--- description: "The best MCP servers for Cursor in 2026, ranked by IDE workflow: design-to-code, browser testing, and docs lookup, plus how to run them through one gateway." title: Best MCP Servers for Cursor in 2026 and One Gateway to Run Them image: https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w1200/2026/10/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor-in-2026-and-one-gateway-to-run-t-bifrost-1920x1080.png --- Try Bifrost Enterprise free for 14 days. [Request access](https://www.getmaxim.ai/#enterprise-trial) **TL;DR** - The best MCP servers for Cursor in 2026 are Figma and shadcn/ui for design-to-code, Playwright and Chrome DevTools for browser testing, Context7 for docs, and GitHub, Supabase, Vercel, Sentry, and Linear for delivery. - Cursor reads MCP configuration from `.cursor/mcp.json` (project) and `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (global), merges the two, and supports stdio, SSE, and Streamable HTTP transports. - Each server adds tool definitions to the agent's context and a credential to each laptop, which stops scaling at eight to ten servers per team. - Bifrost exposes every connected MCP server through one `/mcp` endpoint, filters tools per virtual key, holds upstream credentials at the gateway, and logs MCP tool calls. - Bifrost Code Mode replaces large tool catalogs with four meta-tools and cut input tokens by 92.8% in a 508-tool, 16-server benchmark. Cursor loads MCP servers from a project or global `mcp.json` file, and each server adds its own tools, credentials, and approval prompts to the agent. The best MCP servers for Cursor turn the editor into a front-end workbench: Figma frames become components, Playwright and Chrome DevTools test the page that was just built, and Context7 pulls current library docs into the prompt. [Bifrost](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost), the [open-source MCP and AI gateway](https://github.com/maximhq/bifrost) built by Maxim AI, is the best choice for enterprises running mission-critical AI workloads that require best-in-class performance, scalability, and reliability, and it lets a team run those servers behind one endpoint instead of ten entries per laptop. This guide ranks ten servers by Cursor workflow, then shows the gateway setup. ## How Cursor MCP Servers Are Configured Cursor MCP servers are declared in JSON. A project file at `.cursor/mcp.json` holds servers the repository shares, and a global file at `~/.cursor/mcp.json` holds personal ones. Cursor merges both, and the project entry wins on a name clash. Servers run locally over stdio or remotely over SSE or Streamable HTTP. The [Cursor MCP documentation](https://cursor.com/docs/mcp) lists three transports, and the choice decides where the server runs and who manages its credential: | Transport | Where it runs | Who can use it | How it authenticates | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | stdio | Local process that Cursor starts | Single user | Environment variables in `mcp.json` | | SSE | Local or remote server | Multiple users | OAuth or headers | | Streamable HTTP | Local or remote server | Multiple users | OAuth or headers | A remote entry is a `url` plus optional `headers`, and Cursor resolves `${env:NAME}` in those fields, so tokens can stay out of committed files. ![Project and global mcp.json files merge into the Cursor agent, which starts local stdio servers and connects to remote HTTP servers with credentials stored on the laptop](https://articles-images-cdn.t3.tigrisfiles.io/diagrams/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor-native-wiring.png) *Figure 1: Every server in mcp.json is wired separately on each laptop, with its own credential and its own tool definitions.* Three Cursor behaviors shape server choice: - **Approval is per tool call by default.** Run Modes and allowlists change that per tool. - **Tool count is a real constraint.** Cursor recommends toggling servers off to reduce clutter, and [Cursor staff on the forum](https://forum.cursor.com/t/cli-mcp-tool-limits/165642) have described a per-model cap on tool definitions per request. - **Enterprise admins get an MCP allowlist.** It approves configurations by command or URL pattern; it does not hold credentials or log tool calls. That last gap is what an [MCP gateway centralizes for every client](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/mcp-gateway-explained-what-it-is-and-how-it-works/), which is why this list starts with one. ## The Best MCP Servers for Cursor at a Glance The best MCP servers for Cursor remove a context switch from the IDE: Figma, a browser's DevTools panel, library docs, a pull request, a database console, a deploy log, an error tracker, or an issue board. The table maps each server to its maintainer, transport, and Cursor workflow. | # | Server | Maintainer | Transport | Cursor workflow | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Bifrost](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/overview) | Maxim AI (open source) | HTTP, SSE | One governed endpoint for every server below | | 2 | Figma MCP server | Figma | Remote HTTP | Design-to-code from selected frames | | 3 | shadcn/ui MCP server | shadcn/ui project | stdio | Search and install registry components | | 4 | Playwright MCP | Microsoft | stdio | Drive and test pages through accessibility snapshots | | 5 | Chrome DevTools MCP | Chrome DevTools team | stdio | Console, network, and performance debugging | | 6 | Context7 | Upstash | Remote HTTP | Version-specific library docs in the prompt | | 7 | GitHub MCP server | GitHub | Remote HTTP or local | Repos, issues, pull requests, Actions | | 8 | Supabase MCP | Supabase | Remote HTTP | Schema, queries, and project config | | 9 | Vercel MCP | Vercel | Remote HTTP | Deployments, logs, and docs search | | 10 | Sentry MCP | Sentry | Remote HTTP or stdio | Errors and traces for the code being edited | | 11 | Linear MCP | Linear | Streamable HTTP | Issues, projects, and comments | ## 1. Bifrost: One MCP Gateway in Front of Every Server [Bifrost, the open-source AI gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost), acts as both an MCP client and an MCP server. It connects to upstream servers over STDIO, HTTP, or SSE, then exposes all of their tools to Cursor through a single `/mcp` endpoint. Cursor's `mcp.json` holds one entry instead of ten, and credentials, tool policy, and logs live at the gateway. ![Without a gateway each Cursor install holds every MCP server entry and token; with Bifrost each install holds one MCP gateway URL and a virtual key](https://articles-images-cdn.t3.tigrisfiles.io/diagrams/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor-without-vs-with-gateway.png) *Figure 2: The gateway moves credentials, tool policy, and logs off individual laptops and into one place the platform team controls.* What Bifrost adds to a Cursor MCP setup: - **One endpoint.** `POST /mcp` handles JSON-RPC tool discovery and calls, and `GET /mcp` serves SSE, so any MCP-capable client connects to the [Bifrost MCP gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost/resources/mcp-gateway) with a URL and a header. - **Tool filtering per virtual key.** A key's `tools/list` returns only the tools it is granted, and `tools/call` is checked against the same allow-list. - **Centralized upstream auth.** Upstream servers can use static headers, OAuth 2.0, per-user OAuth, or per-user headers, so developers sign in through the gateway instead of pasting tokens into dotfiles. - **Code Mode.** Heavy servers can be hidden behind four meta-tools so their definitions stop filling the context window. - **Health checks.** Bifrost pings each upstream server, refreshes its tool list every 10 minutes by default, and reconnects failed clients. The same deployment can serve Cursor's model traffic: Bifrost reaches [25+ providers and 10,000+ models](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/providers/supported-providers/overview) through one OpenAI-compatible API and adds [11 microseconds of overhead at 5,000 RPS](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost/resources/benchmarks). The [Cursor integration guide](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/cli-agents/cursor) covers that setup. ## Design-to-Code: Figma MCP Server and shadcn/ui Design-to-code servers give the Cursor agent structured design data instead of a screenshot. The Figma MCP server returns frame layout, variables, and component mappings, and the shadcn/ui MCP server installs real registry components, so generated UI starts from the team's tokens and components. ### 2. Figma MCP Server **Maintainer:** Figma. **Endpoint:** `https://mcp.figma.com/mcp`, installed in Cursor with `/add-plugin figma` in agent chat, which also adds Figma's agent skills. **Cursor use case:** select a frame and ask the agent to build it with components from `src/components/ui`. `get_design_context` returns a React and Tailwind representation of the selection, and `get_variable_defs` returns the color, spacing, and typography tokens, so output references tokens instead of hex values. Starter plan users, and View or Collab seats on paid plans, get 6 tool calls per month, so design-to-code needs a Dev or Full seat in practice. Hosted servers like Figma suit [connecting SaaS MCP servers through one gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/remote-mcp-servers-connecting-and-securing-saas-servers-through-one-gateway/), because the OAuth grant then sits in one place. ### 3. shadcn/ui MCP Server **Maintainer:** the shadcn/ui project. **Setup:** `npx shadcn@latest mcp init --client cursor` writes a `.cursor/mcp.json` entry that runs `npx shadcn@latest mcp`. **Cursor use case:** "Add the dialog and card components and build a contact form." The server searches and installs items from the registries in `components.json`, including private ones, so the agent installs the real component rather than a lookalike. ## Browser Testing: Playwright MCP and Chrome DevTools MCP Browser servers let the Cursor agent open the page it just changed, click through it, and read what broke. Playwright MCP drives pages through accessibility snapshots, and Chrome DevTools MCP exposes console, network, and performance data from a live Chrome. Both run locally to reach the dev server. ### 4. Playwright MCP **Maintainer:** Microsoft. **Setup:** `npx @playwright/mcp@latest` as a stdio command ([Playwright MCP repository](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp)). **Cursor use case:** "Open localhost:3000, sign up with a test account, and confirm the success toast renders." Playwright MCP reads accessibility snapshots rather than pixels, so no vision model is needed. The Playwright team notes that snapshots are token-heavy and positions MCP for exploratory automation and self-healing tests, so enable it per project rather than globally. ### 5. Chrome DevTools MCP **Maintainer:** the Chrome DevTools team at Google. **Setup:** `npx -y chrome-devtools-mcp@latest`. **Cursor use case:** "The checkout page is slow on first load; record a trace and tell me what blocks rendering." The server records performance traces, reads network requests and console messages with source-mapped stack traces, and automates Chrome through Puppeteer. Before rollout, note that usage statistics go to Google unless `--no-usage-statistics` is passed, and trace URLs may go to the CrUX API unless `--no-performance-crux` is set. Local stdio servers are also the hardest to see across a fleet, the gap covered in [visibility and control for shadow MCP servers](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/shadow-mcp-servers-visibility-and-control-at-the-gateway/). ## Docs and Code Context: Context7 and the GitHub MCP Server Context servers fix two common causes of wrong generated code in Cursor: outdated API knowledge and missing repository context. Context7 injects current, version-specific library documentation, and the GitHub MCP server gives the agent issues, pull requests, and Actions runs inside the editor. ### 6. Context7 **Maintainer:** Upstash. **Endpoint:** `https://mcp.context7.com/mcp`, with a free API key recommended. **Cursor use case:** "Create a Next.js proxy that checks a JWT cookie. use context7." Two tools do the work: `resolve-library-id` maps a library name to a Context7 ID, and `query-docs` returns docs and code examples for it. At two tools, it is the lightest server here and a sensible default for front-end projects on fast-moving frameworks. ### 7. GitHub MCP Server **Maintainer:** GitHub. **Endpoint:** `https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/` remotely, or a local binary ([GitHub MCP server repository](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server)). **Cursor use case:** "Read the review comments on PR 482 and apply the requested changes," or "Why did the last Actions run on this branch fail?" The server covers repositories, issues, pull requests, Actions, and code security findings. It is also the server most likely to crowd the tool list. Pass only the toolsets the project needs (for example `repos,issues,pull_requests`) and use `--read-only` where the agent should never write. Through a gateway, GitHub suits per-user OAuth, covered in [MCP server authentication for agent tool access](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/mcp-server-authentication-how-to-secure-agent-tool-access/). ## Backend, Deploys, and Issues: Supabase, Vercel, Sentry, and Linear The last four servers connect the code in Cursor to the systems it ships to. Supabase exposes the database, Vercel exposes deployments, Sentry exposes production errors, and Linear exposes the issue that started the work. All four are hosted remote servers, the easiest kind to route through a gateway. ### 8. Supabase MCP **Maintainer:** Supabase. **Endpoint:** `https://mcp.supabase.com/mcp`. **Cursor use case:** "Add a `last_seen_at` column to `profiles` and update the TypeScript types." The server manages tables, fetches config, and queries data. URL options scope it: `project_ref` limits it to one project, `read_only=true` removes mutating tools, and `features` picks tool groups. Read-only is the right default for most developers. ### 9. Vercel MCP **Maintainer:** Vercel. **Endpoint:** `https://mcp.vercel.com`, available on all Vercel plans. **Cursor use case:** "This branch's preview deploy failed; read the build logs and fix it." Vercel MCP searches docs, manages projects and deployments, analyzes deployment logs, and queries Web Analytics. ### 10. Sentry MCP **Maintainer:** Sentry. **Endpoint:** `https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp`, with a stdio mode for self-hosted Sentry. **Cursor use case:** "Find the top unresolved error in the checkout service and fix it in this file." Sentry built the server for human-in-the-loop coding agents such as Cursor, prioritizing debugging over full API coverage. ### 11. Linear MCP **Maintainer:** Linear. **Endpoint:** `https://mcp.linear.app/mcp` over Streamable HTTP with OAuth 2.1, or `https://mcp.linear.app/mcp/readonly` for read tools only. **Cursor use case:** "Pick up ENG-1204, implement it, and post a summary comment when done." The server finds, creates, and updates issues, projects, and comments. Linear also accepts an API key as a bearer token, convenient for one developer but risky across many dotfiles, one reason teams move to [connecting multiple MCP servers through one gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/how-to-connect-multiple-mcp-servers-through-one-gateway/). ## Why Ten MCP Servers Break Down Across a Cursor Team Ten MCP servers work for one developer, not for a team. Each server adds tool definitions to every agent request and a credential to each laptop, and each install picks its own tools and approvals. The result is token overhead, scattered secrets, and no shared record of which tools ran. | Problem at team scale | What happens in Cursor | Control at the gateway | | --- | --- | --- | | Tool definitions pile up | Agent context fills with schemas; tool choice gets harder | Per-key tool filtering, Code Mode | | Credentials on laptops | API keys and tokens in many `mcp.json` files and shells | Upstream auth held by Bifrost, per-user OAuth | | No shared policy | Each developer enables different servers and write tools | Virtual key grants and Virtual MCPs | | No central record | Tool calls visible only in each user's MCP Logs panel | Gateway logs of MCP tool calls | | Offboarding | Revoking access means finding every copied token | Disable the virtual key | [The hidden cost of connecting multiple MCP servers to an agent](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/the-hidden-cost-of-connecting-multiple-mcp-servers-to-an-agent/) breaks down the token side, and [governing Claude Code and Cursor at enterprise scale](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/governing-claude-code-and-cursor-at-enterprise-scale/) covers the policy side. Both point to a [control layer between agents and MCP servers](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/mcp-gateway-explained-what-it-is-and-how-it-works/). ## How to Run Cursor MCP Servers Through Bifrost Running Cursor MCP servers through [the Bifrost AI gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost) takes three steps: register the upstream servers in the gateway, create a virtual key that grants each team its tools, and replace the remote entries in Cursor's `mcp.json` with one Bifrost entry. Browser servers that must reach localhost stay local. ![Upstream MCP tools pass through the server allow-list, the virtual key grant, and an optional Virtual MCP slug before reaching the Cursor tool list](https://articles-images-cdn.t3.tigrisfiles.io/diagrams/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor-tool-filtering.png) *Figure 3: Each layer can only remove tools, so a developer key never sees more than the platform team granted.* ### Step 1: Register the remote servers Add each hosted server as an [MCP client in Bifrost](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/connecting-to-servers). Per-user OAuth needs only the auth type and URL when the upstream supports discovery. ```json { "mcp": { "client_configs": [ { "name": "context7", "connection_type": "http", "connection_string": "", "auth_type": "none", "tools_to_execute": ["*"] }, { "name": "linear", "connection_type": "http", "connection_string": "", "auth_type": "per_user_oauth", "tools_to_execute": ["*"] } ] } } ``` With [per-user MCP authentication](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/auth/overview), a developer's first Linear call returns a sign-in URL; Bifrost then stores the token against that developer's identity. ### Step 2: Grant tools per virtual key [Virtual keys](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/features/governance/virtual-keys) carry an `mcp_configs` list. A key with no MCP configuration gets no MCP tools, except from clients marked Allow by Default, so new servers stay invisible until granted. The [three filtering levels](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/filtering) stack, and a request header can narrow a key's grant but never widen it. ```json { "governance": { "virtual_keys": [ { "name": "frontend-team", "mcp_configs": [ { "mcp_client_name": "context7", "tools_to_execute": ["*"] }, { "mcp_client_name": "linear", "tools_to_execute": ["*"] } ] } ] } } ``` For a fixed per-project bundle, a [Virtual MCP](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/virtual-mcps) groups chosen tools from several servers behind its own `/mcp/` URL, reachable only through attached keys. On enterprise deployments, [access profiles](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/enterprise/access-profiles) grant them to whole roles. ### Step 3: Point Cursor at the gateway Replace the remote entries in `.cursor/mcp.json` with one Bifrost entry. Cursor resolves `${env:...}` in headers, so the key stays out of git, and any `x-bf-lh-*` header is captured into the gateway's MCP log metadata. ```json { "mcpServers": { "bifrost": { "url": "", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:BIFROST_VIRTUAL_KEY}", "x-bf-lh-team": "web-platform" } }, "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": ["@playwright/mcp@latest"] } } } ``` In production, set `enforce_auth_on_inference` so every `/mcp` request needs a valid key, or use [OAuth 2.1 gateway authentication](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/gateway-auth) instead of a pasted key. Tool approval stays in Cursor's own settings. If Cursor's model traffic also goes through Bifrost, turn on Disable Auto Tool Injection so tools are not sent twice. Teams with VPC or on-prem requirements can run this on [Bifrost Enterprise](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost/enterprise). ## Cutting Tool Tokens with MCP Code Mode Code Mode is a Bifrost setting, enabled per MCP server, that replaces a server's tool definitions with four meta-tools. The model lists servers, reads compact Python stubs only for the tools it needs, and submits a script that runs in a sandbox inside the gateway, so tool tokens stop growing with each server added. ![The Cursor agent sees four Bifrost Code Mode meta-tools, reads tool stubs on demand, and sends code that runs in a sandbox inside the gateway against upstream MCP servers](https://articles-images-cdn.t3.tigrisfiles.io/diagrams/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor-code-mode.png) *Figure 4: The model loads only the stubs it needs, so tool-definition tokens stop growing with every server added.* The four tools are `listToolFiles`, `readToolFile`, `getToolDocs`, and `executeToolCode`. Scripts run in a Starlark interpreter with no file system or network access, and nested calls keep the request's virtual key filters. [Code Mode](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/mcp/code-mode) was benchmarked against classic MCP in three rounds: | MCP footprint | Input tokens, classic | Input tokens, Code Mode | Change | Pass rate, Code Mode | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 96 tools, 6 servers | 19.9M | 8.3M | -58.2% | 100% | | 251 tools, 11 servers | 35.7M | 5.5M | -84.5% | 100% | | 508 tools, 16 servers | 75.1M | 5.4M | -92.8% | 100% | Savings grow with server count; a team running the ten servers here sits between the first two rounds. Enable Code Mode for heavy servers such as GitHub and Supabase, and keep small ones such as Context7 as direct tools. The full methodology is in the [Bifrost MCP gateway benchmark writeup](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost/blog/bifrost-mcp-gateway-access-control-cost-governance-and-92-lower-token-costs-at-scale). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can Cursor use MCP servers? Yes. Cursor supports MCP tools, prompts, resources, roots, elicitation, and the MCP Apps extension. Servers are added through the Customize page or in `mcp.json`, over stdio, SSE, or Streamable HTTP. The agent uses connected tools when relevant and asks for approval before each call by default, unless Run Mode settings or allowlists say otherwise. ### What are the most useful MCP servers? For Cursor, the most useful MCP servers match daily IDE work: Figma for design-to-code, Playwright or Chrome DevTools for testing in a browser, Context7 for current library docs, and GitHub for pull requests and CI. Supabase, Vercel, Sentry, and Linear help when a team uses those platforms. Start with three or four and add more only when a workflow needs them. ### How to find MCP servers in Cursor? Open Customize in the Cursor sidebar and select MCPs to browse the Cursor Marketplace and install official servers with one click. Community servers are listed on cursor.directory, and team admins can distribute approved servers through a team marketplace. Behind Bifrost, each developer sees the tools their virtual key grants. ### How to add MCP server to Cursor? Add an entry under `mcpServers` in `.cursor/mcp.json` for one project or `~/.cursor/mcp.json` for all projects. Local servers use `command`, `args`, and `env`; remote servers use `url` and optional `headers`. Use `${env:NAME}` for secrets, then restart Cursor or toggle the server in Customize. A single Bifrost entry can replace several remote entries. ### How to build an MCP server for Cursor? Write the server with an MCP SDK in any language that can print to stdout or serve an HTTP endpoint, then register it in `mcp.json` as a stdio command or a URL. For a team, register it in [Bifrost as an MCP gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost/resources/mcp-gateway) so every developer reaches it through one endpoint with per-key tool access. ### Is there a limit on MCP tools in Cursor? Cursor's documentation does not publish a fixed tool count, but model providers cap how many tool definitions one request can carry, and Cursor recommends disabling unused servers. Toggling individual tools in the chat panel helps. At team scale, per-key filtering and Code Mode in Bifrost keep the tool list short. ## Run Your Cursor MCP Servers Through Bifrost The best MCP servers for Cursor are Figma, shadcn/ui, Playwright, Chrome DevTools, Context7, GitHub, Supabase, Vercel, Sentry, and Linear. Running them through [the open-source Bifrost gateway](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost) gives a team one endpoint, tool grants per virtual key, credentials held at the gateway, Code Mode for token cost, and logs of every tool call. Explore more [Bifrost resources](https://www.getmaxim.ai/bifrost/resources), or [book a demo](https://getmaxim.ai/bifrost/book-a-demo) to see Bifrost run a governed MCP gateway for your Cursor team. ## Read next [![Top 5 MintMCP Alternatives for Governing MCP in 2026](https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w720/2026/10/top-5-mintmcp-alternatives-for-governing-mcp-in-2026-bifrost-1920x1080.png) MintMCP, now renamed Mintive, is a managed MCP gateway for governing which tools AI agents can reach. This guide compares five MintMCP alternatives, including Bifrost, Docker MCP Gateway, IBM ContextForge, and Obot, on deployment, tool-level access control, identity, and audit.](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/mintmcp-alternatives/) [![15 Best MCP Servers for Claude Code in 2026, and How to Run Them Through One Gateway](https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w720/2026/10/15-best-mcp-servers-for-claude-code-in-2026-and-how-to-run-t-bifrost-1920x1080.png) The best MCP servers for Claude Code are vendor-maintained servers that connect the terminal agent to GitHub, Sentry, Playwright, Context7, Supabase, and more. This guide covers 15 of them, how to add each one, and how to run them all through Bifrost as one MCP gateway.](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/best-mcp-servers-for-claude-code/) [![What Is an MCP Gateway? How It Governs Agent Tool Access](https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w720/2026/10/what-is-an-mcp-gateway-how-it-governs-agent-tool-access-bifrost-1920x1080.png) An MCP gateway is a control layer that gives AI agents one endpoint for every Model Context Protocol server while centralizing authentication, tool access, guardrails, and audit logging. This guide explains how an MCP gateway works and how it compares to MCP servers, proxies, and LLM gateways.](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/what-is-an-mcp-gateway/) ## More in MCP Gateway [![15 Best MCP Servers for Claude Code in 2026, and How to Run Them Through One Gateway](https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w720/2026/10/15-best-mcp-servers-for-claude-code-in-2026-and-how-to-run-t-bifrost-1920x1080.png) The best MCP servers for Claude Code are vendor-maintained servers that connect the terminal agent to GitHub, Sentry, Playwright, Context7, Supabase, and more. This guide covers 15 of them, how to add each one, and how to run them all through Bifrost as one MCP gateway.](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/best-mcp-servers-for-claude-code/) [![Top 5 MintMCP Alternatives for Governing MCP in 2026](https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w720/2026/10/top-5-mintmcp-alternatives-for-governing-mcp-in-2026-bifrost-1920x1080.png) MintMCP, now renamed Mintive, is a managed MCP gateway for governing which tools AI agents can reach. This guide compares five MintMCP alternatives, including Bifrost, Docker MCP Gateway, IBM ContextForge, and Obot, on deployment, tool-level access control, identity, and audit.](https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/mintmcp-alternatives/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Maxim Articles", "url": "https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w256h256/2025/08/thumbnail.png", "width": 60, "height": 60 } }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kuldeep Paul", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/2025/08/1727978381919.jpeg", "width": 800, "height": 800 }, "url": "https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/author/kuldeep/", "sameAs": [] }, "headline": "Best MCP Servers for Cursor in 2026 and One Gateway to Run Them", "url": "https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor/", "datePublished": "2026-10-13T10:08:00.000Z", "dateModified": "2026-10-18T10:09:31.000Z", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://storage.ghost.io/c/84/03/8403f2f6-141c-411a-8f55-a32d4291533e/content/images/size/w1200/2026/10/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor-in-2026-and-one-gateway-to-run-t-bifrost-1920x1080.png", "width": 1200, "height": 675 }, "keywords": "MCP Gateway", "description": "The best MCP servers for Cursor connect the editor to design files, browsers, docs, and delivery tools. This guide ranks Figma, Playwright, Context7, GitHub, Linear, and five more by Cursor workflow, then shows how Bifrost runs them all behind one governed endpoint.", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.getmaxim.ai/articles/best-mcp-servers-for-cursor/" } ```