Apple Mail MCP vs Mailbox MCP
A side-by-side look at the Apple Mail MCP and Mailbox MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Apple Mail MCP for communication work as a local process; choose Mailbox MCP for communication as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Apple Mail MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
list_folders, list_emails, get_email.
Choose Mailbox MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
MAILBOX_MCP_PASSPHRASE, MAILBOX_MCP_CONFIG_DIR, MAILBOX_MCP_PROFILE. - You want tools like
list_accounts, authenticate, reauth.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 59/100 · 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 | MAILBOX_MCP_PASSPHRASEMAILBOX_MCP_CONFIG_DIRMAILBOX_MCP_PROFILE |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 2 | 10 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 13 | 49 |
| Full listing | View Apple Mail MCP | View Mailbox MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Apple Mail MCP tools 13
list_foldersList all mail accounts and their folders/mailboxes. Returns a tree of account → [mailbox names]. Use this to discover exact mailbox names before calling list_emails or search_emails.list_emailsList emails in a specific mailbox with pagination. Returns message summaries including a message_ref that can be passed to get_email, reply_email, move_email, etc. Messages are returned newest-first (index 1 = most recent).get_emailRead the full content of a specific email including headers and body. The message_ref comes from list_emails or search_emails results.search_emailsSearch for emails matching criteria across one or all mailboxes. Returns message summaries with message_ref fields for use with other tools. At least one filter (from_filter, subject_filter, after_date, before_date) should be provided.compose_emailCompose a new email. If send is false (default), opens the compose window with a draft. If send is true, sends immediately without confirmation.reply_emailReply to an existing email. If send is false (default), opens the reply in a compose window. If send is true, sends immediately without confirmation.move_emailMove an email to a different mailbox. Use list_folders to see available mailbox names.archive_emailMove an email to the Archive mailbox of its account. Uses 'Archive' for iCloud, 'All Mail' for Gmail.flag_emailSet or clear the flag on an email.mark_readMark an email as read or unread.move_to_junkMove an email to the Junk/Spam mailbox of its account. Uses 'Junk' for iCloud, 'Spam' for Gmail.delete_emailMove an email to the Trash (Deleted Messages for iCloud, Trash for Gmail).- +1 more on the listing page
Mailbox MCP tools 49
list_accountsList configured accountsauthenticateAdd a new accountreauthRe-run OAuth for an existing Gmail account (use when refresh token expires with `invalid_grant`)remove_accountRemove an accountsearch_emailsSearch messages (optional `folder` to scope the search)multi_account_searchRun the same query across every configured account in parallelread_emailRead a messageread_threadRead a conversation thread (Gmail + JMAP)send_emailSend a new email (supports `from`, `attachments`; new recipients need `confirm_new_recipient`)reply_emailReply to a message (supports `from`, `attachments`; extra cc/bcc to new addresses need `confirm_new_recipient`)forward_emailForward a message (supports `from`, `attachments`; other domains need `confirm_external_forward`)create_draftCreate a draft (supports reply drafts via `in_reply_to`, plus `from`, `attachments`)- +37 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.
Apple Mail MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"apple-mail-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@jdot6/apple-mail-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Mailbox MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"mailbox-mcp-2": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mailbox-mcp"
],
"env": {
"MAILBOX_MCP_PASSPHRASE": "YOUR_MAILBOX_MCP_PASSPHRASE_HERE",
"MAILBOX_MCP_CONFIG_DIR": "YOUR_MAILBOX_MCP_CONFIG_DIR_HERE",
"MAILBOX_MCP_PROFILE": "YOUR_MAILBOX_MCP_PROFILE_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Apple Mail MCP is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Mailbox MCP belongs to Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Apple Mail MCP for communication work and Mailbox MCP for communication.
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.
Apple Mail MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Mailbox MCP 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 apple-mail-mcp and mailbox-mcp-2 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Apple Mail MCP has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars. Mailbox MCP has 59/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 10 GitHub stars.