MCP Python SDK

What is MCP Python SDK?

The MCP Python SDK is the official Python implementation of the Model Context Protocol, the standard that lets applications hand tools, resources and prompts to language model hosts such as Claude. You install it from PyPI as mcp, write ordinary Python functions with type hints and docstrings, and the library generates the JSON schemas, request parsing, validation and protocol handling for you. A complete server with one tool and one resource fits in a handful of lines. The same package includes a client for connecting to any MCP server, and it speaks stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE. An optional cli extra adds the mcp command for development, including an Inspector for testing, while OAuth token handling, structured output validation and OpenTelemetry tracing are built in. The current docs cover v2, with a migration guide from v1. The SDK is open source and free to use, and it requires Python 3.11 or newer.

Use cases

• Build an MCP server in Python
• Expose a database to an AI assistant
• Write an MCP client for your agent
• Mount an MCP server inside a FastAPI app
• Test servers with the MCP Inspector
• Trace MCP tool calls with OpenTelemetry

Who it's for

• Python developers
• AI engineers
• Backend teams

Why use MCP Python SDK

• Type-hinted functions become tools, so you write no JSON Schema or protocol plumbing yourself.
• One package covers both servers and clients, which suits teams building both ends of an integration.
• Support for stdio and HTTP transports lets the same server run locally or behind a web app.
• Tracing is on by default and costs almost nothing until you install an OpenTelemetry exporter.
• Because it is the official SDK, it follows the protocol closely and is documented with a migration guide.

MCP Python SDK features

• MCPServer class that exposes tools, resources and prompts
• Tool schemas generated from Python type hints
• Templated resources such as greeting://{name}
• Client for connecting to any MCP server
• stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE transports
• Structured output validated against output schemas
• OAuth token handling for authorization
• Built-in OpenTelemetry spans for every message
• mcp command with dev, run and install via the cli extra
• Mounts inside an existing FastAPI or Starlette app
• Docs also published in llms.txt format

MCP Python SDK integrations

• Claude
• FastAPI
• Starlette
• OpenTelemetry
• Pydantic Logfire
• uv

How to get started with MCP Python SDK

1. Install it with uv add "mcp[cli]" or pip install "mcp[cli]" on Python 3.11 or newer.
2. Create a server.py that defines an MCPServer and decorate functions as tools or resources.
3. Run uv run mcp dev server.py to open the MCP Inspector and try the tools.
4. Connect the server to a host such as Claude, or mount it inside an existing web app.
5. Add authorization, structured output or an OpenTelemetry exporter as the server grows.

MCP Python SDK limitations

• Requires Python 3.11 or newer
• v2 is a major version with breaking changes from v1, so projects pinning v1 should keep a version bound
• The Inspector used by mcp dev needs Node.js and npx
• It is a developer library, not a hosted service or end-user app

MCP Python SDK pricing

MCP Python SDK is open source, so you can use and self-host it for free.

Prices can change and may vary by country or exclude tax. Check the official pricing page.

MCP Python SDK alternatives

The main MCP Python SDK alternatives listed on Debuly are MCP TypeScript SDK, FastMCP, OpenAI Agents SDK, Agno, LightAgent and Agent Development Kit (ADK). The table compares pricing and platforms; order is A–Z.

1. 

   Agent Development Kit (ADK)

   Google's open-source, code-first Python framework for building, testing and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agentsCoding
   Open sourceVisit Agent Development Kit (ADK) (official site)
2. 

   Agno

   Python framework and AgentOS runtime for building agents, teams and workflows, then serving them as an API with a control plane.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agentsCoding
   Open sourceVisit Agno (official site)
3. 

   FastMCP

   Python framework for building Model Context Protocol servers, clients and interactive apps, with managed hosting via Prefect Horizon.

   Developer platformsCodingAutomation and agents
   Open sourceVisit FastMCP (official site)
4. 

   LightAgent

   Compact open-source Python framework for building agents with tools, memory, MCP, tracing, guardrails and multi-step workflows.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agentsCoding
   Open sourceVisit LightAgent (official site)
5. 

   MCP TypeScript SDK

   Official TypeScript SDK for building Model Context Protocol servers and clients that run on Node.js, Bun and Deno.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agentsCoding
   Open sourceVisit MCP TypeScript SDK (official site)
6. 

   OpenAI Agents SDK

   Open-source Python framework for building multi-agent workflows with tools, handoffs, guardrails, tracing, sandboxes and voice agents.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agentsCoding
   Open sourceVisit OpenAI Agents SDK (official site)

MCP Python SDK FAQ

Sources & verification

Facts on this page come from the official sources below, each with the date we read it. Written by Debuly; the vendor did not review this page.

Image credits

• Logo: from py.sdk.modelcontextprotocol.io · fetched 24 Oct 2026 · Vendor trademark, used only to identify the product; removed on request
• Cover: none collected yet, so a generated tile is shown.

Spot an error? Report an issue with this listing. We also remove a logo or image on the owner's request.