一句话，AI 自动完成配置。
36 GitHub stars
Zotero Native MCPLocalRead and write your local Zotero 10 library. No plugin, no zotero.org API key, no cloud.
12 GitHub stars- zotero-agent
Full local control of your Zotero library — from your terminal or your AI agent. No cloud, no API key. CLI + MCP server + bridge plugin.
10 GitHub stars - zotero-mcp-server
Model Context Protocol server for Zotero - search, cite, and manage research references in AI applications
10 GitHub stars 
zotero-mcp-liteLocalSearch, read PDFs, and find related papers in your local Zotero library. Read-only, 100% local.
8 GitHub stars- zotero-keeper
Zotero 10+ Local API and PubMed MCP research workspace: Keeper 2.1, PubMed Search 0.6.1, and a one-click VS Code extension.
7 GitHub stars - zotero-mcp-lite
Zotero MCP Lite: Fast, Customizable & Light Zotero MCP server for AI research assistants
4 GitHub stars - zotero-library-mcpLocal
Add papers and books to Zotero by DOI, arXiv ID, or ISBN and manage your library
2 GitHub stars - zotero-mcpLocal
Zotero MCP Server for managing reference library
0 GitHub stars - zotero-bridgeLocal
MCP Server for Zotero SQLite Database - collection, tagging, PDF reading and more.
0 GitHub stars - MCP for ZoteroHosted
Connect your Zotero reference library to AI assistants via Model Context Protocol.
Questions
Is there an official Zotero MCP server?
No. Zotero does not publish one, and the xevos117 README says its server is not affiliated with or supported by the Zotero team. All six servers here are community projects.
Which Zotero MCP server is the most popular?
Zotero MCP by 54yyyu, by a wide margin. Its README lists search, full-text reading, annotations and adding papers by DOI, and it covers Claude, ChatGPT, Codex and Cursor.
Do I need a Zotero account or API key?
Not always. 54yyyu, kujenga and zotero-native-mcp can read from the Zotero desktop app on your computer. xevos117 needs a Zotero web API key. kujenga also accepts an API key instead of the local app.
Can I use it without sending my library to the cloud?
Yes. The zotero-native-mcp README says every operation runs against your Zotero app on 127.0.0.1 with no zotero.org account or cloud round trip. It needs Zotero 10.
Which server is read-only?
kujenga's. Its README lists three tools, for searching items, reading metadata and reading full text. If you use another server, give it a Zotero web API key that only has read access.
Can it delete or edit my references?
Yes, in the ones that write. The zotero-native-mcp README says it can modify and delete items, with deletes going to Zotero's trash by default. cookjohn's plugin README lists creating items and updating metadata, and 54yyyu's and xevos117's add papers. Back up your library before you let an AI edit it.
Does it work with Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor?
Yes for 54yyyu's. Its README names Claude Desktop for the MCP server, and Claude Code, Codex and Cursor for a lighter CLI and agent skill. zotero-native-mcp names Claude, Claude Code and Cursor.
What does the Zotero plugin version do differently?
cookjohn's server is a plugin you install inside Zotero, and it speaks to AI apps over HTTP. You need the Zotero app open, and you install an .xpi file in the Add-ons window.
Is there a server for building Zotero plugins?
Yes. mcp-server-zotero-dev lets an AI take screenshots, read the DOM, run JavaScript and read logs in Zotero 7, 8, 9 and 10. It is for plugin developers, not for managing references.