Apify MCP Server vs Trieve
A side-by-side look at the Apify MCP Server and Trieve MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Apify MCP Server for search & data extraction work as a local process; choose Trieve for search & data extraction as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Apify MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: OAuth 2.0.
- You have the keys it needs:
APIFY_TOKEN. - You want tools like
title, readOnlyHint, true.
Choose Trieve when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
TRIEVE_API_KEY, TRIEVE_ORGANIZATION_ID, TRIEVE_DATASET_ID. - You want tools like
query, datasetId, searchType.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Search & Data Extraction | Search & Data Extraction |
| Quality signal | 68/100 · Great | 59/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | OAuth 2.0 | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | APIFY_TOKEN | TRIEVE_API_KEYTRIEVE_ORGANIZATION_IDTRIEVE_DATASET_ID |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 12,639 | 2,721 |
| Directory activity | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 13 | 7 |
| Full listing | View Apify MCP Server | View Trieve |
Tools & capabilities
Apify MCP Server tools 13
titlereadOnlyHinttrueget-datasetfetch-actor-detailsapify--web-fetchapify--website-content-crawlerpageFunctioninitialCookiesopenWorldHintcall-actorsearch-actors- +1 more on the listing page
Trieve tools 7
querydatasetIdsearchTypefiltershighlightOptionspagepageSize
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.
Apify MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"apify-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@apify/actors-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Trieve
{
"mcpServers": {
"devflowinc-trieve": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"trieve-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"TRIEVE_API_KEY": "YOUR_TRIEVE_API_KEY_HERE",
"TRIEVE_ORGANIZATION_ID": "YOUR_TRIEVE_ORGANIZATION_ID_HERE",
"TRIEVE_DATASET_ID": "YOUR_TRIEVE_DATASET_ID_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Apify MCP Server is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Trieve belongs to Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Apify MCP Server for search & data extraction work and Trieve for search & data extraction.
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.
Apify MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Auth: oauth 2.0. Trieve is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. 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 apify-mcp-server and devflowinc-trieve as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Apify MCP Server has a quality signal of 68/100 (Great) with 5 views, 0 installs and 12,639 GitHub stars. Trieve has 59/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 2,721 GitHub stars.