Hledger MCP vs Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP
A side-by-side look at the Hledger MCP and Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Hledger MCP for finance & fintech work as a local process; choose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Hledger MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You have the keys it needs:
HLEDGER_READ_ONLY, HLEDGER_SKIP_BACKUP, HLEDGER_EXECUTABLE_PATH, HLEDGER_WEB_EXECUTABLE_PATH. - You want tools like
txt, csv, json.
Choose Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Finance & Fintech domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
REF_API_KEY. - You want tools like
query, url.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Finance & Fintech | Finance & Fintech |
| Quality signal | 59/100 · Good | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | HLEDGER_READ_ONLYHLEDGER_SKIP_BACKUPHLEDGER_EXECUTABLE_PATHHLEDGER_WEB_EXECUTABLE_PATH | REF_API_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 65 | 1,183 |
| Directory activity | 9 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 4 | 2 |
| Full listing | View Hledger MCP | View Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Hledger MCP tools 4
txtcsvjsonhtml
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP tools 2
queryurl
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Hledger MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"-iiatlas-hledger-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@iiatlas/hledger-mcp"
],
"env": {
"HLEDGER_READ_ONLY": "YOUR_HLEDGER_READ_ONLY_HERE",
"HLEDGER_SKIP_BACKUP": "YOUR_HLEDGER_SKIP_BACKUP_HERE",
"HLEDGER_EXECUTABLE_PATH": "YOUR_HLEDGER_EXECUTABLE_PATH_HERE",
"HLEDGER_WEB_EXECUTABLE_PATH": "YOUR_HLEDGER_WEB_EXECUTABLE_PATH_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"ref-tools-mcp@latest"
],
"env": {
"REF_API_KEY": "YOUR_REF_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Hledger MCP is categorized under Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP belongs to Finance & Fintech and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Hledger MCP for finance & fintech work and Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP for finance & fintech.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Hledger MCP is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add -iiatlas-hledger-mcp and ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Hledger MCP has a quality signal of 59/100 (Good) with 9 views, 0 installs and 65 GitHub stars. Ref Tools Ref Tools MCP has 63/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1,183 GitHub stars.