Magic MCP vs APEX PSI
A side-by-side look at the Magic MCP and APEX PSI MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Magic MCP for architecture & design work as a local process; choose APEX PSI for cryptography as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Magic MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY, API_KEY_21ST.
Choose APEX PSI when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Cryptography domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
seal, verify, anchor.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Architecture & Design | Cryptography |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 60/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Paid service | Not declared |
| Required env vars | TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEYAPI_KEY_21ST | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 6,138 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 16 views 1 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 5 |
| Full listing | View Magic MCP | View APEX PSI |
Tools & capabilities
Magic MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
APEX PSI tools 5
sealStamp a cryptographic receipt on content. Writes to the APEX PSI append-only ledger with SHA-256 hash, Ed25519 signature, and post-quantum LMS-W4-SHA256 signature. Proves existence and integrity at a point in time — not the truth of the contents.verifyConfirm a seal's integrity against the APEX PSI append-only ledger. Accepts a receipt object (from the seal tool) or a raw SHA-256 hash. Reports whether the hash is present and anchored — integrity, not the truth of the original content.anchorRead the Bitcoin (OpenTimestamps) anchoring state of the ledger's pending Merkle roots, or — only when action:'anchor' is passed explicitly — request that pending roots be aggregated and submitted to the OTS calendars. Defaults to 'status' (read-only) so a routine call never triggers a batch write. An anchor becomes confirmed only when a real Bitcoin block is found.citeGenerate a citation for a sealed receipt in APA, BibTeX, or MLA format, citing the APEX PSI ledger entry.verify_chainIndependently verify a chain of receipts against the APEX PSI ledger. Recomputes each hash's presence and integrity and reports Merkle chain continuity. Returns a verification report — a recomputation result, not an opinion or a certification.
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.
Magic MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"21st-dev-magic-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@21st-dev/cli@latest"
],
"env": {
"TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY": "YOUR_TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY_HERE",
"API_KEY_21ST": "YOUR_API_KEY_21ST_HERE"
}
}
}
}
APEX PSI
{
"mcpServers": {
"apex-psi": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"apex-psi-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Magic MCP is categorized under Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. APEX PSI belongs to Cryptography and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Magic MCP for architecture & design work and APEX PSI for cryptography.
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.
Magic MCP is listed as a paid service. Auth: api key required. APEX PSI 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 21st-dev-magic-mcp and apex-psi as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Magic MCP has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 16 views, 1 installs and 6,138 GitHub stars. APEX PSI has 60/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.