mcp-k8s vs AWS API MCP Server

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

	mcp-k8s Kubernetes MCP server: manage cluster resources and Helm releases through MCP tools, with fine-grained write controls. Unverified stdio (local) No auth Go	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
Category	DevOps & Cloud	DevOps & Cloud
Language	Go	Python
Transport	stdio (local)	stdio (local)
Auth	None	API key
GitHub stars	146	9.3k
Last commit	28 days ago	9 days ago
Verified
Actively maintained
Install	`go install github.com/silenceper/mcp-k8s/cmd/mcp-k8s@latest`	`uvx awslabs.aws-api-mcp-server@latest`
Repo	Open	Open

Verdict

Pick mcp-k8s if you want zero-setup with no API key, and you need the broadest set of tools.

Pick AWS API MCP Server if you want the official, vendor-maintained server, and you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option.

Add mcp-k8s

Install / run

go install github.com/silenceper/mcp-k8s/cmd/mcp-k8s@latest

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-k8s": {
      "command": "/path/to/mcp-k8s",
      "args": [
        "--kubeconfig",
        "/path/to/kubeconfig",
        "--enable-create",
        "--enable-delete",
        "--enable-update",
        "--enable-list",
        "--enable-helm-install",
        "--enable-helm-upgrade"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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.

FAQ

mcp-k8s or AWS API MCP Server — which is better?

Pick mcp-k8s if you want zero-setup with no API key, and you need the broadest set of tools. Pick AWS API MCP Server if you want the official, vendor-maintained server, and you prefer the more popular, battle-tested option.

Can I use both mcp-k8s and AWS API MCP Server?

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 mcp-k8s and AWS API MCP Server work with Claude, Cursor and Windsurf?

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

View mcp-k8s →View AWS API MCP Server →More comparisons →