Best AI & ML MCP Servers for VS Code
Top 9 of 9 AI & ML MCP servers that work with VS Code, ranked by security score — every entry below is human-reviewed, not just scraped. Every row has a one-click config for VS Code — no need to open each page.
Setting up MCP servers in VS Code
VS Code's MCP support is native (via GitHub Copilot's agent mode), configured in .vscode/mcp.json per workspace or through the "MCP: Open User Configuration" command for a config that applies everywhere. One thing that trips people up moving a config from Claude Desktop or Cursor: VS Code's top-level key is "servers", not "mcpServers" — the two aren't interchangeable.
Because .vscode/mcp.json is a normal workspace file, it can be committed alongside project code the same way project-scoped Cursor configs can — a team opening the repo in VS Code gets the same MCP servers without extra setup.
| # | Server | Security score | Stars | Language | Config |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sequential Thinking MCP ServerOfficial Dynamic and reflective problem-solving through a structured step-by-step thinking process. | 76 | 88,988 | TypeScript | |
| 2 | Hugging Face Hub and Gradio app access for your AI assistant workflows. | 53 | 269 | TypeScript | |
| 3 | Streamline agent paths using a 11-dependency oversight utility. | 48 | 503 | TypeScript | |
| 4 | Memory MCP ServerOfficial Persistent knowledge graph memory allowing AI to retain user information across sessions. | 46 | 89,054 | TypeScript | |
| 5 | Use project-specific directory structures to keep documentation organized and accessible. | 36 | 917 | TypeScript | |
| 6 | Local Ollama models execute tools through diverse MCP-compatible server plugins. | 33 | 977 | TypeScript | |
| 7 | Persistent memory for LLMs using the Mem0 API for cross-session data recall. | 13 | 99 | TypeScript | |
| 8 | Local LLM access via the Ollama SDK for MCP-compatible AI applications. | 10 | 168 | TypeScript | |
| 9 | Ollama local LLM management and chat completion via the Model Context Protocol. | 10 | 75 | JavaScript |
AI & ML + VS Code: frequently asked questions
›What's the best AI & ML MCP server for VS Code?
Sequential Thinking MCP Server currently ranks highest among AI & ML MCP servers, with a security score of 76/100, officially maintained by the vendor. Hf MCP Server (53/100) is the next best option. Every server below has a one-click VS Code config.
›How do I add an AI & ML MCP server to VS Code?
Add an entry under "servers" in .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace, or run "MCP: Open User Configuration" from the command palette for a global config. The same steps apply to Sequential Thinking MCP Server, the top-ranked AI & ML server below.
›Are AI & ML MCP servers safe to use with VS Code?
2 of the 9 AI & ML MCP servers below are officially maintained by its vendor; the rest are independently reviewed. Every score comes from real signals — permissions requested, authentication, maintenance activity — not a marketing claim. All of them are compatible with VS Code.
›How many AI & ML MCP servers work with VS Code?
9 AI & ML MCP servers have a ready-to-use VS Code config right now, ranked by security score below.
›Where do I put the AI & ML MCP server config for VS Code?
It's simply VS Code's own schema — Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Windsurf all use "mcpServers", but a config copied between them and VS Code needs that one key renamed. An AI & ML server goes in the exact same place as any other VS Code MCP server — there's no category-specific config location.
›Do I need to restart VS Code after adding an AI & ML MCP server?
Yes — run "MCP: Open User Configuration" from the command palette to edit a config that applies across all your workspaces. That's true whether you're adding Sequential Thinking MCP Server or any other AI & ML server.