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Glama vs Remote OpenClaw: Which MCP Directory in 2026?
5 min read ·
The main difference between Glama and Remote OpenClaw is scope. Glama is a deep MCP-server registry with 60,000+ servers and a management gateway that proxies, logs, and secures them, while Remote OpenClaw is a broader agent-tooling directory of 13,000+ MCP servers, agent skills, and plugins across Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, and Hermes with a copy-paste install command per listing. Choose Glama if you want the largest raw registry plus a gateway; choose Remote OpenClaw if you want servers, skills, and plugins together with simple, client-specific installs.
What is Glama?
Glama is an MCP server registry, inspector, and gateway that indexes 60,000+ open-source Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers as of mid-2026, the largest such registry. Beyond discovery, its defining feature is the Gateway: a reverse proxy in front of every server with full call logging, per-tool access control, managed OAuth credentials, and usage analytics.
That gateway is why teams pick Glama. If you are running many MCP servers in production and need centralized auth, logging, and access control, Glama gives you an infrastructure layer that a plain directory does not. It is focused specifically on MCP servers rather than the wider agent-tooling ecosystem.
What is Remote OpenClaw?
Remote OpenClaw is a free, open directory of 13,000+ MCP servers, agent skills, and plugins for Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, and Hermes. It is a discovery and install layer, not an infrastructure product: it helps you find the right building block, from the official MCP reference servers to community ones, and gives you the exact command to install it in your own setup.
The differentiator is breadth of type. Remote OpenClaw covers more than MCP servers (agent skills and plugins too), spans four agent clients, and lets you filter by client, category, and use case with a copy-paste install command on every listing. It does not proxy, host, or run anything for you.
Glama vs Remote OpenClaw: the differences
The two overlap on MCP-server discovery but diverge on scope and infrastructure. Glama goes deeper and heavier on MCP servers with a gateway; Remote OpenClaw goes wider across tooling types and clients and stays lightweight.
| Feature | Glama | Remote OpenClaw |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | MCP registry + inspector + gateway | Open directory of MCP servers, skills & plugins |
| MCP servers listed | 60,000+ | Part of 13,000+ total entries |
| Beyond MCP servers | MCP servers only | Also agent skills and plugins |
| Gateway / proxy / auth | Yes, logging, access control, OAuth | No |
| Clients | MCP-compatible clients | Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, Hermes |
| Install | Via registry and gateway | Copy-paste command per listing |
| Price | Free registry; paid gateway usage | Free |
When to choose each
The choice comes down to whether you need a management gateway and pure MCP depth, or the whole agent-tooling stack across clients. Each is genuinely better at its job.
Choose Glama if: you run MCP servers in production and need centralized logging, per-tool access control, and managed OAuth, or you simply want the single largest MCP-server registry to search. The gateway is the reason to be there.
Choose Remote OpenClaw if: you want MCP servers, agent skills, and plugins in one place, you are building across Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, or Hermes, and you prefer a simple copy-paste install over an infrastructure layer. It is the better fit for assembling an agent, not operating a fleet of servers.
Some teams use both: Glama to run and secure servers at scale, Remote OpenClaw to discover skills and plugins and to compare options across the wider ecosystem.
Pricing
Both are free to search; the cost sits in Glama's gateway. Glama's registry is free, with paid usage once you route servers through its managed Gateway. Remote OpenClaw is free because it does not proxy or host anything; your only cost is the infrastructure you already run a server on.
Limitations and Tradeoffs
Each gives something up. Remote OpenClaw does not proxy, host, or secure servers, so if you need a gateway with auth and logging, it cannot do that and Glama is the right tool. Glama, in turn, is MCP-server-only and its gateway is a paid, infrastructure dependency, so if you also need agent skills and plugins or you just want a lightweight directory, it will feel heavy for the job.
When NOT to use either: if you already know the exact server and how to run it, skip the directory and go to the source repo. Directories and gateways earn their keep during discovery, comparison, and operations, not when you already have the command.
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Browse all skills →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Glama and Remote OpenClaw?
Glama is a 60,000+ MCP-server registry with a management gateway that proxies, logs, and secures servers, while Remote OpenClaw is a broader directory of MCP servers, agent skills, and plugins across four clients with a copy-paste install command. Glama is deeper on MCP infrastructure; Remote OpenClaw is wider across tooling types.
Is Remote OpenClaw a good Glama alternative?
Remote OpenClaw is a good Glama alternative for discovery across the whole agent-tooling stack, including skills and plugins, not just MCP servers. It is not an alternative for Glama's gateway, because it does not proxy or secure servers; if you need managed auth and logging, Glama is the better choice.
Does Glama have more MCP servers than Remote OpenClaw?
Yes. Glama's registry lists 60,000+ open-source MCP servers, more than Remote OpenClaw's server count. Remote OpenClaw's 13,000+ figure spans MCP servers, agent skills, and plugins combined, so it trades raw server depth for breadth of tooling type and multi-client coverage.
Does Remote OpenClaw provide an MCP gateway?
No. Remote OpenClaw is a directory, not a gateway. It does not proxy, host, or secure servers. If you need centralized logging, access control, or managed OAuth in front of your MCP servers, use Glama's Gateway or a similar tool.