GitHub MCP Server
GitHub MCP Server is GitHub's official MCP for issues, PRs, and Actions; add https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ to your client.
OUR TAKE
Pick GitHub MCP Server for teams whose coding agent should open PRs and read Actions on GitHub. OAuth or a PAT is required.
Good fit
Teams whose coding agent should open PRs and read Actions on GitHub.
Poor fit
People who only want rendered documentation from a repo, or local git without GitHub.com.
Free / OSS
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/pricing
OUR TAKE
Pick GitHub MCP Server for teams whose coding agent should open PRs and read Actions on GitHub. OAuth or a PAT is required. Remote setup asks for a GitHub login.
Good fit
Teams whose coding agent should open PRs and read Actions on GitHub.
Poor fit
People who only want rendered documentation from a repo, or local git without GitHub.com.
Free / OSS
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/pricing
What it costs
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/pricing
Free / OSS
MIT. The server binary and remote URL have no seat SKU of their own
$0
GitHub account required.
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Deprecated npm
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Checked 2026-11-01·github.com/pricing
Install and adoption
MCP server34,138 GitHub stars (2026-11-01) · 204,887 weekly on npm (@modelcontextprotocol/server-github) (2026-11-01)
Stars 2026-11-01 from GitHub API (https://api.github.com/repos/github/github-mcp-server). Downloads 2026-11-01 from npm (https://api.npmjs.org/downloads/point/last-week/@modelcontextprotocol/server-github).
Star growth note: npm @modelcontextprotocol/server-github is the deprecated package; prefer the official remote URL. Weekly downloads still 204,887 on 2026-11-01.
VS Code remote MCP
{ "servers": { "github": { "type": "http", "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/" } } }From official docs — requires OAuth sign-in, not tested · https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
Cursor remote MCP
{ "mcpServers": { "github": { "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_GITHUB_PAT" } } } }From official docs — requires OAuth sign-in, not tested · https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/blob/main/docs/installation-guides/install-cursor.md
Docker / Claude Code local image
claude mcp add github -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=$GITHUB_PAT -- docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server
From official docs — requires OAuth sign-in, not tested · https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
Before you pay
Good fit
Teams whose coding agent should open PRs and read Actions on GitHub.
Poor fit
People who only want rendered documentation from a repo, or local git without GitHub.com.
Watch out
OAuth or a PAT is required. Remote setup asks for a GitHub login.
Instead, try
GitHub Copilot if completions and chat inside the IDE and GitHub you already use, not a standalone MCP URL; Context7 if current library docs, not GitHub issues and Actions
Compare GitHub MCP Server with
Limits, in full
- 01
OAuth or a PAT is required. Remote setup asks for a GitHub login.
- 02
It is not a docs MCP. For library docs see Context7.
- 03
The old npm package is deprecated. New installs should use the remote URL or ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server.
If GitHub MCP Server isn't it
Why: completions and chat inside the IDE and GitHub you already use, not a standalone MCP URL.
Free· paid from$10/mo
Flex credits are not unlimited AgentChecked 2026-10-19·github.com/features/copilot
vs GitHub MCP Server
Why: current library docs, not GitHub issues and Actions.
Free· open source,MIT
A free key is recommendedChecked 2026-11-01·github.com/upstash/context7
vs GitHub MCP Server
Why: a terminal agent that can use this MCP, not a replacement for it.
Paid only$17/mo yearly
Claude Code is on paid seatsChecked 2026-10-22·anthropic.com/pricing
vs GitHub MCP ServerLimits & alternatives3 limits · GitHub Copilot, Context7, Claude Code instead
Limits, in full
- 01
OAuth or a PAT is required. Remote setup asks for a GitHub login.
- 02
It is not a docs MCP. For library docs see Context7.
- 03
The old npm package is deprecated. New installs should use the remote URL or ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server.
If GitHub MCP Server isn't it
Why: completions and chat inside the IDE and GitHub you already use, not a standalone MCP URL.
Free· paid from$10/mo
Flex credits are not unlimited AgentChecked 2026-10-19·github.com/features/copilot
vs GitHub MCP ServerWhy: current library docs, not GitHub issues and Actions.
Free· open source,MIT
A free key is recommendedChecked 2026-11-01·github.com/upstash/context7
vs GitHub MCP ServerWhy: a terminal agent that can use this MCP, not a replacement for it.
Paid only$17/mo yearly
Claude Code is on paid seatsChecked 2026-10-22·anthropic.com/pricing
vs GitHub MCP Server