Monitor vs MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Monitor and MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Monitor for monitoring work as a local process; choose MCP Server for monitoring as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Monitor when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Monitoring domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
Choose MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Monitoring domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
DEVHELM_API_TOKEN. - You want tools like
list_monitors, get_monitor, create_monitor.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Monitoring | Monitoring |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Freemium | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | DEVHELM_API_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1,309 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 129 |
| Full listing | View Monitor | View MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Monitor tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
MCP Server tools 129
list_monitorsList all uptime monitors in the workspace.get_monitorGet a single monitor by ID, including its full configuration.create_monitorCreate a new uptime monitor. Required: name and type (HTTP, DNS, TCP, ICMP, HEARTBEAT, MCP_SERVER, BROWSER, MULTI_STEP_API). ``config`` is required for probe types (HTTP, DNS, TCP, ICMP, HEARTBEAT, MCP_SERVER). Browser and multi-step monitors use a type default when ``config`` is omitted. ``frequencySeconds`` is optional (10–86400). Omit it to use the plan minimum. ``managedBy`` is set automatically to ``MCP`` server-side; callers cannot override it. Use the SDK or CLI directly if you need a different attribution.update_monitorUpdate an existing monitor's configuration.delete_monitorDelete a monitor permanently.pause_monitorPause a monitor (stops checking until resumed).resume_monitorResume a paused monitor.test_monitorTrigger an ad-hoc test run for a monitor and return the result.list_monitor_resultsList recent check results for a monitor (cursor-paginated).list_monitor_versionsList version history for a monitor.list_incidentsList all incidents in the workspace.get_incidentGet a single incident by ID with full details.- +117 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.
Monitor
{
"mcpServers": {
"betterdb-inc-monitor": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@betterdb/monitor"
]
}
}
}
MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-113": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"devhelm-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"DEVHELM_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_DEVHELM_API_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Monitor is categorized under Monitoring and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Server belongs to Monitoring and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Monitor for monitoring work and MCP Server for monitoring.
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.
Monitor is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. Auth: api key required. MCP Server 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 betterdb-inc-monitor and mcp-server-113 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Monitor has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 1,309 GitHub stars. MCP Server has 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.