MCP registry vs directory vs marketplace

An MCP registry stores machine-readable server metadata that clients and verification tools consume. A directory is a human-searchable catalog of servers. A marketplace adds purchase or install flows. A discovery platform combines several of these. They differ in what they store and what they let you do.

A registry is structured data about servers — names, versions, metadata — intended to be consumed programmatically. It is a source of truth for machine tools rather than a browsing interface.

A directory presents servers for humans to browse and compare. A marketplace layers on install or commercial flows. MCPserver.in is a directory and knowledge resource; it is not itself the authoritative registry.