What is the key difference between BriefGate and Clio MCP?

BriefGate belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution, while Clio MCP belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution.

How do I install BriefGate or Clio MCP in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are BriefGate and Clio MCP free or paid?

BriefGate operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Clio MCP operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

BriefGate lists 15 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Clio MCP lists 36 tools with 0 views and 22 GitHub stars.

Can I use both BriefGate and Clio MCP together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

BriefGate vs Clio MCP

In-depth architectural comparison of the BriefGate and Clio MCP MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

BriefGate

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 52/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Clio MCP

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 55/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose BriefGate if you need specialized Developer Tools tools running via a local process. Choose Clio MCP if your workspace requires Developer Tools integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose BriefGate when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: define_intake, get_intake_status, get_intake_results.

Explore BriefGate Details

Choose Clio MCP when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: authenticate, auth_status, logout.

Explore Clio MCP Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	B BriefGate Developer Tools	C Clio MCP Developer Tools
Summary	Your coding agent asks the client for logos, copy and credentials; BriefGate chases them for you.	Connect Claude to Clio with 15 tools for matters, contacts, tasks, billing, and more.
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

BriefGate Tools (15)

define_intake

Create a new client intake — a branded portal where the client submits the assets you need. BriefGate sends the invite email and chases the client automatically until everything is collected.

get_intake_status

Check which items are submitted, pending, or need revision. Includes the history of automated chase emails and when the client last opened the portal.

get_intake_results

Retrieve typed submitted values. Files are signed URLs (valid 24 hours). **Secrets are one-time** — decrypted and returned on the first call only; store them before moving on.

request_revision

Ask the client to resubmit an item with a note explaining what is wrong.

send_chase

Send a manual reminder outside the automatic schedule. Use when a deadline is approaching or email attempts have failed.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

BriefGate Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "briefgate": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@briefgate/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Clio MCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "clio-mcp-2": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "invocation"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

BriefGate is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Clio MCP belongs to Developer Tools using local stdio subprocess. Select BriefGate when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and Clio MCP when you require tools for developer tools.