Canvas Lms MCP vs Moodle MCP Server Aql
A side-by-side look at the Canvas Lms MCP and Moodle MCP Server Aql MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Canvas Lms MCP for education work as a local process; choose Moodle MCP Server Aql for education as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Canvas Lms MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
CANVAS_API_TOKEN, CANVAS_BASE_URL. - You want tools like
health_check, list_courses, get_course.
Choose Moodle MCP Server Aql when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
MOODLE_URL, MOODLE_TOKEN. - You want tools like
list_courses, get_course, list_course_users.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Education | Education |
| Quality signal | 60/100 · Good | 56/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | CANVAS_API_TOKENCANVAS_BASE_URL | MOODLE_URLMOODLE_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 9 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 174 | 10 |
| Full listing | View Canvas Lms MCP | View Moodle MCP Server Aql |
Tools & capabilities
Canvas Lms MCP tools 174
health_checkCheck if the Canvas API is reachable and the token is valid. Returns ok/error status.list_coursesList courses for the authenticated user. Use fields="slim" when enumerating courses for selection; switch to "full" once you have identified the target. slim returns id, name, course_code, term name, and workflow_state only. "full" (default) includes all Canvas fields plus `include` extras (teachers, total_students, syllabus_body, etc.). `state[]` narrows by course workflow state; `enrollment_state` narrows by the caller's enrollment state.get_courseGet details for a single course. Defaults to requesting `term` and `total_students`. Pass `include` to replace the default set with custom Canvas include[] fields (teachers, permissions, syllabus_body, sections, etc.).get_syllabusGet the syllabus HTML body for a course.create_courseCreate a new course in a Canvas account. Returns the created course object.update_courseUpdate an existing course. Only provided fields are changed; omitted fields are left as-is.list_assignmentsList all assignments in a course. Use fields="slim" when enumerating assignments for selection; switch to "full" once you've identified the target. slim returns id, name, due_at, points_possible, published, and course_id only. "full" (default) includes all Canvas fields plus `include` extras (submission, all_dates, overrides, score_statistics, etc.). Use `bucket` to filter by past/upcoming/overdue/etc. Other filters: `search_term`, `assignment_ids`, `order_by`.get_assignmentGet details for a single assignment by ID. Use `include` to request submission, overrides, all_dates, score_statistics, and other optional fields.list_assignment_groupsList assignment groups (categories like Homework, Exams) in a course. Use `include=assignments` to nest assignments under each group; other includes add submission, overrides, score_statistics, etc.create_assignmentCreate a new assignment in a course.update_assignmentUpdate an existing assignment in a course.delete_assignmentDelete an assignment from a course. This action is permanent.- +162 more on the listing page
Moodle MCP Server Aql tools 10
list_coursesFull course catalog with category drill-downget_courseDetail view for any courselist_course_usersEnrolled users with roles and access data (now supports course name search with interactive selection)list_assignmentsAll assignments with due dateslist_categoriesFull hierarchy with exact parent resolutionget_site_infoInstance overview — site name, version, course countget_userDetail view for a Moodle userlist_user_coursesCourses for a specific usersearch_usersUser search by standard Moodle identity fieldssearch_courses_by_nameSearch for courses by name with partial matching and interactive selection
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.
Canvas Lms MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"canvas-lms-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"canvas-lms-mcp"
],
"env": {
"CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_CANVAS_API_TOKEN_HERE",
"CANVAS_BASE_URL": "YOUR_CANVAS_BASE_URL_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Moodle MCP Server Aql
{
"mcpServers": {
"moodle-mcp-server-aql": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"moodle-mcp-server-aql"
],
"env": {
"MOODLE_URL": "YOUR_MOODLE_URL_HERE",
"MOODLE_TOKEN": "YOUR_MOODLE_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Canvas Lms MCP is categorized under Education and uses a local stdio subprocess. Moodle MCP Server Aql belongs to Education and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Canvas Lms MCP for education work and Moodle MCP Server Aql for education.
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.
Canvas Lms MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Moodle MCP Server Aql 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 canvas-lms-mcp and moodle-mcp-server-aql as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Canvas Lms MCP has a quality signal of 60/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 9 GitHub stars. Moodle MCP Server Aql has 56/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.