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FastMCP

Apache-2.0 Python framework for building MCP servers, clients, apps, and deployable agent tool surfaces.

FastMCP is an Apache-2.0 Python framework for building MCP servers, clients, and apps with decorators, type hints, transports, auth patterns, deployment docs, and telemetry hooks. The project now resolves to PrefectHQ/fastmcp, with Prefect Horizon available as a separate enterprise MCP gateway for identity, RBAC, audit, monitoring, and server governance.

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About FastMCP

FastMCP is a high-level Python framework for building Model Context Protocol servers, clients, and apps without hand-writing every protocol detail. It uses decorators, type hints, resources, prompts, transports, client helpers, deployment guidance, authentication patterns, testing, and telemetry concepts to make MCP development feel closer to normal Python application work.

The project’s canonical GitHub identity now resolves to PrefectHQ/fastmcp, with an active Apache-2.0 repository and a current PyPI 3.x package for Python 3.10+. Prefect Horizon appears in the ecosystem as a separate enterprise MCP gateway for OAuth, RBAC, identity-provider integration, audit, monitoring, server discovery, and deployment governance; those capabilities should be evaluated distinctly from the open-source package.

FastMCP is strongest when a Python team needs to expose internal tools, data, or workflows to MCP-compatible agents quickly while still planning for auth, logging, schema stability, and deployment. It does not replace security architecture: sensitive actions still need authorization, rate limits, input validation, secrets handling, prompt-injection review, and monitoring around every tool surface.

Pricing & Platform Specs

Pricing Summary

100% free and open-source under the Apache-2.0 license ($0 software cost). FastMCP has no subscription fees, paid tiers, or seat limits for its Python library, CLI, or client SDK. It executes locally (stdio) or self-hosted (SSE/ASGI) at zero license cost. Prefect offers optional enterprise governance via Prefect Horizon, while FastMCP remains completely standalone and open source.

full pricing breakdown →

Supported Platforms

Python 3.10+, MCP servers and clients, decorators, transports, auth, deployment, testing, telemetry/OpenTelemetry docs, CLI, and optional Horizon gateway path.

Explore categories, tags & use cases

Categories

MCP Servers

Alternatives

All FastMCP alternatives →
MCP Python SDK logo

MCP Python SDK

Official Python SDK for building MCP servers

The official Python SDK for the Model Context Protocol, enabling developers to build MCP servers and clients with asyncio support. Provides type-safe tool definitions, resource management, and all standard MCP transports. The most popular Python package for MCP development with comprehensive documentation.

Open Source
MCP TypeScript SDK logo

MCP TypeScript SDK

Official TypeScript SDK for building MCP servers

The official TypeScript SDK for the Model Context Protocol, providing everything needed to build MCP servers and clients. Supports stdio, SSE, and Streamable HTTP transports with built-in auth helpers. Works across Node.js, Bun, and Deno runtimes for maximum deployment flexibility.

Open Source
mcp-use logo

mcp-use

Fullstack MCP framework connecting any LLM to MCP servers

mcp-use is an open-source framework that enables any LLM to interact with MCP servers through a unified client interface. It bridges the gap between models that lack native MCP support and the growing ecosystem of MCP tools by providing automatic tool discovery, execution management, and multi-server orchestration. Supports both direct LLM connections and agent-based workflows. Over 9,000 GitHub stars.

Open Source
mcp-go logo

mcp-go

Go implementation of the Model Context Protocol SDK

mcp-go is a Go implementation of the Model Context Protocol, providing both server and client SDKs for building MCP integrations in Go. It supports stdio and SSE transports, resource management, tool registration, and prompt templates. Designed for Go developers building MCP servers for DevOps tools, CLI applications, and backend services. Over 8,000 GitHub stars.

Open Source
mcp2cli logo

mcp2cli

Turn any MCP server, OpenAPI spec, or GraphQL endpoint into a CLI — at runtime, with zero codegen.

mcp2cli turns MCP servers, OpenAPI specs, and GraphQL endpoints into standard CLIs at runtime — no codegen, no schema bloat. Tools and arguments load only when requested via --list and --help flags, cutting up to 96–99% of the tokens that native MCP integrations waste on schema preloading. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and any agent that can call shell commands, and ships with OAuth, stdio/HTTP/SSE transports, and a bake mode for reusable connections.

Open Source

Side-by-Side Comparisons

FastMCP logo
FastMCP
vs
mcp-use logo
mcp-use

FastMCP vs mcp-use: Pythonic Micro-Framework or Full-Stack TypeScript MCP Runtime?

FastMCP and mcp-use represent two fundamentally distinct philosophies for building with the Model Context Protocol. FastMCP provides a lightweight, decorator-first Python micro-framework for exposing data pipelines and APIs as tools, while mcp-use delivers a full-stack TypeScript runtime with React UI bindings. Here is how their architecture, transports, and developer ergonomics compare.

FastMCPmcp-use
FastMCP logo
FastMCP
vs
mcp-go logo
mcp-go

FastMCP vs mcp-go — Pythonic MCP Framework vs Go SDK

FastMCP and mcp-go both help teams build Model Context Protocol servers, clients, and tool integrations, but they serve different engineering cultures. FastMCP is the faster default when a Python team wants decorators, type inference, validation, and quick iteration. mcp-go is the better fit when MCP needs to live inside Go CLIs, infrastructure services, and compiled backend systems.

FastMCPmcp-go
FastMCP logo
FastMCP
vs
MCP Python SDK logo
MCP Python SDK

FastMCP vs MCP Python SDK — Framework Convenience vs Protocol Primitives

Both FastMCP and the official MCP Python SDK let you build MCP servers in Python — but they make very different bets on what developers actually need. FastMCP trades protocol fidelity for speed: decorators, sensible defaults, and a minimal surface area that gets a server running in minutes. The MCP Python SDK trades convenience for control: direct access to protocol primitives, transport internals, and the full specification. The right choice depends less on the project than on the team — and how much they want to think about the protocol underneath.

FastMCPMCP Python SDK

Community experience

Sources & verification

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FAQ

What is FastMCP?

FastMCP is an Apache-2.0 Python framework for building MCP servers, clients, and apps with decorators, type hints, transports, auth patterns, deployment docs, and telemetry hooks. The project now resolves to PrefectHQ/fastmcp, with Prefect Horizon available as a separate enterprise MCP gateway for identity, RBAC, audit, monitoring, and server governance.

Is FastMCP free?

Yes — FastMCP is open source and free to use. 100% free and open-source under the Apache-2.0 license ($0 software cost). FastMCP has no subscription fees, paid tiers, or seat limits for its Python library, CLI, or client SDK. It executes locally (stdio) or self-hosted (SSE/ASGI) at zero license cost. Prefect offers optional enterprise governance via Prefect Horizon, while FastMCP remains completely standalone and open source.

Is FastMCP open source?

Yes — FastMCP is open source.

Is FastMCP still maintained?

Yes — FastMCP is active. Its listing was last verified on September 6, 2026.

What are the best FastMCP alternatives?

The first editor-selected FastMCP alternatives are MCP Python SDK, MCP TypeScript SDK, mcp-use, and more.

How does FastMCP score in our review?

The published editorial review lists FastMCP at 87/100 overall across speed, privacy, and developer experience. Check the review's evidence status and test metadata for its verification level.