In-depth architectural comparison of the Cairn.ink Memory and Scrivener 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
Cairn.ink Memory
Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio
Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required
Scrivener MCP
Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio
Quality: 61/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required
Verdict Summary: Choose Cairn.ink Memory if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a local process. Choose Scrivener MCP if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.
Which MCP Server Should You Choose?
C
Choose Cairn.ink Memory when:
You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Cross-session memory for AI agents with a Source Receipt for every memory, over MCP.
Connect Scrivener 3 writing projects to Claude and other AI assistants. 47 tools for document management, writing analysis, semantic search, character/plot memory, and content enhancement. Progressive skill loading, relationship engine with HMS triplets, and JS fallback for offline semantic search. npm i -g scrivener-mcp
Cairn.ink Memory is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Scrivener MCP belongs to Knowledge & Memory using local stdio subprocess. Select Cairn.ink Memory when you need capabilities focused on knowledge & memory and Scrivener MCP when you require tools for knowledge & memory.