Airquality vs Openaq MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Airquality and Openaq MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Airquality for environment & nature work as a local process; choose Openaq MCP Server for environment & nature as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Airquality when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Environment & Nature domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
get_air_quality, get_forecast.
Choose Openaq MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Environment & Nature domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
OPENAQ_API_KEY. - You want tools like
openaq_find_locations, openaq_get_readings, openaq_get_measurements.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Environment & Nature | Environment & Nature |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 53/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | OPENAQ_API_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 2 | 8 |
| Full listing | View Airquality | View Openaq MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Airquality tools 2
get_air_qualityCheck current air quality at a location (latitude/longitude or city name, e.g., "40.7128, -74.0060" or "New York"). Returns US AQI score, PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, and ozone levels.get_forecastGet hourly air quality forecast for a location. Returns US AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 predictions. Use to plan activities or alert users to upcoming poor air conditions.
Openaq MCP Server tools 8
openaq_find_locationsFind monitoring stations near a point, in a bounding box, or by country; the location ids the other tools takeopenaq_get_readingsLatest value for every sensor at a station, labeled with its pollutant and unitopenaq_get_measurementsHistorical series for one pollutant at one station, raw or rolled up hourly/dailyopenaq_list_parametersPollutant catalog with canonical units; maps a pollutant and unit to its parameter idopenaq_list_countriesCountry coverage: data span and the parameters measured in eachopenaq_dataframe_describeList the tables and columns staged on a DataCanvasopenaq_dataframe_queryRun a read-only SQL `SELECT` over staged measurement seriesopenaq_dataframe_dropDelete a complete staged canvas; opt-in with `OPENAQ_ENABLE_CANVAS_DROP=true
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.
Airquality
{
"mcpServers": {
"airquality": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-airquality"
]
}
}
}
Openaq MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"openaq-mcp-server": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"@cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"OPENAQ_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAQ_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Airquality is categorized under Environment & Nature and uses a local stdio subprocess. Openaq MCP Server belongs to Environment & Nature and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Airquality for environment & nature work and Openaq MCP Server for environment & nature.
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.
Airquality has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Openaq MCP Server 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 airquality and openaq-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Airquality has a quality signal of 52/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Openaq MCP Server has 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.