A side-by-side look at the MCP Simple Openai Assistant and 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 MCP Simple Openai Assistant for conversational ai work as a local process; choose MCP Server for conversational ai as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
OPENAI_API_KEY.create_assistant, list_assistants, retrieve_assistant.VAPI_TOKEN.list_assistants, get_assistant, create_assistant.Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Conversational AI | Conversational AI |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | API key required |
| Pricing | BYOK (pay the provider) | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | OPENAI_API_KEY | VAPI_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 39 | 58 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 8 | 13 |
| Full listing | View MCP Simple Openai Assistant | View MCP Server |
create_assistantlist_assistantsretrieve_assistantupdate_assistantcreate_new_assistant_threadlist_threadsdelete_threadask_assistant_in_threadlist_assistantsList all assistantsget_assistantGet assistant by IDcreate_assistantCreate new assistantupdate_assistantUpdate assistantlist_callsList call historyget_callGet call detailscreate_callStart outbound call (immediate or scheduled)list_phone_numbersList phone numbersget_phone_numberGet phone number detailslist_toolsList custom toolsget_toolGet tool detailscreate_toolCreate tool for API integrationPaste 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.
{
"mcpServers": {
"andybrandt-mcp-simple-openai-assistant": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp-simple-openai-assistant"
],
"env": {
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"vapi-ai-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@vapi-ai/mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"VAPI_TOKEN": "YOUR_VAPI_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}