Smithery vs Glama
Smithery and Glama side by side: what each one is, and the full review of each.
Smithery
Registry and hosting platform for MCP servers. 6,000+ servers indexed. One-command install and configuration via CLI. Supports local and hosted deployments.
Glama
Largest MCP server directory with 17,000+ servers. Security grading (A/B/C/F), compatibility scoring, and install configs. ChatGPT-like UI for browsing and testing.
At a glance
| Field | | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | MCP Tools | MCP Tools |
| Website | smithery.ai | glama.ai |
In Depth
Smithery
Smithery is the leading registry and management platform for Model Context Protocol servers, indexing over 6,000 servers as of early 2026. The CLI lets you search, install, and configure MCP servers from your terminal in one command, without hand-editing JSON config files. It supports both local installations where tools run on your machine and hosted deployments where tools run on Smithery's infrastructure. The client-aware configuration automatically detects whether you are using Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client and generates the right config format. For developers entering the MCP ecosystem, Smithery is the easiest on-ramp. Browse the registry, run a single install command, and your AI assistant has new capabilities.
Glama
Glama hosts the largest collection of Model Context Protocol servers, with over 17,000 indexed as of early 2026. Every server is scanned and ranked based on security, compatibility, and ease of use, receiving a letter grade (A through F) so you can assess risk before installing. The directory supports sorting by search relevance, recent usage, date added, weekly downloads, and GitHub stars. Beyond the directory, Glama provides a ChatGPT-like UI for browsing and testing servers, an API gateway, and multiple transport options. It also features curated packs and trending skills to help you discover useful servers. For teams evaluating MCP servers for production use, the security grading system provides a level of vetting that no other directory offers.
