GitHub MCP Server

75%

of active Willow orgs connect it

in Code & Version Control

~1,486

tokens per typical response

Based on aggregated, anonymized Willow gateway data. Updated Oct 21, 2026.

GitHub is a web-based Git repository hosting service.

Tools

Last Updated

Oct 21, 2026

What is the GitHub MCP Server?

The GitHub MCP server gives AI agents structured, permission-aware access to GitHub through the Model Context Protocol. With 35 pre-built actions, agents can read, create, and update GitHub data on behalf of authorized users.

Willow ships the GitHub MCP server as part of an enterprise control plane. Every call runs behind SSO (Okta, Azure AD), enforces RBAC and least-privilege at runtime, writes to a full audit trail, and integrates with Splunk and Loki for SIEM visibility. Connect from Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT, VS Code, n8n, or any custom agent. Install once, distribute org-wide, and see exactly how GitHub is being used by every AI agent in your stack.

Tools

Most-used tools

Most-used tool: get_file_contents (30% of calls)

Tool	Type	Share	Tokens
get_file_contents	read	30%	1,416
get_repository	read	10%	1,762
search_code	read	10%	1,254
list_branches	read	10%	3,329
list_gists	read	5%	1
search_repositories	read	5%	1,392
get_pull_request	read	5%	4,700
create_or_update_file	write	5%	582

Most used from Claude, Claude Code, Cursor.

Create or Update File

Create or update a GitHub file. Always ask the user for owner, repo, and branch. Never assume values from the prompt.

Search Repositories

Search for GitHub repositories

Create Repository in Personal Account

Create a new GitHub repository in your personal account

Create Repository in an Organization

Create a new repository in a GitHub organization.

Get File Contents

Get the contents of a file or directory from a GitHub repository

Push Files

Push multiple files to a GitHub repository in a single commit

Create Issue

Create a new issue in a GitHub repository

Create Pull Request

Create a new pull request in a GitHub repository

Fork Repository

Fork a GitHub repository to your account or specified organization

Create Branch

Create a new branch in a GitHub repository. If the repository name (repo) is not explicitly provided, do not attempt to infer or guess it. Instead, ask the user which repository to use. Never select a repository automatically, even if multiple exist. Only retrieve commits or SHAs after the repository is explicitly known.

List Commits

Get list of commits of a branch in a GitHub repository

List Branches

List branches of a GitHub repository. Results are paginated.

List Issues

List issues in a GitHub repository with filtering options

Update Issue

Update an existing issue in a GitHub repository

Add Issue Comment

Add a comment to an existing issue

Search Code

Search for code across GitHub repositories

Search Issues

Search for issues and pull requests across GitHub repositories

Search Users

Search for users on GitHub

Get Issue

Get details of a specific issue in a GitHub repository

Get Pull Request

Get details of a specific pull request

List Pull Requests

List and filter repository pull requests

Create Pull Request Review

Create a review on a pull request

Merge Pull Request

Merge a pull request

Get Pull Request Files

Get the list of files changed in a pull request

Update Pull Request Branch

Update a pull request branch with the latest changes from the base branch

Get Pull Request Comments

Get the review comments on a pull request

Get Pull Request Reviews

Get the reviews on a pull request

Compare Branches

Compare two branches in a GitHub repository

List Gists

List gists for the authenticated user or a specific user

Get Gist

Get a specific gist by ID

Create Gist

Create a new gist with one or more files

Update Gist

Update an existing gist

Delete Gist

Delete a gist

Delete File

Delete a file from a GitHub repository. This creates a commit that removes the file at the specified path. Requires the file's current SHA and a commit message. Optionally target a specific branch.

List Workflow Runs

List workflow runs for a repository. Optionally filter by a specific workflow using workflow_id (workflow file name, e.g. 'build.yml', or numeric workflow ID).

Customize Tools

Edit descriptions, modify arguments, select tools, or add new ones

Set Up Your GitHub MCP Server in Minutes

Add the following configuration to your MCP client. Authentication is handled via OAuth. Compatible with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT, VS Code, n8n, and any MCP-compatible agent.

Claude Desktop

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "willow-github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://<org>.mcp-s.com/mcp/mcp/github"
    }
  }
}

Cursor

.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "willow-github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://<org>.mcp-s.com/mcp/mcp/github"
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

CLI

claude mcp add willow-github --transport http https://<org>.mcp-s.com/mcp/mcp/github

n8n

HTTP Request Node

{
  "url": "https://<org>.mcp-s.com/mcp/mcp/github",
  "method": "POST"
}

Or click "Install with Willow" above to set up automatically with SSO and RBAC preconfigured.

Enterprise Governance for GitHub

Willow adds the layer GitHub and every other SaaS doesn't ship out of the box: every call runs behind SSO (Okta, Azure AD), enforces RBAC and least-privilege at runtime, writes to full audit logs, and detects shadow AI usage across your stack. One MCP gateway. Any agent. Every tool.

GitHub MCP Server FAQ

What is the GitHub MCP server?

The GitHub MCP server is a Model Context Protocol implementation that lets AI agents like Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT read and write GitHub data through a standardized interface. Willow hosts and governs this server so enterprises can roll it out without a security review backlog.

How is Willow's GitHub MCP server different from the official one?

The official GitHub MCP server is scoped to a single user's account and does not include enterprise governance. Willow's version adds SSO, RBAC, audit logging, shadow AI detection, and centralized control over which actions agents can take across the entire org.

Which AI clients work with the GitHub MCP server?

Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT, VS Code with MCP support, n8n, and any custom agent built with OpenAI Agents SDK, LangChain, Vercel AI SDK, or Anthropic SDK.

Is the GitHub MCP server secure? How does Willow handle authentication?

Every call runs behind your existing SSO (Okta, Azure AD). Per-user OAuth scopes the agent to exactly what that user can do in GitHub, nothing more. No credentials reach the LLM. Every action writes to an audit trail.

Can I limit which GitHub actions agents can take?

Yes. Willow lets you scope agents to specific actions, specific projects, or specific environments. Toggle actions on or off in the dashboard, or enforce policy via infrastructure-as-code through GitHub.

How do I detect shadow GitHub MCP servers in my org?

Willow's browser extension and discovery service surface unmanaged MCP servers, skills, and AI agents across the org. If a developer installed an unapproved GitHub MCP locally, you'll see it.

What does the GitHub MCP server cost?

Pricing depends on org size and deployment model (SaaS, dedicated cloud, self-host). See withwillow.ai/pricing or contact sales for a quote.

How do I install the GitHub MCP server with Willow?

Install via the Willow Connect Panel in one click, or paste the JSON snippet above into your Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Claude Code config. SSO and RBAC inherit from your existing Willow setup.