Notion MCP Server vs MCP Time

A side-by-side look at the Notion MCP Server and MCP Time MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Notion MCP Server logoNotion MCP ServerOther Tools and Integrations · Local subprocess (stdio)Context-efficient alternative to the official Notion MCP: 43 operations (pages, databases, blocks, comments, files, templates) behind just 2 tools, 90% less context overhead. Token auth, so it runs headless in CI, cron, and background agents where OAuth-only can't.71GreatAuth: api key requiredMCP Time logoMCP TimeOther Tools and Integrations · Local subprocess (stdio)MCP server which provides utilities to work with time and dates, with natural language, multiple formats and timezone convertion capabilities.63GoodAuth: no auth required

Verdict: choose Notion MCP Server for other tools and integrations work as a local process; choose MCP Time for other tools and integrations as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Notion MCP Server logoChoose Notion MCP Server when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Other Tools and Integrations domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You have the keys it needs: NOTION_TOKEN.
  • You want tools like notion_read, notion_write, notion_describe.
Explore Notion MCP Server

MCP Time logoChoose MCP Time when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Other Tools and Integrations domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
  • You want tools like add_time, compare_time, convert_timezone.
Explore MCP Time

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecNotion MCP Server logoNotion MCP ServerMCP Time logoMCP Time
CategoryOther Tools and IntegrationsOther Tools and Integrations
Quality signal71/100 · Great63/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthAPI key requiredNo auth required
PricingFreeFree
Required env varsNOTION_TOKENNone listed
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars17826
Directory activity 7 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools35

Tools & capabilities

Notion MCP Server tools 3

  • notion_readRun one Notion read operation by name. Nothing is modified. Call: { operation, payload } — payload carries that operation's fields. Common: search_pages { query }, get_page { page_id }, get_page_markdown { page_id }, query_database { database_id, where? }, get_block_children { block_id }. Responses are slimmed; pass verbose:true in payload for the raw Notion object. Every id field (page_id, block_id, database_id, view_id, …) also accepts a Notion URL, as copied from Share → Copy link. A block link's #fragment is used for block_id fields and a database link's ?v= for view_id fields. If the payload is malformed, the error response includes the schema + a working example so you can correct and retry in one round-trip. Call notion_describe(operation) ahead of time only for complex shapes (query_database filters).
  • notion_writeRun one Notion write operation by name. Archive, trash and delete operations remove content — confirm with the user before running them. Two ways to call: • Single: { operation: "set_page_title", payload: { page_id, title } } • Batch: { operation: "set_page_title", payload: { items: [{page_id, title}, ...], atomic?: false, idempotency_key?: "...", concurrency?: 3 } } create_page, append_blocks, update_block and update_page_markdown also take a markdown string. Responses are slimmed; pass verbose:true inside payload (single) or per item (batch) for the raw Notion object. Every id field (page_id, block_id, database_id, view_id, …) also accepts a Notion URL, as copied from Share → Copy link. If the payload is malformed, the error response includes the schema + a working example so you can correct and retry in one round-trip. Call notion_describe(operation) ahead of time only for complex shapes (block trees, database property definitions, batch_mixed_blocks).
  • notion_describeReturn the JSON Schema and a working example for one operation, plus which tool runs it (notion_read or notion_write). Use this BEFORE calling the operation when the payload shape is non-trivial (query filters, structured block trees, database property definitions). For simple ops, just call it — errors carry the schema.

MCP Time tools 5

  • add_timeAdds or subtracts a duration from a given time.
  • compare_timeCompares two times. Returns -1 if the first time is before the second, 0 if they are equal, and 1 if the first time is after the second.
  • convert_timezoneConverts a time from one timezone to another.
  • current_timeReturns the current time.
  • relative_timeReturns a time based on a relative natural language expression.

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.

Notion MCP Server

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "awkoy-notion-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "notion-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NOTION_TOKEN": "YOUR_NOTION_TOKEN_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

MCP Time

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "theobrigitte-mcp-time": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@theo.foobar/mcp-time"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Notion MCP Server is categorized under Other Tools and Integrations and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Time belongs to Other Tools and Integrations and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Notion MCP Server for other tools and integrations work and MCP Time for other tools and integrations.

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.

Notion MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: api key required. MCP Time 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 awkoy-notion-mcp-server and theobrigitte-mcp-time as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Notion MCP Server has a quality signal of 71/100 (Great) with 7 views, 0 installs and 178 GitHub stars. MCP Time has 63/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 26 GitHub stars.