# MCP directories for SEO and GEO

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://workpods.ai/llms.txt)

The MCP directory that matters most is the one built into the assistant. Claude's connector directory and ChatGPT's apps directory let people add your server and have the assistant call it. After those, one entry in the official MCP Registry feeds several server lists for free, and a few marketplaces add pages that rank and link back.

## Which MCP directories matter most?

Claude's connector directory and ChatGPT's apps directory matter most, because a listing there puts your tools inside the conversation where the work gets asked for. No ranking or backlink does that, which is why this series starts with [Claude](https://workpods.ai/guides/mcp-distribution/claude-connector-directory) and [ChatGPT](https://workpods.ai/guides/mcp-distribution/chatgpt-apps-directory).

Next comes the [official MCP Registry](https://workpods.ai/guides/mcp-distribution/mcp-registry). It takes one `server.json`, and directories such as Glama and mcprush copied our entry without us submitting anything. The [MCP marketplaces](https://workpods.ai/guides/mcp-distribution/mcp-marketplaces) come last, for listing pages that rank and for the followed links.

## Do MCP server listings rank in Google?

Yes, mostly for the product's own name. A listing page ranks for searches like "[product] mcp" and "[product] mcp server", so it gives your server a second result for the search a buyer types after hearing about you.

mcpservers.org ranks a listing fourth for "chrome devtools mcp", and PulseMCP ranks first for "polygon mcp". Broad searches such as "mcp server list" (about 590 a month) and "best mcp server" (about 720) go to directories and editorial roundups, so the realistic aim is to be listed on the pages those searches find.

## Which MCP directories do AI answers cite?

Google's AI answers cite mcpmarket.com, LobeHub and mcpservers.org most among MCP directories, and ChatGPT cites Glama most. GitHub and Reddit are cited far more than any directory, so a public repository with a clear README counts as distribution too.

| Directory | Citations in Google AI answers | Citations in ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| mcpmarket.com | 1,901 | 17 |
| LobeHub | 1,124 | 13 |
| mcpservers.org | 865 | 15 |
| modelcontextprotocol.io | 688 | 23 |
| Glama | 149 | 64 |

## Which MCP directories give a backlink?

The Hermes marketplace, Manufact and LobeHub link to your site with followed links. mcpservers.org follows the link only on its paid listing, and Glama, mcprush and mcpmarket.com don't link to your site at all.

Where the link sits matters as much as its `rel`. A link in the server HTML is read by every crawler; one added by JavaScript may be missed by AI crawlers and SEO tools. Our guide to [dofollow and nofollow links](https://workpods.ai/guides/saas-distribution/dofollow-vs-nofollow) shows how to check.

## What did our listings get?

Our hosted server is live in the MCP Registry, on the Hermes marketplace and on Manufact's leaderboard, and its code is public on [GitHub](https://github.com/WorkPodsAgents/agent-ready). The [Hermes listing](https://hermes-agent.nousresearch.com/marketplace/agent-ready) links to workpods.ai five times in its server HTML.

![MCP directory listing: the agent-ready MCP server on the Hermes marketplace, published by WorkPods, with followed links to workpods.ai](hermes-marketplace-mcp-server-listing.webp "Our Hermes marketplace listing. Its links to workpods.ai are followed and in the server HTML, checked 11 November 2026.")

## Where should a new MCP server start?

Publish to the registry first, because it takes one file, and add a description, website and icon to your server's handshake so every copy links back. Then submit to Claude and ChatGPT and list on the marketplaces while the reviews run.

If yours isn't an MCP product, the companion series covers [SaaS directories, extension stores and app marketplaces](https://workpods.ai/guides/saas-distribution). To see how agents read your own site and server, run [Agent Ready](https://workpods.ai/tools/agent-ready), or have us do the listings as part of our [agent platform work](https://workpods.ai/axo/agent-platforms).

## Sources

- Search volumes: Google Ads keyword data, US, November 2026.
- Ranking pages and AI citations: DataForSEO Labs ranked keywords and AI mention data, US, November 2026. Both are sampled, so read them as signals, not traffic.
- Link statuses: our checks of live listings in Chrome and with curl, 5 to 12 November 2026.

## Questions buyers ask

### What is an MCP directory?

A website or catalog that lists Model Context Protocol servers so people and agents can find them. Some are pages people browse, some install a server into an agent, and the official MCP Registry is an API other directories read.

### Which MCP server directory gets the most search traffic?

Among directories that list only MCP servers, mcpservers.org's listing pages ranked for the most searches, about 2,559, ahead of Smithery and LobeHub.

### Is there an official MCP server list?

Yes. The MCP project runs the official MCP Registry at registry.modelcontextprotocol.io. It has no browsing pages of its own, but many directories copy it.

### Do I need a remote MCP server?

For Claude and ChatGPT, yes: both connect to a public HTTPS endpoint. The registry and most marketplaces also accept local servers installed from npm.

By Prateek Tomar · Reviewed by Shefali Munjal · Published 2026-11-12

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Source: https://workpods.ai/guides/mcp-distribution · WorkPods.ai, updated 2026-11-12