Comparison
obsidian-mcp-server vs mcp-local-rag
Verdict
Pick obsidian-mcp-server if the obsidian-mcp-server is a specialized utility for interacting with Obsidian vaults using the Model Context Protocol over STDIO or Streamable HTTP; pick mcp-local-rag if mcp-local-rag is designed for developers who prioritize privacy and ease of setup when performing semantic and keyword searches on local codebases and technical documents through MCP or CLI integration.
Markdown twin · obsidian-mcp-server alternatives · mcp-local-rag alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026
13views this month
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Trust & integrity
| Signal | obsidian-mcp-server | mcp-local-rag |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Personal account As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Personal account As of Sep 20, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 26, 2026 · osv@v1 | No published findings from this source as of 2026-08-09 As of Aug 9, 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
- obsidian-mcp-server
- A tool for manipulating and interacting with Obsidian vaults through Model Context Protocol.
- mcp-local-rag
- Local-first RAG server for developers with semantic and keyword search capabilities.
Stars
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 682
- mcp-local-rag
- 400
Forks
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 103
- mcp-local-rag
- 74
Open issues
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 27
- mcp-local-rag
- 2
Language
- obsidian-mcp-server
- TypeScript
- mcp-local-rag
- TypeScript
Adopt for
- obsidian-mcp-server
- The obsidian-mcp-server is a specialized utility for interacting with Obsidian vaults using the Model Context Protocol over STDIO or Streamable HTTP.
- mcp-local-rag
- mcp-local-rag is designed for developers who prioritize privacy and ease of setup when performing semantic and keyword searches on local codebases and technical documents through MCP or CLI integration.
Persona
- obsidian-mcp-server
- -
- mcp-local-rag
- -
Runtime
- obsidian-mcp-server
- -
- mcp-local-rag
- -
License
- obsidian-mcp-server
- The Apache-2.0 license applies to obsidian-mcp-server, allowing free use, modification, and distribution under certain conditions.
- mcp-local-rag
- MIT
Last pushed
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Sep 19, 2026
- mcp-local-rag
- Sep 20, 2026
Categories
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools
- mcp-local-rag
- Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools
Trust and health
Open issues (now)
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 27
- mcp-local-rag
- 2
Stars delta
- obsidian-mcp-server
- +40 (30d)
- mcp-local-rag
- +48 (30d)
Open issues delta
- obsidian-mcp-server
- +2 (30d)
- mcp-local-rag
- -2 (30d)
OSV dependency advisories
- obsidian-mcp-server
- No lockfile (source not queried)
- mcp-local-rag
- No published findings from this source as of 2026-08-09
Full report
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Trust report
- mcp-local-rag
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Node.js · obsidian-mcp-server: Node.js runtime · mcp-local-rag: Node.js runtime
- stdio · obsidian-mcp-server: stdio transport · mcp-local-rag: stdio transport
Choose obsidian-mcp-server if…
- License: obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0, mcp-local-rag is MIT.
- Pricing: Freely accessible and distributable with commercial usage allowed..
- Requirements: The software requires a running Obsidian vault, basic knowledge of TypeScript, and an understanding of Model Context Protocol for effective use..
- Tags unique to obsidian-mcp-server: ai-tools, cyanheads, knowledge-base, mcp.
- obsidian-mcp-server ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- When requiring precise manipulation of content, tags, and metadata within an Obsidian knowledge base through automated scripts or third-party applications that support the Model Context Protocol.
When NOT to use obsidian-mcp-server
- When working with non-Obsidian knowledge bases as this tool is specifically designed for manipulating content within an Obsidian vault framework.
- If your project does not require the Model Context Protocol for communication, as this introduces a specific layer of protocol handling that may be unnecessary overhead.
Choose mcp-local-rag if…
- License: mcp-local-rag is MIT, obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to mcp-local-rag: agent-skills, hybrid-search, local-first, privacy-first.
- mcp-local-rag ships an MCP server manifest.
- When you need to perform both semantic and keyword-based search operations within a local, privacy-focused environment tailored specifically for handling codebases and technical documentation.
When NOT to use mcp-local-rag
- When you do not require a privacy-first approach and are willing to rely on cloud-based solutions that might offer more extensive feature sets beyond just keyword and semantic searches.
- If your use case involves scaling search capabilities across multiple remote databases or servers, as mcp-local-rag is best suited for local data only.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) · observed Sep 19, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- GitHub stars (shinpr/mcp-local-rag) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (shinpr/mcp-local-rag) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (shinpr/mcp-local-rag) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Aug 9, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: obsidian-mcp-server 682 · mcp-local-rag 400 (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between obsidian-mcp-server and mcp-local-rag?
- obsidian-mcp-server: A tool for manipulating and interacting with Obsidian vaults through Model Context Protocol.. mcp-local-rag: Local-first RAG server for developers with semantic and keyword search capabilities.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose obsidian-mcp-server over mcp-local-rag?
- Choose obsidian-mcp-server over mcp-local-rag when License: obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0, mcp-local-rag is MIT; Pricing: Freely accessible and distributable with commercial usage allowed.; Requirements: The software requires a running Obsidian vault, basic knowledge of TypeScript, and an understanding of Model Context Protocol for effective use.; Tags unique to obsidian-mcp-server: ai-tools, cyanheads, knowledge-base, mcp; obsidian-mcp-server ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; When requiring precise manipulation of content, tags, and metadata within an Obsidian knowledge base through automated scripts or third-party applications that support the Model Context Protocol.
- When should I choose mcp-local-rag over obsidian-mcp-server?
- Choose mcp-local-rag over obsidian-mcp-server when License: mcp-local-rag is MIT, obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to mcp-local-rag: agent-skills, hybrid-search, local-first, privacy-first; mcp-local-rag ships an MCP server manifest; When you need to perform both semantic and keyword-based search operations within a local, privacy-focused environment tailored specifically for handling codebases and technical documentation.
- When should I avoid obsidian-mcp-server?
- When working with non-Obsidian knowledge bases as this tool is specifically designed for manipulating content within an Obsidian vault framework. If your project does not require the Model Context Protocol for communication, as this introduces a specific layer of protocol handling that may be unnecessary overhead.
- When should I avoid mcp-local-rag?
- When you do not require a privacy-first approach and are willing to rely on cloud-based solutions that might offer more extensive feature sets beyond just keyword and semantic searches. If your use case involves scaling search capabilities across multiple remote databases or servers, as mcp-local-rag is best suited for local data only.
- Is obsidian-mcp-server or mcp-local-rag more popular on GitHub?
- obsidian-mcp-server has more GitHub stars (682 vs 400). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are obsidian-mcp-server and mcp-local-rag open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (obsidian-mcp-server: Apache-2.0, mcp-local-rag: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to obsidian-mcp-server or mcp-local-rag?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at obsidian-mcp-server alternatives and mcp-local-rag alternatives (obsidian-mcp-server markdown twin, mcp-local-rag 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, obsidian-mcp-server or mcp-local-rag?
- obsidian-mcp-server: Very active. mcp-local-rag: 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 obsidian-mcp-server and mcp-local-rag?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: obsidian-mcp-server trust report; mcp-local-rag trust report.