Apisix MCP vs Kubernetes MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Apisix MCP and Kubernetes 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 Apisix MCP for cloud platforms work as a local process; choose Kubernetes MCP Server for cloud platforms as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Apisix MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Cloud Platforms domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
APISIX_SERVER_HOST, APISIX_SERVER_PORT, APISIX_ADMIN_API_PORT, APISIX_ADMIN_API_PREFIX, APISIX_ADMIN_KEY. - You want tools like
get_resource, delete_resource, send_request_to_gateway.
Choose Kubernetes MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Cloud Platforms domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You want tools like
configuration_contexts_list, targets_list, configuration_view.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cloud Platforms | Cloud Platforms |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 68/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | other |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | APISIX_SERVER_HOSTAPISIX_SERVER_PORTAPISIX_ADMIN_API_PORTAPISIX_ADMIN_API_PREFIXAPISIX_ADMIN_KEY | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 38 | 2,173 |
| Directory activity | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 32 | 76 |
| Full listing | View Apisix MCP | View Kubernetes MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Apisix MCP tools 32
get_resourceGet resource details by ID or list all resourcesdelete_resourceDelete a resource by IDsend_request_to_gatewaySend a request or multiple requests to the APISIX gatewaycreate_routeCreate a routeupdate_routeUpdate specific attributes of an existing routecreate_serviceCreate a serviceupdate_serviceUpdate specific attributes of an existing servicecreate_upstreamCreate an upstream service with load balancing settingsupdate_upstreamUpdate specific attributes of an existing upstreamcreate_or_update_consumerCreate a consumer, if the consumer already exists, it will be updatedget_credentialGet all credentials or a specific credential for a consumercreate_or_update_credentialCreate or update a credential for a consumer- +20 more on the listing page
Kubernetes MCP Server tools 76
configuration_contexts_listList all available context names and associated server urls from the kubeconfig filetargets_listList all available targetsconfiguration_viewGet the current Kubernetes configuration content as a kubeconfig YAMLevents_listList Kubernetes events (warnings, errors, state changes) for debugging and troubleshooting in the current cluster from all namespacesnamespaces_listList all the Kubernetes namespaces in the current clusterprojects_listList all the OpenShift projects in the current clusternodes_logGet logs from a Kubernetes node (kubelet, kube-proxy, or other system logs). This accesses node logs through the Kubernetes API proxy to the kubeletnodes_stats_summaryGet detailed resource usage statistics from a Kubernetes node via the kubelet's Summary API. Provides comprehensive metrics including CPU, memory, filesystem, and network usage at the node, pod, and container levels. On systems with cgroup v2 and kernel 4.20+, also includes PSI (Pressure Stall Info…nodes_topList the resource consumption (CPU and memory) as recorded by the Kubernetes Metrics Server for the specified Kubernetes Nodes or all nodes in the clusterpods_listList all the Kubernetes pods in the current cluster from all namespacespods_list_in_namespaceList all the Kubernetes pods in the specified namespace in the current clusterpods_getGet a Kubernetes Pod in the current or provided namespace with the provided name- +64 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.
Apisix MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"api7-apisix-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"apisix-mcp"
],
"env": {
"APISIX_SERVER_HOST": "YOUR_APISIX_SERVER_HOST_HERE",
"APISIX_SERVER_PORT": "YOUR_APISIX_SERVER_PORT_HERE",
"APISIX_ADMIN_API_PORT": "YOUR_APISIX_ADMIN_API_PORT_HERE",
"APISIX_ADMIN_API_PREFIX": "YOUR_APISIX_ADMIN_API_PREFIX_HERE",
"APISIX_ADMIN_KEY": "YOUR_APISIX_ADMIN_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Kubernetes MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Apisix MCP is categorized under Cloud Platforms and uses a local stdio subprocess. Kubernetes MCP Server belongs to Cloud Platforms and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Apisix MCP for cloud platforms work and Kubernetes MCP Server for cloud platforms.
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.
Apisix MCP is listed as free. Auth: api key required. Kubernetes MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: other. 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 api7-apisix-mcp and kubernetes-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Apisix MCP has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 38 GitHub stars. Kubernetes MCP Server has 68/100 (Great) with 5 views, 0 installs and 2,173 GitHub stars.