Compare
MCPOrbit vs Smithery.
Smithery is a public web directory of MCP servers with hosted detail pages. MCPOrbit is a local desktop client. Different shapes; complementary, not competing. Here is where each fits.
Side-by-side
The honest table.
| Feature | Smithery | MCPOrbit |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol support | Index of servers | Run servers locally, both transports |
| Schema rendering | Static page | Live form, live calls |
| Comparison mode | — | N×M servers × models |
| Drift testing | — | Baseline / diff |
| Add to IDE | Copy snippet | Validated diff before write |
| Multi-provider AI | — | Eight providers |
| Open source | — | MIT |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Discovery model | Curated web directory | In-app: Official + Smithery + Server Cards |
When to use Smithery
Use Smithery when you want a public web directory of MCP servers with hosted detail pages. It's a great browse-and-discover surface that doesn't require any install — share a Smithery URL with anyone.
Smithery is a directory; that's its strength.
When to use MCPOrbit
Use MCPOrbit when you want to actually run a server, see its tools, drift-test it, compare it against alternatives, and graduate it into an IDE. The bench, not the directory.
We're happy users of Smithery. They're different surfaces of the same ecosystem.
vs Smithery · FAQ
Does MCPOrbit index Smithery's catalogue?
Yes. The MCPOrbit registry layer is adapter-based, and the Smithery adapter ships in the app — all 11,000+ servers are searchable from the Server Browser alongside the Official Registry. Smithery's listing API carries no transport, auth or tool detail, so MCPOrbit shows those as unknown rather than guessing.
Why did you build /registry then?
Our /registry page is the on-domain SEO surface for the servers we already index in the app — Official Registry, Smithery and Server Cards. It's not trying to be Smithery.
