---
slug: "fetch-mcp-server"
name: "Fetch MCP Server"
effect: "Fetches a URL and returns the page as markdown in chunks the model can page through"
category: "mcp-server"
url: "https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/fetch"
github: "modelcontextprotocol/servers"
pricing: "open-source"
license: "Apache-2.0 (repo is transitioning from MIT; contributions not yet relicensed remain MIT)"
tags: ["web", "http", "markdown", "reference", "python"]
platforms: ["any-mcp-client", "claude-desktop", "vscode", "docker"]
install_kind: "mcp-json"
date_added: "2026-10-14"
drop_score: 61
stars: 91270
pushed_at: "2026-10-13T05:54:47Z"
signals_status: "ok"
signals_fetched_at: "2026-10-15T01:18:57.587Z"
page: "https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/fetch-mcp-server"
---

# Fetch MCP Server

Fetches a URL and returns the page as markdown in chunks the model can page through

Category: MCP servers. Pricing: Open source. License: Apache-2.0 (repo is transitioning from MIT; contributions not yet relicensed remain MIT).

Platforms: any-mcp-client, claude-desktop, vscode, docker.

## Why you would want it

The reference fetch server from the MCP project. Its single fetch tool converts HTML to markdown, truncates long pages and takes a start_index so the model can continue reading where it stopped, with a raw option for unconverted content. By default it obeys robots.txt for model-initiated requests and refuses private, loopback and cloud metadata addresses; flags let you set the user agent, use a proxy or allow private IPs.

## Best for

- Adding web page reading to a client that lacks it
- Reading docs and articles as markdown
- Python or uv-based setups

## Use it when

Your agent needs to read web pages by URL and your client has no built-in web fetch tool.

## Skip it if

Your agent already has a web fetch tool, or you need to click through and interact with pages, which a browser automation server handles. It is a reference implementation, not a production-ready server.

## Install

Add to your MCP client config (uvx):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fetch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-server-fetch"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Source: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/blob/main/src/fetch/README.md

## Live signals

Fetched 2026-10-15T01:18:57.587Z (status: ok).

- Repository: modelcontextprotocol/servers
- Stars: 91,270
- Forks: 11,790
- Open issues and PRs: 481
- License (GitHub): NOASSERTION
- Last push: 2026-10-13
- Latest release: v1.0.0 (2026-10-11)

## Links

- Website: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/fetch
- GitHub: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers
- Install instructions verified at: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/blob/main/src/fetch/README.md
- Source for this entry: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/blob/main/src/fetch/README.md
- AgentToolDrop page: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/fetch-mcp-server
- Full catalog (JSON): https://agenttooldrop.com/tools.json