Email MCP vs Inboxmcp
A side-by-side look at the Email MCP and Inboxmcp MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
I
InboxmcpCommunicationConnect inboxes to your AI, with built-in progress and optional owner-confirmed outgoing email.33EmergingAuth: not declaredVerdict: choose Email MCP for communication work as a local process; choose Inboxmcp for communication. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Email MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Communication domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You have the keys it needs:
MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESS, MCP_EMAIL_PASSWORD, MCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST, MCP_EMAIL_SMTP_HOST, EMAIL_ACCOUNTS. - You want tools like
list_accounts, list_mailboxes, list_emails.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | I Inboxmcp | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Communication | Communication |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 33/100 · Emerging |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | other | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| Required env vars | MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESSMCP_EMAIL_PASSWORDMCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST |
Tools & capabilities
Email MCP tools 47
list_accountsList all configured email accountslist_mailboxesList folders with unread counts and special-use flagslist_emailsPaginated email listing with date, sender, subject, and flag filtersget_emailRead full email content with attachment metadataget_emailsFetch full content of multiple emails in a single call (max 20)get_email_statusGet read/flag/label state of an email without fetching the bodysearch_emailsSearch by keyword across subject, sender, and bodydownload_attachmentDownload an email attachment by filenamefind_email_folderDiscover the real folder(s) an email resides in (resolves virtual folders)extract_contactsExtract unique contacts from recent email headersget_threadReconstruct a conversation thread via References/In-Reply-Tolist_templatesList available email templates- +35 more on the listing page
Inboxmcp tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Email MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"codefuturist-email-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@codefuturist/email-mcp"
],
"env": {
"MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESS": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_ADDRESS_HERE",
"MCP_EMAIL_PASSWORD": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_PASSWORD_HERE",
"MCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_IMAP_HOST_HERE",
"MCP_EMAIL_SMTP_HOST": "YOUR_MCP_EMAIL_SMTP_HOST_HERE",
"EMAIL_ACCOUNTS": "YOUR_EMAIL_ACCOUNTS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Inboxmcp
No confirmed install command for Inboxmcp yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Email MCP is categorized under Communication and uses a local stdio subprocess. Inboxmcp belongs to Communication and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Email MCP for communication work and Inboxmcp for communication.
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. Inboxmcp has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Email MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. Inboxmcp is listed as freemium — a free tier with paid plans. 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 codefuturist-email-mcp and inboxmcp-2 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Email MCP has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 4 views, 0 installs and 127 GitHub stars. Inboxmcp has 33/100 (Emerging) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.