Comparison
arcade-mcp vs fastmcp
Verdict
Pick arcade-mcp if arcade-MCP is an MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library specifically built for incorporating custom capabilities into AI agents using the Model Context Protocol; pick fastmcp if fastmcp is a Python library for building MCP servers and clients, designed to facilitate the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in AI development.
Markdown twin · arcade-mcp alternatives · fastmcp alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
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Trust & integrity
| Signal | arcade-mcp | fastmcp |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (1d since push) As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 18, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 11, 2026 · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Sep 18, 2026 · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- arcade-mcp
- MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library for Custom Agent Capabilities
- fastmcp
- The fast, Pythonic way to build MCP servers and clients
Stars
- arcade-mcp
- 1.0k
- fastmcp
- 28k
Forks
- arcade-mcp
- 113
- fastmcp
- 2.4k
Open issues
- arcade-mcp
- 22
- fastmcp
- 345
Language
- arcade-mcp
- Python
- fastmcp
- Python
Adopt for
- arcade-mcp
- Arcade-MCP is an MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library specifically built for incorporating custom capabilities into AI agents using the Model Context Protocol.
- fastmcp
- fastmcp is a Python library for building MCP servers and clients, designed to facilitate the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in AI development.
Persona
- arcade-mcp
- -
- fastmcp
- -
Runtime
- arcade-mcp
- -
- fastmcp
- -
License
- arcade-mcp
- MIT
- fastmcp
- fastmcp is licensed under the Apache-2.0 license, allowing for broad use in both open-source and commercial projects.
Last pushed
- arcade-mcp
- Sep 19, 2026
- fastmcp
- Sep 17, 2026
Categories
- arcade-mcp
- AI Agents
- fastmcp
- AI Agents, Developer Tools
Trust and health
Days since push
- arcade-mcp
- 1d
- fastmcp
- 0d
Open issues (now)
- arcade-mcp
- 22
- fastmcp
- 345
Stars delta
- arcade-mcp
- +49 (30d)
- fastmcp
- +872 (30d)
Open issues delta
- arcade-mcp
- +6 (30d)
- fastmcp
- +80 (30d)
Full report
- arcade-mcp
- Trust report
- fastmcp
- Trust report
Choose arcade-mcp if…
- License: arcade-mcp is MIT, fastmcp is Apache-2.0.
- Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM.
- Tags unique to arcade-mcp: ai, arcade-ai, mcp-framework, python.
- When you need to build detailed, custom interactions between your AI agent and a structured environment that requires specific context management capabilities through the MCP protocol.
When NOT to use arcade-mcp
- If your project does not involve interaction with an environment that relies on the Model Context Protocol for its core functionality, Arcade-MCP may offer unnecessary complexity.
- When working in environments where direct support and integration of tools are crucial, arcade-mcp might have less support compared to more mainstream AI agent frameworks.
Choose fastmcp if…
- License: fastmcp is Apache-2.0, arcade-mcp is MIT.
- Requirements: fastmcp can be added to your project using the uv package manager, but full installation instructions are available on the official documentation..
- Tags unique to fastmcp: agents, fastmcp, llms, mcp.
- Also covers Developer Tools.
- Use fastmcp when you need to build MCP servers and clients in Python, as it provides a streamlined and Pythonic approach to implementing the Model Context Protocol.
When NOT to use fastmcp
- Avoid fastmcp if your project does not require the Model Context Protocol (MCP), as it is specialized for this protocol and may introduce unnecessary complexity.
- Do not use fastmcp if you are working in a language other than Python, as it is a Python-specific library and will not be compatible with other languages.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (ArcadeAI/arcade-mcp) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (ArcadeAI/arcade-mcp) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (ArcadeAI/arcade-mcp) · observed Sep 19, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 16, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (PrefectHQ/fastmcp) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (PrefectHQ/fastmcp) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (PrefectHQ/fastmcp) · observed Sep 17, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Sep 18, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Sep 18, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: arcade-mcp 1.0k · fastmcp 28k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between arcade-mcp and fastmcp?
- arcade-mcp: MCP Server Framework and Tool Development Library for Custom Agent Capabilities. fastmcp: The fast, Pythonic way to build MCP servers and clients. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose arcade-mcp over fastmcp?
- Choose arcade-mcp over fastmcp when License: arcade-mcp is MIT, fastmcp is Apache-2.0; Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Tags unique to arcade-mcp: ai, arcade-ai, mcp-framework, python; When you need to build detailed, custom interactions between your AI agent and a structured environment that requires specific context management capabilities through the MCP protocol.
- When should I choose fastmcp over arcade-mcp?
- Choose fastmcp over arcade-mcp when License: fastmcp is Apache-2.0, arcade-mcp is MIT; Requirements: fastmcp can be added to your project using the uv package manager, but full installation instructions are available on the official documentation.; Tags unique to fastmcp: agents, fastmcp, llms, mcp; Also covers Developer Tools; Use fastmcp when you need to build MCP servers and clients in Python, as it provides a streamlined and Pythonic approach to implementing the Model Context Protocol.
- When should I avoid arcade-mcp?
- If your project does not involve interaction with an environment that relies on the Model Context Protocol for its core functionality, Arcade-MCP may offer unnecessary complexity. When working in environments where direct support and integration of tools are crucial, arcade-mcp might have less support compared to more mainstream AI agent frameworks.
- When should I avoid fastmcp?
- Avoid fastmcp if your project does not require the Model Context Protocol (MCP), as it is specialized for this protocol and may introduce unnecessary complexity. Do not use fastmcp if you are working in a language other than Python, as it is a Python-specific library and will not be compatible with other languages.
- Is arcade-mcp or fastmcp more popular on GitHub?
- fastmcp has more GitHub stars (27,718 vs 1,030). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are arcade-mcp and fastmcp open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (arcade-mcp: MIT, fastmcp: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to arcade-mcp or fastmcp?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at arcade-mcp alternatives and fastmcp alternatives (arcade-mcp markdown twin, fastmcp markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, arcade-mcp or fastmcp?
- arcade-mcp: Very active. fastmcp: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for arcade-mcp and fastmcp?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: arcade-mcp trust report; fastmcp trust report.