Curated Collection30 servers • Updated January 2026

Best MCP Servers for Cursor in 2026 (Top 30 Cursor MCPs)

MCP servers are connectors that let Cursor access tools like GitHub, databases, docs, CI/CD, and observability so it can take actions—not just answer questions.
✓
Hand-Tested
Every server tested in Cursor
⚡
Easy Setup
Commands + config examples
🎯
Use-Case Focused
Organized by what you need
Table of Contents
P
By Pratik
Tested on Cursor 0.45+ (macOS & Windows)
Editorial Policy

How We Test MCP Servers

Every MCP server in this guide was installed and tested in a real Cursor IDE environment. Here's our testing methodology:

Installation Success
Server installs and connects within 5 minutes using documented setup
Tool Response Time
Primary tools respond in under 2 seconds for typical operations
Error Handling
Graceful handling of edge cases (invalid input, network issues, auth failures)
Documentation Quality
Clear setup instructions and usage examples available
Last Tested: January 2026 on Cursor 0.45.6 (macOS Sonoma & Windows 11)

Top 7 MCP Servers for Cursor (Start Here)

Core MCP Servers

7 servers

Docs & Team MCP Servers

5 servers

Database MCP Servers

5 servers

AI & RAG MCP Servers

7 servers

Recommended Cursor MCP Stack (Pick Based on Your Needs)

Starter Stack

Filesystem + Git + Fetch + GitHub + GitHub Actions + Context7 + Firecrawl

SaaS Builder

Add: Postgres/Supabase + Sentry/Grafana + Stripe + Notion/Jira

DevOps Engineer

Add: Kubernetes + Grafana + Cloudflare (if using edge)

AI Product Builder

Add: Exa + Pinecone + DeepWiki + Vercel MCP Adapter

How to Choose MCP Servers in 2026

Workflow Value

Does it solve a real problem in your daily dev loop?

Maintenance

Is it actively maintained with recent commits and updates?

Security

Does it use scoped tokens and least privilege access?

Stack Compatibility

Does it work with your tech stack (GitHub, Next.js, Supabase, etc.)?

Cursor MCP Setup (Step-by-step)

1

Prerequisites

Node.js 18+, Cursor 0.40+, npm/uv depending on server

2

Global Configuration

Edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json or project .cursor/mcp.json

3

Add Server Config

Add server command, args, and environment variables

4

Restart & Verify

Restart Cursor completely and test with @ mention

Example Configurations (Copy & Paste)

Starter Stack (Filesystem + Git + GitHub)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "."]
    },
    "git": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-git"]
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
Database Stack (PostgreSQL + Supabase)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_CONNECTION_STRING": "postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/db"
      }
    },
    "supabase": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@supabase/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "SUPABASE_URL": "https://your-project.supabase.co",
        "SUPABASE_SERVICE_ROLE_KEY": "your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
AI/RAG Stack (Exa + Context7)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "exa": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "exa-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "EXA_API_KEY": "your_exa_key_here"
      }
    },
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

For detailed setup instructions, see our complete Cursor MCP setup guide or browse all MCP servers in our directory.

Security Checklist (Least Privilege for MCP)

MCP Security Best Practices

Use scoped tokens and least privilege
Prefer read-only where possible
Limit filesystem access to your project folder
Pin versions (avoid floating "latest")
Keep an "MCP inventory" document (what's installed + who owns it)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are MCP servers for Cursor?

MCP servers for Cursor are integrations that connect Cursor to external tools (GitHub, databases, docs, CI/CD, observability, browsers) so Cursor can retrieve context and perform actions inside your workflow.

What are the best MCP servers in 2026?

The best MCP servers in 2026 depend on your stack, but most teams start with: Filesystem, Git, Fetch, GitHub, GitHub Actions, Context7, and Firecrawl—then add Postgres/Supabase and Sentry/Grafana.

Do I need a database MCP server?

If you ship backend features or debug production issues, yes. A database MCP server helps you validate assumptions, inspect schemas, and generate safer SQL changes.

Are MCP servers safe to use?

They can be safe if you use least privilege (scoped tokens), limit filesystem access, prefer read-only modes, and keep an inventory of installed servers.

Which MCP servers are best for front-end teams?

Playwright MCP and Chrome DevTools MCP are excellent for reproducing UI bugs and validating changes, especially when paired with GitHub + Actions for CI.

Last Updated: January 2026 — Added 30 best MCP servers for Cursor, filterable comparison table, and comprehensive setup guides.