What are MCP Servers?

What Are MCP Servers? Top 3 MCP Servers to Use in 2025

Blog post image

In the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence, context is king. But how can AI models access real-time tools, files, or APIs safely and efficiently? That’s where MCP servers come in.

In this post, you’ll learn:

  • Why they matter for AI workflows
  • The top 3 MCP servers in 2025

    • Let’s dive in.

    🤖 What Is an MCP Server?

    MCP stands for Model Context Protocol — a universal protocol introduced by Anthropic in 2024. It standardizes how AI models connect with external tools, APIs, data sources, and files in a secure and structured way.

    Think of MCP like USB-C for AI: instead of building custom integrations for every tool or API, you use one protocol that works across all.

    🔌 How It Works:

    1. An AI model (like ChatGPT or Claude) sends a request to an MCP server.
  • The MCP server performs the action (like reading a Notion page or calling an API).
  • The result is returned to the AI in a format it understands — safely and instantly.

    • 🚀 Why MCP Servers Matter

    Traditional AI tools struggle with:

  • Calling external APIs safely
  • Handling user permissions and privacy

    • MCP servers solve this by acting as secure bridges between models and tools — all while respecting user privacy and providing a standardized interface.

    ✅ Benefits of MCP:

  • Easy permission control
  • No need to build custom wrappers for every use case
  • Works with Claude, Cursor, Sourcegraph, Zed, and more

    • 🔝 Top 3 MCP Servers in 2025

    Here are the best MCP servers you can use today:

    1. 🧠 MindsDB MCP Server

  • Why It’s Great: Enables federated querying across multiple data sources using natural language
  • GitHub Stars: ⭐️ 33k+
  • Best For: Data scientists, ML engineers, and internal business tools

    • 2. 🔍 GPT Researcher MCP Server

  • Why It’s Great: Lets models browse the web, summarize articles, and provide citations
  • GitHub Stars: ⭐️ 22k+
  • Best For: Writers, researchers, content marketers

    • 3. 📚 Context7 MCP Server

  • Why It’s Great: Feeds AI real-time project docs and code snippets
  • GitHub Stars: ⭐️ 18.8k+
  • Best For: Developers, software teams using AI code assistants

    • 🛠️ How To Start Using MCP Servers

    1. Pick a host: Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Sourcegraph all support MCP.
  • Choose your MCP server: Start with one of the top 3 above.
  • Install & configure: Follow the GitHub setup instructions.
  • Use AI to interact with your data/tools — securely and in real time.

    • 👉 Browse the full list of servers here: awesome-mcp-servers

    Final Thoughts

    MCP servers are revolutionizing how we interact with AI tools. Whether you’re a solo developer, a startup founder, or part of a large enterprise, adopting an MCP server will make your AI smarter, more secure, and way more useful.