Scout MCP vs Open Agent Search
A side-by-side look at the Scout MCP and Open Agent Search MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Scout MCP for search & data extraction work as a local process; choose Open Agent Search 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 Scout MCP 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:
XAI_API_KEY, GITHUB_TOKEN, YOUTUBE_API_KEY, PH_CLIENT_ID, PH_CLIENT_SECRET, REDDIT_CLIENT_ID, REDDIT_CLIENT_SECRET, QIITA_TOKEN. - You want tools like
hackernews_search, github_search, github_repo_info.
Choose Open Agent Search when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Search & Data Extraction domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Search & Data Extraction | Search & Data Extraction |
| Quality signal | 56/100 · Good | 45/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Freemium | Not declared |
| Required env vars | XAI_API_KEYGITHUB_TOKENYOUTUBE_API_KEYPH_CLIENT_IDPH_CLIENT_SECRETREDDIT_CLIENT_IDREDDIT_CLIENT_SECRETQIITA_TOKEN | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 21 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Scout MCP | View Open Agent Search |
Tools & capabilities
Scout MCP tools 21
hackernews_searchStories, comments, pollsgithub_searchRepositories by keywordgithub_repo_infoSingle repo detailsnpm_searchPackagespypi_searchPython packagesproducthunt_searchProducts by topicx_searchAI-powered via xAI Grok (requires `XAI_API_KEY`)devto_searchArticleshashnode_searchArticles (GraphQL)lobsters_searchStoriesstackexchange_searchQ&A across all sitesarxiv_searchAcademic papers- +9 more on the listing page
Open Agent Search tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Scout MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"bartonguestier1725-collab-scout-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"scout-cli"
],
"env": {
"XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"GITHUB_TOKEN": "YOUR_GITHUB_TOKEN_HERE",
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY_HERE",
"PH_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_PH_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"PH_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_PH_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"REDDIT_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_REDDIT_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"REDDIT_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_REDDIT_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"QIITA_TOKEN": "YOUR_QIITA_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Open Agent Search
{
"mcpServers": {
"open-agent-search": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"--yes",
"open-agent-search@1.0.5"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Scout MCP is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Open Agent Search belongs to Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Scout MCP for search & data extraction work and Open Agent Search 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.
Scout MCP is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. Auth: api key required. Open Agent Search 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 bartonguestier1725-collab-scout-mcp and open-agent-search as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Scout MCP has a quality signal of 56/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Open Agent Search has 45/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.