--- title: "obsidian-mcp-server vs cortex-memory" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server-vs-skullfire07-cortex-memory" tools: ["cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server", "skullfire07-cortex-memory"] --- # obsidian-mcp-server vs cortex-memory *GraphCanon updated Aug 1, 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 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. [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. [cortex-memory](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=cortex-dev.cortex-ai-memory) has 7 stars, 1 forks, and 0 open issues, last pushed Mar 25, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [obsidian-mcp-server's repository](https://github.com/cyanheads/obsidian-mcp-server) and [cortex-memory's repository](https://github.com/SKULLFIRE07/cortex-memory). | | [obsidian-mcp-server](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server.md) | [cortex-memory](/tools/skullfire07-cortex-memory.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | A tool for manipulating and interacting with Obsidian vaults through Model Context Protocol. | Persistent AI memory for Claude Code, Cursor & Cline with a VSCode extension and CLI. | | Stars | 642 | 7 | | Forks | 99 | 1 | | Open issues | 25 | 0 | | 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. | 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 | - | - | | 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) | [cortex-memory](/tools/skullfire07-cortex-memory.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Active (82%) | Slowing (36%) | | Days since push | 27d | 128d | | Open issues (now) | 25 | 0 | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/skullfire07-cortex-memory/trust.md) | ## 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: cortex-memory - **Pricing:** freemium - 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. - **Adopt for:** 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. ## Choose when ### 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. ### 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 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 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. ## 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](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/alternatives) and [cortex-memory alternatives](/tools/skullfire07-cortex-memory/alternatives) ([obsidian-mcp-server markdown twin](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/alternatives.md), [cortex-memory markdown twin](/tools/skullfire07-cortex-memory/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-skullfire07-cortex-memory.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 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](/tools/cyanheads-obsidian-mcp-server/trust); [cortex-memory trust report](/tools/skullfire07-cortex-memory/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/_