MCP Server Pexels vs Iris
A side-by-side look at the MCP Server Pexels and Iris MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
MCP Server PexelsMultimedia ProcessAn MCP server to search for (free) stock images and videos from pexels.com.44FairAuth: api key requiredVerdict: choose MCP Server Pexels for multimedia process work; choose Iris for multimedia process as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Server Pexels when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
PEXELS_API_KEY. - You want tools like
pexels_search_photos, pexels_search_videos, pexels_get_details.
Choose Iris when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Multimedia Process domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
read_image, image_probe, crop_region.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | MCP Server Pexels | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multimedia Process | Multimedia Process |
| Quality signal | 44/100 · Fair | 40/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Not confirmed yet | Confirmed |
| Transport | — | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | PEXELS_API_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 2 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 3 | 4 |
| Full listing | View MCP Server Pexels | View Iris |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Server Pexels tools 3
pexels_search_photosSearch for photos by querypexels_search_videosSearch for videospexels_get_detailsGet details by ID and type
Iris tools 4
read_imageOne local image. Geometry and metadata. OCR only when requested. An optional `region` crops inside this read.image_probeFormat, dimensions, pixel count, and source hash. No OCR and no crop.crop_regionOne citeable region: bounds and hash. Set `include_region_image` for PNG bytes. No OCR.compare_imagesChanged pixels between two images of equal dimensions. No OCR.
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.
MCP Server Pexels
No confirmed install command for MCP Server Pexels yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Iris
{
"mcpServers": {
"iris-2": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@sylphx/anymd"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Server Pexels is categorized under Multimedia Process and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Iris belongs to Multimedia Process and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Server Pexels for multimedia process work and Iris for multimedia process.
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. MCP Server Pexels has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
MCP Server Pexels is listed as free. Auth: api key required. Iris 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 afshinator-mcp-server-pexels and iris-2 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Server Pexels has a quality signal of 44/100 (Fair) with 3 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars. Iris has 40/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.