authserver
★ 81
vs
toolhive
★ 2.3k
authserver vs toolhive
authserver: Authplane is a self-hosted authorization server designed for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), simplifying secure authentication and authorization for AI agents and services. It handles token issuance, validation, IdP federation, and agent-to-agent delegation, offering a complete solution for securing MCP servers.; toolhive: ToolHive simplifies and secures the deployment of Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, offering a comprehensive solution for managing AI toolchains in production. It provides a modular architecture with a Gateway, Registry Server, Runtime, and Portal for instant, secure, and scalable operations across various environments.
01
TL;DR
authserverSecurity & Safety · ★ 81
Securing new or existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.
toolhiveSecurity & Safety · ★ 2.3k
When to choose:
- You want MCP servers to run in isolated containers with scoped permissions and managed secrets, on Docker, Podman or Kubernetes.
- You want the same tooling from a laptop (desktop app or CLI) to a Kubernetes Operator.
- Your team needs a registry with provenance verification, an SSO-capable gateway and audit logging.
When to skip:
- You just want to run one MCP server: it needs Docker, Podman or Kubernetes and is heavier than starting the server directly.
- You want a single component: the Runtime, Registry, Gateway and Portal take time to understand, and parts live in separate repositories.
- You expect container isolation to replace reviewing what each server can reach.
02
Side-by-Side Comparison
Field
authservertoolhiveCategory
Security & Safety
Security & Safety
Stars
★ 81
★ 2.3k
License
AGPL-3.0
Apache-2.0
Install Command
export AUTHPLANE_ADMIN_API_KEY="$(openssl rand -hex 32)" && export AUTHPLANE_SESSION_SECRET="$(openssl rand -hex 32)" && docker run -p 9000:9000 -p 9001:9001 -e AUTHPLANE_ADMIN_API_KEY -e AUTHPLANE_SESSION_SECRET -e AUTHPLANE_CLIENT_CREDENTIALS_ENABLED=true -e AUTHPLANE_DPOP_ENABLED=true -e AUTHPLANE_TOKEN_EXCHANGE_ENABLED=true -v authserver-data:/data authplane/authserver:latest serve
git clone https://github.com/stacklok/toolhive.git
Updated
1w ago
1d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
Authorization Server, OAuth 2.1, Identity Management
Model Context Protocol, Server Management, Security
03
Features
authserver01Spec-compliant access tokens for any MCP server in any language.
02Federation to existing OIDC-compliant Identity Providers (IdP) like Google, Okta, Azure AD.
03Agent-to-agent delegation with audit logging and act-claim chains.
04Built-in Admin UI for managing everything from a browser, embedded in the same binary.
05Production-grade storage (PostgreSQL) and observability (OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Helm chart).
toolhive01Instant deployment with one click or command using Docker or Kubernetes.
02Secure by default, running servers in isolated containers with managed secrets.
03Works everywhere, available as a desktop app, web app, CLI, and Kubernetes Operator.
04Seamless integration with popular AI clients like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and VS Code.
05Modular architecture comprising Gateway, Registry Server, Runtime, and Portal for comprehensive management.
04
Use Cases
authserver↳Securing new or existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.
↳Integrating with existing Identity Providers for centralized user management.
↳Enabling secure agent-to-agent communication and delegated access.
↳Storing and vending refresh tokens for upstream providers (e.g., GitHub, Google, Slack).
toolhive↳Individual developers quickly deploying and testing MCP servers locally using the desktop UI or CLI.
↳Organizations centrally managing and orchestrating a fleet of MCP servers in Kubernetes for production and scale.
↳Enterprises building hybrid solutions, integrating MCP servers into custom internal tools and agentic workflows with unified access controls.
05
Best For
authserver—
toolhiveEssentialTrending
FAQ
FAQ
What is the difference between authserver and toolhive?
Both authserver and toolhive are in the Security & Safety category. authserver has 81 stars, while toolhive has 2.3k stars.
Which is better, authserver or toolhive?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose authserver if Securing new or existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers., and toolhive if Individual developers quickly deploying and testing MCP servers locally using the desktop UI or CLI..
Is authserver free or open source?
Yes, authserver is open source on GitHub (AGPL-3.0).
Is toolhive free or open source?
Yes, toolhive is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0).
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