About
Docker's official MCP Gateway (the docker mcp CLI plugin) runs and orchestrates many MCP servers securely as containers — centralizing secrets, isolating execution and one-click access to the Docker MCP Catalog, serving as a secure foundation for running multiple MCPs locally.
Our Verdict
Docker MCP Gateway brings devops capabilities to the MCP ecosystem. Its GitHub popularity reflects community trust, and the standardized protocol ensures broad compatibility across AI clients.
Pricing
Use Cases
- Integrating devops capabilities into AI agent workflows
- Building custom AI-powered tools with Docker MCP Gateway
- Enhancing AI agent functionality with standardized MCP access
Pros
- Docker MCP Gateway provides standardized MCP protocol access
- Open source with 1,514 GitHub stars
- Active development and community support
Cons
- Requires MCP-compatible client (Claude, Cursor, etc.)
- Setup complexity varies by client
- Some features may depend on client capabilities
Installation
docker mcp gateway runFrequently Asked Questions
How is the Docker MCP Gateway different from a regular MCP server?
It is not a single feature server but a gateway: your client connects only to it, and behind the scenes it spins up multiple MCP servers as isolated containers, orchestrates them and centralizes secrets and permissions. Think of it as a secure, containerized hub in front of many MCPs.
What do I need to install the Docker MCP Gateway?
It is a plugin for the docker CLI (docker mcp ...). With a recent Docker Desktop you can enable it directly in the MCP Toolkit; on plain Docker Engine, download the docker-mcp binary from GitHub Releases into the CLI plugins directory, then start it with docker mcp gateway run.
Is the Docker MCP Gateway free and open source?
Yes, the gateway itself is open source and free (MIT). The individual MCP servers it orchestrates each have their own licenses and possibly paid APIs, which you should check separately; the gateway only handles secure containerized execution and unified management.