Cadlens MCP vs Qcad MCP
A side-by-side look at the Cadlens MCP and Qcad MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Cadlens MCP for architecture & design work as a local process; choose Qcad MCP for architecture & design over a hosted endpoint. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Cadlens MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
CADLENS_API_KEY. - You want tools like
cadlens_parse_file, cadlens_parse_url, cadlens_get_job.
Choose Qcad MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Architecture & Design domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
QCAD_MCP_DEPOT. - You want tools like
plan_depot, plan_info, plan_create.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Architecture & Design | Architecture & Design |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Remote HTTP/SSE |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | CADLENS_API_KEY | QCAD_MCP_DEPOT |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 18 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 7 | 36 |
| Full listing | View Cadlens MCP | View Qcad MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Cadlens MCP tools 7
cadlens_parse_fileUpload a local CAD file, poll until parsed (5 min budget), return summary.cadlens_parse_urlDownload a CAD file from a URL, then parse it like `parse_file`.cadlens_get_jobCheap status check (`PENDING` / `PROCESSING` / `COMPLETED` / `FAILED`).cadlens_get_resultFetch parsed content. `mode`: `summary` (default), `entities_by_type`, `entities_on_layer`, `full`.cadlens_refresh_image_urlRe-fetch the 1h presigned PNG URL without re-downloading the full result.cadlens_list_jobsThe 100 most recent jobs for the configured API key.cadlens_delete_jobDelete a job and its S3 artifacts. Irreversible.
Qcad MCP tools 36
plan_depotList files in the persistent CAD depot with metadataplan_infoDXF metadata: layers, entity counts, bounding box, blocksplan_createCreate DXF from primitives (line, rect, circle, text, polyline)plan_to_svgDXF → SVG preview with layer filteringplan_extrudeDXF walls → 3D STL mesh (configurable height/thickness)plan_exportDXF → SVG/PNG/PDF (ezdxf or QCAD Pro)plan_analyseRoom detection, area calculation, door/window identificationplan_measureMeasure distances and lengths in a DXFplan_wall_dataExtract wall segments as BIM-ready JSON (QCAD Pro)plan_beam_analysis2D beam FEM analysis (numpy, no QCAD needed)plan_dimensionAdd aligned/linear/angular/radial dimensions (QCAD Pro)plan_textAdd text annotations (QCAD Pro)- +24 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.
Cadlens MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"cadlens-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cadlens/mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"CADLENS_API_KEY": "YOUR_CADLENS_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Qcad MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"qcad-mcp": {
"url": "http://localhost:11966/sse"
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Cadlens MCP is categorized under Architecture & Design and uses a local stdio subprocess. Qcad MCP belongs to Architecture & Design and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Pick Cadlens MCP for architecture & design work and Qcad MCP for architecture & design.
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.
Cadlens MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Qcad MCP 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 cadlens-mcp and qcad-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Cadlens MCP has a quality signal of 52/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Qcad MCP has 55/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 18 GitHub stars.