This lesson is part of Learn MCP, our free course on the Model Context Protocol, within The MCP Guide.
In this lesson you will:
- Learn five questions that separate one MCP client from another.
- See how Claude, Claude Code, VS Code, Cursor and ChatGPT add servers, based on their own docs.
- Score two candidate apps against your real needs.
An MCP client is the AI app you type into. In spec terms it is the host, and it runs one MCP client per connected server, as you saw in Lesson 2. Most people say "client" for the whole app, and this lesson does too.
Key Takeaways
- The best client is usually the AI app your team already uses, as long as it reaches the servers you need.
- Check five things: local or remote servers, supported features, who can add servers, admin controls and extensions.
- Claude and ChatGPT let users add a remote server by URL; coding tools like Claude Code, VS Code and Cursor also run local servers.
- Cursor documents one of the broadest feature lists, including tools, prompts, resources, roots, elicitation and MCP Apps.
- Admin controls such as allowlists matter more for a business than raw feature count.
1. Ask five questions
Use these questions for any app you consider. They build on the checklist in which AI apps support MCP.
- Can it reach the server you need? Local servers run on your computer over stdio. Remote servers run on the web over Streamable HTTP. Some apps support only one.
- Which MCP features does it use? Every client uses tools. Fewer use resources and prompts, and fewer still support extensions like MCP Apps.
- Who can add a server? Any user, only an admin, or only a developer with a config file.
- What can an admin control? Look for allowlists, denylists and the ability to switch off individual tools.
- How are tool calls approved? You want clear prompts and the ability to deny calls. Lesson 10 covers this.
2. The Claude apps (web, desktop, mobile)
Anthropic's custom connectors guide lists the setup path: "Customize > Connectors," then "+ Add," then "Add custom connector," then paste the server URL. It works on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, and Free users are limited to one custom connector.
Custom connectors are remote servers, and your server must be reachable from the public internet. Local servers run only in Claude Desktop through its config file, as shown in Lesson 6. On Team and Enterprise, Owners add connectors and members connect with their own accounts.
Good fit: non-developers who want remote business tools inside a chat.
3. Claude Code
Claude Code's MCP docs use a terminal command. A remote server is added with claude mcp add --transport http <name> <url>. A local server is added with claude mcp add [options] <name> -- <command> [args...].
Servers have three scopes:
| Scope | Loads in | Shared with team |
|---|---|---|
| Local (default) | Current project only | No |
| Project | Current project only | Yes, through a .mcp.json file |
| User | All your projects | No |
For organizations, the managed MCP docs describe allowlists, denylists and a fixed server set an admin can deploy.
Good fit: developers and technical teams who want shared, version-controlled server setups. For help rolling it out, see our Claude Code consulting service.
4. VS Code with GitHub Copilot
The VS Code MCP docs start from the Command Palette. You run "MCP: Add Server," then choose HTTP for a URL or Command (stdio) for a launch command. For a personal setup, you select "Global" and then "Copilot Global."
As of October 2026, that global setup writes to ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. The older workspace .vscode/mcp.json file still works but is labeled deprecated in the guided flow. VS Code also has an MCP server gallery in preview: search @mcp in the Extensions view. The docs say your organization can restrict which servers are available.
Good fit: teams that already code in VS Code with GitHub Copilot.
5. Cursor
Cursor's MCP docs offer one-click installs from the Cursor Marketplace, or a config file. Use .cursor/mcp.json in a project for project-specific tools, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json for tools available everywhere.
Cursor supports stdio, SSE and Streamable HTTP. Its supported features are tools, prompts, resources, roots, elicitation and the Apps extension for interactive UI. By default, Cursor asks you before using an MCP tool. Tool-level restrictions are an enterprise feature.
Good fit: developers who want broad MCP feature support in an editor.
6. ChatGPT
OpenAI's guide to connecting ChatGPT describes this flow. Go to ChatGPT Plugins, select the plus button, then "Add custom MCP server." Enter a name and description, choose the connection, configure authentication, and accept the risk warning by selecting "I understand and want to continue." Then select "Create as a plugin."
The connection must be a public HTTPS endpoint or a Secure MCP Tunnel. To use it, start a new conversation, type @ and select the plugin. OpenAI's custom MCP server help article says custom servers and full MCP are for ChatGPT Business and Enterprise/Edu on the web, and Pro users can connect servers with read/fetch permissions only, as of October 2026. It adds that you don't need to turn on Developer Mode first.
Good fit: teams that already work in ChatGPT and have a remote server.
7. Compare them side by side
| Client | How you add a server | Local servers | Remote servers | Admin controls (per docs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude apps | "Customize > Connectors" > "Add custom connector" | Claude Desktop only, via config file | Yes | Owners add connectors on Team and Enterprise |
| Claude Code | claude mcp add or .mcp.json | Yes | Yes | Managed config, allowlists, denylists |
| VS Code | "MCP: Add Server" or @mcp gallery | Yes | Yes | Organization can restrict servers |
| Cursor | Marketplace or mcp.json | Yes | Yes | Enterprise tool allowlists |
| ChatGPT | ChatGPT Plugins > "Add custom MCP server" | Through a Secure MCP Tunnel | Yes, public HTTPS | Account and workspace policies |
For more apps, including Gemini, Copilot Studio, Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) and Zed, see which AI apps support MCP. For a ranked list with pricing, see the best MCP clients.
Try it
Pick two apps from the table that you could realistically use. Then score each from 0 to 2 on these lines:
| Question | App 1 | App 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Reaches the servers I need (local, remote or both) | ||
| Uses the features those servers offer | ||
| Lets the right people add servers | ||
| Gives admins the control we need | ||
| Shows clear approval prompts | ||
| Already used by my team |
Use the vendor docs linked above to fill in each cell, not memory. If a score is unclear, mark it "?" and check the doc. The higher total is your starting client. You can always connect the same remote server to a second app later.
Recap
- Choose the client first by where your team already works, then by whether it reaches your servers.
- Claude apps and ChatGPT suit remote servers added by URL; Claude Code, VS Code and Cursor also run local servers from config files.
- Feature support varies, so check that a client uses the resources, prompts or extensions your servers rely on.
- For business use, admin controls like allowlists are a deciding factor.
All lessons are on the Learn MCP course page.
Course navigation
Previous lesson: Lesson 6: Connect Your First MCP Server.
Next lesson: Lesson 8: Find Trustworthy Servers.
Back to the Learn MCP course outline.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same MCP server in two different clients?
Usually, yes. That is the point of MCP. A remote server with standard sign-in tends to work across clients, though each app has its own limits on transports, features and authentication.
Which client is best for non-developers?
The Claude apps and ChatGPT are the most approachable, because you add a remote server by pasting a URL. Coding tools like Claude Code, VS Code and Cursor expect some comfort with config files or a terminal.
Do all clients support MCP resources and prompts?
No. Every client documented here uses tools, but support for resources, prompts and extensions varies. Cursor's docs list tools, prompts, resources, roots, elicitation and Apps. Check each app's docs before relying on a feature.
Why does VS Code mention a deprecated mcp.json file?
As of October 2026, VS Code's guided flow writes personal setups to ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. The older workspace .vscode/mcp.json file remains available for compatibility but is labeled deprecated in that flow.
Can ChatGPT connect to a server on my own computer?
OpenAI's guide says the connection can be a public HTTPS endpoint or a Secure MCP Tunnel. The tunnel can reach a configured stdio or HTTP server. Check your plan and workspace settings before you rely on it.
