Magic MCP vs Mcp4mail
A side-by-side look at the Magic MCP and Mcp4mail MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
M
Mcp4mailDeveloper ToolsYour IMAP mailbox as an MCP server: read, search and (if you allow it) organize mail. Open source.48FairAuth: oauth 2.0Verdict: choose Magic MCP for developer tools work as a local process; choose Mcp4mail for developer tools. 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 Developer Tools 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.
MChoose Mcp4mail when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You have the keys it needs:
HITCH_RESOURCE_URI, ACTIVE_RECORD_ENCRYPTION_PRIMARY_KEY, ACTIVE_RECORD_ENCRYPTION_DETERMINISTIC_KEY, ACTIVE_RECORD_ENCRYPTION_KEY_DERIVATION_SALT. - You want tools like
list_mail_accounts, get_mail_account, list_folders.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | M Mcp4mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 48/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | API key required | OAuth 2.0 |
| Pricing | Paid service | Free |
| Required env vars | TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEYAPI_KEY_21ST | HITCH_RESOURCE_URIACTIVE_RECORD_ENCRYPTION_PRIMARY_KEYACTIVE_RECORD_ENCRYPTION_DETERMINISTIC_KEYACTIVE_RECORD_ENCRYPTION_KEY_DERIVATION_SALT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 5,997 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 16 views 1 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 14 |
| Full listing | View Magic MCP | View Mcp4mail |
Tools & capabilities
Magic MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Mcp4mail tools 14
list_mail_accountsLists the mail accounts you connected, with the ids the other tools take.get_mail_accountShows the connection details of one account (never its password).list_foldersLists the folders of one account.search_messagesSearches by subject, sender, recipients, attachment names and date.get_messageReads one message.get_attachmentDownloads an attachment of a message: a short-lived link, or with `inline: true` the file itself (up to 5 MB) inside the MCP answer.search_contactsFinds addresses you have corresponded with.get_outgoing_statusTells whether an email handed to `send_message` has gone out.set_flagsFlags a message or marks it read / unread. *Write.*move_messageMoves a message to another folder. *Write.*trash_messageMoves a message to Trash. *Write.*create_folderCreates a folder. *Write.*- +2 more on 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"
}
}
}
}
Mcp4mail
No confirmed install command for Mcp4mail yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Magic MCP is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Mcp4mail belongs to Developer Tools and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Magic MCP for developer tools work and Mcp4mail for developer tools.
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. Mcp4mail has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Magic MCP is listed as a paid service. Auth: api key required. Mcp4mail is listed as free. Auth: oauth 2.0. 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 mcp4mail 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 5,997 GitHub stars. Mcp4mail has 48/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.
