Basic Memory vs Server Trello
Two MCP servers from our productivity ranking, compared on live data - updated nightly, never sponsored.
Bottom line · 2026-09-18
Basic Memory records significantly more monthly package installs (41,253 vs 11,947); both are actively maintained, with commits inside the last month.
How they differ in kind
Basic Memory focuses on: Claude, Codex, or Cursor connected in 30 seconds. Server Trello focuses on: 34 documented tools with a focus on card; local stdio install. Implementation languages differ (Python vs TypeScript).
What each one does
Basic Memory
Claude, Codex, or Cursor connected in 30 seconds. No Python, no JSON, no terminal. $15.00/mo locked in for life (12.50/mo yearly pricing). 7-day free trial - cancel any time before day 7 if it's not for you. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.
From the project's README.
Server Trello
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that gives AI agents full access to your Trello boards - cards, lists, checklists, attachments, comments, custom fields, and workspaces - with built-in rate limiting, type safety, and workflow-level tools you won't find in a plain API wrapper, like acceptance-criteria extraction and checklist dependency queries. 57 tools, one npx install, powered by Bun. Its 34 documented tools cover card, checklist, board, comment.
From the project's README.
14 signals, side by side
| Signal | Basic Memory | Server Trello |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly installs | 41,253 | 11,947 |
| GitHub stars | 3,986 | 439 |
| Last commit | 2026-09-16 | 2026-09-17 |
| Releases · last 90 days | 4 | 1 |
| In the registry since | Jan 2026 | Sep 2025 |
| Registry versions | 9 | 4 |
| Documented tools | not extracted - see README | 34 |
| Env vars extracted | 7 | 7 |
| Runs | local (stdio) | local (stdio) |
| Endpoint auth | local only | local only |
| Maintenance | actively maintained | actively maintained |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Category rank | #1 of 160 | #4 of 160 |
What their tools cover
Extracted from each project's README - the tools each server hands your agent. A missing list means the README doesn't document one, not that no tools exist.
Basic Memory no tool list in README
Server Trello 34 tools documented
get_checklist_items- Get all items from a checklist by name.add_checklist_item- Add a new item to an existing checklist.find_checklist_items_by_description- Search for checklist items containing specific text.get_acceptance_criteria- Get a card's (or board's) acceptance criteria, tolerating the common…get_checklist_by_name- Get a complete checklist with all items and completion percentage.update_checklist_item- Update an existing checklist item.delete_checklist_item- Delete an existing checklist item.get_cards_by_list_id- Fetch all cards from a specific list.
+26 more on the full page
Environment variables found in the READMEs
These are extracted names, not a requiredness check. Project docs may mark them optional or require other setup.
Basic Memory
- BASIC_MEMORY_SEMANTIC_SEARCH_ENABLED
- BASIC_MEMORY_RERANKER_ENABLED
- BASIC_MEMORY_RERANKER_PROVIDER
- BASIC_MEMORY_RERANKER_MODEL
- COHERE_API_KEY
- BASIC_MEMORY_NO_PROMOS
- BASIC_MEMORY_LOG_LEVEL
Server Trello
- TRELLO_API_KEY
- TRELLO_TOKEN
- IDEOGRAM_API_KEY
- TRELLO_BOARD_ID
- TRELLO_WORKSPACE_ID
- TRELLO_ALLOWED_WORKSPACES
- OPENAI_API_KEY
Which one, for what
Derived from the signals above, not hands-on testing.
Pick Basic Memory if…
- → you want the more widely installed option - 41,253 monthly installs vs 11,947
- → release velocity matters - 4 releases in 90 days vs 1
Pick Server Trello if…
- → you prefer a TypeScript codebase to extend or audit
- → its documented toolset fits - 34 tools including get_checklist_items, add_checklist_item
Who's behind them
Basic Memory - basicmachines-co: 1 MCP server tracked, 1 maintained, 3,986 combined stars.
Server Trello - delorenj: 1 MCP server tracked, 1 maintained, 439 combined stars.
Not sold on either?
The next-ranked productivity servers we track:
Quick answers
Is Basic Memory better than Server Trello?
Package installs favor Basic Memory: 41,253 monthly installs to 11,947. Server Trello still ranks #4 of 160 maintained productivity servers. Data as of 2026-09-18; we haven't hands-on tested either.
Can I use Basic Memory and Server Trello together?
Yes - MCP clients accept multiple servers in one config, so you can enable both productivity servers side by side. If their tools overlap, keep the one whose toolset fits to keep your agent's tool list lean.
What environment variables do their READMEs document?
Basic Memory: 7 environment variables extracted from the README setup; Server Trello: 7 environment variables extracted from the README setup. Extraction does not rule out other authentication or configuration steps; check each project's current documentation.
Keep exploring: best productivity servers · Python servers · TypeScript servers · all comparisons · every server
Methodology: package-usage signal = npm/PyPI installs (last month, platform APIs) · maintenance = commit recency + release cadence (GitHub) · tool lists and environment-variable names extracted from each project's README · endpoint auth from our own nightly probes. We haven't hand-tested these servers; everything here is data as of 2026-09-18.