Official MCP Registry vs Claude Connectors Directory
Product engineer: Annotate every tool before you submit to Claude. Developer-platform lead: The Claude directory is a distribution channel with review; the registry is metadata. Agent builder: Claude-listed connectors have annotated tools, which helps approval prompts. The official registry accepts any verified namespace with no review; the Claude Connectors Directory requires remote HTTPS.
The sourced difference
The official registry accepts any verified namespace with no review; the Claude Connectors Directory requires remote HTTPS, OAuth 2.0 for user data and readOnlyHint or destructiveHint on every tool, then scans and may review. (Official MCP Registry: modelcontextprotocol/registry on GitHub, read 5 November 2026; Claude Connectors Directory: Claude: submit a connector to the directory, read 5 November 2026)
Verdicts by reader
| Reader | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Product engineer | Annotate every tool before you submit to Claude. |
| Developer-platform lead | The Claude directory is a distribution channel with review; the registry is metadata. |
| Agent builder | Claude-listed connectors have annotated tools, which helps approval prompts. |
Side by side on the rubric
| Dimension | Official MCP Registry | Claude Connectors Directory |
|---|---|---|
| Remote transport | records both | remote HTTPS required |
| OAuth with client registration | not applicable | OAuth 2.0 required for user data |
| Per-tool auth scoping | not applicable | annotations required |
| Hosting and scale limits | not a host | not a host |
| Observability | not applicable | health and usage metrics after publication |
| Pricing | free | paid Claude plan to submit |
| Registry submission | CLI with namespace verification | portal, automated scan, optional human review |
| Discoverability by agents | open paginated API | inside Claude |
| Own server in the registries | not applicable | docs server listed |
Evidence for every cell is on the profiles: Official MCP Registry and Claude Connectors Directory.