Apps that use MCP

An MCP server adds abilities, but you need an app that calls it: a chat app, a code editor or a terminal tool. These are apps whose makers say in their own docs that they support MCP, with pros and cons you can check.

What is an MCP app?

MCP has two sides. The server holds the tools, such as reading a calendar or searching a shop. The app, often called an MCP client, is the program you talk to: it decides when to call those tools and shows you the result.

The same server works in any app that supports MCP, so you can change apps without rebuilding your tools. What differs is which servers each app can reach, what it costs, and who runs it.

1Chat apps

You type in plain language. Web versions can only reach servers in the cloud, because a web page cannot start programs on your computer.

2Code editors and extensions

Built for writing software. Most can run servers on your computer as well as reach servers in the cloud.

3Terminal tools

Run in a command line. You add servers with a command or a config file, and they fit into scripts.

4Self-hosted apps

You install them on your own server, so you choose the models and keep the data, and you also do the upkeep.

Two ways an app reaches a server

On your computer (stdio)

The app starts the server as a small program on your machine. It can reach your files, but needs a desktop app or terminal, and often Node.js or Python.

In the cloud (remote)

The app connects to the server over the internet with a URL, sometimes after you sign in. It works in web and mobile apps; your requests go through the server’s owner.

Chat apps

Claude

Anthropic’s chat app, on the web, desktop and phone. It adds MCP servers as “connectors”.

by AnthropicChat appFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

ChatGPT

OpenAI’s chat app. It connects to MCP servers in the cloud, which it shows as apps or connectors.

by OpenAIChat appFree plan and paid plans

Cloud servers

Goose

An open-source agent with a desktop app and a command line. Its add-ons (extensions) are MCP servers.

by Agentic AI FoundationChat appFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

LM Studio

A desktop app for running language models on your own computer, which can also call MCP servers.

by Element LabsChat appFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Msty Studio

A desktop chat app for local and online models. Its Toolbox adds MCP servers as tools.

by MstyChat appFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Cherry Studio

An open-source desktop chat app for many model providers, with MCP servers built in.

by CherryHQChat appFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

5ire

An open-source desktop chat app that calls tools from MCP servers.

by nanbingxyzChat appFree

Open source

Code editors

Cursor

A code editor built around an assistant. It runs MCP servers on your computer and connects to cloud servers.

by AnysphereCode editorFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

VS Code + GitHub Copilot

Microsoft’s free code editor. GitHub Copilot’s agent mode uses MCP servers.

by Microsoft · GitHubCode editorFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Visual Studio

Microsoft’s IDE for Windows. GitHub Copilot inside it uses MCP servers.

by MicrosoftCode editorFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

A code editor by Cognition, renamed from Windsurf to Devin Desktop. Its Cascade agent uses MCP servers.

by CognitionCode editorFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Zed

An open-source code editor whose built-in agent uses MCP servers.

by Zed IndustriesCode editorFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Kiro

AWS’s coding app, with an editor, a command line and a web version, all able to use MCP servers.

by AWSCode editorFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Editor extensions

Cline

An open-source coding agent that runs inside VS Code and other editors, and uses MCP servers.

by ClineEditor extensionFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Continue

An open-source assistant for VS Code and JetBrains, with a command-line version, that uses MCP in agent mode.

by ContinueEditor extensionFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

JetBrains AI Assistant

The assistant built into JetBrains IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm, together with the Junie agent. Both use MCP servers.

by JetBrainsEditor extensionFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Terminal tools

Claude Code

Anthropic’s coding agent for the terminal. It runs MCP servers on your computer and connects to cloud servers.

by AnthropicTerminal toolPaid

Cloud serversServers on your computer

Codex CLI

OpenAI’s open-source coding agent for the terminal, which uses MCP servers.

by OpenAITerminal toolFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Gemini CLI

Google’s open-source agent for the terminal, which uses MCP servers.

by GoogleTerminal toolPaid

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

OpenCode

An open-source coding agent for the terminal, with a desktop app, that uses MCP servers.

by AnomalyTerminal toolFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

nodecode

An open-source terminal agent written in Common Lisp. An “mcp” cell gives it tools from MCP servers.

by nodecode-aiTerminal toolFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Warp

A terminal app with a built-in agent that uses MCP servers.

by WarpTerminal toolFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Self-hosted apps

LibreChat

An open-source chat website you run on your own server, for many models, with MCP support.

by LibreChatSelf-hosted appFree

Cloud serversServers on your computerOpen source

Open WebUI

A chat website you run on your own server, for Ollama and other model providers, that connects to MCP servers.

by Open WebUISelf-hosted appFree

Cloud serversOpen source

Other apps

Raycast

A launcher for Mac, Windows and iOS. Its AI chat can call MCP servers.

by RaycastOtherFree plan and paid plans

Cloud serversServers on your computer

How we choose: the maker’s own docs say it supports MCP, it was updated in the last 6 months, and open-source apps have at least 100 GitHub stars. 25 apps, checked Nov 10, 2026. We do not rank or score them.