Chatpack MCP vs Substack MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Chatpack MCP and Substack MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Chatpack MCP for developer tools work as a local process; choose Substack MCP Server for developer tools as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Chatpack MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
search_docs, get_document, get_integration_guide.
Choose Substack MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL, SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN, SUBSTACK_USER_ID. - You want tools like
create_draft_post, set_post_body, upload_image.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Quality signal | 87/100 · Excellent | 67/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URLSUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKENSUBSTACK_USER_ID |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 224 | 87 |
| Directory activity | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 5 | 27 |
| Full listing | View Chatpack MCP | View Substack MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Chatpack MCP tools 5
search_docsSearch bundled Chatpack documentation and the authoritative llms reference. Returns document ids, links and matching excerpts with package versions.get_documentRead a complete bundled Chatpack document by id. Use llms for the authoritative integration contract or concepts/errors for troubleshooting.get_integration_guideRetrieve the repository's framework setup guide with authentication guidance and the authoritative llms reference. Examples match the bundled package versions.list_ui_blocksList public runtime exports of @chatpack/ui, including components, providers and utilities. Returns names accepted by get_ui_block.get_ui_blockRetrieve a public @chatpack/ui export's source module and usage guide. Optionally include supporting UI modules and stylesheet. Files are reference source, not a standalone copy-and-paste component.
Substack MCP Server tools 27
create_draft_postcreate a draft post on your Substack account.set_post_bodyreplace the body of a draft with a Substack document. This is the only way to write structured content — headings, lists, links, code blocks, images, buttons and a paywall. Create the draft first with create_draft_post, then call this with its id. The result reports how many nodes of each type were stored, so a caller can confirm that what it asked for is there. An image must already be hosted by Substack: this cannot upload one.upload_imageHost an image on your Substack publication and get back a Substack URL — the one thing image2.src in set_post_body and cover_image in update_draft will actually render. The source is either an http(s) URL, which the server downloads and re-hosts, or `path`, an absolute path to a local file on the machine running this server, which is read straight from disk: use that for an image you generated or edited locally, with no need to publish it anywhere first. Private and loopback hosts are refused, HEIC is not accepted, max 10 MB.list_subscribersList and filter the subscribers of your Substack publication. Supports the same 48 columns and operators as the Subscribers dashboard, combined with AND, plus free-text search, sorting and pagination. Returns `count`, the total matching the filters regardless of `limit`, so a call with limit 1 is a cheap way to size a segment. Engagement columns (email opens, post views, comments, shares, activity rating) can be filtered on here but are not part of the records this tool returns — use export_subscribers to read their values.export_subscribersExport subscribers with their full column values, including the engagement metrics list_subscribers can filter on but not return: email opens over 7d/30d/6mo, unique emails seen, post views, unique posts seen, comments, shares, links clicked, days active and activity rating. Takes the same filters as list_subscribers and covers the whole matching set — there is no paging. Substack generates the file asynchronously, so this waits for it and returns the parsed records. One column cannot be exported and is reported in `missing_columns` rather than failing: tag_ids.list_postsList the posts of your Substack publication: drafts, published posts or scheduled posts. Supports free-text search, pagination and sort direction. Each post is returned as a summary; use get_draft for the full content of an unpublished one.get_draftRead one draft post of your Substack publication in full, including its body and its audience and email settings. Take the id from list_posts or create_draft_post.update_draftChange an existing draft's title, subtitle or any of its Post settings: audience, who may comment, comment order, cover image, social preview title and description, SEO title and description, and URL slug. The update is partial: only the fields you pass change, everything else — including the body — is left alone. A cover_image not already hosted by Substack is downloaded and re-hosted first. Take the id from list_posts or create_draft_post.publish_draftPublish a draft. The post goes live on the web; `send` additionally emails it to subscribers and defaults to false, because an email cannot be recalled. Publishing cannot be undone from this server — there is no unpublish tool.delete_draftDelete an unpublished draft. Refuses if the id belongs to a published post: Substack deletes both through the same endpoint, and removing a live post is irreversible, so that is left to the dashboard.get_publicationRead the settings and identity of your Substack publication: name, subdomain, custom domain, hero text, copyright, sender name, logo, plans and payment state. Returns a projection by default; pass full: true for all 111 fields.get_user_profileRead the account behind the session: id, handle, name, bio, and every publication you have a role on. This is how to discover which publications the session can reach, beyond the one SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL points at.- +15 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.
Chatpack MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"chatpack-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@chatpack/mcp"
]
}
}
}
Substack MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"substack-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"substack-mcp@latest"
],
"env": {
"SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL": "YOUR_SUBSTACK_PUBLICATION_URL_HERE",
"SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN": "YOUR_SUBSTACK_SESSION_TOKEN_HERE",
"SUBSTACK_USER_ID": "YOUR_SUBSTACK_USER_ID_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Chatpack MCP is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Substack MCP Server belongs to Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Chatpack MCP for developer tools work and Substack MCP Server for developer tools.
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.
Chatpack MCP is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Substack MCP Server 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 chatpack-mcp and substack-mcp-server as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Chatpack MCP has a quality signal of 87/100 (Excellent) with 4 views, 0 installs and 224 GitHub stars. Substack MCP Server has 67/100 (Great) with 2 views, 0 installs and 87 GitHub stars.