MCP Statistics 2026
How many remote MCP servers exist, how many work without a key, and what their tools declare. Our own measurements, each with a date.
Key numbers on remote MCP servers, measured by us in the official MCP Registry. Every figure has a date and a method, so you can cite it.
| Metric | Value | Measured |
|---|---|---|
| Remote endpoints in the official MCP Registry | 28,933 (from 28,282 server names) | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Endpoints using Streamable HTTP | 96 % (SSE: 4 %) | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Endpoints tested | 18,301 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Open: tools/list works without any key or login | 10,520 (57 %) | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Require authentication | 5,688 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Not working (DNS, TLS, timeouts, wrong paths) | 2,093 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Distinct open servers after removing template copies | 8,581 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Open servers that annotate none of their tools | 3,532 of 10,514 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Listed tools declaring readOnlyHint / destructiveHint | 64,331 / 6,309 of 119,049 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Open servers listing at least one destructive tool | 958 of 8,581 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Median tools per open server | 6 (292 servers have 50 or more) | 16 Oct 2026 |
| Servers answering 402 Payment Required (pay per call) | 62 | 16 Oct 2026 |
Method: two read-only requests per endpoint (initialize and tools/list), no credentials, no tool is ever called, at most five URLs per host. «Open» means a tool list came back without credentials; tool annotations are the servers' own labels. Charts and details: State of Remote MCP Servers 2026. Raw data and scripts: GitHub (CC BY 4.0, re-tested every week). Test a single server with the MCP Server Tester.
FAQ
How many MCP servers are there?
The official MCP Registry listed 28,933 remote endpoints from 28,282 server names on 16 October 2026. Third-party directories list more because they include local-only servers and community wrappers.
What share of MCP servers need authentication?
Of 18,301 remote endpoints we tested on 19 October 2026, 5,688 required authentication, 10,520 (57 %) answered without any key and 2,093 did not work.
Can I use these numbers?
Yes. Cite the page with a link; the underlying dataset is CC BY 4.0.