AWS API MCP Server vs AWS Knowledge MCP

A side-by-side comparison of two DevOps & Cloud servers — tools, transport, auth, maintenance, and copy-paste config for each.

	AWS API MCP Server Official AWS Labs server that lets agents call any AWS API via the AWS CLI surface. Verified stdio (local) API key Python	AWS Knowledge MCP Fully managed remote server for AWS docs, blogs, What's-New and Well-Architected guidance — no key. Verified HTTP (remote) No auth Hosted
Category	DevOps & Cloud	AI, Data & Knowledge
Language	Python	Hosted
Transport	stdio (local)	HTTP (remote)
Auth	API key	None
GitHub stars	9.3k	7.0k
Last commit	7 days ago	5 months ago
Verified
Actively maintained
Install	`uvx awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest`	`Add URL https://knowledge-mcp.global.api.aws as an HTTP MCP server`
Repo	Open	Open

Verdict

Pick AWS API MCP Server if you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option, and you want a local (stdio) server that keeps data on your machine.

Pick AWS Knowledge MCP if you want a hosted/remote server with nothing to install, and you want zero-setup with no API key.

Add AWS API MCP Server

Install / run

uvx awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws-api-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "AWS_REGION": "us-east-1",
        "AWS_PROFILE": "<your-aws-profile>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Requires `uv` (the Python package runner). Install it from https://docs.astral.sh/uv/ if `uvx` is not found.

Add AWS Knowledge MCP

Install / run

Add URL https://knowledge-mcp.global.api.aws as an HTTP MCP server

Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws-knowledge-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://knowledge-mcp.global.api.aws"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop connects to remote servers through the `mcp-remote` proxy (installed on first run via npx). Restart Claude Desktop after saving.

FAQ

AWS API MCP Server or AWS Knowledge MCP — which is better?

Pick AWS API MCP Server if you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option, and you want a local (stdio) server that keeps data on your machine. Pick AWS Knowledge MCP if you want a hosted/remote server with nothing to install, and you want zero-setup with no API key.

Can I use both AWS API MCP Server and AWS Knowledge MCP?

Yes — MCP clients let you enable multiple servers at once. Add both configs to your client's mcpServers and use whichever tool fits the task.

Do AWS API MCP Server and AWS Knowledge MCP work with Claude, Cursor and Windsurf?

Both do. Copy the per-client config below into Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf.

View AWS API MCP Server →View AWS Knowledge MCP →More comparisons →