ToolHive - making MCP servers easy and secure

What is ToolHive?

ToolHive is an open source MCP (Model Context Protocol) platform that runs MCP servers in isolated containers, enforces identity and access policy per request when configured with an authentication source, and provides observability for production use. It is built for developers, platform engineers, and enterprises who want to securely manage and deploy MCP servers.

How to use ToolHive?

ToolHive can be used via a desktop UI, CLI, or Kubernetes operator. Users start by downloading the desktop app or installing the CLI, then follow quickstart guides to configure and run MCP servers. Platform teams can deploy the Kubernetes operator to manage MCP servers and registries centrally using custom resource definitions.

Key features of ToolHive

• Runs every MCP server in an isolated container for security
• Enforces per-request identity and access policy with IdP integration
• Reduces token usage by up to 85% with semantic tool search
• Includes Gateway, Registry Server, Runtime, and Portal components
• Supports self-hosted deployment (not only SaaS)
• Emits OpenTelemetry traces and Prometheus metrics for observability

Use cases of ToolHive

• Developers run MCP servers securely with minimal permission files and no local credentials
• Platform engineers manage MCP on existing Kubernetes infrastructure with a Kubernetes operator
• Enterprises self-host MCP registry and gateway to keep sensitive data under their control
• Administrators curate a catalog of trusted MCP servers for teams to discover and deploy
• Teams connect clients like Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or VS Code to approved MCP servers