OpenWork MCP Gateway

OpenWork is the free, open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and Codex: a desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux where AI agents do real work on your own files. It is built on OpenCode, works with any model - 50+ providers, your own API keys, or local models via Ollama - and lets teams share skills and MCP servers. It is available as a remote MCP endpoint.

Teams that want a hosted security endpoint instead of running a local process. The project is written in TypeScript.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-09-29 · ★ 23,783 · #5 OF 216 MAINTAINED SECURITY · VERIFIED 2026-09-30

NOASSERTION · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install OpenWork MCP Gateway

before you install - you'll need

The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install.

Claude Code

claude mcp add different-ai-openwork --transport http https://api.openworklabs.com/mcp/agent

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "different-ai-openwork": {
      "url": "https://api.openworklabs.com/mcp/agent"
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

https://api.openworklabs.com/mcp/agent

transport: streamable-http

endpoint alive - authentication required · probed 2026-09-30

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as remote - your agent's requests go to api.openworklabs.com

endpoint auth requires authentication - rejected our unauthenticated MCP initialize

license no standard license detected - usage rights unclear; check the repo before commercial use

registry vendor namespace com.openworklabs - domain-verified with the official MCP registry

03 · What OpenWork MCP Gateway can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

Latest releases

v0.18.54 · 2026-09-25

Enterprise sign-in and version pinning are back, plus Amazon Bedrock and model shortcuts · This release covers everything since v0.18.52. v0.18.53 was never published, so its changes are included here. · Organization…

v0.18.52 · 2026-09-24

Manage your Library from the desktop, find anything from one + menu, and a rebuilt AI Gateway · Your Library works fully on the desktop. You can now add, share, edit and delete skills, connectors and plugins without…

v0.18.50 · 2026-09-22

Run OpenWork on your own server with one command · Self-host OpenWork with one command. For self-hosters: npm i -g openwork-server && openwork-server web now runs the full OpenWork web app on a home server or VPS. It…

04 · Who maintains OpenWork MCP Gateway

OpenWork MCP Gateway is maintained by different-ai. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Jan 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/different-ai/openwork
website: https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/connect-openwork-mcp
category: security - ranked #5 of 216 actively-maintained security servers as of 2026-09-30.
release cadence: 9 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-09-25)
registry: com.openworklabs/openwork (active, first published 2026-09-26)

06 · OpenWork MCP Gateway FAQ

What is OpenWork MCP Gateway?

Is OpenWork MCP Gateway still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-30, its last commit was 2026-09-29 and it shipped 9 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install OpenWork MCP Gateway?

Run `claude mcp add different-ai-openwork --transport http https://api.openworklabs.com/mcp/agent`. The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does OpenWork MCP Gateway require authentication?

Yes - when we probed the endpoint on 2026-09-30, it rejected an unauthenticated MCP initialize; you'll need credentials to connect.

07 · Alternatives to OpenWork MCP Gateway

Alternatives to OpenWork MCP Gateway

Maintained security servers if OpenWork MCP Gateway isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what OpenWork MCP Gateway doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

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