Comparison
obsidian-mcp-server vs cortex-memory
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 cortex-memory if cortex-memory is a TypeScript-based tool with an MIT license that provides persistent memory capabilities for Claude Code, Cursor & Cline through a VSCode extension and CLI.
Markdown twin · obsidian-mcp-server alternatives · cortex-memory alternatives
GraphCanon updated 2w
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | obsidian-mcp-server | cortex-memory |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active (27d since push) As of 3w · github_public_v1 | Slowing (128d since push) As of 2w · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Personal account As of 3w · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Personal account As of 2w · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 3w · osv@v1 | Published findings As of 1mo · 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.
- cortex-memory
- Persistent AI memory for Claude Code, Cursor & Cline with a VSCode extension and CLI.
Stars
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 642
- cortex-memory
- 7
Forks
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 99
- cortex-memory
- 1
Open issues
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 25
- cortex-memory
- 0
Language
- obsidian-mcp-server
- TypeScript
- cortex-memory
- 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.
- cortex-memory
- cortex-memory is a TypeScript-based tool with an MIT license that provides persistent memory capabilities for Claude Code, Cursor & Cline through a VSCode extension and CLI.
Persona
- obsidian-mcp-server
- -
- cortex-memory
- -
Runtime
- obsidian-mcp-server
- -
- cortex-memory
- -
License
- obsidian-mcp-server
- The Apache-2.0 license applies to obsidian-mcp-server, allowing free use, modification, and distribution under certain conditions.
- cortex-memory
- MIT
Last pushed
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Jun 30, 2026
- cortex-memory
- Mar 25, 2026
Categories
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools
- cortex-memory
- Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools
Trust and health
Maintenance
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Active (82%)
- cortex-memory
- Slowing (36%)
Days since push
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 27d
- cortex-memory
- 128d
Open issues (now)
- obsidian-mcp-server
- 25
- cortex-memory
- 0
OSV dependency advisories
- obsidian-mcp-server
- No lockfile (source not queried)
- cortex-memory
- Published findings
Full report
- obsidian-mcp-server
- Trust report
- cortex-memory
- Trust report
Choose obsidian-mcp-server if…
- License: obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0, cortex-memory 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 cortex-memory if…
- License: cortex-memory is MIT, obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0.
- Pricing: Being open-source under the MIT license, cortex-memory is free for use, although specific pricing around value-added services or enterprise support are not detailed in the provided repository content..
- Tags unique to cortex-memory: ai, ai-coding-assistant, ai-memory, claude-code.
- If you are working extensively with Claude Code, Cursor & Cline and want to automatically capture decisions, patterns, and context across sessions without configuration.
When NOT to use cortex-memory
- If you prefer not using tools that integrate deeply with specific AI platforms like Claude Code, which may limit its usefulness in environments where multiple or different platforms are used.
- In scenarios where custom configuration is required, as cortex-memory emphasizes zero-config setup which might not be adaptable to highly customized workflows.
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 Jul 27, 2026
- GitHub forks (cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) · observed Jul 27, 2026
- Last push (cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) · observed Jun 30, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Jul 27, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- GitHub stars (SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory) · observed Aug 1, 2026
- GitHub forks (SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory) · observed Aug 1, 2026
- Last push (SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory) · observed Mar 25, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Aug 1, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 12, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: obsidian-mcp-server 642 · cortex-memory 7 (synced Jul 27, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between obsidian-mcp-server and cortex-memory?
- obsidian-mcp-server: A tool for manipulating and interacting with Obsidian vaults through Model Context Protocol.. cortex-memory: Persistent AI memory for Claude Code, Cursor & Cline with a VSCode extension and CLI.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose obsidian-mcp-server over cortex-memory?
- Choose obsidian-mcp-server over cortex-memory when License: obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0, cortex-memory 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 cortex-memory over obsidian-mcp-server?
- Choose cortex-memory over obsidian-mcp-server when License: cortex-memory is MIT, obsidian-mcp-server is Apache-2.0; Pricing: Being open-source under the MIT license, cortex-memory is free for use, although specific pricing around value-added services or enterprise support are not detailed in the provided repository content.; Tags unique to cortex-memory: ai, ai-coding-assistant, ai-memory, claude-code; If you are working extensively with Claude Code, Cursor & Cline and want to automatically capture decisions, patterns, and context across sessions without configuration.
- 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 cortex-memory?
- If you prefer not using tools that integrate deeply with specific AI platforms like Claude Code, which may limit its usefulness in environments where multiple or different platforms are used. In scenarios where custom configuration is required, as cortex-memory emphasizes zero-config setup which might not be adaptable to highly customized workflows.
- Is obsidian-mcp-server or cortex-memory more popular on GitHub?
- obsidian-mcp-server has more GitHub stars (642 vs 7). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are obsidian-mcp-server and cortex-memory open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (obsidian-mcp-server: Apache-2.0, cortex-memory: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to obsidian-mcp-server or cortex-memory?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at obsidian-mcp-server alternatives and cortex-memory alternatives (obsidian-mcp-server markdown twin, cortex-memory 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 cortex-memory?
- obsidian-mcp-server: Active. cortex-memory: Slowing. 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 cortex-memory?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: obsidian-mcp-server trust report; cortex-memory trust report.