Arc Control (macOS) vs MacOS MCP
A side-by-side look at the Arc Control (macOS) and MacOS MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Arc Control (macOS) for browser automation work as a local process; choose MacOS MCP for browser automation as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Arc Control (macOS) when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
list_tabs, get_current_tab, switch_to_tab.
Choose MacOS MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
Click, Type, Scroll.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 60/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 208 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 38 | 10 |
| Full listing | View Arc Control (macOS) | View MacOS MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Arc Control (macOS) tools 38
list_tabsEvery tab, or narrow with `scope: "own"`, `query`, `space`, `window_id`. Rows are flagged `mine` and `isActive`.get_current_tabThe tab a call with no `tab_id` would act on.switch_to_tabMake a tab active in its window. `activate` also brings Arc to the front. Waits for you to stop typing.close_tabClose one tab.close_own_tabsClose every tab this agent opened, leaving the user's alone. `include_stale` also closes tabs leaked by a dead previous run of the same label.arc_statusArc's version and whether it is the frontmost app, owned tabs, the agent window (id, placement, display, minimized), whether Accessibility is available, your current idle time, whether the agent space exists, what a call with no `tab_id` resolves to (reported separately for read-only and for changi…open_urlOpen a URL in the agent window, launching Arc if needed. Waits for you to stop typing, and reports `focusRestored` and `waitedForUserMs`. Options for `new_tab`, target `space`, `little_arc`, `activate`, `wait_until_loaded`.go_backMove a tab through its history, verified by checking the URL actually changed.reload_tabReload a tab.wait_for_loadPoll until the document is ready, optionally until the URL contains a substring. Also reads Arc's `loading` flag (see [Loading tabs](#loading-tabs-and-stop_loading)), so a hung page shows up as `ready: "loading"` instead of a stalled call.stop_loadingPress the stop button on a tab that will not finish loading, which also unblocks every page tool on it.get_page_contentVisible text, whole page or every element matching a selector, joined. Always reports `matched`, so a partial answer is never silent, and flags truncation.- +26 more on the listing page
MacOS MCP tools 10
ClickClick at coordinates with support for left, right, and double-clickTypeType text at cursor position, optionally clearing existing textScrollScroll vertically or horizontally in focused window or regionsMoveMove mouse pointer or drag to coordinatesShortcutPress keyboard shortcuts (Cmd+C, Cmd+Tab, etc.)AppLaunch applications, manage windows (resize/move), switch between apps. Supports app names and bundle IDsDesktopCreate a new Mission Control Space (virtual desktop) via Accessibility, verifying the space count increasedShellExecute commands or AppleScript. Use `mode='osascript'` for AppleScriptScrapeExtract and convert webpage content to Markdown formatWaitPause execution for a defined duration
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.
Arc Control (macOS)
{
"mcpServers": {
"arc-control-macos": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"arc-control-mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
MacOS MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"macos-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"macos-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Arc Control (macOS) is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. MacOS MCP belongs to Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Arc Control (macOS) for browser automation work and MacOS MCP for browser automation.
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.
Arc Control (macOS) has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. MacOS MCP is listed as free. Auth: no auth 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 arc-control-macos and macos-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Arc Control (macOS) has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. MacOS MCP has 60/100 (Good) with 4 views, 0 installs and 208 GitHub stars.