# The Best Notes Apps With an MCP Server (2026)

Source: https://lotsnotes.com/blog/best-notes-apps-with-mcp-server
Published: 2026-10-19T03:30:46.942981+00:00

Seven notes apps run an official MCP server your AI agent can connect to with a sign-in: LotsNotes, Notion, Nuclino, Fabric, Mem, Basic Memory and Tana Outliner. Google Docs has one in developer preview. Obsidian has no official MCP server, only an official CLI and community plugins, and Apple documents none for Apple Notes.

I keep the instructions, plans and handoffs for every one of LotsTech's agents in LotsNotes, so Claude, Codex and cloud agents read the same notes before they work. This list is for individuals and small teams choosing a notes app their agent can read and write. For team wikis and company knowledge bases (Slite, Guru, Outline, Perfect Wiki and others), see [the knowledge base roundup](https://lotsnotes.com/blog/best-knowledge-base-tools-with-mcp-support). I opened each vendor's own MCP docs and pricing page on 18 October 2026; the links are at the end.

## Notes apps with an MCP server at a glance

| App | Official MCP server | What your agent can do | Sign-in | Free plan | Paid price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **LotsNotes** | Yes, hosted | Find notes by title, read, create, update, move, trash and restore; list and restore versions; manage folders. Private notes never reach agents | OAuth (REST API with a key) | Yes, MCP and REST included | Pro $99 once |
| **Notion** | Yes, hosted | Search, read, create and update pages and databases, with your full Notion permissions | OAuth (tokens on Business and Enterprise) | Yes, MCP works on every plan | Plus $10, Business $20 per member a month, billed yearly |
| **Nuclino** | Yes, hosted | Search, read, create and update items, move them, update fields, comment, restore earlier versions | OAuth, or an API key | Yes, up to 50 items | Starter $6, Business $10 per user a month, billed yearly |
| **Fabric** | Yes, hosted | Search, create and edit notes, bookmarks, folders and tasks, tags and memories | OAuth | Free to start; MCP on all plans, some actions use AI credits | Plus $8 a month, billed yearly |
| **Mem** | Yes, hosted | Read, search, create, edit and organize notes and collections; trash and restore; message Mem Agent | OAuth | Yes, 25 new notes a month | Plus $9, Pro $29 a month |
| **Basic Memory** | Yes, local (open source) and hosted | Write, edit and search Markdown notes | Local: none; Cloud: OAuth | Local server free and open source | Cloud $15 per seat a month |
| **Tana Outliner** | Yes, local (desktop) and hosted (beta) | Search nodes, read the node tree, create nodes, read and edit supertags and fields | OAuth, approved in the desktop app (local); OAuth (hosted) | Local server free; hosted needs a paid plan | Plus $8, Pro $14 a month, billed yearly |
| **Google Docs** | Yes, in developer preview | Read a doc's text and structure, update it with batch edits | OAuth through your own Google Cloud project | Preview program members only | Part of Google Workspace |
| **Obsidian** | No. Official CLI; MCP only through community plugins | With the CLI: search, read, create and append to notes in your vault | None (local) | App free | Sync $4 per user a month, billed yearly |

## 1. LotsNotes: notes your agents read first, with private notes they never see

LotsNotes holds what your business knows, written once: what you sell, who it's for, how you sound, the rules and the decisions. You organize it in a workspace with folders (folders can sit inside folders), and every agent you connect reads the same current notes. Claude, ChatGPT, Codex and Cursor connect to `https://api.lotsnotes.com/mcp` and sign in with OAuth, no key to paste. Cloud agents and your own scripts use the REST API with a key.

- **Private notes stay private.** Every note is shared or private. A private note stays on lotsnotes.com and is never returned through MCP or the API: to an agent it doesn't exist. That's the line I draw between my own scratch notes and the context agents work from, in the same workspace.
- **AGENTS.md notes.** A note titled AGENTS.md holds the instructions agents read first. At workspace level it reaches every folder; inside a folder it holds the rules for one product, client or agent. Workspace notes come back with every folder's notes, so house rules reach every agent. More on the convention in [AGENTS.md vs CLAUDE.md](https://lotsnotes.com/blog/agents-md-vs-claude-md).
- **What your agent can do.** Find notes by title, read, create, update, move, trash and restore notes; list and restore versions; create, move, delete and restore folders; archive notes and workspaces; invite teammates and set their roles. Every note an agent reads or saves comes back with its lotsnotes.com link, so it can hand you the page to check.
- **Edits you can undo.** Every save keeps a version. If someone changed a note while the agent was editing, LotsNotes asks before overwriting.
- **Free with MCP, then pay once.** Free covers one person: 1 workspace, 3 folders, unlimited notes and checklists, MCP and REST. LotsNotes Pro is one payment of $99 for unlimited workspaces, folders and team members with roles. It is also included while you have a Pro or Business plan of LotsSocial, LotsBlog, LotsTeam, LotsCRM, LotsInvoice, LotsBusiness or LotsStore.

LotsNotes has no AI of its own: the agent you already use does the thinking, so there are no AI credits to run out. It runs on the web at lotsnotes.com. Choose LotsNotes if you use more than one agent (or one every day) and want every one of them working from the same notes, with a clear line around what they can see.

## 2. Notion: the all-in-one workspace, with a hosted MCP server

Notion runs a hosted MCP server at `https://mcp.notion.com/mcp`. After you authorize it with OAuth, Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and other clients can read and update content you can access in the workspace you chose. Notion's docs say MCP works on every plan, with some features gated: MCP tokens (for clients without browser sign-in) are on Business and Enterprise, AI search across connected apps needs Business or Enterprise with Notion AI (other plans get keyword search), and workspace guests can't connect. Notion's help center reminds you that the tools act with your full Notion permissions. The older open-source server is no longer actively maintained. Plans: Free, Plus $10 and Business $20 per member a month, billed yearly.

Choose Notion if your notes already live next to your projects and databases there. I compared the two for agent context in [LotsNotes vs Notion](https://lotsnotes.com/blog/lotsnotes-vs-notion).

## 3. Nuclino: a lightweight team wiki with MCP on the free plan

Nuclino's MCP server at `https://api.nuclino.com/mcp` signs in with OAuth 2.0, or a Nuclino API key for clients without OAuth. Its page says your assistant can search, read and write: create and update items, move them, update fields, add comments and restore earlier versions, only within the content your account can reach. You can review and revoke connections from your profile. MCP is on every plan, including Free, which allows up to 50 items, 3 canvases and 2 GB. Starter is $6 and Business $10 per user a month billed yearly ($8 and $12 monthly), with a 14-day trial of Starter and no card.

Choose Nuclino if a small team wants a fast, simple wiki and MCP from day one.

## 4. Fabric: notes, files and bookmarks with an AI workspace

Fabric's MCP server at `https://mcp.api.fabric.so/mcp` uses OAuth, with no API keys to manage, and is listed in Claude's connector directory. Your agent can search your workspace with Fabric's semantic search, create and edit notes, create bookmarks, folders and tasks, move items, manage tags, and read and organize Fabric memories. Fabric says MCP is on all plans and that some actions may use AI usage credits. Individual plans: Plus $8 a month billed yearly ($96 a year), Pro $18 and Max $54, and you can start for $0.

Choose Fabric if you save a lot of links, files and media alongside your notes and want Fabric's own AI on top.

## 5. Mem: personal AI notes your agent can add to

Mem's hosted MCP server at `https://mcp.mem.ai/mcp` connects with OAuth from Claude, ChatGPT (as an app in the ChatGPT store), Claude Code, Codex CLI and Gemini CLI. Its tool list covers reading, semantic search, creating and editing notes, trashing and restoring them, organizing collections, and sending a request to Mem Agent, which counts toward your Mem Agent usage. MCP requests follow the Mem API's rate limits and quotas. Mem's pricing page doesn't say which plans include MCP; its plans meter new notes and messages: Free allows 25 new notes a month, Plus is $9 a month for 50 and Pro $29 a month for 100, with larger tiers up to $199.

Choose Mem if you capture a lot by voice and chat and want Mem's agent to track tasks across your notes.

## 6. Basic Memory: Markdown files on your machine, or in its cloud

Basic Memory is open source (AGPL-3.0). Its local mode keeps notes as Markdown files on your computer and runs the MCP server locally, free; you install it with Homebrew or `uv` (Python 3.12 or later). Basic Memory Cloud gives you a hosted server at `https://cloud.basicmemory.com/mcp` with OAuth, a listing in Claude's directory and a ChatGPT app, plus a web editor where you can watch an agent write in the same note. Cloud costs $15 per active seat a month ($13 at 10 seats, $12 at 20), Business is $30, and every cloud plan starts with a 7-day trial.

Choose Basic Memory if you're a developer who wants plain files you own, edited by your agent.

## 7. Tana Outliner: a structured outliner with a local MCP server

Tana Outliner (the outliner, separate from the newer Tana) runs a local MCP server inside its desktop app at `http://localhost:8262/mcp`, free for everyone, as long as the app is running; you sign in with OAuth and approve the connection in the desktop app. A hosted server at `https://app.tana.inc/mcp`, in beta, works without the desktop app and signs in with OAuth; it requires a paid plan. Both let an agent search nodes, read and navigate the node tree, create nodes, and read and edit supertags and fields. Free includes 500 AI credits a month and up to 3 workspaces; Plus is $8 and Pro $14 a month billed yearly ($10 and $18 monthly).

Choose Tana Outliner if you think in outlines and tagged nodes and want your agent to work with that structure.

## 8. Google Docs: an official MCP server, still in developer preview

Google documents a remote MCP server for Google Docs with two tools: `read_doc` reads a document's text and structure, and `update_doc` changes styling and structure with batch updates, inheriting your own permissions. It's in developer preview: you need membership in the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program, a Google Cloud project with the Docs API and Docs MCP API enabled, and your own OAuth consent screen and client. Google's page says connecting it to Claude.ai or Claude Desktop needs a Claude Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan.

Choose Google Docs if your notes already live in Docs and you're comfortable setting up a Cloud project.

## 9. Obsidian: no official MCP server, but an official CLI

Obsidian doesn't document an official MCP server: its help docs and site describe none. What Obsidian does ship is the Obsidian CLI, which lets you search, read, create and append to notes in your vault from the terminal, and which its page pitches as a way to give agentic tools access to your vault. It needs the Obsidian 1.12.7 installer or later, and the app must be running. Obsidian Headless, in open beta, syncs a vault without the desktop app, which Obsidian suggests for giving agents a vault without access to your whole computer. The MCP servers you'll find for Obsidian are community plugins, not Obsidian's own. The app is free; Sync is $4 per user a month billed yearly ($5 monthly), and a commercial license ($50 per user a year) is optional.

Choose Obsidian if you want local Markdown files and are happy to run an agent with terminal access, or to vet a community plugin yourself.

### What about Apple Notes?

Apple documents no official MCP server for Apple Notes. Its Notes user guide for Mac describes none, so any Apple Notes MCP server you find comes from a third party.

## What to check before you connect a notes app to your agent

- **Official or community?** An official server is maintained by the vendor and signs in with its own accounts. A community plugin may work well, but you're trusting its author with your notes.
- **Hosted or local?** Hosted servers (LotsNotes, Notion, Nuclino, Fabric, Mem, Basic Memory Cloud, Tana's hosted beta) work from Claude and ChatGPT on the web and from cloud agents. Local servers (Basic Memory local, Tana Outliner desktop) need your computer on, and usually a desktop app running.
- **What can the agent reach?** Notion and Nuclino let the agent reach whatever your account can open. LotsNotes never returns private notes to agents at all.
- **Is MCP on the free plan?** LotsNotes, Notion, Nuclino and Fabric say MCP is on every plan. Tana Outliner's local server is free and its hosted one paid. Basic Memory is free locally and paid in the cloud.
- **How does the price grow?** Per member or user (Notion, Nuclino, Basic Memory Cloud), per plan with metered usage (Mem, Fabric, Tana Outliner), or one payment for the whole team (LotsNotes Pro).

## How to choose

- **Notes every agent reads first, private notes they never see, no monthly bill:** LotsNotes.
- **Notes inside a bigger workspace with projects and databases:** Notion.
- **A simple team wiki with MCP on the free plan:** Nuclino.
- **Notes, files and bookmarks with an AI of its own:** Fabric or Mem.
- **Plain Markdown files you own:** Basic Memory, or Obsidian with its CLI.
- **Structured outlines and tags:** Tana Outliner.
- **Your notes already live in Google Docs:** Google Docs, once you have preview access.

If what you really want is the context ChatGPT or Claude keeps on its own, [ChatGPT memory vs Claude Projects](https://lotsnotes.com/blog/chatgpt-memory-vs-claude-projects) covers what each one stores and why neither reaches your other agents. If you want a memory server rather than a notes app, I compared seven in [The Best MCP Memory Servers for AI Agents](https://lotsnotes.com/blog/best-mcp-memory-servers). More head-to-heads, such as [LotsNotes vs Slite](https://lotsnotes.com/blog/lotsnotes-vs-slite), are on the [compare page](https://lotsnotes.com/compare).

## Connect your agent to LotsNotes

Create a workspace, write an AGENTS.md note, then connect your agent. In Claude Code:

```
claude mcp add --transport http lots-notes https://api.lotsnotes.com/mcp
```

Run `/mcp` and choose Authenticate. Setup for Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, Cursor and cloud agents is on [lotsnotes.com/mcp](https://lotsnotes.com/mcp). Free for one person, no card; Pro is one payment. [See pricing](https://lotsnotes.com/pricing).

## Common questions

### Which notes apps have an official MCP server?

LotsNotes, Notion, Nuclino, Fabric, Mem, Basic Memory and Tana Outliner each document their own MCP server, and Google Docs has one in developer preview. Most sign in with OAuth, so you don't paste a key. Obsidian and Apple Notes don't document one.

### Does Obsidian have an official MCP server?

No. Obsidian's help docs describe no MCP server. Its official route for agents is the Obsidian CLI, which can search, read and write your vault while the Obsidian app is running. The Obsidian MCP servers you'll find are community plugins.

### Is there an Apple Notes MCP server?

Not from Apple. Apple documents no official MCP server for Apple Notes, and its Notes user guide describes none, so any Apple Notes MCP server comes from a third party.

### Which notes apps include MCP on the free plan?

LotsNotes, Notion, Nuclino and Fabric say MCP is available on every plan, including free. Basic Memory's local server is free and open source, and Tana Outliner's local server is free while its hosted server needs a paid plan.

### Can I keep some notes away from my AI agent?

In LotsNotes, yes: private notes stay on lotsnotes.com and are never returned through MCP or the API. Notion and Nuclino let a connected agent reach the content your account can access, so keep anything sensitive out of what that account can open.

### Do I need a local or a hosted MCP server?

A hosted server works from Claude and ChatGPT on the web, from your phone and from cloud agents, with nothing running on your computer. A local server keeps notes on your machine but needs it on, and often a desktop app open. LotsNotes is hosted, with a REST API for cloud agents.

*Details checked on 18 October 2026 from the vendors' own pages: [Notion MCP docs](https://developers.notion.com/guides/mcp/get-started-with-mcp), [help](https://www.notion.com/help/notion-mcp) and [pricing](https://www.notion.com/pricing); [Nuclino MCP](https://www.nuclino.com/mcp) and [pricing](https://www.nuclino.com/pricing); [Fabric MCP](https://fabric.so/features/mcp) and [pricing](https://fabric.so/pricing-and-plans-for-individuals); [Mem MCP overview](https://docs.mem.ai/mcp/overview), [setup](https://docs.mem.ai/mcp/setup), [tools](https://docs.mem.ai/mcp/supported-tools) and [pricing](https://get.mem.ai/pricing); [Basic Memory pricing](https://www.basicmemory.com/pricing), [cloud guide](https://docs.basicmemory.com/cloud/cloud-guide) and [local quickstart](https://docs.basicmemory.com/start-here/quickstart-local); [Tana Outliner API and MCP](https://outliner.tana.inc/learn/features/local-api-mcp) and [pricing](https://outliner.tana.inc/pricing); [Google Docs MCP server](https://developers.google.com/workspace/docs/api/guides/configure-mcp-server); [Obsidian CLI](https://obsidian.md/cli), [Obsidian help](https://obsidian.md/help/cli) and [pricing](https://obsidian.md/pricing); [Apple Notes User Guide for Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/notes/welcome/mac). LotsNotes details from [lotsnotes.com/pricing](https://lotsnotes.com/pricing), [lotsnotes.com/mcp](https://lotsnotes.com/mcp) and its public tool list. Prices and features change; check each vendor's page for the latest.*