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Comparison · Updated
GitHub vs GitLab: MCP servers compared
Which one works better with Claude, ChatGPT and other AI assistants? Here is what each vendor publishes, side by side, from our dated verdicts.
The short answer
- Both GitHub and GitLab publish an official MCP server.
- Safety flags to review: GitHub 2, GitLab 1. See each verdict for details.
Side by side
| Detail | GitHub | GitLab |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Official | Official |
| Claude connector | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Server | GitHub MCP Server (GitHub) | GitLab MCP server (GitLab) |
| How it runs | Hosted (remote URL) | Hosted (remote URL) |
| Sign-in | OAuth sign-in | OAuth sign-in |
| Stage | Generally available | Generally available |
| Plan needed | README names no plan tier; remote use needs an MCP host that supports remote servers (e.g. VS Code 1.101+) and any applicable org policies enabled. | Free, Premium and Ultimate on GitLab.com, Self-Managed and Dedicated; access must first be allowed for the top-level group (GitLab.com) or the instance. GitLab.com rate limit 60 req/min (Free), 600 (Premium/Ultimate). |
| Documented tools | 8 (2 read, 6 write) | 8 (4 read, 4 write) |
| Can delete data | Yes, 1 tool | No documented delete tools |
| Safety flags | Remote supports OAuth, but a GitHub PAT sent as a Bearer header is also accepted; PATs are long-lived and can be broad. Local use can also use GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN. · Write and destructive tools (e.g. merge_pull_request, delete_file, delete_repository) exist. A --read-only flag and toolset selection are documented; default toolsets are context, repos, issues, pull_requests, users, which include write tools. | Write tools exist (create_issue, save_merge_request, accept_merge_request, add_commit, manage_pipeline, start_duo_session). Docs do not describe a read-only mode; opt-in toolsets can limit scope via the X-Gitlab-Enabled-Mcp-Server-Toolsets header. |
| Setup guides | VS Code, Claude Code | Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code |
| Last checked | October 18, 2026 | October 18, 2026 |
GitHub verdict
As of October 2026, GitHub publishes an official MCP server, github/github-mcp-server, available as a remote endpoint at api.githubcopilot.com and as a local Docker build. The remote server signs in with OAuth or a personal access token. It includes write tools such as merge_pull_request and delete_repository, so use read-only mode or limited toolsets.
Setup, tools and safety check for GitHub →GitLab verdict
As of October 2026, GitLab has an official MCP server built into GitLab itself, documented at docs.gitlab.com and generally available since GitLab 19.5. Clients connect to your instance's /api/v4/mcp endpoint with OAuth or a fine-grained token, on Free, Premium and Ultimate. It includes write tools, and an admin must allow access first.
Setup, tools and safety check for GitLab →