mcp-gateway vs mcpo
MCP gateways compared: centralized routing or OpenAPI access
mcp-gateway and mcpo both make MCP server tools accessible through a shared interface. mcp-gateway combines MCP and REST capabilities behind one endpoint with on-demand tool discovery, while mcpo exposes MCP tools as HTTP APIs documented with OpenAPI.
mcp-gateway: Route MCP Servers and REST APIs Through One Endpoint
A Rust gateway that brings MCP servers and REST APIs behind one endpoint, with tools discovered on demand through a compact meta-tool surface. It also bridges MCP protocol revisions and adds centralized routing and policy controls.
mcpo: Turn MCP Tools into OpenAPI Services
mcpo proxies MCP servers as standard HTTP APIs with generated OpenAPI schemas and interactive docs. It is useful when agents, apps, or teams need to use MCP tools through familiar REST interfaces.
| mcp-gateway | mcpo | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Rust | Python |
| License | NOASSERTION | MIT |
| Stars | 78 | 4.4k |
| Forks | 19 | 497 |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 |
Key differences
- mcp-gateway aggregates MCP servers and REST API capabilities; mcpo wraps tools from MCP servers as HTTP endpoints.
- mcp-gateway offers meta-tools for searching and invoking tools on demand; mcpo provides generated OpenAPI schemas and interactive documentation.
- mcp-gateway is written in Rust, while mcpo is written in Python and requires Python 3.8 or newer.
- mcp-gateway lists its license as NOASSERTION and describes commercial use as requiring a commercial license; mcpo uses the MIT license.
- mcp-gateway supports stdio, Streamable HTTP, SSE, and WebSocket transports; mcpo supports command-launched servers, SSE, and Streamable HTTP connections.
- mcp-gateway reports 78 stars and 19 forks; mcpo reports 4.4k stars and 497 forks.
Choose mcp-gateway if you…
- need one endpoint for MCP servers and REST APIs.
- want on-demand tool discovery and centralized routing or policy controls.
- need a gateway that bridges supported MCP protocol revisions.
Choose mcpo if you…
- want MCP tools exposed as HTTP APIs with generated OpenAPI schemas and interactive docs.
- need to connect MCP tools to an OpenAPI-based application or UI.
- want a Python proxy that can serve multiple configured MCP servers, with optional hot reload.
Compare the numbers side by side, or add more projects
This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.