Magic MCP vs MCP Identity
A side-by-side look at the Magic MCP and MCP Identity 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 MCP Identity 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 MCP Identity when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Cryptography domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
LNBITS_INVOICE_KEY.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Architecture & Design | Cryptography |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 37/100 · Fair |
| 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 | LNBITS_INVOICE_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 6,236 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 16 views 1 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Magic MCP | View MCP Identity |
Tools & capabilities
Magic MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
MCP Identity tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
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"
}
}
}
}
MCP Identity
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-identity": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@powforge/mcp-identity"
],
"env": {
"LNBITS_INVOICE_KEY": "YOUR_LNBITS_INVOICE_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Magic MCP is categorized under Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Identity belongs to Cryptography and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Magic MCP for architecture & design work and MCP Identity 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. MCP Identity 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 mcp-identity 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 6,236 GitHub stars. MCP Identity has 37/100 (Fair) with 2 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.