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MCP Server Frameworks Comparison

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Quick Selection Guide

This guide helps you quickly choose a framework based on its primary strengths:
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@modelcontextprotocol/sdk

GitHub Repo starsGitHub LicenseGitHub last commitNPM Downloads
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Cloudflare agents

GitHub Repo starsGitHub LicenseGitHub last commitNPM Downloads
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fastmcp

GitHub Repo starsGitHub LicenseGitHub last commitNPM Downloads
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mcp-framework

GitHub Repo starsGitHub LicenseGitHub last commitNPM Downloads

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Feature Comparison

Compare the frameworks side-by-side across various features.
Feature@modelcontextprotocol/sdkCloudflare agentsfastmcpmcp-framework
Primary GoalCore MCP ImplementationStateful Edge AI AgentsMCP Server w/ SessionsDX-focused MCP Framework
MCP ComplianceOfficial StandardHigh (Agent-focused)HighHigh (Uses official SDK)
ArchitectureLow-level PrimitivesActor Model (Workers)Session-centricConvention over Config
Transportsstdio, HTTP (SSE)HTTP (SSE), WebSocketsSSE, stdiostdio, SSE, HTTP Stream
State ManagementManualBuilt-in (Durable Objects)Session-basedManual/Per-Request
AuthenticationManualVia Cloudflare Access/OAuthBuilt-inBuilt-in (SSE)
Developer Experience (DX)FoundationalHigh (Integrated CF)High (Specific Features)High (CLI, Conventions)
CLI ToolingNonewranglerTesting utilitiesYes (mcp)
DeploymentLocal/Any ServerCloudflare WorkersLocal/Any ServerLocal/Any Server

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Deployment Models: Local vs. Remote

Understand the trade-offs between running your MCP server locally or remotely.

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Local MCP Servers

Run directly on the user’s machine, typically communicating via stdio.Primary Communication Method: stdio (Standard Input/Output) Best suited for: @modelcontextprotocol/sdk, fastmcp, mcp-framework

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Framework Deep Dive

Explore the core philosophy, features, typical use cases, and code examples for each framework.

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Overview & Philosophy

Understand the main goal and design principles behind each framework.
  • Goal: Provide the official, foundational TypeScript implementation of the MCP specification.
  • Philosophy: Offer low-level primitives (Server, Resource, Tool, Prompt) for maximum control and strict spec adherence. Does not impose structure beyond the MCP core.
  • Nature: A library/SDK, not a full framework. Forms the base for other frameworks like mcp-framework.

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Key Features

Highlighting the standout features of each framework.
  • Spec Compliance: Full, official implementation of the MCP specification.
  • Core Primitives: Exports fundamental classes/interfaces (Server, Resource, Tool, Prompt).
  • Transport Flexibility: Supports stdio and HTTP/SSE.
  • Extensibility: Designed as a base for other frameworks or direct use.
  • Minimalist: No built-in session management, auto-discovery, or advanced features; requires manual implementation.

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Code Examples

Illustrative examples of defining a simple “add” tool in each framework. 
import { Server } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js";
import { StdioServerTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js";
import { z } from "zod";

const AddToolSchema = {
  name: "add",
  description: "Add two numbers together",
  parameters: z.object({
    a: z.number(),
    b: z.number(),
  }),
};

const server = new Server({ name: "sdk-example-server", version: "1.0.0" }, {
  capabilities: { tools: {} } 
});

server.setToolHandler(AddToolSchema, async (params) => {
  const { a, b } = params;
  const sum = a + b;
  return {
    content: [{ type: "text", text: String(sum) }]
  };
});

const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
await server.connect(transport);
console.log("SDK Server connected via stdio");

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Best For

Summarizing the ideal scenarios for choosing each framework.
Best For:
  • Production Implementations: Where stability and official support are key.
  • Strict Compliance: Projects needing precise adherence to the MCP spec.
  • Framework Builders: As a foundation for creating higher-level MCP frameworks.
  • Maximum Control: When fine-grained control over server behavior is required.
  • Learning MCP: Understanding the core protocol mechanics.

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Making Your Choice: Key Questions

Consider these factors when selecting your framework:

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Further Resources

Official documentation and repositories for each framework.