What is the main functional difference between Unsplash MCP and Unsplash MCP Server?

Unsplash MCP is categorized under Search & Data Extraction and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Unsplash MCP Server belongs to Search & Data Extraction and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Unsplash MCP for search & data extraction work and Unsplash MCP Server for search & data extraction.

How do I install Unsplash MCP or Unsplash MCP Server in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

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. Unsplash MCP has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.

Are Unsplash MCP and Unsplash MCP Server free to use, or do they require API keys?

Unsplash MCP is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. Unsplash 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.

Can I run both Unsplash MCP and Unsplash MCP Server at the same time in my AI client?

Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add cevatkerim-unsplash-mcp and hanoak-unsplash-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Unsplash MCP has a quality signal of 41/100 (Fair) with 3 views, 0 installs and 30 GitHub stars. Unsplash MCP Server has 56/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.

Unsplash MCP vs Unsplash MCP Server

A side-by-side look at the Unsplash MCP and Unsplash MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Unsplash MCPSearch & Data ExtractionUnsplash photo search with proper attribution. Returns ready-to-use attribution text and HTML for each photo, making it easy for LLMs to build content pages with properly credited images. Includes search, random photos, and download tracking.41FairAuth: api key required

Unsplash MCP ServerSearch & Data Extraction · Local subprocess (stdio)Unsplash API server exposing 21 tools across photos, search, users, collections, topics, and stats. Ships Unsplash-guideline compliance built in — ready-to-use attribution with UTM parameters, a download-tracking tool, rate-limit surfacing, and contentfilter=high by default. Install via npx -y @hanoak/unsplash-mcp-server.56GoodAuth: api key required

Verdict: choose Unsplash MCP for search & data extraction work; choose Unsplash MCP Server for search & data extraction as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one block.

Spec	Unsplash MCP	Unsplash MCP Server
Category	Search & Data Extraction	Search & Data Extraction
Quality signal	41/100 · Fair	56/100 · Good
Install command	Not confirmed yet	Confirmed
Transport	—	Local subprocess (stdio)
Auth	API key required	API key required
Pricing	BYOK (pay the provider)	BYOK (pay the provider)
Required env vars	`UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEY`	`UNSPLASH_ACCESS_KEYUNSPLASH_APP_NAME`
Verified owner	Community listing	Community listing
GitHub stars	30	2
Directory activity	3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes	2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools	3	21
Full listing	View Unsplash MCP	View Unsplash MCP Server

Unsplash MCP vs Unsplash MCP Server

Which MCP server should you choose?

Choose Unsplash MCP when

Choose Unsplash MCP Server when

Feature & specification comparison

Tools & capabilities

Unsplash MCP tools 3

Unsplash MCP Server tools 21

Ready-to-paste client configs

Unsplash MCP

Unsplash MCP Server

Frequently asked questions