Box vs Box MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Box and Box 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 Box for file systems work as a local process; choose Box MCP Server for file systems as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Box when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You want tools like
box_list_folder, box_get_file, box_search.
Choose Box MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
BOX_USER_ID, BOX_JWT_BASE64, BOX_JWT_CONFIG_PATH, BOX_JWT, BOX_DEV_TOKEN.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | File Systems |
| Quality signal | 59/100 · Good | 41/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | None listed | BOX_USER_IDBOX_JWT_BASE64BOX_JWT_CONFIG_PATHBOX_JWTBOX_DEV_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 11 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 5 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Box | View Box MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Box tools 5
box_list_folderList the files and subfolders inside a Box (enterprise cloud storage) folder. Pass a folder id, or omit it to list the root folder ("0"). Returns each item's id, type (file or folder), name, size in bytes, and last-modified time. Use to browse a user's Box documents and files.box_get_fileGet full metadata for a single Box (cloud storage) file by its file id. Returns id, name, size, description, created and modified times, parent folder name, shared link URL, and file extension. Use after listing or searching to inspect one document.box_searchSearch a user's Box (cloud storage) account for files and folders matching a query string across names and content. Optionally restrict to only files or only folders. Returns matching items with id, type, name, size, and last-modified time. Use to find documents by keyword.box_get_file_textDownload and return the text content of a Box (cloud storage) file by its file id. Best for plain-text, Markdown, CSV, and other text documents; binary formats (Office docs, PDFs, images) will return unreadable bytes. Content is capped at ~100,000 characters and flagged when truncated.box_get_userGet the signed-in Box (cloud storage) user's profile: id, name, login email, total storage space (space_amount in bytes), and used storage (space_used in bytes). Use to identify the connected account or report storage usage.
Box MCP Server 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.
Box
{
"mcpServers": {
"box": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-box"
]
}
}
}
Box MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"hmk-box-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"box-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"BOX_USER_ID": "YOUR_BOX_USER_ID_HERE",
"BOX_JWT_BASE64": "YOUR_BOX_JWT_BASE64_HERE",
"BOX_JWT_CONFIG_PATH": "YOUR_BOX_JWT_CONFIG_PATH_HERE",
"BOX_JWT": "YOUR_BOX_JWT_HERE",
"BOX_DEV_TOKEN": "YOUR_BOX_DEV_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Box is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Box MCP Server belongs to File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Box for file systems work and Box MCP Server for file systems.
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.
Box has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Auth: api key required. Box MCP Server is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key 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 box and hmk-box-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Box has a quality signal of 59/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Box MCP Server has 41/100 (Fair) with 4 views, 0 installs and 11 GitHub stars.
