--- title: "obsidian-mcp-server vs mcp-local-rag" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server-vs-shinpr-mcp-local-rag" tools: ["cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server", "shinpr-mcp-local-rag"] --- # obsidian-mcp-server vs mcp-local-rag *GraphCanon updated Aug 23, 2026* ## 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. [obsidian-mcp-server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/obsidian-mcp-server) reports 642 GitHub stars, 99 forks, and 25 open issues, last pushed Jun 30, 2026. [mcp-local-rag](https://github.com/shinpr/mcp-local-rag) has 370 stars, 68 forks, and 2 open issues, last pushed Aug 23, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [obsidian-mcp-server's repository](https://github.com/cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) and [mcp-local-rag's repository](https://github.com/shinpr/mcp-local-rag). | | [obsidian-mcp-server](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server.md) | [mcp-local-rag](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | A tool for manipulating and interacting with Obsidian vaults through Model Context Protocol. | Local-first RAG server for developers with semantic and keyword search capabilities. | | Stars | 642 | 370 | | Forks | 99 | 68 | | Open issues | 25 | 2 | | Language | TypeScript | TypeScript | | Adopt for | 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 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 | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | The Apache-2.0 license applies to obsidian-mcp-server, allowing free use, modification, and distribution under certain conditions. | MIT | | Categories | Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools | Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [obsidian-mcp-server](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server.md) | [mcp-local-rag](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Active (82%) | Very active (96%) | | Days since push | 27d | 0d | | Open issues (now) | 25 | 2 | | Stars delta | Unknown | +18 (30d) | | Open issues delta | Unknown | -2 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/trust.md) | ## Shared compatibility - **Node.js**: [obsidian-mcp-server](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server.md) - Node.js runtime; [mcp-local-rag](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) - Node.js runtime - **stdio**: [obsidian-mcp-server](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server.md) - stdio transport; [mcp-local-rag](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) - stdio transport ## Decision facts: obsidian-mcp-server - **Pricing:** freemium - 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. - **Adopt for:** The obsidian-mcp-server is a specialized utility for interacting with Obsidian vaults using the Model Context Protocol over STDIO or Streamable HTTP. - **License detail:** The Apache-2.0 license applies to obsidian-mcp-server, allowing free use, modification, and distribution under certain conditions. ## Decision facts: mcp-local-rag - **Adopt for:** 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. ## Choose when ### 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. ### 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 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 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. ## 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 (642 vs 370). 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](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/alternatives) and [mcp-local-rag alternatives](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/alternatives) ([obsidian-mcp-server markdown twin](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/alternatives.md), [mcp-local-rag markdown twin](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/alternatives.md)), 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](/compare/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server-vs-shinpr-mcp-local-rag.md) 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: 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](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/trust); [mcp-local-rag trust report](/tools/shinpr-mcp-local-rag/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server) - LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) - Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) _GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_