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Obsidian MCP Server

by cyanheads

Obsidian vault MCP server with read, write, search, and surgical edit tools via the Local REST API plugin. 14 tools, three search modes (text, Dataview DQL, JSONLogic), STDIO and Streamable HTTP transports.

481·7 tools·Released JAN 2025·Apache-2.0
npx -y obsidian-mcp-server
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Top commit cadence in this batch (34 commits on main in the last 30 days). 14-tool surface for read, write, search, and surgical edit on Obsidian vaults via the Local REST API plugin. Three search modes (text, Dataview DQL, JSONLogic). Refuses whole-file overwrites by default; writes need explicit overwrite flag. Picks the audience over MarkusPfundstein/mcp-obsidian (3,530 stars; zero releases ever; 11 months stale).

Reviewed by M. Nouriel · MAY 2026

INSTALL THIS SERVER

Requires authenticationObsidian Local REST API plugin token. Configured per vault in Obsidian Settings.
{ "mcpServers": { "obsidian": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "obsidian-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "<your-local-rest-api-token>", "OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:27123" } } } }
PrereqRequires Obsidian with the Local REST API plugin installed (https://github.com/coddingtonbear/obsidian-local-rest-api). Set OBSIDIAN_API_KEY to the plugin token from Obsidian Settings > Local REST API. Set OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL if the plugin runs on a non-default port. NPM package: `obsidian-mcp-server`. Path: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS).
{ "mcpServers": { "obsidian": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "obsidian-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "<your-local-rest-api-token>", "OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:27123" } } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "obsidian": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "obsidian-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "<your-local-rest-api-token>", "OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:27123" } } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "obsidian": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "obsidian-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "<your-local-rest-api-token>", "OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:27123" } } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "obsidian": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "-y", "obsidian-mcp-server" ], "env": { "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "<your-local-rest-api-token>", "OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:27123" } } } }

7 TOOLS AVAILABLE

obsidian_get_note
Read a note as raw content, full structured form, document map, or single section
Read
obsidian_list_notes
List notes and subdirectories with recursive walk and regex filters
Read
obsidian_search_notes
Search the vault by text, Dataview DQL, or JSONLogic
Read
obsidian_write_note
Create a note, replace a section, or overwrite an existing file with explicit flag
Write
obsidian_patch_note
Surgical append, prepend, or replace at heading, block reference, or frontmatter field
Write
obsidian_manage_frontmatter
Atomic get, set, delete on a single frontmatter key
Write

OUR ASSESSMENT

Strengths
  • 34 commits on main in the last 30 days, top cadence in this batch.
  • 14 tools cover the full read, write, search, edit, and frontmatter surface.
  • Three search modes: text substring with context, Dataview DQL, JSONLogic tree evaluation.
  • Refuses whole-file overwrites by default; overwrite flag is required to clobber an existing file.
  • Apache-2.0 licence.
  • Surgical edit primitives: obsidian_patch_note targets a heading, block reference, or frontmatter field.
  • Three projections on obsidian_get_note: raw content, full structured form, document map for discovery before editing.
  • Streamable HTTP plus STDIO transports.
Weaknesses
  • Zero tagged GitHub releases at time of review; versioning lives on npm only (current 3.1.1 visible on npm; GitHub release tags are absent).
  • Requires the Obsidian Local REST API plugin installed and configured in each vault.
  • Vault path semantics are tied to the plugin host; agents on remote machines need the plugin exposing the REST endpoint over HTTPS.
  • Single-maintainer governance.
Security Notes

The server connects to the Obsidian Local REST API plugin which must be configured with a token. Scope the plugin token to a dedicated Obsidian profile for agent use. The obsidian_execute_command tool is opt-in via OBSIDIAN_ENABLE_COMMANDS=true; leave it off for production agents. Whole-file write is refused by default; the overwrite flag carries explicit intent.

Best For

Knowledge workers and writers running Obsidian as a primary note system who want AI agents to read, write, and surgically edit notes; workflows where the agent reads a document-map projection then patches specific headings or block references; operators who want the Dataview DQL search surface available to agents.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Language
typescript
Transport
stdiostreamable-http
Clients
Claude DesktopClaude CodeCursorVS CodeWindsurf
License
Apache-2.0
npm
obsidian-mcp-server
Last Release
main (current 3.1.1 on npm)MAY 1, 2026
First Released
JAN 23, 2025

ADOPTION METRICS

// GitHub Stars
481

// Reading this481 stars and 69 forks. 34 commits on main in the last 30 days carry the editorial weight.

// Popularity Rank
#16
Globally · #4 in Productivity

// Reading thisFourth-ranked in productivity. Replaces MarkusPfundstein/mcp-obsidian (3,530 stars; zero releases; 11 months stale).

SOURCES & VERIFICATION

We don't take any single directory's word for it. Before scoring, we cross-reference 5 public MCP sources, install the server ourselves against the clients we cover, and record when we last re-verified.

01
Discovered
Manual submission
First indexed MAY 1, 2026
02
Cross-referenced
5 directories
PulseMCP, MCP.so, Glama, Smithery, Official MCP Registry
03
Verified against
Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code
Installed and tested across clients
04
Last re-checked
MAY 1, 2026
Weekly re-verification
// How other directories see it

The same server, 5 different lenses. We reconcile these signals into our editorial score, which is why our number sometimes diverges from a directory-aggregate star count.

SourceTheir ratingTheir star countTheir downloadsLast synced
AutomationSwitch This page4.3editorial481MAY 1, 2026
PulseMCP— unratedunavailableunavailableMAY 1, 2026
MCP.so— unratedunavailableunavailableMAY 1, 2026
Glama— unratedunavailableunavailableMAY 1, 2026
Smithery— unratedunavailableunavailableMAY 1, 2026
Official MCP Registry— unratedunavailableunavailableMAY 1, 2026

// Counts are directory-reported; we don't adjust them. Discrepancies usually come from different snapshot times or star-caching.

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