---
title: "When should I use Claude Code hooks instead of MCP tools?"  
description: "When should I use Claude Code hooks instead of MCP tools?"  
author: "Eetu Saarinen"  
published: 2026-10-21  
updated: 2026-10-21  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162721/when-should-i-use-claude-code-hooks-instead-of-mcp-tools  
category: "Claude Code"  
tags: ["Claude", "Claude Code", "mcp", "developer tools"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# When should I use Claude Code hooks instead of MCP tools?

I’m adding a few checks to a Claude Code workflow and can’t tell whether they belong in **Claude Code hooks** or in an MCP server. Some tasks need to run automatically around tool use; others should be available for Claude to call when relevant.

For people who have built both, how do you decide between hooks and **[MCP tools](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162394/can-claude-mcp-tools-be-restricted-to-read-only-access)** for things like validation, project-specific commands, or external services? I’m looking for the practical distinction, not just the feature definitions.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/162721/when-should-i-use-claude-code-hooks-instead-of-mcp-tools

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