10 Essential Cursor MCP Servers for Developer Productivity

Modern API development demands seamless integrations, automation, and real-time access to data and services. Cursor’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers are redefining how developers, engineers, and API teams connect their favorite tools with AI-powered environments—eliminating context-switching and manual overhead.

Whether you’re building APIs, managing databases, scraping the web, or automating tests, the right MCP servers can streamline your workflow and unlock new efficiencies. And for teams focused on API quality, Apidog offers robust API testing, documentation, and collaboration capabilities that integrate naturally into any MCP ecosystem.

What Is MCP? The Model Context Protocol Explained

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standardized layer that enables AI assistants (like Cursor) to interact with external data sources and tools in real time. This means you can pull live data, trigger commands, and automate tasks—all from within your development environment.

How It Works:

• Servers: Connect to specific services (APIs, databases, cloud, etc.)
• Clients: AI or development tools that send/receive requests
• Hosts: Orchestrate the communication between clients and servers

The result? Modular, extensible workflows where every integration is purpose-built for developer productivity.

How to Add MCP Servers to Cursor: Step-by-Step

Adding new MCP servers to Cursor is straightforward, but following best practices ensures reliable performance.

Prerequisites

• Node.js installed (with npx available)
• Cursor AI installed and open

Setup Process

1. Open Cursor Settings
   Use Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS), then search for "Cursor Settings".

   

2. Navigate to MCP Section
   In the settings sidebar, select the MCP section for all server management options.

3. Add a New MCP Server
   Click “Add New MCP Server” and provide the required configuration. A typical config structure:

   {
     "name": "server-name",
     "command": "npx",
     "args": ["@package/server"],
     "env": {
       "API_KEY": "your-api-key"
     }
   }
   

   

4. Restart Cursor
   Restart to activate the new server. Verify it appears in your tools list.

5. Test the Integration
   Use the AI assistant to run diagnostic commands and confirm connectivity.

Top 10 Cursor MCP Servers for Developers

Here are the best MCP servers to empower your API and backend workflows, with practical use cases for each.

1. Firecrawl MCP Server – Effortless Web Scraping

Transform web scraping into a single command. Firecrawl MCP lets you extract data from dynamic, JavaScript-heavy sites—no more brittle scripts.

Key Features:

• Handles JS-rendered pages
• Outputs structured JSON
• Built-in rate limiting and ethics controls
• Supports complex authentication

Install:
npx @firecrawl/mcp-server

Use Cases:

• Market research, news aggregation, price monitoring, lead generation

2. GitHub MCP Server – Code & Project Management

Interact with GitHub repos directly inside Cursor. Review code, manage issues, and automate workflows without browser switching.

Features:

• Browse repositories, view files
• Manage issues, PRs, branches, and commits
• Trigger CI/CD or documentation generation

Sample Config:

{
  "name": "github",
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
  "env": {
    "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your-token"
  }
}

Benefits:

• Faster reviews, better project visibility, and streamlined collaboration

3. Notion MCP Server – Docs and Knowledge Integration

Bridge note-taking and development. Fetch docs, update project requirements, or sync meeting notes—all from Cursor.

Capabilities:

• Document management and editing
• Query/update Notion databases
• Sync templates and project docs

Config Example:

{
  "name": "notion",
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["@modelcontextprotocol/server-notion"],
  "env": {
    "NOTION_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
  }
}

Use Cases:

• Maintain technical docs, track requirements, log decisions

4. PostgreSQL MCP Server – Database Access & Automation

Query, monitor, and document your PostgreSQL databases directly from your IDE.

Features:

• SQL query execution
• Schema exploration
• Performance and migration tools

Config Example:

{
  "name": "postgresql",
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"],
  "env": {
    "POSTGRES_CONNECTION_STRING": "postgresql://user:pass@host:port/db"
  }
}

Benefits:

• Rapid prototyping, query optimization, schema validation

5. File System MCP Server – Local Project Automation

Perform file operations, content search, and permission management right from Cursor. Ideal for organizing large codebases.

Capabilities:

• Read/write files
• Bulk operations
• Analyze project structure

Install:
npx @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem

6. Browserbase MCP Server – Cloud Web Automation

Run browser automation in the cloud. Test web apps, record user journeys, and validate dynamic content without manual setup.

Technical Specs:

• Cloud-based browsing and automation
• Screenshots, video recording
• Cross-browser testing

Use Cases:

• Automated UI testing, performance monitoring

7. Docker MCP Server – Container Management Simplified

Manage Docker images, containers, and networks programmatically. Perfect for API teams needing consistent, reproducible environments.

Features:

• Build and deploy images
• Control container lifecycle
• Monitor resource use

Benefits:

• Secure, isolated dev/test spaces

8. Slack MCP Server – Communication Automation

Connect team chat with your dev workflows. Send deployment notifications, automate code review reminders, or trigger workflow messages.

Features:

• Manage channels and DMs
• Automated alerts and file sharing
• Integrate with pipelines

Benefits:

• Keep your team in sync with real-time updates

9. Cloudflare MCP Server – CDN & Security Control

0

Manage DNS, CDN settings, and security rules for your global infrastructure—all from Cursor.

Capabilities:

• Domain and DNS management
• CDN optimization
• Performance analytics

10. Vector Search MCP Server – Semantic Discovery

Unlock meaning-based search across your codebase or docs. Find relevant endpoints, discover similar code, and surface context-aware information.

Features:

• Semantic and pattern-based search
• Documentation discovery
• Knowledge organization

Bonus: Apidog MCP Server – API Intelligence in Your IDE

1

For API developers, the Apidog MCP Server brings your OpenAPI specs and endpoints directly into Cursor—making API knowledge instantly accessible to your AI assistant.

Why It Stands Out:

• Syncs with Apidog projects, public docs, or local files
• Natural language queries: “What’s the response for /users?”
• Local caching for offline support
• Context-aware suggestions for your specific API

Example Setup:

1. Open Cursor Settings
   Click the settings icon (top-right), select “MCP”, then “+ Add new global MCP server”.

   2

2. Paste Config
   Replace <access-token> and <project-id> as needed:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "API specification": {
         "command": "cmd",
         "args": [
           "/c",
           "npx",
           "-y",
           "apidog-mcp-server@latest",
           "--project=<project-id>"
         ],
         "env": {
           "APIDOG_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<access-token>"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Verify
   Ask Cursor:
   “Please fetch API specification via MCP and tell me how many endpoints exist in the project”

   3

With Apidog MCP, your API specs become a live, queryable knowledge base—eliminating tab-switching and keeping your AI suggestions accurate.

Advanced MCP Server Configuration & Best Practices

Performance Optimization

• Use connection pooling for database servers to reduce latency
• Enable caching where supported for quicker responses
• Regularly monitor server metrics and adjust configs based on load

Security Best Practices

• Store API keys and credentials in environment variables, never hard-coded
• Audit server permissions and access regularly
• Keep all MCP servers updated to mitigate vulnerabilities

Troubleshooting Tips

• Connection Timeouts: Check network/firewall settings, implement retries
• Startup Failures: Validate configuration, check for missing dependencies

Team Adoption & Workflow Integration

Onboarding

• Maintain shared MCP server config templates for consistent setup
• Provide internal docs and live demos tailored to your team’s stack

Workflow Automation

• Identify repetitive tasks—API testing, code reviews, deployments—and automate via MCP integrations
• Set up monitoring to track server usage and identify optimization opportunities

Conclusion

Cursor MCP servers are transforming developer workflows, enabling powerful, AI-driven integrations with the tools you already use. By choosing the right servers and following best practices, your team can automate tasks, reduce manual overhead, and build better APIs—faster.

If you’re looking for an advanced API platform that generates beautiful API documentation, supports seamless team workflows, and can replace Postman at a much more affordable price, Apidog is a natural fit for your modern development stack.