toolhive

Free

ToolHive is an enterprise-grade platform for running and managing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.

CybersecurityFreeFree tier

Type

Open Source

Company

Stacklok

Visit Website GitHub (1.8k stars)

About toolhive

ToolHive is an open source Model Context Protocol (MCP) platform built by Stacklok, the company led by Kubernetes co-creators Craig McLuckie and Joe Beda. It is maintained by both Stacklok and Red Hat and is Apache 2.0 licensed. ToolHive provides a comprehensive set of components for running and managing MCP servers: a registry of vetted official and community MCP servers, a Kubernetes runtime for scalable deployments, a gateway that serves all MCP servers from a single endpoint with an embedded semantic tool search that reduces LLM token usage by 60–85%, and a portal offering desktop and web UIs for discovering and installing MCP servers. It supports every major AI agent and IDE client including Claude Code, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot. ToolHive runs entirely within your own infrastructure (private cloud, on-premises, or self-managed Kubernetes) with no dependency on SaaS for runtime operation, making it suitable for strict data residency or air-gapped environments. It is production-ready and used by Global 2000 enterprises with integrations to identity providers like Entra ID and Okta, and observability solutions like Grafana, Splunk, Datadog, and New Relic.

Key Features

Registry of vetted official and community MCP servers

Kubernetes runtime for scalable, end-to-end MCP platform deployment

Gateway with single endpoint and semantic tool search reducing token usage by 60–85%

Desktop and web-based portal for discovering and installing MCP servers

CLI and desktop apps for macOS (Apple Silicon/Intel), Windows, and Linux

Self-hosted: runs entirely in own infrastructure (private cloud, on-prem, or self-managed Kubernetes)

Supports all major AI agents and IDEs: Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and more

Open source under Apache 2.0 license, maintained by Stacklok and Red Hat

Pros & Cons

Pros

Open source with a strong backing from Kubernetes co-creators and Red Hat
Production-ready with enterprise adoption across Global 2000 companies
Self-hosted architecture eliminates dependency on third-party cloud for runtime
Significant token usage reduction (60–85%) via built-in MCP Optimizer
Comprehensive registry with vetted MCP servers (official + community)
Supports a wide range of AI clients out of the box
Includes both desktop app and CLI for flexible usage

Cons

Self-hosted deployment requires managing own infrastructure, which may be complex for some teams
Some enterprise-grade features (e.g., hardened distribution, forward-deployed engineers, enterprise support) are only available in Stacklok's paid Enterprise Platform

Best For

Individual developers simply and securely managing MCP serversEnterprises piloting large-scale, self-hosted MCP deploymentsOrganizations requiring strict data residency, private cloud mandates, or air-gapped environmentsReducing LLM token costs through on-demand tool discoveryIntegrating MCP servers with existing identity providers (Entra ID, Okta) and observability tools (Grafana, Splunk, Datadog, New Relic)

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FAQ

What’s the relationship between ToolHive and Stacklok?

ToolHive is an open source MCP platform built by Stacklok and maintained by both Stacklok and Red Hat. Stacklok’s Enterprise Platform includes a hardened distribution of ToolHive along with additional capabilities, forward-deployed engineer resources, and enterprise support.

What MCP servers are in the ToolHive registry?

The registry includes the most widely used official upstream and community MCP servers. Every MCP server is vetted by the Stacklok team before being accepted.

Is ToolHive production-ready, or is it a developer preview?

ToolHive is production-ready. Multiple Global 2000 enterprises are currently running ToolHive in production, integrated with identity providers like Entra ID and Okta and observability solutions like Grafana, Splunk, Datadog, and New Relic.

Who built and maintains ToolHive?

Stacklok built ToolHive, led by CEO Craig McLuckie and CTO Joe Beda, co-creators of Kubernetes. The project now includes external maintainers from Red Hat and a growing community of contributors. It is Apache 2.0 licensed.

What AI agents or IDEs does ToolHive support?

ToolHive supports every major client, including Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and more. A complete list is available in the docs.

What is the difference between ToolHive and a SaaS MCP Gateway?

SaaS MCP gateways route MCP traffic through a third-party cloud, which is incompatible with strict data residency, private cloud mandates, or air-gapped environments. ToolHive runs entirely within your own infrastructure with no dependency on SaaS for runtime operation.

How does ToolHive reduce LLM token usage?

ToolHive’s MCP Optimizer, embedded in the vMCP gateway component, reduces token usage by 60–85% per request through on-demand tool discovery. Instead of sending the full tool manifest on every request, it uses hybrid semantic and keyword search to surface only relevant tools.