# 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.

URL: https://shortformkit.com/mcp-statistics/
Updated: 2026-10-14

**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](https://shortformkit.com/state-of-remote-mcp-servers-2026/). Raw data and scripts: [GitHub](https://github.com/shortformkit/free-remote-mcp-servers) (CC BY 4.0, re-tested every week). Test a single server with the [MCP Server Tester](https://shortformkit.com/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.


Source: Shortform Kit (https://shortformkit.com/mcp-statistics/). Free, no login.